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The Dragon #2
The Dragon Queen
From the bestselling author of Daughters of the Dragon comes the story of one of the most extraordinary queens in history.
As tensions rise on the Korean peninsula, US diplomat Nate Simon is sent to Seoul to gauge the political situation and advise the president. He also needs to find out why someone sent the president an ancient, intricately carved comb with an ivory inlay of a two-headed dragon. Though familiar with Korea’s language and culture, Nate knows little of its troubled history. Beautiful and mysterious embassy aide Anna Carlson believes it’s time he learns, starting with the extraordinary story of Korea’s last queen.
Seoul, 1866. The beautiful orphan Ja-young is chosen to be the child bride of Gojong, Korea’s boy king. Highly intelligent but shy, Ja-young faces a choice: she can be a stone queen—silent and submissive—or she can be a dragon queen and oppose enemies and empires that try to rule Korea during the age of imperialism. Her choice leads her to forge a legend that will endure far beyond her lifetime.
The more Nate discovers, the more he comes to realize that Queen Min’s story is still relevant today. Now the choice is up to him: be submissive and accepting…or change the world.
As tensions rise on the Korean peninsula, US diplomat Nate Simon is sent to Seoul to gauge the political situation and advise the president. He also needs to find out why someone sent the president an ancient, intricately carved comb with an ivory inlay of a two-headed dragon. Though familiar with Korea’s language and culture, Nate knows little of its troubled history. Beautiful and mysterious embassy aide Anna Carlson believes it’s time he learns, starting with the extraordinary story of Korea’s last queen.
Seoul, 1866. The beautiful orphan Ja-young is chosen to be the child bride of Gojong, Korea’s boy king. Highly intelligent but shy, Ja-young faces a choice: she can be a stone queen—silent and submissive—or she can be a dragon queen and oppose enemies and empires that try to rule Korea during the age of imperialism. Her choice leads her to forge a legend that will endure far beyond her lifetime.
The more Nate discovers, the more he comes to realize that Queen Min’s story is still relevant today. Now the choice is up to him: be submissive and accepting…or change the world.
322 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 6, 2018
About the author
William Andrews
5 books109 followersBill Andrews has a strong connection to Korea – his daughter who arrived from the Land of the Morning Calm as a cheerful, smart, four-month-old. Since then, Bill has been fascinated by Korea.
For over 30 years, Bill was a copywriter and a marketing/brand executive with several Fortune 500 companies. For fifteen years, he ran his own advertising agency. At night and on weekends (and sometimes during the workday!) Bill wrote fiction. Bill’s first novel titled The Essential Truth won first place in the Mayhaven Contest for unpublished fiction. His second novel, The Dirty Truth, was published in winter 2015. As of Ye 2015, Daughters of the Dragon has sold over 50,000 copies and has a 4.8 out of 5.0 star rating from nearly 600 reviewers on Amazon.
Today, Bill is retired from the business world and focuses on his writing. He lives in Minneapolis with his wife, an inner-city public school teacher for 32 years. And that smart, cheerful kid is now a medical doctor.
For over 30 years, Bill was a copywriter and a marketing/brand executive with several Fortune 500 companies. For fifteen years, he ran his own advertising agency. At night and on weekends (and sometimes during the workday!) Bill wrote fiction. Bill’s first novel titled The Essential Truth won first place in the Mayhaven Contest for unpublished fiction. His second novel, The Dirty Truth, was published in winter 2015. As of Ye 2015, Daughters of the Dragon has sold over 50,000 copies and has a 4.8 out of 5.0 star rating from nearly 600 reviewers on Amazon.
Today, Bill is retired from the business world and focuses on his writing. He lives in Minneapolis with his wife, an inner-city public school teacher for 32 years. And that smart, cheerful kid is now a medical doctor.
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January 26, 2019
Check out more reviews @ Perspective of a Writer...
US diplomat Nate Simon is sent to Seoul to find out why someone sent the president an ancient, carved comb with an ivory inlay of a two-headed dragon. Embassy aide Anna Carlson is the one who shares the extraordinary story of Korea’s last queen, Queen Min. Seoul, 1866. The beautiful orphan Ja-young is chosen to be the child bride of Gojong, Korea’s boy king. Highly intelligent but shy, Ja-young faces a choice: she can be a stone queen—silent and submissive—or she can be a dragon queen and oppose enemies and empires that try to rule Korea during the age of imperialism. Her choice leads her to forge a legend that will endure far beyond her lifetime.
