Description
Min, a thirteen-year-old girl with fox-magic, stows away on a battle cruiser and impersonates a cadet in order to solve the mystery of what happened to her older brother in the Thousand World Space Forces.
Status
Available
Call number
Series
Genres
Publication
Los Angeles : Rick Riordan, 2019.
Media reviews
(Starred review) VERDICT With ghosts, pirates, and a rollicking space adventure, there's a little something for everyone here. A recommended purchase for all middle grade collections.
(Starred review) A high-octane, science-fiction thriller painted with a Korean brush and a brilliant example of how different cultures can have unique but accessible cosmology and universal appeal.
User reviews
LibraryThing member sweetiegherkin
Thirteen-year-old Min is horrified by the news that her older brother is suspected of going AWOL from his military spaceship in order to chase down the legendary Dragon Pearl, a magical artifact that is supposed to be capable of creating, transforming, and destroying planets. Min doesn't believe
This book has a lot going on in it plot-wise. There's intrigue as Min tries to figure out her brother's past and the motives of the people around her now. She forms unlikely alliances and deals with false friends.
In terms of character development though, it doesn't seem like there's much. Most characters are pretty much the same from start to finish, even if their actions change from time to time. Even Min herself only has brief moments of introspection about what she's doing. I also thought/hope we might get more of the relationships between Min and her family members, but that ends fairly early on. For those reasons, I didn't love this as much as I could have.
Still, it is a fast-paced adventure with elements of fantasy (e.g., magic) and science fiction (e.g., blasters). As one of the Rick Riordan Presents novels, it is steeped in mythology. In this case, it is a mix of Korean culture and East Asian myths. It's really important to have those stories out there, widening the representation in children's literature so that more kids can see themselves in the books they read. (And so that more kids can learn about the various ways of being, including cultural differences.)
I'm not the target audience (neither a tween nor a big fantasy buff), but I could definitely see a lot of young readers enjoying this book, especially those who are fans of the Harry Potter and Percy Jackson series.
For the audiobook listener, the narrator here did a good job of being very engaging and infusing an injection of liveliness to all of Min's adventures. The print version has a pronunciation guide at the back of the book (which I personally think should be at the front to actually be more helpful). It also has some pencil drawings at the top of each new chapter, which feature a rotating cast of a fox, a dragon, a tiger, and what I assume is a goblin of some sort.
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that her brother is capable of ill-doing and luckily she is a fox spirit, so she uses her magic to try and track him down. As she shapeshifts and uses Charm to bend others to her will to some degree, Min comes across gamblers, mercenaries, ghosts, dragons, tigers, and goblins. But will she ever find her brother Jun?This book has a lot going on in it plot-wise. There's intrigue as Min tries to figure out her brother's past and the motives of the people around her now. She forms unlikely alliances and deals with false friends.
In terms of character development though, it doesn't seem like there's much. Most characters are pretty much the same from start to finish, even if their actions change from time to time. Even Min herself only has brief moments of introspection about what she's doing. I also thought/hope we might get more of the relationships between Min and her family members, but that ends fairly early on. For those reasons, I didn't love this as much as I could have.
Still, it is a fast-paced adventure with elements of fantasy (e.g., magic) and science fiction (e.g., blasters). As one of the Rick Riordan Presents novels, it is steeped in mythology. In this case, it is a mix of Korean culture and East Asian myths. It's really important to have those stories out there, widening the representation in children's literature so that more kids can see themselves in the books they read. (And so that more kids can learn about the various ways of being, including cultural differences.)
I'm not the target audience (neither a tween nor a big fantasy buff), but I could definitely see a lot of young readers enjoying this book, especially those who are fans of the Harry Potter and Percy Jackson series.
For the audiobook listener, the narrator here did a good job of being very engaging and infusing an injection of liveliness to all of Min's adventures. The print version has a pronunciation guide at the back of the book (which I personally think should be at the front to actually be more helpful). It also has some pencil drawings at the top of each new chapter, which feature a rotating cast of a fox, a dragon, a tiger, and what I assume is a goblin of some sort.
