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Summary
Summary
A dazzling new fantasy from New York Times and Indie bestselling author Joan He, Strike the Zither is a powerful, inventive, and sweeping fantasy that reimagines the Chinese classic tale of the Three Kingdoms.
The year is 414 of the Xin Dynasty, and chaos abounds. A puppet empress is on the throne. The realm has fractured into three factions, and three warlordesses hope to claim the continent for themselves.
But Zephyr knows it's no contest.
Orphaned at a young age, Zephyr took control of her fate by becoming the best strategist of the land and serving under Xin Ren, a warlordess whose loyalty to the empress is double-edged--while Ren's honor draws Zephyr to her cause, it also jeopardizes their survival in a war where one must betray or be betrayed.
When Zephyr is forced to infiltrate an enemy camp to keep Ren's followers from being slaughtered, she encounters the enigmatic Crow, an opposing strategist who is finally her match. But there are more enemies than one--and not all of them are human.
Featuring gorgeous map art by Anna Frohmann and black-and-white portraits by Tida Kietsungden, Strike the Zither is the first book in Joan He's riveting Kingdom of Three duology. Don't miss the epic conclusion in Sound the Gong !
Author Notes
Joan He was born and raised in Philadelphia but still, on occasion, loses her way. At a young age, she received classical instruction in oil painting before discovering that stories are her favorite kind of art. She studied psychology and Chinese history at the University of Pennsylvania and now writes from Chicago. She is the bestselling author of The Ones We're Meant to Find , and Descendant of the Crane , her young adult debut novel. Strike the zither is the first book in her Kingdom of Three duology.
joanhewrites.com | @joanhewrites
Reviews (4)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 8 Up--In a warring country, strategist Rising Zephyr must help her lordess Ren reclaim the throne and save the empress from her aptly named evil prime ministress, Miasma. Ren's forces are the underdog from the beginning, fleeing the much larger forces of the empire and surviving through luck, grit, and Zephyr's stratagems. To save one of Ren's swornswisters, Zephyr must do the unthinkable and pretend to betray her lordess, switching to Miasma's side as a double agent. But she gets more than she bargained for when she meets Miasma's strategist Crow, who is just as sly as she is. Now Zephyr must outsmart Crow to get back to her lordess, but even she does not know the full story. Before she can make it back to Ren, she is killed by what seems like an Empire ambush, although not without Zephyr wiping out a significant portion of the Empire's forces. The book is filled with incredible twists and turns. Readers will be swept along in this epic, sprawling tale that reimagines the historic Chinese tale of the "Three Kingdoms." The author deftly weaves a realistic fantasy world worthy of George R.R. Martin with incredible heart. Although some plotlines feel unfinished, the sequel will surely be hotly anticipated. Perfect for fans of Heidi Heilig's "Shadow Players" trilogy. VERDICT An entrancing fantasy entry that will leave readers waiting breathlessly for the sequel.--Stacey Shapiro
Publisher's Weekly Review
A skilled strategist infiltrates an enemy camp in service to a warlord in this expansive fantasy series opener from He (The Ones We're Meant to Find). Eighteen-year-old Zephyr believes she's the best strategist in the Xin Dynasty, which is ruled by "prepubescent sovereign" Xin Bao and her merciless regent, Miasma. Zephyr loyally serves Xin Ren, one of three warlords vying for continental reign and, as a member of the Xin family, the only one with a legitimate claim to the throne. When Zephyr is trapped in the empire's capitol, she falsely defects to protect her cover and meets enigmatic Crow, an opposing strategist who suspects her motives. Amid shifting political agendas, she must survive perilous encounters with Crow, a long-lost family member, and nonhuman beings in this striking gender-swapped reimagining of the Chinese classic novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms. The protagonist's clever narration and boundless ambition, coupled with He's powerful, action-packed prose, quick pacing, anticipatory atmosphere, and immersive worldbuilding, exemplify the origins of the source material while developing a distinct and evocative adventure. An author's note delves into the original work's influence. Ages 12--17. Agent: John Cusick, Folio Literary Management. (Oct.)
Kirkus Review
An ambitious young strategist risks death in a bid to turn the tides of war in an alternate historical China. The odds are against the honorable warlordess Xin Ren, who seeks to liberate the child empress Xin Bao from her ruthless regent, Miasma. Ren's warriors, led by her swornsisters, Cloud and Lotus, are no match for the size and resources of the imperial force. They rely instead on the clever tactics of 18-year-old Rising Zephyr, Ren's strategist, to outmaneuver their opponents while they gather support. Few dare to directly challenge Miasma, however, and Zephyr is forced to make a gamble. She presents herself to Miasma as a defector, hoping that Miasma's rumored greed to acquire talent and Zephyr's own brilliant reputation will not only preserve her life, but give her the opportunity to secure for Ren a much-needed alliance with the Southlands and Cicada, its new warlordess. Zephyr's narration, colored by dry wit and a powerful sense of self-assurance, takes readers with her deep into the imperial camp, where her allegiance is questioned by Miasma's enigmatic strategist, Crow, and to Cicada's court, where Zephyr makes a shocking discovery. Military stratagems, qi-infused zither duets, and divine interference come together in this tightly crafted reimagining of the Chinese classic Three Kingdoms. Themes of fate and identity appear throughout, tightening around Zephyr, who must weigh duty against heart as the stakes continue to rise. A riveting series opener. (major figures, character illustrations, map, author's note) (Fantasy. 13-adult) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
This unforgettable reimagining of the Chinese classic Romance of the Three Kingdoms pays homage to the original while adding fresh elements, ultimately building off of its foundation to craft an exciting epic fantasy where no one--neither human nor god--is to be trusted. Set during year 414 of the Xin Dynasty, the book follows Zephyr, an orphan warlordess set on becoming the most powerful of her kind. The lands are divided into three realms, under three separate warlordesses, themselves all under the ambivalent eye of a puppet empress, and Zephyr must strive to win above all else. It soon becomes clear that loyalties are skewed, trust is hard to find, and chaos rules the land. Zephyr must test her loyalties and that of friends and foes alike in this adventure that fuses classical literature, high-stakes military moments, and the fantastical reminder that humans are not the only ones vying for kingdoms; there's much more at stake than meets the eye.