The short review...
I don't find many books I'm interested in about Korea so I was really pleasantly surprised when Evelina @ Avalinah's Books suggested this book to me.
Right out the gate I've got to clarify a little about the story... The Dragon Queen at its heart is a historical fiction dramatizing Korea’s last queen's rise to power and the legacy she leaves behind. It's framed in this contemporary setting to give you a reference of her effect on modern-day Korea but it doesn't do much for the story, its basically social commentary. To me it was thin and I wasn't much interested in that aspect anyway so I was glad it wasn't developed more. To a reader looking for a nice balance between historical and contemporary you won't find it here. Still Ja-young's story totally drew me and I was quickly rooting for her.
I've studied different periods of Korea's history but hadn't really learned anything about this historical figure. I could imagine a lot of what the author explored actually happening... the powerful women of Korean History actually went all out and rivaled the men when they were able to consolidate and hold onto their power. I could really appreciate the people she had around her and who supported her as she worked to be a dragon queen. While this ends more realistically than happily I quite enjoyed the rise and fall of her life as she overcame the difficulties that plagued the people of Korea during this time.
Cover & Title grade -> C-
This is an indie book so obviously this cover is doing the best that it can without a ton of investment... I feel like it could totally be a photograph of Anna or Ja-young and both works to hint at the story. To be frank though I think highlighting the historical nature of the story is was more important... with an Asian motif cover showcasing vector art of the comb that caused the story to be revealed would be so much better!! Sure its about an actual historical figure so a photograph works in the sense that its saying... based on a true story, but readers who will want to read need to be drawn in by the emotions of the story, not the facts.
Why did I find The Dragon Queen story so compelling?
-The Making of a Queen.
The first part of The Dragon Queen follows Ja-young as she goes from orphan girl to a bride. Korea is cut off from the modernity of the 1800s and still follows old-fashioned traditions that will sink them if not changed. This is what Ja-young walks into and its a struggle she will battle her entire life.
-The Politics of a Dragon.
Queen Min's duty is to have an heir. Without this political clout she can easily be put out to pasture. At the same time she is struggling to combat her wily father-in-law who rules through his son, her husband. She deals with a weak man whose word is absolute law in Korea but who is connected to his father with a tie that binds.
-Pottery and Listening to the Spirit of a Thing.
The most fascinating part of the story... there is this underground group who works for Korea's good that Ja-young becomes embroiled with. For a time she leaves the palace and gets a taste of what a regular life may have been like. It's quite a poignant turning point for one where she recommits to the commitments she's accepted.
As a Writer...
How do you feel about taking a historical figure and dramatizing their life?
One of the most powerful movies I watched as a child was about Mozart. I was enchanted with this movie and would willingly come and watch it with my mom. I wanted to know what actually happened compared to what we saw. Was he really so talented? I felt for the other composer who envied him so much.
The Dragon Queen very much read for me as did this Mozart movie. It brings up questions and ideas that fit quite well with reality yet this is obviously not exactly what happened to Ja-young. I think when a story allows you to experience the plight and struggles of those you wouldn't otherwise know you are richly rewarded for reading about them even if it isn't totally true to what happened.
The Dragon Queen is about a woman WAAAAAAYYYYY before her time. She had vision and truly wanted to work together with those is power to make the best country for her people. As a poor orphan she wasn't so arrogant and blind that she couldn't see the plight of the common man and she is one reason why Korea was able to maintain their status as a separate country! Truly a fascinating look at a historical figure.
⋆ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Authenticity
⋆ ⋆ ⭐⭐⭐ Writing Style
⋆ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Plot & Pacing
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ World Building
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review. It has not influenced my opinions.
______________________
You can find this review and many others on my book blog @ Perspective of a Writer. See my special perspective at the bottom of my reviews under the typewriter...
Please like this review if you enjoyed it! *bow* *bow* It helps me out a ton!!
March 10, 2018
I had read Daughters of the Dragon by William Andrews and I thought it was outstanding. It is one of my favorite historical fiction reads. So when I saw The Dragon Queen, I didn't hesitate on reading this even though historical fiction is usually not the genre I read. The story is told over two timelines, present day Korea and Korea in the 1800s. It was a beautifully told story about Queen Min's journey. Not as powerful as the the first book but still as captivating. Another phenomenal read about Korea's history and culture.
I highly recommend this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for supplying me a copy of William Andrews' "The Dragon Queen" in exchange for an honest review.
