Tuesday, April 23, 2019

Descendant of the Crane by Joan He

Synopsis (via Goodreads): Tyrants cut out hearts. Rulers sacrifice their own.

Princess Hesina of Yan has always been eager to shirk the responsibilities of the crown, but when her beloved father is murdered, she’s thrust into power, suddenly the queen of an unstable kingdom. Determined to find her father’s killer, Hesina does something desperate: she engages the aid of a soothsayer—a treasonous act, punishable by death... because in Yan, magic was outlawed centuries ago.

Using the information illicitly provided by the sooth, and uncertain if she can trust even her family, Hesina turns to Akira—a brilliant investigator who’s also a convicted criminal with secrets of his own. With the future of her kingdom at stake, can Hesina find justice for her father? Or will the cost be too high?

In this shimmering Chinese-inspired fantasy, debut author Joan He introduces a determined and vulnerable young heroine struggling to do right in a world brimming with deception.

"Someone with eyes like that could have smiled as they bled."
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Any quotes I use are from an unpublished copy and may not reflect the finished product.

I cannot stop thinking about this book! I really hope there are plans for a sequel. I need more Hesina and Akira, Mei and Sanjing, soothsayers and everything else. Initially, I wanted to take my time with it, but that plan quickly went out the window. I couldn't flip through the pages fast enough! Descendent of the Crane is easily one of my favorite reads this year!

All of the characters were fascinating and unique. Lilian was sassy and always had a smile for her friends. It was obvious how much she cared about her brother and sister. She still used an affectionate childhood nickname for Hesina, and always brought laughter to their conversations. Lilian was loving, sarcastic, and always put her family first. Her twin brother, Caiyan, was more reserved and quiet, but she never failed to tease a smile from him.

Caiyan and Lilian were Hesina's adopted siblings, but they didn't see it that way. They were family, and that's all that mattered. They put each other's interests before their own, and I think that really shaped the overall story. However, they did keep secrets that eventually damaged their relationships, despite having good intentions. Their actions stemmed from love and a desire to keep each other safe. It was tragically complicated, and my heart hurt for all three of them.

Sanjing is Hesina's blood brother, but the two were at odds more often than not. They saw the world differently, but both took their roles very seriously. They both had their people's best interests at heart, but had very opposing ideas about how to keep everyone safe. Their relationship felt very honest and realistic. They're teenagers with responsibilities they're not entirely ready for, facing threats from outside and inside their city. It was hard to know who to trust, because everyone had their own agenda. Sanjing and Hesina do love one another, but it's understandably complicated.

Akira was a very interesting character that the author doesn't elaborate on very much. He plays a crucial role in the story, but his past remains a mystery. We're not even told if Akira is his real name. We know some minor details about experiences he's had, but nothing really significant. The author hints at important details, and I really hope he's fleshed out more in a future book. I really enjoyed him as a character, and his interactions with people were often meaningful. He doesn't always say a lot, but he's very observant and knowledgeable.

Rou was incredibly sweet and always had a something kind to say to his siblings. He may only be a half-sibling, but he still referred to Hesina as his sister. He was there for her when no one else was, and showed a hidden bravery that I hadn't expected. He's loyal and willing to do whatever it takes for his family, even if they've been less-than-friendly towards him in the past.

The Silver Iris, Mei and her shadows, and even some of the council members, were all very well-written, and I enjoyed learning about them. I even liked learning about the characters that were easy to hate, because they all had a role to play within the story. There were a lot of hidden agendas and surprises that I didn't anticipate, and I enjoyed being kept on my toes.

I know this post has been mostly about the characters, because they're truly amazing, but the story itself was fantastic and impossibly creative. I loved the rich history the author created, and I hope we learn more about soothsayers and the Eleven in the future. I think they've both committed atrocities, although I don't think either group anticipated how long their hate and destruction would continue.

I really loved the Descendent of the Crane and hope there will be a sequel! The ending left the story somewhat resolved, but definitely open for more. It hasn't concluded, but I'm okay with where the author left things.



31 comments:

  1. So glad this was a good read, I was really hoping it would be!

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    1. It is! It is! It is! I highly recommend it! I lost sooo much sleep, because you reach a point where you just cannot put it down. <3

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  2. OMG LOOK AT THE COVER!! It's so gorgeous. Also, this sounds like a book that I would enjoy greatly. I love it when an author creates amazing characters that you enjoy. It makes reading much more fun :)

    Elle Inked @ Keep on Reading

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    1. THE COVER IS AMAZING! I've already ordered a physical copy for my shelves -- love it! I really enjoy books that have a strong character focus, but this one had a strong everything! Let's see... there's a murder mystery, a possible war, parental issues, power struggles, people hating other people because they're different, and so much more. It was just a bonus that the characters were written really well! :)

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  3. If the characters are well-written and flawed then I'm most likely to enjoy a book. I can't wait to see if my library has this one!

