Descendant of the Crane by Joan He (Recommended book written by an Asian author)

         Descendant of the Crane by Joan He

(eBook Review)

            I am a picky reader, and I have encountered stories with a nice synopsis or a beautiful book cover but the plot does not lure me into its world. Descendant of the Crane was one of the rare gems that has piqued my interest from its title and book cover, to its synopsis, and towards the story itself. It may not be 100% accurate to Chinese history yet it gives you a glimpse of it through rich cultural words (mandarin terminologies) and imagery. 

            The written piece may be complicated for first time readers (including international readers) of written works set in China but with internet one could google those words to find the meaning or image. In addition, the author used adjective words to accompany the word or in short “context clues” to visualize what it is or what it means. Visualizing and understanding may take time but I will assure you that it is worth it because it has caught my full attention to read it until the end –I was hesitant to finish it, like some readers, it was too soon to end the journey. 

“A dead king," said the convict. “A deceived populace. A truth seeker. Sounds like a story that could end very well or very poorly, and I want to spectate. Believe me now?” 
            If you are a truth seeker or a spectator, join Hesina in her journey towards finding the truth –unlock chests that should have never been opened for sacrifices and regrets are made.

“This is how you try to pass as a sprightly nineteen-year-old in search of a romp? What are you, a broke scholar?” 
          The book evokes mild to strong emotions –one moment you are laughing and the next you are angry. 

“You hate courts.” Lilian raised a finger. “But I like muscular warriors and threatening people.” 
         Witty lines and lovable moments between characters lighten up the serious mood of the story. 

“Knowledge is truth.”

 “No human shall be owned by another.” 
         It contains wonderful lines on topics such as truth, oppression, and freedom. 

Finally, Descendant of the Crane presents its own strong female lead. I love the fact that there is room for character growth. The author did not make Hesina an all-powerful-female character-who kicks-every-person’s ass but presents her as a human-being with weaknesses and mistakes –in which the character acknowledges.

I hope my honest review has given you a taste of what you might find or expect in Descendant of the Crane. The book’s debut will be on April 02, 2019. Do check out her book and do support other Asian authors and works.  Happy reading!

I recommend this book to:

• Truth seekers 
• Readers of stories with strong female leads 
• Readers who love a challenging thought 
• Readers who love to dive into a fantasy world filled with controversy, deceit and deception, and political scheming 
• Readers who love watching or reading Chinese drama 
• Anime lovers and manhua readers 
• First time readers of written works by Asian authors

I would like to thank Joan He for sending me an eARC copy. I hope to acquire the book itself in the future (once I have a job and earn some money) for I really love it. Good day!