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drizzleandhurricanebooks's review against another edition
3.0
Trigger warnings:
I have mixed feelings about that one. I really enjoyed the intrigue, the world and its characters, but I sometimes struggled with the pacing of the book and it took me a little while to get into, as well. The twists and turns are so worth it though and made me gasp more than once!
Full review coming soon!
My Blog - Drizzle & Hurricane Books - Twitter - Bookstagram - Bloglovin'
Spoiler
blood, death, death by poison, death by fire, slavery, drowning, physical violence, genocide, torture, mentions of war.I have mixed feelings about that one. I really enjoyed the intrigue, the world and its characters, but I sometimes struggled with the pacing of the book and it took me a little while to get into, as well. The twists and turns are so worth it though and made me gasp more than once!
Full review coming soon!
My Blog - Drizzle & Hurricane Books - Twitter - Bookstagram - Bloglovin'
hoytreads's review against another edition
3.0
Maybe a 3.5. The last 50 pages or so were gripping, but I had a bit of trouble getting into the rest. I wanted to know more about the various characters, and get some more closure on some things (). Still, I liked the setting, and will definitely read more from this author.
Spoiler
like what happened to the pseudo living body that was reburied?cobaltbookshelf's review against another edition
3.0
This was a good book. I really enjoyed writing and plot twists. The only thing that didn't work for me was love interest.
robotnik's review against another edition
tense
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Originally, I was a little skeptical going into Descendant of the Crane. I had been hoping for a well done and interesting asian-inspired fantasy for a while and I kept getting burned with a lot of overhyped and poorly done choices. This girl just really wanted one, alright? I'm happy to report that Descendant of the Crane has absolutely exceeded my expectations.
I loved Hesina. I loved the supporting cast - or at least all the ones that you could love, anyways. I loved the world building and how it was just enough without being over or under done. I loved the plot and every twist hit me like a freight train.
And that ending! That damn ending! I know this is currently considered a stand alone, but I would read a follow-up in a heartbeat.
I couldn't have asked for anything more of it.
I loved Hesina. I loved the supporting cast - or at least all the ones that you could love, anyways. I loved the world building and how it was just enough without being over or under done. I loved the plot and every twist hit me like a freight train.
And that ending! That damn ending! I know this is currently considered a stand alone, but I would read a follow-up in a heartbeat.
I couldn't have asked for anything more of it.
em_poleca's review against another edition
4.0
Też nie możecie napatrzeć się na tę okładkę? Piękna, prawda? Jak tylko ją zobaczyłam, zapomniałam o moich złych doświadczeniach z książkami o pięknych okładkach (które okazywały się mieć niezbyt piękne wnętrze) i postanowiłam przeczytać tę książkę. Szczególnie, że miała być inspirowana Chinami a ostatnio motywy azjatyckie w literaturze bardzo mnie interesują.
Czy i tym razem się dałam się oszukać? I tak i nie. Z jednej strony mam ogromny problem z tym w jaki sposób ta historia została poprowadzona. Najpierw skupiamy się na śledztwie, które przeprowadza świeżo upieczona Królowa Hesina, która stara się dowiedzieć kto stoi za zabójstwem jej ojca. Potem nagle dostajemy wyrwę w historii (serio, trzy razy sprawdzałam, czy nie zgubiłam jakiegoś rozdziału pomiędzy dwoma innymi, ale wszystko się zgadzało), żeby następnie historia skupiła się na czymś zupełnie innym (co można byłoby ogólnie określić jako pałacowe intrygi i odkrywanie własnej historii). Zupełnie nie mogę zrozumieć z czego to wynika - czy ktoś zmusił autorkę do skrócenia powieści? Czy lepiej wyszłaby na rozbudowaniu historii na kilka części? Trudno powiedzieć.
Z drugiej strony, jak już udało mi się ogarnąć o co w tym wszystkim chodzi, to zakochałam się w tym świecie na tyle, że z chęcią przeczytałabym o nim więcej. Ba! Samo zakończenie spowodowało, że chętnie przeczytałabym kontynuację tej historii, ale nie tylko, bo nie pogardziłabym również opowieścią o tym co działo się przed wydarzeniami z Descendant of the Crane. Na co podobno są szanse - sama autorka stwierdziła, że w swojej głowie ma już dwie historie, które nie można nazwać kontynuacją, ale dzieją się w tym samym świecie.