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LibraryThing member ewyatt
Min is disturbed when an inspector shows up at her house saying that her brother has left his duty as part of the Space Forces perhaps in search of the Dragon Pearl, a powerful orb that can terraform worlds. Min is having a hard time hiding her magic. She's a fox and can shapeshift. Her adventure
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to find her brother takes her to gambling halls, encountering pirates and navigating life as a cadet in the Space Forces. Show Less
LibraryThing member GRgenius
The Dragon Pearl...Myth. Legend. Reality?
Perhaps, but whether it is the creator or destroyer of worlds all depends on the hands in which it dwells. Once upon a time, there was an artifact of legend that fell into darkness. It's location remained unknown for so long, many doubted it ever existed,
When you crack the spine on this one, be ready for adventure in all its beautiful colors. There's high flying space battles with fiery ends, otherworldly mysteries that could crystallize the most stalwart of souls, and family bonds so precious no distance can keep them apart. There are new acquaintances made with family formerly unknown (with good reason, as we learn), so many lies told it'll be hard to keep the truth in sight, gi's tested to their limits, and enough latrines scrubbed this girl should open her own cleaning service! Seriously though, it's much more than it may at first seem and it already spikes your interest at first glance, so that's saying something...but beyond the Fiction, there's a lot of FACT with the lessons it teaches us about the world being better off in harmony, keeping our deceptions to a minimum, and accepting others for who they are not what you may have heard. Keep an eye out for the different types of spirits and magic running about, as they each have their own "flavor", their own razzle dazzle, and their own set of rules they live by.
In short, I loved the world building, the histories, the magic, and everything in between. What begins as a simple story to uncover the fate of a beloved brother, turns into a fight for not just their lives, but those of every other WORLD. Power is a funny beast...in the right hands, the possibilities are endless, but in the wrong hands, the devastation is unimaginable. Prepare for battle when you crack the spine on this one and strap in for one heck of a ride!
**ARC received for review, eaten by Hurricane Michael, but outsmarted by this reader by nabbing an ecopy on NetGalley
Perhaps, but whether it is the creator or destroyer of worlds all depends on the hands in which it dwells. Once upon a time, there was an artifact of legend that fell into darkness. It's location remained unknown for so long, many doubted it ever existed,
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but there are always those looking for a challenge...though their intentions are as varied as their heritage. When you crack the spine on this one, be ready for adventure in all its beautiful colors. There's high flying space battles with fiery ends, otherworldly mysteries that could crystallize the most stalwart of souls, and family bonds so precious no distance can keep them apart. There are new acquaintances made with family formerly unknown (with good reason, as we learn), so many lies told it'll be hard to keep the truth in sight, gi's tested to their limits, and enough latrines scrubbed this girl should open her own cleaning service! Seriously though, it's much more than it may at first seem and it already spikes your interest at first glance, so that's saying something...but beyond the Fiction, there's a lot of FACT with the lessons it teaches us about the world being better off in harmony, keeping our deceptions to a minimum, and accepting others for who they are not what you may have heard. Keep an eye out for the different types of spirits and magic running about, as they each have their own "flavor", their own razzle dazzle, and their own set of rules they live by.
In short, I loved the world building, the histories, the magic, and everything in between. What begins as a simple story to uncover the fate of a beloved brother, turns into a fight for not just their lives, but those of every other WORLD. Power is a funny beast...in the right hands, the possibilities are endless, but in the wrong hands, the devastation is unimaginable. Prepare for battle when you crack the spine on this one and strap in for one heck of a ride!
**ARC received for review, eaten by Hurricane Michael, but outsmarted by this reader by nabbing an ecopy on NetGalley
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LibraryThing member JennyNau10
Mix Science Fiction with Korean mythology and you get the Dragon Pearl. Thirteen year old Min sneaks away from her home world to investigate her older brother’s disappearance and supposed desertion from the Space Forces. She is also a fox with special powers. Most of the universe in this story
Min assumes the identity of a recently deceased cadet whose ghost wants her to find out who is responsible for his death. Min is not the only supernatural being aboard. The Space Forces, pirates, and mercenaries are all looking for the Dragon Pearl, a mythical object that can create and/or destroy worlds and it is quite the adventure!
