1.12k reviews for:

Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor

Xiran Jay Zhao

4.08 AVERAGE

geenween's review against another edition

3.75

adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

cmarine38's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous funny informative lighthearted mysterious relaxing fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

andyreader's review against another edition

3.5

adventurous fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

saraza3's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous challenging emotional informative tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

reading_and_wrighting's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous funny informative medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

allyhanson's review against another edition

3.0

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What a great book! It was advertised as Chinese Percy Jackson and it does have a similar feel, but if Percy Jackson was made for a slightly older audience. What makes me say this is that the book is quite heavy on the world building (as is the case with most first books in a series), which for someone around the ages of 10 - which is the age group for Percy Jackson - it might go over their heads. I definitely think that this book would be perfect for a kid who really enjoys Rick Riordan's books but would like something that is a bit of a higher reading level.

For me this book was very young (because it's literally a middle grade book), it was a slog to get through it and I wasn't entirely focused on what was going on while reading as my mind would often wonder. But for the intended audience this book would be perfect.

linnym55's review against another edition

4.25

adventurous emotional funny medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

emmaandthekupu's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous funny informative mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

evamadera1's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous challenging fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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While Zhao's debut novel was not for me, this one certainly was. Their writing shone in this book with the character work, all the mythological references, and the way that Zhao challenged the typical idea in these books that the first mythological being will always tell the truth/be the one to support without doubt. I'm really excited for the sequel.

12bookslisa_read's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous emotional funny mysterious tense