I highly recommend this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for supplying me a copy of William Andrews' "The Dragon Queen" in exchange for an honest review.
March 19, 2018
This is an interesting format for a historical book - it's both fiction and not really fiction at the same time. With short interludes about the present day, the author tells a fictionalized historical tale through one of the characters. If you like historical novels or memoirs about Asia, you will enjoy this. It's sort of a mesh between the two, except, of course it's not a memoir, because it wasn't written by the queen herself.
Anyway, the present day parts act mostly as an afterthought, a setting for the historical bit - the tale of the last queen of Korea. And that is one epic tale! I truly enjoyed it. The novel being built as a tale told by someone in the present does not distract you from the historical parts at all. The writing is unassuming, it reads as something between fiction and nonfiction, and that's good - and with just the right amount of politics not to be bored.
However, I feel like perhaps I would have enjoyed this story more if it was set solely in the past, without the interludes from the present, but they also have their meaning in this book. I believe the author wanted to raise awareness of the fact that many Koreans want Korea to be one nation again - as hard to believe as it might seem to us in the Western world.
The Dragon Queen's story is definitely worth hearing!
I thank the publisher for giving me a free copy in exchange to my honest opinion. This does not affect my review.
Anyway, the present day parts act mostly as an afterthought, a setting for the historical bit - the tale of the last queen of Korea. And that is one epic tale! I truly enjoyed it. The novel being built as a tale told by someone in the present does not distract you from the historical parts at all. The writing is unassuming, it reads as something between fiction and nonfiction, and that's good - and with just the right amount of politics not to be bored.
However, I feel like perhaps I would have enjoyed this story more if it was set solely in the past, without the interludes from the present, but they also have their meaning in this book. I believe the author wanted to raise awareness of the fact that many Koreans want Korea to be one nation again - as hard to believe as it might seem to us in the Western world.
The Dragon Queen's story is definitely worth hearing!
I thank the publisher for giving me a free copy in exchange to my honest opinion. This does not affect my review.
May 29, 2023
Od autorky bestsellerů Dcer draka přichází příběh jedné z nejneobvyklejších královen v historii.
Hned v úvodu bych na sebe chtěla prozradit, že jsem první díl nečetla. Ale zase na druhou stranu pro další takové barbary jako jsem já, je to přínos vědět, že: Dračí královna se může číst i bez čtení předchozího dílu, vůbec to ničemu nevadí. :-) Všichni, kdo četli tak jak se má, psali, že je to o to větší zážitek, když se čte postupně. Ale já po dočtení Dračí královny vůbec nechápu, jak by první kniha mohla být ještě lepší. :-)
Od první stránky jsem byla vtažena do příběhu, postupem čtení mě linka z minulosti tak pohltila, že jsem pak byla překvapená, že se nacházím v přítomnosti. To byl neskutečný zážitek. Opravdu silný příběh, ještě teď když na knihu myslím mám husí kůži a nevím, jak ji vychválit víc. Byla vážně skvělá. Autor krásně zvládl vystihnout atmosféru Korey, tohle bylo něco fenomenálního. Chci číst víc takových dobrých knih. Já jsem jeden z těch šťastlivců, na které ještě dva další díly čekají. Jeden u nás už vyšel a na 3. díl si budeme muset počkat, ale věřím, že i u nás se bude těšit velkému ohlasu.
Děkuji za tento skvělý zážitek.
Hned v úvodu bych na sebe chtěla prozradit, že jsem první díl nečetla. Ale zase na druhou stranu pro další takové barbary jako jsem já, je to přínos vědět, že: Dračí královna se může číst i bez čtení předchozího dílu, vůbec to ničemu nevadí. :-) Všichni, kdo četli tak jak se má, psali, že je to o to větší zážitek, když se čte postupně. Ale já po dočtení Dračí královny vůbec nechápu, jak by první kniha mohla být ještě lepší. :-)
Od první stránky jsem byla vtažena do příběhu, postupem čtení mě linka z minulosti tak pohltila, že jsem pak byla překvapená, že se nacházím v přítomnosti. To byl neskutečný zážitek. Opravdu silný příběh, ještě teď když na knihu myslím mám husí kůži a nevím, jak ji vychválit víc. Byla vážně skvělá. Autor krásně zvládl vystihnout atmosféru Korey, tohle bylo něco fenomenálního. Chci číst víc takových dobrých knih. Já jsem jeden z těch šťastlivců, na které ještě dva další díly čekají. Jeden u nás už vyšel a na 3. díl si budeme muset počkat, ale věřím, že i u nás se bude těšit velkému ohlasu.