My only complaint is that since this is the first in the series the plot drags at some points as they set up characters for the next books in the series.
I would recommend this book for fans of fantasy, science-fiction, and mythology in grades 4 and up. You could read it aloud to interested younger kids too.
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have different abilities and appear as a human though they are different animals such as tigers and dragons. Min can shape-shift into other people as well as inanimate objects. When she arrives on her brother’s ship, Min assumes the identity of a recently deceased cadet whose ghost wants her to find out who is responsible for his death. Min is not the only supernatural being aboard. The Space Forces, pirates, and mercenaries are all looking for the Dragon Pearl, a mythical object that can create and/or destroy worlds and it is quite the adventure!
My only complaint is that since this is the first in the series the plot drags at some points as they set up characters for the next books in the series.
I would recommend this book for fans of fantasy, science-fiction, and mythology in grades 4 and up. You could read it aloud to interested younger kids too.
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LibraryThing member Tsana
Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee is a space fantasy book aimed at younger readers. It's the first in a series and is entirely unrelated to Yoon Ha Lee's other books, which are adult science fiction. I don't generally read much middle grade, but I picked this one up mainly because of the author. I'd say
Dragon Pearl follows Min as she sets out on an illicit adventure to find out what really happened to her brother. She sets off with almost nothing other than her fox-based shape-shifting magic and magical Charm, and finds herself very far away from her home planet. It was a fun space adventure involving morally ambiguous adults, new friends and dangerous situations. I enjoyed it a lot and I look forward to any sequels that may be forthcoming. Although the story is quite self-contained, it sets up a possible series and I definitely want to read those other stories.
As well as not being a big middle-grade reader, I also tend to steer away from space fantasy books, having been burned a few times before. To be honest, I wasn't sure how strong the fantasy element would be before I started reading, but I was assuming it would mostly be science fiction. It is set on other planets and in space, so it's science fiction if that's your definition of it. But the world building is very deeply steeped in Korean folklore and the associated magic. The story very prominently involves shapeshifting supernaturals and ghosts, and the titular pearl is a magical terraforming device. This worldbuilding worked for me very well. It felt very consistent — perhaps because it's directly based on real mythology rather than being entirely fictional. (I am trying very hard not to name the authors that previously ruined magic in space for me, can you tell?)
I highly recommend Dragon Pearl to fans of science fiction and fantasy, especially space adventures. Readers who are already fans of Korean folklore, or just want to learn more about it, will also find much to like here. I hope I will have the opportunity to give this book to my niece before she outgrows it.
4.5 / 5 stars
You can read more of my reviews on my blog.
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its also at the older end of the category: the protagonist is thirteen years old, but spends much of the book pretending to be sixteen, so there is a bit of a YA feel to it as well.Dragon Pearl follows Min as she sets out on an illicit adventure to find out what really happened to her brother. She sets off with almost nothing other than her fox-based shape-shifting magic and magical Charm, and finds herself very far away from her home planet. It was a fun space adventure involving morally ambiguous adults, new friends and dangerous situations. I enjoyed it a lot and I look forward to any sequels that may be forthcoming. Although the story is quite self-contained, it sets up a possible series and I definitely want to read those other stories.
As well as not being a big middle-grade reader, I also tend to steer away from space fantasy books, having been burned a few times before. To be honest, I wasn't sure how strong the fantasy element would be before I started reading, but I was assuming it would mostly be science fiction. It is set on other planets and in space, so it's science fiction if that's your definition of it. But the world building is very deeply steeped in Korean folklore and the associated magic. The story very prominently involves shapeshifting supernaturals and ghosts, and the titular pearl is a magical terraforming device. This worldbuilding worked for me very well. It felt very consistent — perhaps because it's directly based on real mythology rather than being entirely fictional. (I am trying very hard not to name the authors that previously ruined magic in space for me, can you tell?)
I highly recommend Dragon Pearl to fans of science fiction and fantasy, especially space adventures. Readers who are already fans of Korean folklore, or just want to learn more about it, will also find much to like here. I hope I will have the opportunity to give this book to my niece before she outgrows it.
