fanaticalreader's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
julieaimebienlire's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
moemikay's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
mrpatperkins's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
tasmanian_bibliophile's review against another edition
5.0
‘Shikanoko, unable to sleep, racked by pain and fever, walked day and night through the Darkwood.’
‘Autumn Princess, Dragon Child’ is the second of four novels in Lian Hearn’s ‘The Tale of Shikanoko’ series. If you have not already read the first novel (‘Emperor of the Eight Islands’), stop now. ‘Emperor of the Eight Islands’ sets the scene for the entire series, and understanding the scene (or scenes) is critical.
If you are still reading, I’ll assume that you’ve read ‘Emperor of the Eight Islands and know who Shikanoko is. In the first novel, Shikanoko is reacting to events and circumstances. He is acquiring knowledge and power but is not in control. His world is changing rapidly. In ‘Autumn Princess, Dragon Child’ Shikanoko is beginning to understand (and sometimes to control) the power he has acquired. But there is much he cannot control, and the external world is full of betrayal, surprises and danger. The betrayals involve a number of different people and impact on many more.
Shikanoko’s journey is not an easy one, and his treatment of the Autumn Princess sets in train a number of consequences as does his failure to take some of the advice given to him.
In this book, Ms Hearn continues to add depth to Shikanoko’s world. The hidden child emperor may be safe for now, but the world is not. I finished this novel keen to pick up the third novel (‘Lord of the Darkwood’). As she did in ‘Tales of the Otori’, Ms Hearn has created a world which seems so complete that it becomes real. I want the world to be brought back into balance, I want Shikanoko to reach his potential, and the hidden child emperor to assume his rightful position. I want to keep reading, but I don’t want the story to end. Yet.
Note: My thanks to Farrar, Straus and Giroux and NetGalley for providing me with a free electronic copy of this novel for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
‘Autumn Princess, Dragon Child’ is the second of four novels in Lian Hearn’s ‘The Tale of Shikanoko’ series. If you have not already read the first novel (‘Emperor of the Eight Islands’), stop now. ‘Emperor of the Eight Islands’ sets the scene for the entire series, and understanding the scene (or scenes) is critical.
If you are still reading, I’ll assume that you’ve read ‘Emperor of the Eight Islands and know who Shikanoko is. In the first novel, Shikanoko is reacting to events and circumstances. He is acquiring knowledge and power but is not in control. His world is changing rapidly. In ‘Autumn Princess, Dragon Child’ Shikanoko is beginning to understand (and sometimes to control) the power he has acquired. But there is much he cannot control, and the external world is full of betrayal, surprises and danger. The betrayals involve a number of different people and impact on many more.
Shikanoko’s journey is not an easy one, and his treatment of the Autumn Princess sets in train a number of consequences as does his failure to take some of the advice given to him.
In this book, Ms Hearn continues to add depth to Shikanoko’s world. The hidden child emperor may be safe for now, but the world is not. I finished this novel keen to pick up the third novel (‘Lord of the Darkwood’). As she did in ‘Tales of the Otori’, Ms Hearn has created a world which seems so complete that it becomes real. I want the world to be brought back into balance, I want Shikanoko to reach his potential, and the hidden child emperor to assume his rightful position. I want to keep reading, but I don’t want the story to end. Yet.
Note: My thanks to Farrar, Straus and Giroux and NetGalley for providing me with a free electronic copy of this novel for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
buuboobaby's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 - 3.75 stars
The writing is just ok, but I liked the characters enough that it was hard to put down. The ending is much better than in the first book, offering enough closure that it's not as frustrating as the last time around. The dialog can be cumbersome, but all in all, I found this a fast, entertaining read.
The writing is just ok, but I liked the characters enough that it was hard to put down. The ending is much better than in the first book, offering enough closure that it's not as frustrating as the last time around. The dialog can be cumbersome, but all in all, I found this a fast, entertaining read.
chrispy294's review against another edition
4.0
Autumn Princess, Dragon Child was a great follow-up to Emperor of the Eight Islands, picking up right after the end of the first book and exploring the consequences of its events before taking the next steps for this series’ story. There are definitely parts of the first half that were a bit slow, but looking back now, it was all necessary to effectively explore the ramifications of the characters’ choices in the first book before the story could truly move on. It paid off, as the resolutions in the back half felt earned and fully fleshed out. Overall, another great entry that has kept me excited to see how this story will continue to play out
jenntheobold's review against another edition
5.0
'There is no unalloyed good in this world, just as there is no perfect evil. All is sun and shadow, darkness and light.' P.422
bookworm5732's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5