From Description: A bandit walks into a coffeehouse, and it all goes downhill from there. Guet Imm, a young votary of the Order of the Pure Moon, joins up with an eclectic group of thieves (whether they like it or not) in order to protect a sacred object, and finds herself in a far more complicated situation than she could have ever imagined.
The description captured my imagination. I was not familiar with the term wuxia novel, so in case you aren't yet familiar with the term either:
Wuxia (武俠 [ù. ɕjǎ]), which literally means "martial heroes", is a genre of Chinese fiction concerning the adventures of martial artists in ancient China. ... They often originate from the lower social classes of ancient Chinese society.
There is a handsome bandit, a homely bandit, a quixotic young nun on a mission, humor, and an unexpected twist. In fact, most of this novella is unexpected. And fun. And maybe should have been longer?
Read in March. Review scheduled for June 7.
NetGalley/Macmillan Tor/Forge
Wuxia novella. June 23, 2020. Print length: 176 pages.
Ah, there was a time whereby wuxia dramas and movies were the rage here. I've to admit I'm not really a fan but some can be quite entertaining. That said, this book sounds like a fun read. :)
ReplyDeleteI found the experience surprising, but fun. It is certainly different from Sorcerer to the Crown! I haven't read or seen any wuxia novels or dramas, but now, I would like to. I suspect that Zen Cho has taken a different approach to the genre. :)
ReplyDeleteI wasn't familiar with the term wuxia, so I'm glad you explained it. And this one does sound like fun. I like that odd mix of characters. :)
ReplyDeleteIt is odd, but I liked it. :)
DeleteOh hello! I didn't know about the term wuxia either. I have tried the author's longer works and didn't quite get into them, but this novella sounds like a great intro to her work!
ReplyDeleteAlthough The Sorcerer to the Crown received great reviews, it didn't work as well for me. This novella was an unexpected take on the way war impacts society and relationships more than anything else. Gender fluid.
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