4.5 / 5 stars
You can read more of my reviews on my blog.
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LibraryThing member StigE
Coming to this as a fan of Yoon Ha Lee from his adult Sci-Fi I was confused by the "Rick Riordan presents.." and the unnecessary foreword by Riordan.
Taking Korean characters from myths and placing them in a space opera series sounds like a stretch, but the author manages to make it work
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seamlessly. I will be keeping my eyes peeled for the sequels. Show Less
LibraryThing member Jean_Sexton
While written for middle grade readers, *this* is what good literature is. Take a dose of what Heinlein's young adult fiction was, mix it with Korean folklore, add in a strong female protagonist, and you get this book. I honestly cannot recommend it enough. The science fiction aspect was strong,
Highly recommended to anyone who likes science fiction.
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but the fantasy elements through folklore blended right in to a well drawn world. I read this far too late into the night because it had such a compelling story. And when I finished it, I went to see if the sequel had been published yet. It hasn't, but the author is on my watch list and I will get it the moment it becomes available.Highly recommended to anyone who likes science fiction.
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LibraryThing member ladycato
Dragon Pearl is a vivid, wonderfully original middle grade book that melds space opera with traditional Korean mythology. Min is a rebellious 13-year-old girl from a family of fox spirits, considered the lowest of the low in society. When her family gets news that her older brother deserted the
I had some difficulty getting into the book at first simply because of Min's nature. I love reading (and writing) about fox spirits, but not as the main character; as someone of lawful good characteristics myself, their chaotic trickster ways turn me off. Min does a number of outright foolhardy things initially, but about a third of the way in, things really got going and she started to mature a lot more, and I was hooked.
I can see why this garnered a lot of buzz along with a Norton finalist nod. Yoon Ha Lee is a great writer, and that shows here. The blend of science fiction and fantasy ended up being a lot of fun.
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space force, she can't believe it. After somewhat of an altercation with a space force investigator at her house, she sets off to find out the truth about her brother's disappearance.I had some difficulty getting into the book at first simply because of Min's nature. I love reading (and writing) about fox spirits, but not as the main character; as someone of lawful good characteristics myself, their chaotic trickster ways turn me off. Min does a number of outright foolhardy things initially, but about a third of the way in, things really got going and she started to mature a lot more, and I was hooked.
I can see why this garnered a lot of buzz along with a Norton finalist nod. Yoon Ha Lee is a great writer, and that shows here. The blend of science fiction and fantasy ended up being a lot of fun.
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LibraryThing member Salsabrarian
Korean culture and folklore in a science fiction space setting. Min learns that her brother Jun may have deserted the Space Forces in search of the powerful Dragon Pearl. Min doesn’t believe her brother would desert his post and responsibilities and goes off to track him down, using Charm to help
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her pass by barriers and people of authority. She goes as far as impersonating a Space Forces cadet to dig deeper into Jun’s fate. Notably this novel seamlessly features gender neutral characters (Sujin, a medic), and gender fluidity. Author creates a believable world peopled by Korean humans and supernaturals. Plenty of forward motion in plot as Min pursues her brother Jun. Show Less
LibraryThing member acargile
This is another novel being published by Rick Riordan. He wants to publish “highly entertaining books by authors from underrepresented cultures and backgrounds, to allow them to tell their own stories inspired by the mythology, folklore, and culture of their heritage.” This novel uses the South
Min is very confident and headstrong. She and her family live on a planet that was never fully finished. The dragons didn’t give enough plants or anything healthy on her planet and they don’t seems to intend to do so. Life is hard and the air is so bad, everyone wears a mask. When a man arrives and says that her brother, Jun, deserted from the Spaces Forces, Min refuses to believe it. She immediately runs away to find him and clear his name. Running away isn’t easy. He’s in the Space Force, which is IN SPACE! As a shape-shifter, she can become whatever she needs and her ability to charm people is helpful as well. She’s actually a fox, which is famous for not be trustworthy. She’s got to get on space ships and somehow get to where Jun has supposedly gone.