Děkuji za tento skvělý zážitek.
November 11, 2020
It's the second book of The Dragon trilogy and it was worth reading to understand the inheritance in the first book. It's about Korea's last Queen Min's story. I loved the passion and hard work she's gone through as a woman in 1800s. I know some thought there was no need for linking the story to today. This book has written as part of a series so I did not have any issue with that. But the ending was a bit odd for the story of today for me.
March 19, 2022
Ein solides Buch mit schönem historischen hintergrundwissen der asiatischen Geschichte. Ich habe mich selber ein paar Mal in der Persönlichkeit der Königen wiedergefunden und konnte einige Aspekte gut nachvollziehen, jedoch fand ich das Ende leider etwas abgehakt und leider nicht so wie ich es mir gewünscht oder vergestellt habe. Ansonsten konnte ich auch dieses Buch von william Andrew's sehr gut lesen ✨
July 19, 2018
#bookreview
Week number : 29
Book number: 60
Name: The Dragon Queen by William Anderson
Rating: 2/5
Finally finished a book after a long time. This was a long read. And not a very good or interesting read.
It is the prequel to the previous book by the author, Daughters of the Dragon. That book was interesting and eye opening, talking about the japanese occupation of Korea and the atrocities. This book talked about the last empress of Korea.
Compared to the previous book, this one was not as well written. Seeped in historical descriptions and discussions, with far too much emphasis on some random five toed two headed dragon, the story of the making of the queen and her rise and fall, was very hurried and boring. I was reading it on the Kindle and flipping pages like anything. It did not touch me or hold my interest like the other book. I didn't enjoy it but finished it as I had already invested in the series. It is mostly a waste of time. Don't bother reading.
Week number : 29
Book number: 60
Name: The Dragon Queen by William Anderson
Rating: 2/5
Finally finished a book after a long time. This was a long read. And not a very good or interesting read.
It is the prequel to the previous book by the author, Daughters of the Dragon. That book was interesting and eye opening, talking about the japanese occupation of Korea and the atrocities. This book talked about the last empress of Korea.
Compared to the previous book, this one was not as well written. Seeped in historical descriptions and discussions, with far too much emphasis on some random five toed two headed dragon, the story of the making of the queen and her rise and fall, was very hurried and boring. I was reading it on the Kindle and flipping pages like anything. It did not touch me or hold my interest like the other book. I didn't enjoy it but finished it as I had already invested in the series. It is mostly a waste of time. Don't bother reading.
June 8, 2020
This is even better than the first book; impossible to put it down once started. I could feel the spirit of Queen Min soaring within me. The ending broke my heart and l wished for a slightly different ending; an ending which Queen Min deserved better (I'm still feeling heartbroken as I'm typing this but cheers to more coffee at work tomorrow!).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 26, 2019
I won the Kindle Edition through Goodreads Giveaway! Thank you for the opportunity to read a historical-fiction read about The Last Empress of Korea.
I was really excited to read about Queen Min, The Last Empress of Korea. There is a Korean Drama called "Myeong Seong Hwang Hu" 명성황후 that aired back in 2000 about Queen Min and this instantly reminded me of that.
I was really interested in the writing style of The Dragon Queen, but at the same time, I didn't see the need for the "Present-Day" sections in this book. I could do away with it.
With that said, I feel like I have a disconnect with Queen Min and can't really relate to her. I am Korean but was born in the USA. So, I don't really know my Korean History (SMH). I am looking forward to reading more about Korean history and broadening my knowledge!
I was really excited to read about Queen Min, The Last Empress of Korea. There is a Korean Drama called "Myeong Seong Hwang Hu" 명성황후 that aired back in 2000 about Queen Min and this instantly reminded me of that.
I was really interested in the writing style of The Dragon Queen, but at the same time, I didn't see the need for the "Present-Day" sections in this book. I could do away with it.
With that said, I feel like I have a disconnect with Queen Min and can't really relate to her. I am Korean but was born in the USA. So, I don't really know my Korean History (SMH). I am looking forward to reading more about Korean history and broadening my knowledge!
