BOOK REVIEW: Descendants of the Crane by Joan He
So I ordered this book months ahead of our book club’s book talk. The book did not arrive on time so I’m still waiting for it. To be honest, I’m excited to see this book in person and read it the second time (cause I’d love to give it a second shot). This has such a GREAT cover (I’ll change the attached photo once I get the paperback).
Fingers crossed I get the book! Here goes the review where I answer some thought-provoking questions my two braincells could handle:
1. What was your favorite part of the book?
The first scene. The travel through the red-light district, the fog, the setting, the lights and the Princess in her robes on her way to commit treason. It was a great start, though admittedly, has more potential.
2. What was your least favorite?
The last part of Chapter 8. Basically, every time Hesina busts in the door to demand some answers. The scene felt unprovoked.
3. What scene would you point out as the pivotal moment in the narrative? How did it make you feel?
The most pivotal would be that the King, after all these time, was in fact not dead. Although I was confused as it did not made sense to me, it was a different turn.
4. What surprised you most about the book? Why? Were there significant plot twists and turns? If so, what were they?
The Epilogue was definitely what I wasn’t expecting. It was so out of character of both Caiyan and Hesina; and the way no one, not even Hesina herself, questioned Caiyan in a way that long brothers and sisters would. There wasn’t enough strain, not enough conflict, between these two characters – these brother and sister not like Hesina and Saijing had.
The narrative of a betrayal had so much potential to it – feelings of pain, heartbreak, and confusion. I understand in real-time there wasn’t enough time, but, in books, time could be made. A chapter could be dedicated just talking about the pain of betrayal and time wouldn’t pass at all.
Nevertheless, it was out of character as there were no clues around to have aided that Caiyan knew all the things the late King was hiding. It was, for me, disappointing.
5. How does the book's title work in relation to the book's contents?
The book title definitely was a catch in a world where we live with “The Kingdom of Fire, Ice, Wind”, “The Queen of This and That and There.” Descendant of the Crane was such a Chinese-style title that worked with the subtle yet pointed narrative to the story.
6. Are there lingering questions from the book you're still thinking about?
A lot, actually. 90% of the time this book had me confused. I swear to myself I didn’t passed by passages, chapters. I made sure to read without my mind wandering so I could talk about this book, knowing I paid attention. But I was confused as hell. So there’s so many questions. The problem is that I don’t know which questions are those exactly. It’s just a general feeling around the book was that it was confusing (but I did pay attention).
7. Did the author do a good job of organizing the plot and moving it along?
Plot-wise, yes. I can see the outline of this book in my head and think of it as something great. Moving it along, filling those plot lines in between and bridging them together in one weave, not so much. For me, something was off with the pacing. It was both too fast and not dissected as I would like it to be. One thing happen before another was sat down and talked to.
8. What was your favorite chapter and why?
The same with the favorite part of the book, the first scene. The travel through the red-light district, the fog, the setting, the lights and the Princess in her robes on her way to commit treason. It was a great start, though admittedly, has more potential.
9. Which characters did you like best? Which did you like least?
I like Akira because his first seen made an impression. And out of everyone he was the most interesting to me, being mysterious and all that. I liked the heroine the least. To me, she made rash decisions and something a princess and trained-Queen would do. Plus, she gets caught most of the time. Stealing a seal shouldn’t be that hard. You’re a Queen.
10. Which character did you relate to, or empathize with, the most?
Saijing. He was a brother that cared even when he didn’t want to, trusted only those he feel like who deserved it. He also stood up with Mei, even attempting to kill the director on her trial just for the sake to end it all. Also, the way he kind of said to Hesina sarcastically that sure he’ll be there at her disposal, he’ll drop anything for her just because – it was awesome.
11. If you had to trade places with one character, who would it be?
Hesina. There could be a lot of explanation as to why but I’ll leave it as that I bet if Mei told me not to move, I wouldn’t have.
12. How did the book make you feel? What emotions did it evoke?
Confusion. I know I understand the premise. But why am I still so confused? I realized that things didn’t make much sense. The evidences to begin the trial, the foundation of the trial itself – I mean why?
Another was quite of boredom. For me, the book was such a weight to read that it required too much effort. But I know if I gave it another shot, I’d find something I might have missed. But nevertheless, that was how I felt.
13. How did your opinion of the book change as you read it?
I thought it was very Asian. As an Asian, of course, it felt good that this was a Chinese-style fantasy. We rarely have it, just representations but not direct. It was Asian, but not very.
On the other note, on the first chapters I thought it was lacking. I didn’t change my mind very much on that. Just two points when I thought Hesina was making a great decision of pining choosing the representative, Akira, to Xia Zhong. I thought ‘Finally, girl had some sense all these time! ’, but then she didn’t push through.
14. Is this book overrated or underrated?
This book was rated 3.5 in Good reads. I think it was enough.
15. What scene resonated with you most on a personal level? (Why? How did it make you feel?)
The conflict between Hesina and Saijing. That was the only relationship that made sense to me, even if they’re at a conflict. Especially then. Every scene with these two was wonderfully written, I think. The dialogues spoke true to the role of their characters to each other and their feelings to each other.
16. What did you think of the writing?
It was very light. I wasn’t the high-fantasy type. At one point, the author even mentioned a character was wearing a ‘V-neck’. Not that it was against the rules. But it was just so uncommon to use that very term in a fantasy that isn’t set on the modern day.
I keep waiting for that drop authors do in their intros. That one-liner that ends a chapter, something so strong you’re forced to continue the book, eager for more. When I didn’t get it, I waited some more until I got to the end of the book and never got it.
There were important events that could have been grounded with great foundation, the scenes and chapters had so much more potential. Characters were, for me, had so much potential as well.
17. Are there any standout sentences?
“Tell me you’re not doing any of this for free. Tell me you want your payment of candied hawthorn berries.” – Hesina to Lillian, in her head.
Hesina wanted a reason. Even the most stupid ones. She wanted a reason why Lillian would allow herself to be killed and charged for murder she did not commit. Hesina wanted to be consoled by the fact that Lillian did this for herself, even if it was just a lie. This line almost, almost made me cry.
18. Did the book strike you as original?
Yes. The cover and the title? Check. The story and the plot? Check.
19. Would you want to read another book by this author?
I’d like to try one more. Give it another shot. It has so much promise to it. It could be more. I’d like to see that.
Thoughts after some brain-fermentation:
Have a shot every time you read ‘death by a thousand cuts’.
The relationships between characters aren’t that strong for me. So if you want to walk in the line that threads the characters together, you’re free-falling.
