Loved it

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One of my favourite things about A Clash of Steel is the story’s transportive storytelling. I felt immediately pulled into Xiang’s world – from her stifling yet quaint home where she feels she doesn’t belong, the bustling streets of Canton brimming with life and intrigue, to the peace and danger of open water. The first part of the book is predominantly focuses on Xiang’s journey and her development as she grows from a naïve girl to a confident seafarer. The second part, however, is where the story sails forth at full speed. I thoroughly enjoyed the mounting stakes, particularly when things get complicated when Xiang and the crew discover that they are not the only ones after the treasure, and the twist towards the end was delightful and fascinating. Reading A Clash of Steel, I felt like I was on a journey right next to Xiang, living every new and exciting thing with her.

I reveled in the details of the worldbuilding; it’s not often I read historical fantasies set in 1800’s Asia following the age of piracy. I loved how the central mythos was Zheng Yi Sao, one of the most successful pirates in world history – and she actually lived! (She commanded a fleet of 1500 to 1800 ships, crewed by 80,000 sailors during her peak, and was so powerful that the Chinese government had no choice but to offer her amnesty because their own fleets kept losing to her in warfare.) And yet, Zheng Yi Sao’s incredible story is overshadowed by comparatively more mediocre pirates, so I love that A Clash of Steel pays tribute to Zheng Yi Sao and the shadow of fear she would have cast upon those that witnessed her reign. But I digress.

Xiang was a wonderful character. She’s sheltered, naïve, desperate to prove her worth and earn her mother’s respect. I connected with Xiang’s personal journey, particularly with how the story captures that feeling of wanting to be more, that feeling like you can be great if only you were given the chance. In saying that, I loved the direction that Xiang’s character arc takes – as she is whisked away on a grand adventure, she discovers things a world and a life she never imagined. She discovers a found family that accepts her for who she is, she gains strengths and belonging by being part of a crew, and discovers that home isn’t a place or a station but someone who anchors you.

The pacing in A Clash of Steel takes its time to flesh out the small moments, but the pace worked for me. I enjoyed the details, all the emotional beats, and especially the gorgeous and tender slow-burn romance complete with romantic swordfights. Xiang and Anh’s was beautiful; there’s tension as the two don’t quite know if they can trust each other but their chemistry and attraction is undeniable and wondrous. I loved seeing two sapphic Asian girls fall slowly in love with one another. A Clash of Steel is also generous with the delicious tropes that we all love to read: the ‘there’s only one bed’ trope and the ‘our clothes were wet so let’s take them off to dry them off so let me help you undo your shirt’s knot even though my hands are trembling’ trope are satisfying and made me smile like a fool.

At the heart of A Clash of Steel, the story celebrates the joy and thrill of adventure; the possibilities that an adventure can hold and the self-discovery that adventure promises