August 20, 2019
The Dragon Queen captures the story of Korea’s late 1800s-era, kickass woman, Empress Myung-Sung. This is exactly the type of book I love to get lost in as it is a historical fiction. I didn’t give it five stars because there is a time line shift to present day and I just wasn’t as captivated with that story line as I was with the Empress’s. The Dragon Queen has taught me a lot about Korean history and the seemingly never ending struggle for the Korean people to rule themselves as a unified nation.
January 12, 2021
After reading Daughters of the Dragon, the first in the Dragon's series, I was excited to learn that there were two more books. The Dragon Queen is definitely worth reading and is a fantastic story that not only ties together pieces from the first book but also gives readers more insight into Korea's history. It is a fascinating story of Korea’s last queen and her legacy. I really enjoyed how William brought to life the story of Queen Min and all that she accomplished (or tried to accomplish) during her time as Queen.
January 14, 2024
Dračí královna vás celkem šikovně seznámí s příběhem skutečné královny a zároveň i historie Koreje. Díky tomu lépe pochopíte spoustu věcí, které nám doposud zastřeny. Mimo jiné i kulturu, postoje a i to, jak jsou nastaveni nebo proč je tam i tolik deprese a sebevražd.
Začátek je takový trochu zmatečný a člověk nejprve váhá, ale velmi rychle se chytne, a potom už to jede až do konce. Vložky ze současnosti nás mají jen napojit na tu minulou část. Kniha je rozhodně zajímavá, přínosná, dobře se čte a rozhodně stojí za přečtení.
Začátek je takový trochu zmatečný a člověk nejprve váhá, ale velmi rychle se chytne, a potom už to jede až do konce. Vložky ze současnosti nás mají jen napojit na tu minulou část. Kniha je rozhodně zajímavá, přínosná, dobře se čte a rozhodně stojí za přečtení.
December 15, 2023
3.5 rounding down. This was still a really interesting read, but just wasn't quite as strong as the first in the series. The modern-day storyline is, frankly, bananas. The historical timeline was much better, but the pacing felt very rushed towards the end.
May 27, 2018
Took me along time to finish - the story kept losing my interest . the present day parts didn't need to exist.
March 7, 2018
This a fantastic book. I have read and loved Daughter of the Dragon by the same author and so I was very excited about this book being released. It did not disappoint. This book is split into two perspectives; that of Nate, a US diplomat in the present day and of Ja-young, who becomes a young queen in Korea during the 1800's. Although I found Ja-young's chapters more compelling, I enjoyed the perspective of both characters and fortunately the majority of the chapters follow Ja-young. The writing is great and it was so easy to settle into the flow of the story. It also meant that this was quite a quick read because I just wanted to keep on reading to find out what happened next. Overall I really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend checking it out.
March 18, 2018
Relevant then and now
This is a wonderful book that entertains in the telling of the story of a real life historical character unknown to much of the western world. It is a lovey story but bears the important weight of imparting a really key historical lesson. He captures the nuances of classic Korean lifestyles and customs both royal and common. But most importantly he shows how Korea still is caught in the 500 year old struggle for identity and true unified I’m dependence. In light of this past year’s drama with nuclear threats back and forth between us and the present regime, nothing has changed. Economic colonialism rather than territorial colonialism is the only difference. I hope with the impending talks proposed, there can be true unification of Korea. This book with its afterword was most informative. Read this for entertainment alone but you’ll come away with a much clearer picture of the world as a whole. Excellent book.
This is a wonderful book that entertains in the telling of the story of a real life historical character unknown to much of the western world. It is a lovey story but bears the important weight of imparting a really key historical lesson. He captures the nuances of classic Korean lifestyles and customs both royal and common. But most importantly he shows how Korea still is caught in the 500 year old struggle for identity and true unified I’m dependence. In light of this past year’s drama with nuclear threats back and forth between us and the present regime, nothing has changed. Economic colonialism rather than territorial colonialism is the only difference. I hope with the impending talks proposed, there can be true unification of Korea. This book with its afterword was most informative. Read this for entertainment alone but you’ll come away with a much clearer picture of the world as a whole. Excellent book.
March 11, 2018
Korean history came alive
At first I wasn't sure I was going to like this book.....but within a few hours I could not put the book down. The characters came to life in a unique way. I was caught up in the life of young woman who would become a powerful queen. Her journey was not easy. Mr Andrews helps us enter her world and walk with her as she discovers her destiny to be a Dragon Queen.
At first I wasn't sure I was going to like this book.....but within a few hours I could not put the book down. The characters came to life in a unique way. I was caught up in the life of young woman who would become a powerful queen. Her journey was not easy. Mr Andrews helps us enter her world and walk with her as she discovers her destiny to be a Dragon Queen.
