Descendant of the Crane Hardcover – April 9, 2019

Overall:I enjoy books in several different ways for several different reasons, but it’s been quite some time since I’ve read a book that flowed so seamlessly and fluidly that I couldn’t tell how much I’d read or how long I’d been reading. Descendant of the Crane was one of the most hyped up books of 2019 that I’ve seen, and I can now see why. Joan He manages to weave a very creative fantasy while only toeing the line of what can be considered fantasy, an immense amount of political intrigue, and one of the most compelling main characters I’ve read all year. While I am an absolute glutton for political intrigue fantasies, that in itself isn’t usually enough to leave me as emotionally raw and vulnerable as Descendant of the Crane did and that’s because this book, in a very natural manner such that you don’t even notice, transitions from a generic political/historical fantasy to a tale about morals versus duty. The concepts of belief and choice are the true foundations and are weaved so well into the story and Hesina’s character that the reader cannot help but drown in the very same helpless anxiety of “what can I possibly do?”Descendant of the Crane also features a compelling cast of characters with complex relationships that leave you unsure of how you feel about the events of the narrative. It’s very hard to love or hate anyone or their actions because Joan He manages to capture the three-dimensional nature of anything from siblings to institutional oppression to the various motivations a person could have for a variety of actions. I’m absolutely breath-taken by the multi-faceted story that Joan He managed to fit in a book that took me only 3 evenings to read.Plot:Descendant of the Crane knows no slow moment. I wouldn’t describe it as fast paced, but more like a steady crescendo. Most plots flow like waves where they ebb and wane until they hit the climax. Descendant of the Crane, however, maintains a momentum that only continues to build and ends with a resolution that feels more like a rubber band that really should have snapped but is still somehow defying physics and in tact.The book starts with Hesina determined to get justice for her father, whom she was believed to be poisoned. But as she takes over as queen, we start to see all the political and social forces of this kingdom at play. What I absolutely adored about the plot was the way the different portions of it transitioned into one another, and I never once questioned why something was happening. Joan He set up the dominoes of the plot so well that every subsequent plot path made logical sense to me. And every single plot twist was set up and timed perfectly. Sometimes in books like these you KNOW things aren’t what they seem, and you’re smart enough to go into reading it with some amount of suspicion towards every character in the book. That makes it difficult to truly surprise the reader. Descendant of the Crane uses an intricate domino like plot structure such that you’ve got an idea that Hesina’s can’t trust everyone that she does, but you can’t really predict when that’ll happen. Which then kills you because the reason you THOUGHT that plot twist was going to happen isn’t the reason at all. Absolutely GENIUS.Characters:I fell in love with the characters of Descendant of the Crane so fast, I was making them my new family just 25% of the way in. I know I talk about how much I love every female main character I’ve read about this entire year, but Hesina really hits it home for me. Main characters in fantasies are usually marked by being special in some way. A prodigy in something or the other. Something that gives them the one-up over everyone else. Hesina does not fit that mold at all. She is described at average at everything from academics to fighting. She’s not particularly beautiful, but not ugly. Aside from the fact that she’s a princess and heir to the throne of Yan–which doesn’t mean much because Yan’s monarchy is quite limited and they live in more of a socialist society–Hesina is incredibly ordinary. But that’s what made her feel so real. She’s aggressive but vulnerable, naive but calculating, determined but also ready to curl up into a ball and just leave it all behind. She reacts to situations exactly how I’d imagine I would if i were a 17 year old princess who lost the parent I was the closest to and inherited a kingdom built on hatred.The other characters are just as compelling. Lilian is a ray of sunshine and when she’s around, you just know that everything will be okay, even if it’s for a moment. Sanjing tore my heart because he’s the most realistic portrayal of a 16 year old boy I’ve ever seen in a fantasy novel, and his relationship with Hesina clawed at my soul. Caiyan is everything you want him to be and everything you don’t want him to be. Not to spoil anything, but the fact that he spends the ENTIRE book calling Hesina “milady” even though he’s her adopted brother…oof. And Akira was a breath of fresh air. He’s mysterious and goofy, but none of that hides a broody interior. In fact, he had a lot of reasons to turn out to be the Broody YA Love Interest guy, but he doesn’t and I loved him. Also Rou. I’m love him too. I JUST WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THESE GUYS GIVE ME A BOOK 2.Last note: Hesina’s mom…oh man. One of the most interesting characters in the book. I hate and love her simultaneously and the fact that I can’t decide which feeling to go with is POWERFUL.Setting/Worldbuilding:Descendant of the Crane takes place in a fictional kingdom inspired by China where the people were once ruled by greedy monarchs that used soothsayers to secure their rule. That system was eventually torn down by a group of revolutionaries called The Eleven, who then reinstated a more fair system of government and society by rewriting the law and identifying a scapegoat–the soothsayers. So now you’ve got a kingdom that’s almost perfect. Every bit of inequality is snuffed out. The government has an effective anti-corruption system, the education and job market are based on merit and not nepotism. But all of this is built upon a festering hatred of the soothsayers. The worldbuilding is rich and well thought out, but what I loved most about it was the way He captured the public. She depicts them as a volatile crowd that are quick to descend into a mob like mentality, particularly when they’re never challenged to think critically. This serves as one of the conflicts for Hesina, who has to somehow figure out how to change a population’s opinion that has been socialized within her kingdom for over 300 years. I also loved reading about The Eleven and the themes of history, legends, and truth. It’s not a good political and historical fantasy if it doesn’t address the manipulation of the past and how it’s taught in the future.Writing Style:Joan He has one of the most balanced writing styles I have ever come across. Most authors I’ve seen vary between being description heavy, dialogue heavy, or relying on plot to carry the story over the writing and voice. He, however, strikes a perfect blend of description and pace. Her imagery is gorgeous and has your mouth watering at the idea of strolling through a persimmon garden even if you’ve never eaten a persimmon before. But she also uses her words and tone to create an atmospheric effect when her main goal isn’t to describe the scene. For example: whenever she recalls a story of Hesina and her father, her writing softens such that you automatically picture it like a hazy vignette taking place on a calm and clear sunny day. When it rains, she doesn’t have to say that it’s dark and dreary. She simply states that the rain starts to fall, and the context of that scene fills in the dark or grave atmosphere for us. Her writing really appealed to me because it let me lose track of my progress in the story. I feel like the phrase “it flowed like water” is too simple to describe the experience I had, but it’s best way I can currently think of wording that.

