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4.28 AVERAGE
4.28 AVERAGE
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
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
adventurous
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:
No
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Tru is a skilled art forger, trying to get by supporting her sisters and mother who has many gambling debts. They had to rely on each other since Tru's father has been lost at sea for five years. Through a bargain, Tru enters the underwater world of Ai'long, where she becomes involved in a plot to overthrowing the Dragon king.
I love Tru's determination - she really embodies the eldest Asian daughter mentality. I was fascinated by the choice of art being used as a money making device by Tru: esp as traditional Asian cultures tend to favour more traditional pursuits and wondered if this was a way for Elizabeth lim to express an alternative way, especially given her creative career. I enjoyed the underwater descriptors, and my imagination flowed with the Merpeople and Dragons. Of course noodles and tea make appearances! The ending was a bit subpar, compared to the adventures in the beginning and middle of the book, but it was an enjoyable standalone.
One of my highlights is Demonic Shani's creative insults: stodgy rubberhead remains a favourite.
I have been enjoying YA more often; there has been more will to include harder hitting topics, but delivered in a sensitive manner, such as mixed heritage, cultural clashes and parent-child trauma bonds. I think I will revisit this genre more during the next few months
(Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my eARC!)
My favorite thing about Elizabeth Lim's books is just how atmospheric they are. The settings she paints are truly magical and so intricately described. This is a compelling romance between Tru, an artist drawn to forgery to earn money and Elang, a mysterious half-dragon lord. It is a temporary marriage deal as she doesn't like him at first but is desperate to locate her missing father.
My favorite thing about Elizabeth Lim's books is just how atmospheric they are. The settings she paints are truly magical and so intricately described. This is a compelling romance between Tru, an artist drawn to forgery to earn money and Elang, a mysterious half-dragon lord. It is a temporary marriage deal as she doesn't like him at first but is desperate to locate her missing father.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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:
Complicated
What is it with these authors waiting until the last few pages to fix everything?!
adventurous
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I didn't know what was happening half the time but nice.
I read Six Crimson Cranes a year or two ago and really enjoyed it. That's not to say this one wasn't a strong addition to Elizabeth Lim's roster I just found Truyan a little bland which is funny because she likes spices. It was also a little tricky for me to visualize Ai'long and the dragons themselves which is a pretty major part of the book. Even though this is somewhat a retelling of Beauty and the Beast and has elements of Howl's Moving Castlewith the missing heart, the water demon in place of a fire one, and Truyan's abilities to make paintings "come to life" I feel like I wouldn't have guessed so if I hadn't been told which is actually a good thing. Props to Elizabeth for being so creative.
As for Elang/Elangui/Gaari/Gaarin whatever his name is, I'm really starting to dislike male characters who push away the girl "for her own good", you could've told her the truth about your curse from the beginning if you were going to sacrifice yourself anyways. Also, how did he figure out she was his Heavenly Match? Did Shani just know because of her dad? Also how did he come back three years later and not know who she was? Was he reborn? As the same guy but 24? I also wish Gaari and Elang had been two different people I'm not a fan of the "they've met before" trope. This is more of my own gripe though, but, why is it always poor, selfless girl falls in love with hideous, rude man and teaches him how to live, laugh, love in the process but never the other way around?
I read Six Crimson Cranes a year or two ago and really enjoyed it. That's not to say this one wasn't a strong addition to Elizabeth Lim's roster I just found Truyan a little bland which is funny because she likes spices. It was also a little tricky for me to visualize Ai'long and the dragons themselves which is a pretty major part of the book. Even though this is somewhat a retelling of Beauty and the Beast and has elements of Howl's Moving Castle
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
4.5 ⭐
Elizabeth Lim's books are always so wonderfully whimsical and magical, it's a delight!
"Anyone would tell me I was doomed. But I happened to be an optimist."
I know this is said a lot with east asian folklore inspired books, but this has a lot of studio Ghibli vibes. I would pay a fair amount to see them adapt this.
It's fast-paced, it's got an underwater setting, hardships, dragons and mermaids and speaking turtles, art to see the future and food to make your stomach growl, and an arranged marriage !
We have a cold, selfish half dragon (crazy how some men are massive red flags, aggresive and humiliating, and FMC will find them excuses, and when a man is, honestly, annoying and a bit rude, our FMC is like "what a disgusting monster!") and a shrewd and street-smart art forger.
"I know your lore. No mortals are permitted in the dragon realm unless they are specifically invited by the Dragon King himself."
"Or unless they are wed to a dragon."
I swore I hallucinated his reply. "What did you say?"
It's got the action, the whimsy, the cozy, the romance; a little gem.
"What demons do best," Shani replied with a purr. "I brew chaos, I pry out secrets, and I spread sweet, sweet catastrophe."
Elizabeth Lim's books are always so wonderfully whimsical and magical, it's a delight!
"Anyone would tell me I was doomed. But I happened to be an optimist."
I know this is said a lot with east asian folklore inspired books, but this has a lot of studio Ghibli vibes. I would pay a fair amount to see them adapt this.
It's fast-paced, it's got an underwater setting, hardships, dragons and mermaids and speaking turtles, art to see the future and food to make your stomach growl, and an arranged marriage !
We have a cold, selfish half dragon (crazy how some men are massive red flags, aggresive and humiliating, and FMC will find them excuses, and when a man is, honestly, annoying and a bit rude, our FMC is like "what a disgusting monster!") and a shrewd and street-smart art forger.
"I know your lore. No mortals are permitted in the dragon realm unless they are specifically invited by the Dragon King himself."
"Or unless they are wed to a dragon."
I swore I hallucinated his reply. "What did you say?"
It's got the action, the whimsy, the cozy, the romance; a little gem.
"What demons do best," Shani replied with a purr. "I brew chaos, I pry out secrets, and I spread sweet, sweet catastrophe."