April 6, 2018
Another amazing story
I am excited to know there will be another book to follow this story. Keep writing Mr. Bill! You have provided me with knowledge about the history of a country I have not studied. Your depth of description of characters helped me know them. I could not stop reading. The wise sayings I highlighted. Thank you for the enjoyable story with historical value. More please. Write more.
I am excited to know there will be another book to follow this story. Keep writing Mr. Bill! You have provided me with knowledge about the history of a country I have not studied. Your depth of description of characters helped me know them. I could not stop reading. The wise sayings I highlighted. Thank you for the enjoyable story with historical value. More please. Write more.
October 1, 2020
This is a copy of a letter that I wrote to the author along with my review after I read "The Dragon Queen".
William,
At the end of "Dragon Queen", you asked for reviews. Yours was the first book that I've ever seen this request, so here goes. I was stationed in Korea during my military service for a couple of years in the late '60s. I made many Korean friends, enjoyed the food, and was even a member of a semi-famous Korean Rock N Roll band.
I enjoy reading books about Korea, it's people, and the struggle of the 2 Koreas. So the haunting cover of "The Dragon Queen" really caught my attention. I never believe people when they say that they couldn't put a book down. I immediately call "B.S." But this was the case for me. I don't enjoy reading a whole lot, but I finished your book, all 312 pages in about 20 hours. And that included an overnight break at midnight.
In all the books I've read, no one has ever said anything about Korea before Japan's occupation. (And little about that.) Although you did admit that you may have embellished a bit for the sake of storytelling, It was interesting to hear about Korea's royalty. You implied that the overall story is loosely based on factual history. I never knew that Korea had a king. You only hear about the kings & emperors of China and Japan. And now that I know about "Daughters Of The Dragon", I can't wait to get a copy of that one.
Now my review:
Shortly after the story begins in current day Korea, it turns a corner and takes the reader back to Korea in 1866. My first reaction was WTF, who cares. I don't enjoy reading about history that old. But it quickly sweeps you up in a story about a young girl that you really want to like, and want to hear more about. I enjoyed every part of her life, from an orphan, to queen of Korea and beyond. The real question posed by the story was if the queen was a success or failure. And that depends how you look at it.
On face value, she was a demanding queen who invoked high taxes, who was hated by many, and was killed. (Ding dong, the witch is dead. But that's a completely different story.)
On the other hand, she foresaw the major problems Korea was eventually going to have, being landlocked by two major countries who both wanted to rule Korea and own its assets. Although she did not want to, she was forced to enact large taxes to help pay for modernization of the country and to defend its boarders. These large taxes were not liked by many, and she was hated as much as she was love by others. Unfortunately she was too little, too late. Korea was overrun by Japan. Her "One Korea" movement continues today, but with caution, because unification would be a great burden on the south. And most know that the dictator Kim Jung Ung would want to rule the entire country.
OK, I got off course and started to ramble. But I do wish I could have read a little of what Nate Simon recommended in his report to the President. (At the end of the book.)
I am as much a book report writer as you say you are a historian. So I will end here by saying that this is a very good book. The end.
Enough said. Now on to "Daughters Of The Dragon."
William,
At the end of "Dragon Queen", you asked for reviews. Yours was the first book that I've ever seen this request, so here goes. I was stationed in Korea during my military service for a couple of years in the late '60s. I made many Korean friends, enjoyed the food, and was even a member of a semi-famous Korean Rock N Roll band.
I enjoy reading books about Korea, it's people, and the struggle of the 2 Koreas. So the haunting cover of "The Dragon Queen" really caught my attention. I never believe people when they say that they couldn't put a book down. I immediately call "B.S." But this was the case for me. I don't enjoy reading a whole lot, but I finished your book, all 312 pages in about 20 hours. And that included an overnight break at midnight.
In all the books I've read, no one has ever said anything about Korea before Japan's occupation. (And little about that.) Although you did admit that you may have embellished a bit for the sake of storytelling, It was interesting to hear about Korea's royalty. You implied that the overall story is loosely based on factual history. I never knew that Korea had a king. You only hear about the kings & emperors of China and Japan. And now that I know about "Daughters Of The Dragon", I can't wait to get a copy of that one.
