This book was stunning in its descriptions. You could see the gold, envision the lush backdrop, and hear the lilting music on the breeze. The journey that Ms. Dao takes us on is a whirlwind, like a magical fable. There is romance at the heart of this story, but do not be surprised when elements you least expect show up: thrills, fantasy, and of course, magic, brought forth by the curse of the river witch.
The characters jumped to life from the first page. Sure, Lan starts off a bit spoiled, her head in the clouds, but her growth and development from first page to last is astounding. Bao is set up as an unlikely hero from the beginning. At first, I thought his character was a bit predictable: the unlucky orphan who falls in love and somehow finds his place in a world that would never quite accept him otherwise. But I was wrong; he is so much more than that.
As we travel with Bao and Lan through their journey, both physical and emotional, we will meet characters who challenge and support them. I understand this novel is part of a larger series/universe, and I'm looking forward to seeing what comes next and maybe seeing some of these characters again!
The characters jumped to life from the first page. Sure, Lan starts off a bit spoiled, her head in the clouds, but her growth and development from first page to last is astounding. Bao is set up as an unlikely hero from the beginning. At first, I thought his character was a bit predictable: the unlucky orphan who falls in love and somehow finds his place in a world that would never quite accept him otherwise. But I was wrong; he is so much more than that.
As we travel with Bao and Lan through their journey, both physical and emotional, we will meet characters who challenge and support them. I understand this novel is part of a larger series/universe, and I'm looking forward to seeing what comes next and maybe seeing some of these characters again!