Well-written, political intrigue, murder mystery. However the ending is strangely open-ended - rather than finishing off the story with a bow, it's more like the first book of a series. Not a cliffhanger per se - this arc gets wrapped up well enough. But why imply so many future plots if there isn't a continuation planned? (The author says so explicitly in the author interview at the end - no sequels are planned). It doesn't finish like a standalone at all. When I got to the end, it was like it set up at least a duology.

Descendant of the Crane is the fantasy story readers have been craving. With comparisons to Game of Thrones, Joan He's debut delivers with plenty of pain and heartache included."But it wasn't a wolf hunting Hesina. It was the people's fear. She'd either rule with it, or be ruled by it. Either way, blood would spill."How to sum up Descendant of the Crane? Readers are sure to fall in love with this world and its characters only to get their heart ripped to shreds.Hesina’s father has just been killed and she’s thrust into a position of power she isn’t sure she’s ready for. Her kingdom is full of hate that doesn’t match her own heart. How can she fix the problems they face? Despite her conflicting feelings, she puts on a brave face and becomes the queen she has been trained to be. And this is why I loved her. She’s a fierce yet vulnerable character."Hesina didn't change. Didn't have someone see to her neck. She finally looked the part she deserved: bloodstained."There aren’t many people Hesina trusts, not even her own mother — but there are her adopted siblings. Lilian and Caiyan are just as interesting as Hesina herself. Actually, the entire royal family is intriguing! Outside of the twins there is Hesina’s brother, Sanjing, and these two have the most complicated relationship in the family."This is what they did, Hesina reminded herself, too weary for anger. They broke themselves. They took the shards and drove them up the chinks of each other's armor."Their interactions were my favorite because despite the feelings they carefully decide to show one another, there is an undeniable connection that remains. There are massive tangles in this family which were fun to read about.Descendant of the Crane explores many themes in a brilliant way. One is examining what makes a person good or evil. Joan He does a fantastic job building characters who don’t fit into either box. They’re human and their actions speak volumes. Just when we’re led to believe someone is good, we’re left questioning their true intentions.Hesina decides to find the truth behind her father’s death. She believes he was murdered and is ready to take her case to trial. She will do anything to reveal the truth even if it’ll further deepen her grief. Which in her moments alone is completely relatable. In these silent moments the readers will be able to connect with her on a different level. Her deep love for her father will make you root for her as well, but it’ll also make the reveals throughout hurt much more. In the end, you’ll truly feel for Hesina."Justice was her only way to say thank you. To say goodbye. To say I love you too."Before the trial can begin we meet Akira who is the boy that will help Hesina find the truth. Akira is a mysterious and kind soul, and I was immediately drawn to him needing to know more (just like Hesina herself)! There is a dash of romance in this book but it never takes center stage. The little sweet moments shared between the two are pure and readers will love it!"Who are you?"He rose and tugged his hanfu free. "Someone queens shouldn't get close to."Descendant of the Crane delivers something fresh to the world of fantasy. Whether it’s through the political scheming or court intrigue, Joan He delivers in her debut. Her vivid world building matches the plot and twists. It’s a slow-paced book exploring the inner workings of the court while still being an interesting murder-thriller with fantasy elements. The final act of this book is mind-blowing. It all goes back to Joan He exploring her characters and questioning what makes them good or evil. And it is amazing."The world is full of tricksters," she shouted above the crackle at her back. "And there is no greater trickster than fear."I can’t rave enough about Descendant of the Crane! If you love fantasy then this book is a must-read. It releases on April 9th and trust me, you need this book on your shelf ASAP!

I really enjoyed reading Descendant of the Crane. Joan He skilfully weaves Hesina's growth arc into the mystery of her father's death amidst political machinations in the court.

Great book and story

Great quality book! No damages and fast delivery!

Joan He has to be my new contemporary YA fantasy/SF author!This is her debut novel and it's completely different from "The Ones We're Meant to Find." It's a Chinese-inspired fantasy/saga of a princess turning into a queen and trying to navigate court intrigue and family politics. It's thought-provoking, well-written, rich in details of era-appropriate attire and consistent worldbuilding.Something I admire in Joan He's books is the subtext. There are so many Easter eggs and so many implications of things happening that frame the text, not only on a narrative but also on a formatting level, that when you actually realize what the author has been up to, you can't help but admire her thinking outside the box.Some plot points could be called, yes, and some character reactions could have been treated more naturally, but that doesn't mean that this book shouldn't be in everyone's TBR list. It's a YA but with so much more than just the standard YA talking about love and finding your identity--it's a social critique of excluding certain people from certain backgrounds and ethnicities and it greatly focuses on the meaning of truth, family, and being sympathetic in a world that calls for blood.I HOPE that we'll have a sequel!!

Um incrível livro é uma edição bonita