Overall, I found Forest of a Thousand Lanterns stronger than Kingdom of the Blazing Phoenix, but mostly because it's more interesting to see someone's transition from meek peasant to powerful empress. Kingdom does continue Xifeng's story, but from Jade's (Snow White) perspective as she seeks to overthrow her stepmother. Together, these tales make a powerful journey of self discovery and bravery. I'm interested to see how the upcoming (Nov 2019) companion book, Song of the Crimson Flower, ties in!
Saturday, May 4, 2019
Rise of the Empress Duology
Snow White has always been one of my less favorite/least known fairy tales - it's a basic story, but sometimes Snow feels too pure and good, and therefore boring. In contrast, Snow White retellings are some of my favorites, because contemporary authors tend to bring new complexity and depth to a simple tale of "good" vs "evil". Plus, many retellings include origins for the Evil Queen, giving her life beyond evil stepmother. The Rise of the Empress duology does just this, showing the reader how a person can become a monster, and how complicated girls are sometimes brushed off as innocent. The inclusion of East Asian fantasy elements adds more layers to this classic tale, making it a rich and beautiful adventure.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)