Min is able to get to the Space Force and impersonate a dead cadet. It’s on the spaceship where she is able to put clues together. She’s very lucky that ends up on the same ship her brother had been on. Her goal is to get the ghosts who guard the Dragon Pearl so that her brother will be exonerated. The Dragon Pearl can bring plants and a good atmosphere to her planet. In the end, she plans to prove her brother is not a deserter and make her home planet better.
As always, I purposefully leave a lot of information out, so there are no spoilers here! It’s a very cute novel. Min is a lucky girl; you’ll need to suspend your disbelief (use your imagination) because she’s always in the right place. She should be dead or locked up early in the novel, but she’s able to push her way through, usually through her charm. The novel ends, but there will be a book two. I would give it about a 5 out of 10.
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Korean folktales about shape-shifting humans.Min is very confident and headstrong. She and her family live on a planet that was never fully finished. The dragons didn’t give enough plants or anything healthy on her planet and they don’t seems to intend to do so. Life is hard and the air is so bad, everyone wears a mask. When a man arrives and says that her brother, Jun, deserted from the Spaces Forces, Min refuses to believe it. She immediately runs away to find him and clear his name. Running away isn’t easy. He’s in the Space Force, which is IN SPACE! As a shape-shifter, she can become whatever she needs and her ability to charm people is helpful as well. She’s actually a fox, which is famous for not be trustworthy. She’s got to get on space ships and somehow get to where Jun has supposedly gone.
Min is able to get to the Space Force and impersonate a dead cadet. It’s on the spaceship where she is able to put clues together. She’s very lucky that ends up on the same ship her brother had been on. Her goal is to get the ghosts who guard the Dragon Pearl so that her brother will be exonerated. The Dragon Pearl can bring plants and a good atmosphere to her planet. In the end, she plans to prove her brother is not a deserter and make her home planet better.
As always, I purposefully leave a lot of information out, so there are no spoilers here! It’s a very cute novel. Min is a lucky girl; you’ll need to suspend your disbelief (use your imagination) because she’s always in the right place. She should be dead or locked up early in the novel, but she’s able to push her way through, usually through her charm. The novel ends, but there will be a book two. I would give it about a 5 out of 10.
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LibraryThing member jmoncton
Rick Riordan has entertained thousands of children with his Lightning Thief series that merges Greek Mythology with fast-paced adventure. It was such a success that there are series featuring Roman and Egyptian gods. Now, a new imprint, Rick Riordan presents, offers an assortment of adventure books
Thank you Libro.fm for the complementary ALC.
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featuring origin stories and myths from different cultures. And this is the latest release! Yoon Ha Lee has written a fast-paced tale that is labeled as a Space Opera with elements of Korean mythology. I loved the space aspect of it, complete with exploration of other planets, epic space battles, lasers and canons. But the added dimension of fox-spirits, ghosts, dragons, and other mythical beings made this a perfect melding of an exciting future world with the magical traditional twist.Thank you Libro.fm for the complementary ALC.
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LibraryThing member Stevil2001
This is a fantasy novel with space opera trappings. Basically the premise of its world is: what if Korean mythology was true... but it was the future and humanity had colonized space? Thus we have a fox spirit main character, and once she goes aboard a Space Forces starship, she meets tigers and
It fits into the Star Wars archetype: Min is from a backwater planet and yearns for more. When she finds out her brother (in the Space Forces) has been branded a traitor, she follows him into space, using her fox powers to charm others and disguise herself. The beginning of the book is a bit one-thing-after-another in a way I found relentless: Min accidentally falls in with police she must play along with; she escapes from into working at a casino; she escapes from there into an under-attack spaceship; and so on. It all felt a bit too constructed, and there was little room for reflection. Things even out, though, once she disguises herself as a Space Force cadet, and makes friends that she must systematically lie to in order to continue her investigations. Her on the ship was my favorite part of the book, and where I felt it got the most interesting. In the end, things wrap up with a series of reversals-- not all of them expected, which was good-- but of course you'll be unsurprised to learn that Min triumphs. I didn't think it was great, but I did think it was fun, and unique.
