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3.43 AVERAGE
3.43 AVERAGE
I picked up Cindy Pon's debut having no idea what to expect, but I'd heard great things about it and the summary sounded promising. I am so glad that I did: Silver Phoenix had a stunning blend of magic, romance, humor, and action!
At first I had a bit of trouble keeping all the characters straight. I'm one of those readers that, until I really get to "know" a character, doesn't really pay all that much attention to names. For example, at the beginning of the book I will not know the main character' name unless it is a name that I come across a lot in everyday life, etc... so Ai Ling wasn't really a name that stuck in my head well. Then add to the mix that all of the characters had traditional Chinese names: I was confused every time I tried to pick out a character by name. It wasn't until I really started to get sense of each character's personality and goals that the names really stuck.
The magical and mythological themes in the novel were really interesting. It seemed like many of the myths and creatures were or easily could be rooted in real Chinese mythology. I really liked how the monsters not only provided a source of action, but also revealed traits and truths about the characters as they battled.
I was pleasantly surprised by the messages of girl power I found in this book. Ai Ling was a strong female lead who, against a myriad of pressures, sets out to save her father. The fact that she wants to marry for love and has her parents as a model couple to look to for inspiration and strength was refreshing. I loved that her parents had a healthy relationship. I definitely don't have a problem with stories that feature single parents, etc, but it was nice to see happy family in novel.
The romantic element of Silver Phoenix was well balanced with the rest of the novel. I liked that it wasn't really a main focus, but it was mixed into to various scenes. I have to say, the note that the story ended on romantically leaves me anxious for the next book!
At first I had a bit of trouble keeping all the characters straight. I'm one of those readers that, until I really get to "know" a character, doesn't really pay all that much attention to names. For example, at the beginning of the book I will not know the main character' name unless it is a name that I come across a lot in everyday life, etc... so Ai Ling wasn't really a name that stuck in my head well. Then add to the mix that all of the characters had traditional Chinese names: I was confused every time I tried to pick out a character by name. It wasn't until I really started to get sense of each character's personality and goals that the names really stuck.
The magical and mythological themes in the novel were really interesting. It seemed like many of the myths and creatures were or easily could be rooted in real Chinese mythology. I really liked how the monsters not only provided a source of action, but also revealed traits and truths about the characters as they battled.
I was pleasantly surprised by the messages of girl power I found in this book. Ai Ling was a strong female lead who, against a myriad of pressures, sets out to save her father. The fact that she wants to marry for love and has her parents as a model couple to look to for inspiration and strength was refreshing. I loved that her parents had a healthy relationship. I definitely don't have a problem with stories that feature single parents, etc, but it was nice to see happy family in novel.
The romantic element of Silver Phoenix was well balanced with the rest of the novel. I liked that it wasn't really a main focus, but it was mixed into to various scenes. I have to say, the note that the story ended on romantically leaves me anxious for the next book!
I liked this one, but it was a little overwhelming. They way that Cindy Pon writes it, makes it seems very ancient Chinese. I felt it could have done with a little more romance, and in the beginning it was a little disconnected. But by the end I really liked it. I really want to get my hands on FURY OF THE PHOENIX.
Pon excels at action and pure imagination. Some parts of the journey reminded me of Victorian English "Fairyland" stories, or the Oz books, with the diverse lands/races that Ai Ling and Chen Yong encounter. As I said, her action is outstanding--occasionally I wished that she would slow down for a little more character development, but it was still a lot of fun. I liked that Ai Ling, although kickass, was still a product of her culture (for example, worrying about her hair being unbound in mixed company). I wish that Pon's editor had made her start fewer chapters with variations on "Ai Ling woke up". I will definitely be reading the sequel!
P.S. The cover may be cheesy, but at least Ai Ling is Asian, unlike the paperback and sequel covers. The Indonesian cover takes the cake, though. So pretty!
P.S. The cover may be cheesy, but at least Ai Ling is Asian, unlike the paperback and sequel covers. The Indonesian cover takes the cake, though. So pretty!
I absolutely loved the beginning (amazing first few chapters!!) and the end (the bad guy was simply fascinating!), but had trouble with much of the middle (somehow an exciting plot including riding a dragon was made not-so-exciting by the slow writing). I actually liked the love interest a lot more than the main character and sort of wished the book had been partially told from his point-of-view.
There are a lot of delicious food descriptions, so be warned--do not start reading if you don't have access to a good Chinese restaurant. :)
There are a lot of delicious food descriptions, so be warned--do not start reading if you don't have access to a good Chinese restaurant. :)
This novel has good things and not so good things. Quite a strong first novel but with the flaws that comes with it.
One of the really, really good thing: the world building is wonderful. I loved Xia, I loved the Immortals lands, the landscapes. I especially loved that both Ai Ling and Chen Yong knew these mythological, magical and sometimes evils beings, places from books. I even thought for a while that they came to life from Ai Ling's mind. Which would have been a nice twist.
Most of the characters are trying to find there footing but are likable even the really evil ones.
One of the really no so good things is the way the danger for Ai Ling comes almost exclusively from men and is all but some form of sexual assault. I know the period the author set up the novel implies that women were propriety but it became even more a thing I have problems with when the origin of all the assault was found.
A mix bag for me. Loved some parts a lot and I mean a lot. Others I just loathed. For a YA book, targeted for young women I do have problems with it has an adult. A teenager might not have those problems.
YMMV
One of the really, really good thing: the world building is wonderful. I loved Xia, I loved the Immortals lands, the landscapes. I especially loved that both Ai Ling and Chen Yong knew these mythological, magical and sometimes evils beings, places from books. I even thought for a while that they came to life from Ai Ling's mind. Which would have been a nice twist.
Most of the characters are trying to find there footing but are likable even the really evil ones.
One of the really no so good things is the way the danger for Ai Ling comes almost exclusively from men and is all but some form of sexual assault. I know the period the author set up the novel implies that women were propriety but it became even more a thing I have problems with when the origin of all the assault was found.
A mix bag for me. Loved some parts a lot and I mean a lot. Others I just loathed. For a YA book, targeted for young women I do have problems with it has an adult. A teenager might not have those problems.
YMMV
adventurous
funny
Not bad, but not great, either. I skimmed most of it.
Ai Ling sets off on a quest to the Imperial palace to rescue her father from the evil man holding him hostage. Along the way she meets a handsome man and his younger brother who decide to join her and help accomplish this. She discovers that she has mysterious powers and that the evil beings and the Immortals that she has read about as fairy tales are real.
Fun mixture of ancient China with aspects of fantastical powers. Some unexpected plot twists. Unclear whether or not there will be a sequel. I hope there is.
Fun mixture of ancient China with aspects of fantastical powers. Some unexpected plot twists. Unclear whether or not there will be a sequel. I hope there is.
What didn't I like about this story? The setting was beautifully rendered, and I felt for the main characters. I was fully engaged in the story and I highly recommend it. It popped up randomly in my library's e-section as a recommendation and was not at all what I was expecting. It was fantastic. It is a glorious story of myth and folktale. I'd say that if you like Andrew Lang's Fairy Books or 1001 Arabian Nights, this will be right up your alley. It's not at all the same type of storytelling, but the narrative will be very familiar. There are quests to go on, family to save, monsters to kill, and friends to be made.