I love that this short story not only encompassed a part of Chinese culture and mythology, but also the immigration experience and some of the difficulties in combining the two realities. As someone who has no experience (and never will) with either reality, I really liked the insight that Wongwas able to provide whilst also just writing a phenomenal short story that I didn’t want to end.
The idea of feeding the ghosts to help them move on is absolutely beautiful and I really enjoyed learning about how they are able to progress to the next part of their afterlife. It also made ghosts less scary, and far more sympathetic. I would’ve though a story about exorcising ghosts was going to be scary. But, instead, I found it incredibly peaceful.
Death and afterlife understandings and rituals are always something that have fascinated me. How do people move on and process loss? I like that Olivia’s Table is all about mourning the lost, and letting people move on, both the living and the dead. Wonderfully enjoyable and definitely a short story that I look forward to reading again in the future!
Ancient China, Han Dynasty. A slave girl saves the life of an ageing dragon and escapes her brutal master. Pursued by a ruthless dragon hunter, the girl and the dragon make an epic journey across China carrying a mysterious stone that must be protected. This is the story of a young slave girl who believes she is not worthy of a name but finds within herself the strength and courage to make this perilous journey – and do what must be done.
This is the first book I’ve ever read that I sat up all night long to finish. So, as an adult, I wanted to see if I was just as hooked as the first time I read it. I wasn’t quite, but I was still very much in love and hooked. The journey is intense, Ping’s journey of self discovery is sweet and the creation of her relationship with Danzi, it was seriously enjoyable. That’s not even to mention the world building and story line that Wilkinson is able to weave.
Dragonkeeper is a great adventure story that will keep you on your toes. Ping and Danzi go on a very epic journey that takes them from mountain to coast. And you are just… swept along with them. The challenges and the difficulties that they face are scary and kind of intense at times. But, when push comes to shove, this is an incredibly G-rated book that, even though it talks about some horrible moments, is filled with a tempering of hope and growth.
I love that this book focuses on a young girl in a world that traditionally ignores girls. And that she is able to not only discover her name and destiny, but find her own strength and friendship. It’s a pretty typical young adult book in a lot of ways having this as a key feature. But it was the first such book I ever read like this. The first book that reminded me that as a girl, I had amazing power and strength. You kind of go on that journey of discovery along with Ping, particularly reading this as a young girl.
Although I didn’t sit up all night long reading this, I did still love it just as much as the first time I read it. The whole knowing what happens in the end made it a little easier to put this aside and actually go to sleep. But, it was still an amazing journey. And now I need to dig out the rest of the books in this series…
Title: The Phoenix’s Fault Author: Cynthia So In: Proud (Juno Dawson) Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Chinese mythology, LGBTQI, Romance Dates read: 15th August 2021 Pace: Medium Format: Short story Publisher: Little Tiger Year: 2019 5th sentence, 74th page: An infinite variety of them, as manifold as human hearts.
All those with a phoenix are supposed to present themselves to the Emperor and his dragon. But Chilli Oil and her owner don’t want to do that… they’ve got their heart set on someone else.
There was a great intersection of Chinese mythology in this story. The use of the dragon and phoenix as symbols of marriage and happiness. What I enjoyed most though was the way in which the author was able to use this symbol to show another kind of marriage and happiness.
I desperately was hoping for a happy ending to this story. Considering the collection it was in, I thought it might happen. But, honestly, up until I turned that final page… I just wasn’t sure.
The imagery in this story was brilliantly done. And the way that the mother accepts her daughter… just beautiful. Definitely a short story that I will read again.
Title: Red Phoenix Author: Kylie Chan Series: Dark Heavens Trilogy #2, Dark Heavens #2 Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Australian authors, Chinese mythology, Demons, Gods Dates read: 3rd – 9th December 2019 Pace: Fast Format: Novel Publisher: Voyager Year: 2007 5th sentence, 74th page: We moved the Wudang Academy from the Mountain to here in Hong Kong.
IMMORTALS, MARTIAL ARTS, GODS AND DEMONS
The intrigue deepens as the demon threat closes around mortals and gods alike…
When Emma Donahoe took the position of nanny to John Chen’s daughter Simone, she never expected to be caring for the child of a Chinese god, and she didn’t expect that demons would want him dead. Nor has moving from nanny to partner in his heavenly realm made Emma’s life any easier.
Now a powerful race of demons has been created to hunt her and her family from Hong Kong to Europe. And she and Simone have become targets – pawns to be used in a deadly celestial power play.
It’s been a long time since I read this. And now I’m remembering why Dark Heavens is one of my all time favourite series. I think that come the new year (since my TBR starts again at the turn of the year) this will be the first series I sink my teeth into. There is just an amazing style, writing and storyline to this story. It is intense, fast-paced and filled with a great sense of humour. Which, since Chan is an Australian author, it’s the kind of humour that I love and recognise.
I picked this up in the week that I was not only feeling a little sad, but I was also feeling really, really sick. Normally I read a booka day, plus get all of my work and housework sorted. Yet, I’ve barely been able to pick up a book. So sinking myself into the world of Emma, John, Simone and their incredibly off-centre family was the perfect anecdote for my horrible week. There’s nothing like a well-loved story to help pick you up.
I knew it from White Tiger, but Red Phoenixhighlights how truly insane Emma is. I’m all for doing anything in the name of love… but what she does and gives up in the name of her love… I actually can’t fathom that. Which of course, makes this a brilliant book because it takes me to places that I would never willingly go myself (even though it’s actually not possible… but you get my drift). I also love that she is so loyal. Everything she does is in honour of the people she treasures. That part I can actually completely understand.
This is the book in which Michael first joins the family. He’s such a great addition to the storyline, and, if memory serves me (it’s been a long time since I’ve read the books), he becomes a really powerful character within the storyline. The web of family, relations and loyalties is getting more and more complex, and this is exactly why I love this series so much. The connections between the modern world and the mythical. And the relationships between father and son, father and daughter, so on and so forth.
Earth and Skye 