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demons and dragons serving among a predominantly human crew. The ship runs on flows of luck energy; if there's a ghost aboard, it loses battles because of the bad luck. That worldbuilding, the way the novel mixed fantasy underpinnings with sf tropes, was probably my favorite part of it.It fits into the Star Wars archetype: Min is from a backwater planet and yearns for more. When she finds out her brother (in the Space Forces) has been branded a traitor, she follows him into space, using her fox powers to charm others and disguise herself. The beginning of the book is a bit one-thing-after-another in a way I found relentless: Min accidentally falls in with police she must play along with; she escapes from into working at a casino; she escapes from there into an under-attack spaceship; and so on. It all felt a bit too constructed, and there was little room for reflection. Things even out, though, once she disguises herself as a Space Force cadet, and makes friends that she must systematically lie to in order to continue her investigations. Her on the ship was my favorite part of the book, and where I felt it got the most interesting. In the end, things wrap up with a series of reversals-- not all of them expected, which was good-- but of course you'll be unsurprised to learn that Min triumphs. I didn't think it was great, but I did think it was fun, and unique.
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LibraryThing member greeniezona
Okay, after how much I loved the Machineries of Empire trilogy, when I heard about this book I knew I'd have to buy it. I added it to the bedtime story shelf and my nine-year-old picked it out fairly quickly.
For some strange reason, this was one bedtime story book that my husband and I were more
Anyway, this story takes place in a universe were most settled planets have been terraformed -- some better than others. The planet Min grew up on was one where things have not gone so well. When her older brother is accused of going awol in search of a mystical item (the dragon pearl) that could fix their planet, she sets off on a mission to find him and the truth.
An engaging blend of science fiction and fantasy -- there are spaceships and military technology, but also Korean folklore -- people with fox spirits who can shapeshift and charm people, goblins with gifts for chemistry and who can summon food out of the air, ghosts, and more. There really is just so much here, and it all folds together so skillfully. Lee's worldbuilding is exemplary, and as in the Machineries of Empire trilogy, so built on the unique humanity of each character.
A pronunciation guide in the back for many of the Korean names, foods, and concepts is very handy for anyone, but especially those reading this aloud. This was such a great addition to our bedtime story tradition.
For some strange reason, this was one bedtime story book that my husband and I were more
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into than the kids were. I mean, they liked it, but they went away to grandma's for nearly a month during summer vacation while we were in the middle of reading it, and my husband (who reads barely a book a year), actually couldn't wait for them to come back and read the rest of it on his own.Anyway, this story takes place in a universe were most settled planets have been terraformed -- some better than others. The planet Min grew up on was one where things have not gone so well. When her older brother is accused of going awol in search of a mystical item (the dragon pearl) that could fix their planet, she sets off on a mission to find him and the truth.
An engaging blend of science fiction and fantasy -- there are spaceships and military technology, but also Korean folklore -- people with fox spirits who can shapeshift and charm people, goblins with gifts for chemistry and who can summon food out of the air, ghosts, and more. There really is just so much here, and it all folds together so skillfully. Lee's worldbuilding is exemplary, and as in the Machineries of Empire trilogy, so built on the unique humanity of each character.
A pronunciation guide in the back for many of the Korean names, foods, and concepts is very handy for anyone, but especially those reading this aloud. This was such a great addition to our bedtime story tradition.
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LibraryThing member bibliovermis
Like most books in the Rick Riordan presents imprint, this was a really exciting story. It was very enaging, with a fascinating blend of science fiction and Korean mythology—usually these books are pretty set in the "fantasy" wheelhouse, so this was a really cool twist! Also, a lot of these books
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are about a young person being suddenly thrust into a fantastical world of magic and myth, and learning about cool powers and abilities they have, but in this one the world and powers are very well established parts of the main character, Min's, life. So it got to explore a whole different aspect of a fantastical adventure, not just the usual "origin story". Show Less
LibraryThing member reader1009
diverse middlegrade fantasy/adventure in space (Asia-inspired space universe includes incidentally non-binary gendered characters, created by #ownvoices Korean-American nonbinary author; protagonist is a 13-y.o. runaway looking for her brother)
enjoyable space cadet adventure with shape-shifting
enjoyable space cadet adventure with shape-shifting
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mythological beings. In this universe, gender-neutral beings are as common as (and have equal status to) males and females, and everyone knows from their nametags to use (they, them, their) pronouns. Show Less
LibraryThing member mutantpudding
Really good! Blend of mythology, scifi, and culture resulting in an exciting and compelling story.