Now my review:
Shortly after the story begins in current day Korea, it turns a corner and takes the reader back to Korea in 1866. My first reaction was WTF, who cares. I don't enjoy reading about history that old. But it quickly sweeps you up in a story about a young girl that you really want to like, and want to hear more about. I enjoyed every part of her life, from an orphan, to queen of Korea and beyond. The real question posed by the story was if the queen was a success or failure. And that depends how you look at it.
On face value, she was a demanding queen who invoked high taxes, who was hated by many, and was killed. (Ding dong, the witch is dead. But that's a completely different story.)
On the other hand, she foresaw the major problems Korea was eventually going to have, being landlocked by two major countries who both wanted to rule Korea and own its assets. Although she did not want to, she was forced to enact large taxes to help pay for modernization of the country and to defend its boarders. These large taxes were not liked by many, and she was hated as much as she was love by others. Unfortunately she was too little, too late. Korea was overrun by Japan. Her "One Korea" movement continues today, but with caution, because unification would be a great burden on the south. And most know that the dictator Kim Jung Ung would want to rule the entire country.
OK, I got off course and started to ramble. But I do wish I could have read a little of what Nate Simon recommended in his report to the President. (At the end of the book.)
I am as much a book report writer as you say you are a historian. So I will end here by saying that this is a very good book. The end.
Enough said. Now on to "Daughters Of The Dragon."
March 30, 2018
After many years catching up with fact and fiction about China and Japan, I have finally read a book about Korea. I thank Goodreads for presenting me with this Kindle introduction to a country I really knew very little about, but now know just a little more.
First of all, I am not a complete stranger to this divided country. I have seen several films made there and have eaten at many Korean restaurants in Los Angeles. I grew to like the food so much, I began to learn how to cook it myself. Good thing, too, because there are no Korean restaurants in Winston Salem, NC, where I live now, and only one I know about that is 45 minutes away. The others are even further away than that.
The Dragon Queen is not purely factual, being an historic novel, but it does present the reader with a pretty good depiction of one of Korea's most charismatic and powerful queens who possessed a true love of her people and a formidable desire to make her country a single, strong and united kingdom. Alas, the kingdom disappeared with the Japanese invasion, and since the second World War it has become more divided than ever; the north being ruled by a different set of principles and the influence of a totally different culture. It is now more in tune with the despotic rulers of South America.
William Andrews is not taking us back to the ancient history of Korea, his novel being set in both the 1800s and modern day, but he does make this a very interesting book, taking us, as well as the main character, to the era in which the young girl existed before she became queen, then the beginning of her rule, during it, and finally her death.
This is a sad book. Though we don't learn what the paper that the protagonist is writing for the State Department and the POTUS contains, I am left with the feeling that it cannot present any magical cure, as there is no clear solution. The division of Korea is far greater than that of East and West Germany, a mirror image division at the end of the same war, but with far greater economical and psychological problems to solve.
First of all, I am not a complete stranger to this divided country. I have seen several films made there and have eaten at many Korean restaurants in Los Angeles. I grew to like the food so much, I began to learn how to cook it myself. Good thing, too, because there are no Korean restaurants in Winston Salem, NC, where I live now, and only one I know about that is 45 minutes away. The others are even further away than that.
The Dragon Queen is not purely factual, being an historic novel, but it does present the reader with a pretty good depiction of one of Korea's most charismatic and powerful queens who possessed a true love of her people and a formidable desire to make her country a single, strong and united kingdom. Alas, the kingdom disappeared with the Japanese invasion, and since the second World War it has become more divided than ever; the north being ruled by a different set of principles and the influence of a totally different culture. It is now more in tune with the despotic rulers of South America.
William Andrews is not taking us back to the ancient history of Korea, his novel being set in both the 1800s and modern day, but he does make this a very interesting book, taking us, as well as the main character, to the era in which the young girl existed before she became queen, then the beginning of her rule, during it, and finally her death.
This is a sad book. Though we don't learn what the paper that the protagonist is writing for the State Department and the POTUS contains, I am left with the feeling that it cannot present any magical cure, as there is no clear solution. The division of Korea is far greater than that of East and West Germany, a mirror image division at the end of the same war, but with far greater economical and psychological problems to solve.