Czy i tym razem się dałam się oszukać? I tak i nie. Z jednej strony mam ogromny problem z tym w jaki sposób ta historia została poprowadzona. Najpierw skupiamy się na śledztwie, które przeprowadza świeżo upieczona Królowa Hesina, która stara się dowiedzieć kto stoi za zabójstwem jej ojca. Potem nagle dostajemy wyrwę w historii (serio, trzy razy sprawdzałam, czy nie zgubiłam jakiegoś rozdziału pomiędzy dwoma innymi, ale wszystko się zgadzało), żeby następnie historia skupiła się na czymś zupełnie innym (co można byłoby ogólnie określić jako pałacowe intrygi i odkrywanie własnej historii). Zupełnie nie mogę zrozumieć z czego to wynika - czy ktoś zmusił autorkę do skrócenia powieści? Czy lepiej wyszłaby na rozbudowaniu historii na kilka części? Trudno powiedzieć.
Z drugiej strony, jak już udało mi się ogarnąć o co w tym wszystkim chodzi, to zakochałam się w tym świecie na tyle, że z chęcią przeczytałabym o nim więcej. Ba! Samo zakończenie spowodowało, że chętnie przeczytałabym kontynuację tej historii, ale nie tylko, bo nie pogardziłabym również opowieścią o tym co działo się przed wydarzeniami z Descendant of the Crane. Na co podobno są szanse - sama autorka stwierdziła, że w swojej głowie ma już dwie historie, które nie można nazwać kontynuacją, ale dzieją się w tym samym świecie.
jenpaul13's review against another edition
4.0
Pursuit of the truth and justice leads to some unexpected and unpleasant discoveries in Joan He's Descendant of the Crane.
To read this, and other book reviews, visit my website: http://makinggoodstories.wordpress.com/.
Princess Hesina Yan has been an eager learner but far less eager of taking up the responsibilities of rule that her education has been leading her to. With the untimely death of her father, Hesina is thrust into power as the queen of a kingdom threatened with various tensions from without, from competing nations, and within, from her family, advisors, and people. Determined to find her father's killer and seek justice, Hesina seeks out the aid of a soothsayer, despite the treason behind such an act, and opens up an investigation with a skilled convict as her foreseen representative. Bringing to light far more than Hesina bargained for, the facts she learns makes her question her, and her peoples', belief in the tenants they abide by.
A tale of intrigue focused on the manipulations common within an imperial court made political intrigue far more accessible to younger readers by conveying it through the perspective of the young and fresh-from-coronation queen. With world building that feels complete, yet also allows for further growth that would feel organic, the story gains a complexity that is believable, particularly when coupled with the missteps and growth that Hesina experiences on her pursuit for the truth. The relationships portrayed throughout the novel vary but all remain complex and realistic, including familial strain and trust, grudging acceptance with a strong mistrust of motives from advisors, and reliance upon the strengths of others despite a sense of independence. Though the story does reach an acceptable ending, the openness of the ending and the shift of perspective in the epilogue begs for more information to resolve some larger questions that arise.
To read this, and other book reviews, visit my website: http://makinggoodstories.wordpress.com/.
Princess Hesina Yan has been an eager learner but far less eager of taking up the responsibilities of rule that her education has been leading her to. With the untimely death of her father, Hesina is thrust into power as the queen of a kingdom threatened with various tensions from without, from competing nations, and within, from her family, advisors, and people. Determined to find her father's killer and seek justice, Hesina seeks out the aid of a soothsayer, despite the treason behind such an act, and opens up an investigation with a skilled convict as her foreseen representative. Bringing to light far more than Hesina bargained for, the facts she learns makes her question her, and her peoples', belief in the tenants they abide by.
