Magic and Medieval China? Sign me up. The easternmost end of the Great Wall is called the Old Dragon's Head because it looks like the (blocky) head of a dragon drinking from the water it ends in. In this story, the young Bolin is working on the Great Wall, which is less one big wall as it is a series of walls that start, stop, start, stop, and sometimes connect. But with the noble goal of holding off the fierce Mongolian invaders, which (spoiler alert) they don't. There is as much trouble within as there is without. Bolin has visions called his yin-yang eyes, which he certainly does not want. And then, there is imperial intrigue as powerful men fight for power, the ultimate authority being the Old Dragon. You have the interweaving of both history and myth as this fantastical tale is set within the backdrop of accurate historical context with names that are familiar to anyone who has read about medieval China. This plot is not simple, either! There are many moving pieces and motivators, and people all have their own interests and concerns. I had to reread some parts more than once to commit details to memory because there is simply so much happening simultaneously. But I loved how myth and reality intersected, and the characters are all so beautifully written.
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- Reviewed in the United States on May 30, 2023Format: Paperback
