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4.08 AVERAGE
4.08 AVERAGE
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:
No
adventurous
funny
informative
fast-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
i’m not sure if it’s combination of me not being the biggest fan of middle grade and the author’s prose but while the premise of zachary ying and the dragon emperor had intrigued me, the execution did not. rtc in a few months as per the publishers instructions, i’m sure that many will enjoy this book but it wasn’t for me.
i also hope that publishers can move on from advertising new releases as combos of previous (well known) books as it usually sets up the books ex; the boy with fire, among thieves etc
i also hope that publishers can move on from advertising new releases as combos of previous (well known) books as it usually sets up the books ex; the boy with fire, among thieves etc
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I’m someone who does not tend to read middle grade but I thoroughly enjoyed this one.
This book follows Zachary on his journey across China to seal the underworld shut and save the modern world. During his journey he learns about his Chinese heritage, to which he learns that he was born to host the spirt of the First Emperor of China. Zack‘s mom’s Soul gets taken by demons and now it is up to Zach, his friends, and the Chinese emperors to save his mom and the world.
First off my favourite aspect of this book or the Chinese emperors as well as all the legends and myths and history that was told in the story. I know a very minuscule amount of Asian history when I studied it back in University, so there are some things that I was familiar with and it was really nice to get that refresher as well as learned so many more new things.
The characters were really funny and very encompassing of 12-year-old children. But as mentioned above my favourite were the emperors. The banter between them was hilarious and quite enjoyable.
The journey of the story very much red like an anime with various episodes. The ending was surprising and I didn’t expect it to go that way. I thought this was a standalone it had no idea it was going to be a series. I’m very interested to see where it will go.
The only downside for me is throughout the story there were moments of very long descriptive paragraphs and I found myself drifting away from the story during those times and it pulled me out.
Side note: I also listen to the audiobook and enjoyed it. However, I was listening to a panel with the author and they said that the narrator is Not Chinese (I believe he’s Japanese), does not know Mandarin and there are some names words places that arm it’s pronounced in the book. I think this is important to bring up as even though the narrator is Asian it is not Chinese and therefore a misrepresentation.
This book follows Zachary on his journey across China to seal the underworld shut and save the modern world. During his journey he learns about his Chinese heritage, to which he learns that he was born to host the spirt of the First Emperor of China. Zack‘s mom’s Soul gets taken by demons and now it is up to Zach, his friends, and the Chinese emperors to save his mom and the world.
First off my favourite aspect of this book or the Chinese emperors as well as all the legends and myths and history that was told in the story. I know a very minuscule amount of Asian history when I studied it back in University, so there are some things that I was familiar with and it was really nice to get that refresher as well as learned so many more new things.
The characters were really funny and very encompassing of 12-year-old children. But as mentioned above my favourite were the emperors. The banter between them was hilarious and quite enjoyable.
The journey of the story very much red like an anime with various episodes. The ending was surprising and I didn’t expect it to go that way. I thought this was a standalone it had no idea it was going to be a series. I’m very interested to see where it will go.
The only downside for me is throughout the story there were moments of very long descriptive paragraphs and I found myself drifting away from the story during those times and it pulled me out.
Side note: I also listen to the audiobook and enjoyed it. However, I was listening to a panel with the author and they said that the narrator is Not Chinese (I believe he’s Japanese), does not know Mandarin and there are some names words places that arm it’s pronounced in the book. I think this is important to bring up as even though the narrator is Asian it is not Chinese and therefore a misrepresentation.
adventurous
hopeful
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Mir gefällt die Idee besser als die Ausführung, aber eine solide Abenteuergeschichte für Jugendliche, also vllt 3,25 🌟
adventurous
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
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