A tale of intrigue focused on the manipulations common within an imperial court made political intrigue far more accessible to younger readers by conveying it through the perspective of the young and fresh-from-coronation queen. With world building that feels complete, yet also allows for further growth that would feel organic, the story gains a complexity that is believable, particularly when coupled with the missteps and growth that Hesina experiences on her pursuit for the truth. The relationships portrayed throughout the novel vary but all remain complex and realistic, including familial strain and trust, grudging acceptance with a strong mistrust of motives from advisors, and reliance upon the strengths of others despite a sense of independence. Though the story does reach an acceptable ending, the openness of the ending and the shift of perspective in the epilogue begs for more information to resolve some larger questions that arise.
keddy4306's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
biancakerrie's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
isabelbrieler's review against another edition
4.0
At its barest bones, Descendant of the Crane is much like many other fantasy novels. An abnormally young Queen (Hesina) ascends to the throne on the heels of a conspiracy (the death of her father), and sets about unraveling said conspiracy along with the help of an assorted crew of other teenagers.
However, where most of the other books that follow this blueprint blend together, Descendant of the Crane shines. Hesina is an immensely relatable narrator and every time she hurt, I hurt. When she cried, I cried. The rest of her motley crew (her brother, her adopted siblings, and a convict) is fleshed out to perfection, making their sufferings throughout the book very affecting. (If it seems like I'm focusing too much on the sadness, it's because this book absolutely broke my heart in the best way, and boy am I still feeling it.)
The plot takes turns that are unexpected and never extraneous. The setting is beautiful and vividly depicted. Relationships grow believably and emotionally. Hesina struggles with her country's persecution of the sooths (a magically gifted subset of people) and this exploration of what to do when your sense of morality conflicts with seemingly everyone else is at the core of the story.
Hesina has just become a monarch, but I loved that, unlike most of these characters, she was extremely competent. There were many forces at play that she had little control over, but her promise as a ruler is never clearer than during her interactions with the Crown Prince of a rival nation. The backbone of the plot of the book is the mystery of the death of Hesina's father, and although other plotlines make up the heart of the book, this mystery's twists and turns keep this book engaging.
As genres, I love period dramas and fantasy for their court intrigue plotlines, and Descendant of the Crane featured enough of this to make me happy, while still being more of an action/adventure type fantasy novel than I was quite expecting. Nonetheless, the action was exhilarating, and I wouldn't change a moment of it.
I think I may never recover from this book. I will be eagerly awaiting its sequel (I'm counting on you, Joan He. I need closure!) and I highly recommend it to lovers of fantasy, incredible heroines, and mystery.
ARC provided via NetGalley.
However, where most of the other books that follow this blueprint blend together, Descendant of the Crane shines. Hesina is an immensely relatable narrator and every time she hurt, I hurt. When she cried, I cried. The rest of her motley crew (her brother, her adopted siblings, and a convict) is fleshed out to perfection, making their sufferings throughout the book very affecting. (If it seems like I'm focusing too much on the sadness, it's because this book absolutely broke my heart in the best way, and boy am I still feeling it.)
The plot takes turns that are unexpected and never extraneous. The setting is beautiful and vividly depicted. Relationships grow believably and emotionally. Hesina struggles with her country's persecution of the sooths (a magically gifted subset of people) and this exploration of what to do when your sense of morality conflicts with seemingly everyone else is at the core of the story.
Hesina has just become a monarch, but I loved that, unlike most of these characters, she was extremely competent. There were many forces at play that she had little control over, but her promise as a ruler is never clearer than during her interactions with the Crown Prince of a rival nation. The backbone of the plot of the book is the mystery of the death of Hesina's father, and although other plotlines make up the heart of the book, this mystery's twists and turns keep this book engaging.
As genres, I love period dramas and fantasy for their court intrigue plotlines, and Descendant of the Crane featured enough of this to make me happy, while still being more of an action/adventure type fantasy novel than I was quite expecting. Nonetheless, the action was exhilarating, and I wouldn't change a moment of it.
I think I may never recover from this book. I will be eagerly awaiting its sequel (I'm counting on you, Joan He. I need closure!) and I highly recommend it to lovers of fantasy, incredible heroines, and mystery.
ARC provided via NetGalley.