Scan barcode
paulalourido's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
luana420's review
5.0
A fascinating take on mythologies probably quite alien to Western readers, this collection of shorts tell the tales of three women divine and mortal navigating their way through a rigid and tradition-based celestial society. A challenging and recommended read for those who wish to experience some fantasy away from the medieval model.
coolcurrybooks's review
3.0
(Note – at the time I’m writing the book is free on Kindle)
This collection contains three stories retelling Chinese mythology. In retrospect, it’s probably not a good idea to read something based on Chinese mythology when you know absolutely nothing about Chinese mythology. So, that’s quite possibly behind why this book didn’t do much for me. Ultimately, it was probably worth reading (at least the last two stories), just not reading again.
However, if you like either Chinese mythology or lesbians, this is the book for you!
Given that this is a short story collection, I think it’s best to talk about the individual stories.
1.”The Crows Her Dragon’s Gate”
Summary: The story of Xihe, the mother of suns, when she was young and the world was new: how she met her husband, lost herself, and found it again.
I found this to be the weakest story. Xihe came off as rather cold in places, and I found the events of the story very confusing. Again, this may be because I know absolutely nothing about Chinese mythology.
“Woman of the Sun, Woman of the Moon”
Summary: Houyi rose in heaven, bow and arrow in hand: the hunt was her joy, the slaying of demons her delight. But most delightful was a serving girl called Chang’e.
I understood this story better. After Houyi, an archer goddess, shoots down nine of the ten suns, she faces the repercussions of a life of mortality, all the while accompanied by Chang’e, her wife, and the story of how they meet and marry is intertwined with the main story arch. I liked both Houyi and Chang’e much more than Xihe.
“Chang’e Dashes from the Moon”
Summary: Chang’e has been a prisoner on the moon while the world turns and cities rise. For centuries Houyi has looked for a way to free her wife, and now she has found it in a distant grand-niece: a young mortal woman named Julienne.
This story was almost a direct continuation from the last, and I think it’s probably the strongest of the three.
This book’s great if you’re looking for a more diverse read – all the characters are Chinese and about two thirds of the major characters are lesbians. It’s also well written and fairly interesting, but you may want to spend some time on Wikipedia before diving into it.
Originally posted on The Illustrated Page.
This collection contains three stories retelling Chinese mythology. In retrospect, it’s probably not a good idea to read something based on Chinese mythology when you know absolutely nothing about Chinese mythology. So, that’s quite possibly behind why this book didn’t do much for me. Ultimately, it was probably worth reading (at least the last two stories), just not reading again.
However, if you like either Chinese mythology or lesbians, this is the book for you!
Given that this is a short story collection, I think it’s best to talk about the individual stories.
1.”The Crows Her Dragon’s Gate”
Summary: The story of Xihe, the mother of suns, when she was young and the world was new: how she met her husband, lost herself, and found it again.
I found this to be the weakest story. Xihe came off as rather cold in places, and I found the events of the story very confusing. Again, this may be because I know absolutely nothing about Chinese mythology.
“Woman of the Sun, Woman of the Moon”
Summary: Houyi rose in heaven, bow and arrow in hand: the hunt was her joy, the slaying of demons her delight. But most delightful was a serving girl called Chang’e.
I understood this story better. After Houyi, an archer goddess, shoots down nine of the ten suns, she faces the repercussions of a life of mortality, all the while accompanied by Chang’e, her wife, and the story of how they meet and marry is intertwined with the main story arch. I liked both Houyi and Chang’e much more than Xihe.
“Chang’e Dashes from the Moon”
Summary: Chang’e has been a prisoner on the moon while the world turns and cities rise. For centuries Houyi has looked for a way to free her wife, and now she has found it in a distant grand-niece: a young mortal woman named Julienne.
This story was almost a direct continuation from the last, and I think it’s probably the strongest of the three.
This book’s great if you’re looking for a more diverse read – all the characters are Chinese and about two thirds of the major characters are lesbians. It’s also well written and fairly interesting, but you may want to spend some time on Wikipedia before diving into it.
Originally posted on The Illustrated Page.
mellybelle's review
3.0
This author does write beautiful prose. "There are stars in her mouth, and night in her bones." Gorgeous. I started to read this collection solely on the strength of that one sentence. At times though, the language is just too much. Too many similes, too many metaphors, too much imagery...and way too many adjectives.
Now I like flowery language as much as the next girl, but at some point the stories needed to ground themselves with plot or character development. This was especially true of the first story which seemed more like a free association activity than an actual story.
I'm glad that I read these stories, and I'll probably read more from this author. Even though I had issues with her writing in general, there were moments of pure transcendence.
Now I like flowery language as much as the next girl, but at some point the stories needed to ground themselves with plot or character development. This was especially true of the first story which seemed more like a free association activity than an actual story.
I'm glad that I read these stories, and I'll probably read more from this author. Even though I had issues with her writing in general, there were moments of pure transcendence.
merelymatt's review
What still sticks with me a month after reading:
1. A strange hotel room in another realm - I remember it as dark, I remember something being off about the moon, but can’t remember what was described and what left to the imagination to fill in
2. The monk, who never appears to be following, but who, when it suits him, when he is least wanted, is there
3. A woman bleeding at the foot of the clock tower; the bystander effect doing its thing until Julienne realises there actually are no other bystanders and this one is entirely on her
4. A tense meeting at the waterfront between the viper and the archer
5. Two very different physical reactions to the atmosphere of heaven
6. The topmost room of a pagoda in heaven - and, from one of the short stories included as backup material, a prison on the moon
1. A strange hotel room in another realm - I remember it as dark, I remember something being off about the moon, but can’t remember what was described and what left to the imagination to fill in
2. The monk, who never appears to be following, but who, when it suits him, when he is least wanted, is there
3. A woman bleeding at the foot of the clock tower; the bystander effect doing its thing until Julienne realises there actually are no other bystanders and this one is entirely on her
4. A tense meeting at the waterfront between the viper and the archer
5. Two very different physical reactions to the atmosphere of heaven
6. The topmost room of a pagoda in heaven - and, from one of the short stories included as backup material, a prison on the moon
More...