Take a photo of a barcode or cover
hweezbooks 's review for:
Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor
by Xiran Jay Zhao
adventurous
challenging
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:
Yes
“Qin Shihuang
Real Name: Ying Zheng
Glorious unifier of China. Built the Great Wall, commissioned the Terra-Cotta Army, standardized Chinese writing and measuring systems, invented the “Huangdi” emperor title that all you losers used for the next 2133 years…
DIDN’T KNOW MERCURY WAS POISONOUS, SO STOP ASKING HIM ABOUT IT.”😂
This also makes Zachary Ying his direct descendant, as it turns out, and an unwilling host when Qin Shihuang tries to take over his body to save the world.
The ex-emperor ends up possessing Zachary’s AR headset instead — sending us on a highly imaginative augmented reality-Chinese legend-spirit world adventure that could only come from Xiran Jay Zhao.
Zhao, who goes by they/them pronouns, is a singularly unique Chinese-Canadian author who has combined their deep knowledge of Chinese history and culture and translated this through a diaspora lens.
There’s nothing like it. Reviewers have described it as Percy Jackson-esque (but Chinese legend) or like Japanese manga Yu-Gi-Oh! I’d actually just class this on it’s own: read this, if you’re game for a unconventional journey through China’s ancient history with the cheekiest references.
Zachary, hapless at first, annoys Qin Shihuang because he knows other “A-list conquerors” like Alex, Ramses, Genghis… but not him 👻 but he soon shows his steel when things don’t quite add up to what he’s been led to believe.
This might get a little complex, so I’d say it’s for the more adventurous young reader, and DEFINITELY for fans of @xiranjayzhao (check out their IG or YouTube!)
📚: @times.reads
Real Name: Ying Zheng
Glorious unifier of China. Built the Great Wall, commissioned the Terra-Cotta Army, standardized Chinese writing and measuring systems, invented the “Huangdi” emperor title that all you losers used for the next 2133 years…
DIDN’T KNOW MERCURY WAS POISONOUS, SO STOP ASKING HIM ABOUT IT.”😂
This also makes Zachary Ying his direct descendant, as it turns out, and an unwilling host when Qin Shihuang tries to take over his body to save the world.
The ex-emperor ends up possessing Zachary’s AR headset instead — sending us on a highly imaginative augmented reality-Chinese legend-spirit world adventure that could only come from Xiran Jay Zhao.
Zhao, who goes by they/them pronouns, is a singularly unique Chinese-Canadian author who has combined their deep knowledge of Chinese history and culture and translated this through a diaspora lens.
There’s nothing like it. Reviewers have described it as Percy Jackson-esque (but Chinese legend) or like Japanese manga Yu-Gi-Oh! I’d actually just class this on it’s own: read this, if you’re game for a unconventional journey through China’s ancient history with the cheekiest references.
Zachary, hapless at first, annoys Qin Shihuang because he knows other “A-list conquerors” like Alex, Ramses, Genghis… but not him 👻 but he soon shows his steel when things don’t quite add up to what he’s been led to believe.
This might get a little complex, so I’d say it’s for the more adventurous young reader, and DEFINITELY for fans of @xiranjayzhao (check out their IG or YouTube!)
📚: @times.reads