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A review by tacoboutmari
Strike the Zither by Joan He
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
For a retelling of a classic Chinese tale, this is the most ORIGINAL work I have ever read. With women as warlordesses, powerful generals of armies, and as conniving strategists, I don’t want to return to the normal world where there’s such thing as sexism and chauvinism. I want to live in this reimagining of a classic tale where gender roles do not exist and if there is such a world, I would never come back!!!
What I got from this is that EVERYONE BE HAVING THEIR OWN AGENDA. Be damned with honor, code, proper etiquette, HELL, even family(besides Warlordess Xin Ren who seems to be the holiest mortal alive)! There is no such thing as friends or love. There is only those who survive and those who trusted someone too much.
This was an epic YA military fantasy. Some may not like the female main character as she is extremely arrogant. However I absolutely loved this. I also think this is a trait that absolutely is associated with men, and I am so happy that we have a female main character who is revered for her intelligence and genius strategic maneuvers and isn’t afraid to boast about it. I would if I were her. Like, please girl go ahead and slay your enemies. Own your certified badass-ness.
I found Joan He’s writing and dialogue to be completely clever. Her shrewd foreshadowing and subtle hints laced in the beginning add up once you reach the middle of the book. And while I’m referencing the middle, WHOA. Hot damn, Joan. That was what I call a plot TWIST. And, while I was apprehensive when reading the said plot twist, I was delighted on the follow through. Bravo.
If you’re looking for a book that feels like an intense game of political chess, pick this one up. If you want a slight romance but not the focus of the book that is as follows: rivals to enemies to lovers and then back to enemies, pick this one up. If you want a book with a, “what the fuck is this… wait I love it” plot twist, pick this up. If you’re looking for a book that will makes you ask the following questions: “Does free will exist?” “Are our fates determined for us?” “Can one person shape the world’s destiny?” Pick. This. Up.
My only TEENY complaint is that Joan He doesn’t really focus on details of environment like I have to come up with my own setting in my head which is fine -not really a complain just a minute detail that I noticed in the writing. It still played like a movie in my head. It would have been a solid 5 if I didn’t have to create my own world for the book in my head. I also would argue that sometimes I had to reread paragraphs because I was unsure what was dream / reality but that was more towards the end of the book. And again, something I could overcome myself.
Can’t wait for book 2!
What I got from this is that EVERYONE BE HAVING THEIR OWN AGENDA. Be damned with honor, code, proper etiquette, HELL, even family(besides Warlordess Xin Ren who seems to be the holiest mortal alive)! There is no such thing as friends or love. There is only those who survive and those who trusted someone too much.
This was an epic YA military fantasy. Some may not like the female main character as she is extremely arrogant. However I absolutely loved this. I also think this is a trait that absolutely is associated with men, and I am so happy that we have a female main character who is revered for her intelligence and genius strategic maneuvers and isn’t afraid to boast about it. I would if I were her. Like, please girl go ahead and slay your enemies. Own your certified badass-ness.
I found Joan He’s writing and dialogue to be completely clever. Her shrewd foreshadowing and subtle hints laced in the beginning add up once you reach the middle of the book. And while I’m referencing the middle, WHOA. Hot damn, Joan. That was what I call a plot TWIST. And, while I was apprehensive when reading the said plot twist, I was delighted on the follow through. Bravo.
If you’re looking for a book that feels like an intense game of political chess, pick this one up. If you want a slight romance but not the focus of the book that is as follows: rivals to enemies to lovers and then back to enemies, pick this one up. If you want a book with a, “what the fuck is this… wait I love it” plot twist, pick this up. If you’re looking for a book that will makes you ask the following questions: “Does free will exist?” “Are our fates determined for us?” “Can one person shape the world’s destiny?” Pick. This. Up.
My only TEENY complaint is that Joan He doesn’t really focus on details of environment like I have to come up with my own setting in my head which is fine -not really a complain just a minute detail that I noticed in the writing. It still played like a movie in my head. It would have been a solid 5 if I didn’t have to create my own world for the book in my head. I also would argue that sometimes I had to reread paragraphs because I was unsure what was dream / reality but that was more towards the end of the book. And again, something I could overcome myself.
Can’t wait for book 2!