Strike the Zither

by Joan He

Book Overview

A dazzling new fantasy from New York Times and Indie bestselling author Joan He, Strike the Zither is a powerful, inventive, and sweeping fantasy that reimagines the Chinese classic tale of the Three Kingdoms.

The year is 414 of the Xin Dynasty, and chaos abounds. A puppet empress is on the throne. The realm has fractured into three factions, and three warlordesses hope to claim the continent for themselves.

But...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1250258588
• ISBN13: 9781250258588
• Release Date: October 2022
• Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
• Length: 368 Pages
• Weight: 0.58 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 5.4" x 8.5"
• Age Range: 13 to 17 years
• Grade Range: Grades 8 to 12

Customer Reviews

Watch out for that twist

I was really drawn to this book because of the cover and the illustrations of the main characters in the beginning was awesome. I like when that happens so that I can picture the characters better. It gave me high hopes for the story which sounded interesting too. I was really into the first half of the book with Zephyr the strategist working brilliantly to try and help her Lordess Ren to defeat Miasma and her army. The way she thought several steps ahead of what was obvious was cool and the zither playing (a mark of a good strategist, one that is connected with their qi and better able to understand the world) kept me interested, especially as she plotted to get the South to join up with Ren. Then the twist happened and it totally changed to story. It was harder to get through the back half and since nothing was resolved, I am not sure how I feel about it. I wish there had been more of the logical strategist and war strategy and less of the fantastical god elements. I do like the bit at the very end which tells all about how this was based on the "Romance of Three Kingdoms" book. So, I may search out the second book when it comes out, if only to get some closure but it won't be at the top of my tbr list.

Magical, transporting epic fantasy

Strike the Zither is a magical, transporting and fast-paced epic fantasy inspired by the Chinese classic, the Three Kingdoms. In a fractured, war-torn land, three Lordesses fight for control. Zephyr is a brilliant strategist dedicated to protecting and advancing the Lordess Xin Ren. Zephyr is forced to make the risky choice to infiltrate the enemy's ranks to destroy them from within. The plot drives the story; however, every key character is complex and layered. Zephyr is a stunning main character, bold, confident, brilliant, loyal and unshakeable. The clever, moody Crow is a fantastic foil. I loved that so many of the powerful characters are women and that the themes of sisterhood and found family are explored. The writing is immersive, evocative and vivid. The story is nuanced and filled with military strategy, intrigue and shocking twists. I appreciated the beautiful character art, map, and notes offering insight into the original Three Kingdoms. Highly anticipating the sequel!

Enjoyable

Strike the Zither is a reimagining of an old Chinese story. The book follows Zephyr, the strategist to Xin Ren, a leader under the empress. The story is set during a war, where Zephyr must make decisions to help Ren come out as the victor. As a result, she must work as a spy at the enemy's base. She has to fight against her enemies, some of which are not who she expects she will have to fight. At first, I was drawn in by the cover and reading the excerpt drew me in further. The beginning of the story confused me and was a little difficult to follow, but the more I read and began to understand, the more I began to enjoy the book. Zephyr is a strong character/heroine and can defend herself. It was interesting to see how she resolves the problems presented. The story ends in a cliffhanger, which I don't enjoy very much, but it is interesting and leaves you wanting more. I think the story portrays Zephyr nicely and shows that there are problems with her. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it.