LibraryThing member wunder
I really liked the characters, the world, but...everything keeps being a success, regardless how risky or unlikely. Even bad things are a success. That just intruded on my immersion in the story.
Otherwise, great.
Oh, and skip the Rick Riordan two-page intro. He gives away too much. Skip to the real
Otherwise, great.
Oh, and skip the Rick Riordan two-page intro. He gives away too much. Skip to the real
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beginning of the story. Show Less
LibraryThing member AlbaArango
When 13-year-old-Min discovers that her brother has gone AWOL from the Space Forces, she runs away from home to find him and clear his name. Using fox-magic (something her mom has always disapproved of), she shape-shifts and uses Charm, and finally ends up aboard her brother’s battle cruiser
What I liked: loved learning about Korean folklore (something I know very little about). The author weaves it effortlessly throughout the story. I also liked the diversity of characters, and the plot was very interesting. (Combining a space opera with Korean Folklore is super cool!)
What I didn’t like: for much of the book, the main character over uses her Charm gift… to the point that I began to wonder if she could actually use her brain to get out of difficult situations. The middle of the book is pretty slow, and bogged down with little scenes that don’t really add to the story.
All-in-all, a fairly good book.
3.5 out of 5 stars
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under the ruse of a “boy” named Jang. But as she (as Jang) gets closer to discovering the truth about what happened to her brother, she uncovers a web of secrets that puts her life, and the lives of her new friends, in danger.What I liked: loved learning about Korean folklore (something I know very little about). The author weaves it effortlessly throughout the story. I also liked the diversity of characters, and the plot was very interesting. (Combining a space opera with Korean Folklore is super cool!)
What I didn’t like: for much of the book, the main character over uses her Charm gift… to the point that I began to wonder if she could actually use her brain to get out of difficult situations. The middle of the book is pretty slow, and bogged down with little scenes that don’t really add to the story.
All-in-all, a fairly good book.
3.5 out of 5 stars
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LibraryThing member fred_mouse
This is an amazingly twisty turny fantasy in space, with dragons and shapeshifters, and other supernatural beings. I love the way that Lee has incorporated Korean mythology into the far future setting. Beautiful writing, flawless pacing, so many wonderful characters, and complex world-building --
I did have issues with some of the decisions that our protagonist, Min, makes, but that has more to do with them being 13 and well over their head.
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all the things I want in a story. I did have issues with some of the decisions that our protagonist, Min, makes, but that has more to do with them being 13 and well over their head.
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LibraryThing member jennybeast
Quality shapeshifter science fiction adventure! I love how the story is so deeply rooted in Korean mythology and traditions. I particularly love how the ship engineering technology is based on chi and energy flow and luck traditions -- that is fascinating. Min is such a stubbornly endearing
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character -- she does read a little older than 13, but she's also just a strong and resilient young woman. Very good! Show Less
Subjects
Awards
Andre Norton Nebula Award for Middle Grade and Young Adult Fiction (Finalist — 2019)
Locus Award (Finalist — Young Adult Novel — 2020)
Mythopoeic Awards (Finalist — Children's Literature — 2020)
Pacific Northwest Library Association Young Reader's Choice Award (Nominee — Junior — 2022)
South Dakota Children's Book Awards (Nominee — 2021)
Oregon Reader's Choice Award (Nominee — 2022)
Isinglass Teen Read Award (Nominee — 2021)
Lodestar Award (Nominee — 2020)
Chicago Public Library Best of the Best: Kids (Fiction for Older Readers — 2019)
Language
Original publication date
2019-01-15
ISBN
136801335X / 9781368013352