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    1. They are definitely well-written and flawed, so I hope your library has a copy. ;) Everyone is trying to do the right thing in their own way, with the exception of a few people that are just rotten, and it's interesting to see how their hopes and desires clash with others. They seem to have a common goal, but very different ways of achieving it.

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  4. The characters sound amazing! I love character-driven stories, so I should give it a try.

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    1. Me too! For example, Saving Meghan by D.J. Palmer has an interesting story, but I disliked all of the characters. It made it hard for me to really enjoy the book, because I didn't feel very invested in what happened to people. A book needs awesome characters to support an awesome story, and character-driven stories are the best! <3

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  5. This is one that I've been hesitant to read. It looks interesting, but at the same time I feel almost meh about it.
    Great review!

    Ash @ JennRenee Read

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    1. I really loved it, so I hope it's not meh for you! I honestly reached a point where I just refused to put it down. The kiddos were already asleep for the night, and the only thing I had to lose was sleep, which I happily sacrificed. I'm already looking forward to reading this one again!

      I read somewhere that the author plans on writing companion novels that continue the story, but that are from someone else's perspective. I think that would be interesting, and I definitely want more! There's still so much left open at the end of this one, even though it mostly resolved itself.

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  6. What an interesting sounding story. Glad to hear you liked it.

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    1. Thanks! It was really great. You should try it, even though it's not the steamy romance your normally read. ;) It's definitely a slow-burn romance, but it makes sense given their positions. <3

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  7. I have heard so many great things about Descendant of the Crane, I'm so happy to hear you enjoyed this book so much! <3 I'm so curious about this book, especially the characters and Caiyan and Lilian and Hesina's relationship, which sounds amazing :D

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    1. The characters were my favorite part of the story. They were very well-written and complex, and each struggling with their own problems. I cannot wait to see what the author does next! On Goodreads she mentioned writing companion novels that continued the story, but through someone else's perspective.

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  8. That cover is GORGEOUS! I'm glad it was just as good inside the pages!

    Karen @ For What It's Worth

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    1. The cover is amazing! It also really fits the story, which I love. I also like that the title is relevant and clever. I think you'd enjoy this one, Karen. <3

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  9. Eek, so glad you liked it! Definitely adding to my TBR!!

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    1. Yay! I hope you have a chance to read it soon. :)

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  10. I've been curious about this one since it's being marketed as an Asian inspired Game of Thrones. That's massive hype to live up to so thrilled you've loved it Linds. I love me some flawed and morally grey characters and even the relationships sound incredibly intricate. That cover is absolutely stunning! Beautiful review Linds, really enjoyed it.

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    1. Hmm -- I didn't really get Game of Throne vibes. It's more about one countries turmoil with a single potential outside conflict. Hesina is struggling with her new position, and she's learning to trust very few people. Everyone is self-serving, even if it means sacrificing innocent people. She's torn between doing what's right, and doing what's best for her people as a majority. It's a very compelling read, and it definitely made me thing. There were no easy solutions, despite how hard she worked to find something that helped everyone. I think you'll love it!

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  11. Descendant of the Crane is on my TBR list. I'm so glad to hear that you loved this one so much and that the characters are so compelling. Tt's fantastic that they were on your mind so much after finishing the book :)

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    1. They're characters that really stick with you! I heard the author wants to write companion novels that further the story, but don't follow the same characters. This makes me so sad! I really enjoyed Hesina's perspective, and I had hoped to learn more about her father's past and Akira. However, I can see how other perspectives would be really interesting, and offer an opportunity to learn more about the other characters. They're all great! :)

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  12. Oh YAY I am so glad to see your review! While I have heard a ton of buzz about it, I haven't really seen any actual reviews! And that you loved it makes me want to read it immediately- especially because the characters are such a strength! And that the whole thing feels so unique! Definitely need to get this ASAP! Great review, so happy it was such a win for you!

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    1. I love character-driven books, and this one definitely is. They have both internal and external struggles, and it was interesting to see how different people choice to deal with them. Hesina wanted to protect her people, and also save innocent lives. She had a hard time balancing between the two, but her heart was always in the right place. There are a lot of unexpected twists, too. People that had been planning things for AGES, suddenly make their move, and it really rocks the story. I think it'll be one you enjoy! :)

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  13. I've had my eye on this book for a while now! I seriously can't wait to read it! Great review!! =)

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  14. Never heard of this book. Happy it was a winner for you and you get a sequel

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    1. There was some resolution at the end, but there's definitely room for more story. I hope we get a second book soon! :)

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  15. This was not on my radar, but you've put it there. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. ๐Ÿ‘✨

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    1. Yay! I hope you have a chance to read it soon, and that you love it as much as I did. <3

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“Stuff and nonsense. Nonsense and stuff and much of a muchness and nonsense all over again. We are all mad here, don't you know?”
― Marissa Meyer, Heartless