June 25, 2022
In present day, US diplomat Nate is sent to Seoul to assess the rising tensions of the political situation in Korea, so that he can advise the president. He also needs to find out why someone sent the president an antique comb with a two-headed dragon carved into it. Nate knows Korea’s language and culture, but doesn’t know about its troubled past. Anna, a mysterious embassy aide, believes it is time that he learns, starting with the story of Korea’s last queen. In 1866, orphan Ja-young is chosen to be the child bride of Gojong, Korea’s boy king. She is intelligent but shy, and she has two choices - be silent and submissive, or become a dragon queen and stand up against any enemies and empires that try to rule Korea. The more he learns, the more Nate realises that he must also make a choice - to be submissive, or change the world.
I enjoyed Queen Min’s story, she was strong and resilient, and dealt with everything that was thrown at her with great integrity and dignity. She had to deal with a lot of political matters that were well beyond her years, but she stood up and spoke out for what she believed were the right decisions for Korea. I also enjoyed reading some of the Korean words that were used throughout, and the cultural aspects of the story.
I don’t really know much about Korea, and a lot of the politics went straight over my head. I didn’t really understand a lot of what was going on in that regard. So for me, it felt like those parts of the story were a little bit slow, which was quite a lot of the time. But I really cared for Queen Min and wanted to know how her story concluded, which is what kept me reading until the end.
Queen Min herself is what made this for me, and although there were a lot of times where I just didn’t understand what was happening politically, I give this 4 out of 5 stars.
I would recommend this to anyone who loves historical fiction, strong female protagonists, readers who have a political interest in Korea, Korean culture, and myths about a two-headed dragon.
I enjoyed Queen Min’s story, she was strong and resilient, and dealt with everything that was thrown at her with great integrity and dignity. She had to deal with a lot of political matters that were well beyond her years, but she stood up and spoke out for what she believed were the right decisions for Korea. I also enjoyed reading some of the Korean words that were used throughout, and the cultural aspects of the story.
I don’t really know much about Korea, and a lot of the politics went straight over my head. I didn’t really understand a lot of what was going on in that regard. So for me, it felt like those parts of the story were a little bit slow, which was quite a lot of the time. But I really cared for Queen Min and wanted to know how her story concluded, which is what kept me reading until the end.
Queen Min herself is what made this for me, and although there were a lot of times where I just didn’t understand what was happening politically, I give this 4 out of 5 stars.
I would recommend this to anyone who loves historical fiction, strong female protagonists, readers who have a political interest in Korea, Korean culture, and myths about a two-headed dragon.
September 29, 2020
Would I have read about the life of an empress who lived over 100 years ago in a far away country, if it wasn't for William Andrews' trilogy? Probably not. But he is so talented at telling a good story based on some historical facts, that it was a real pleasure getting lost in this book. It helped me imagine what her life would have been, how difficult it was for a someone like her to assert herself to the king's council (and the king himself) in a country where women were not meant to have opinions or get involved in government policies, let alone work to reform and rebuild a hermit country to bring it in line with its very modern enemies, all while trying to build up her weak husband to be the king she needed on her side. Honestly, her story is quite badass.
Interspersed with this story about 19th century Korea, there are sections that describe the present-day reality. The book doesn't focus on that too much, but it made me realise how little I know about Korea, its history, its divisions and longing for a reunification; before this book, I couldn't tell you more than two sentences about it (the basic things, such as: there's a border that breaks it into two separate nations - North and South, with completely different "management styles", and that the North's leader is Kim Jong-un, who has got an interesting relationship with Trump). It was super interesting to read about how they got there, and how they used to be before 1945, when the Russians and the Americans decided to draw a temporary line on the map - a line that happens to still stand 75 years later (though not in the exact same place), re-enforced by the most heavily militarized border in the world. All in all, I’d say it’s well worth a read, and I’m really looking forward to start the final book in this series.
Interspersed with this story about 19th century Korea, there are sections that describe the present-day reality. The book doesn't focus on that too much, but it made me realise how little I know about Korea, its history, its divisions and longing for a reunification; before this book, I couldn't tell you more than two sentences about it (the basic things, such as: there's a border that breaks it into two separate nations - North and South, with completely different "management styles", and that the North's leader is Kim Jong-un, who has got an interesting relationship with Trump). It was super interesting to read about how they got there, and how they used to be before 1945, when the Russians and the Americans decided to draw a temporary line on the map - a line that happens to still stand 75 years later (though not in the exact same place), re-enforced by the most heavily militarized border in the world. All in all, I’d say it’s well worth a read, and I’m really looking forward to start the final book in this series.
June 3, 2023
This is the second book in a trilogy by the author that centres around a highly sought after comb that once belonged to Queen Min of Korea. I really enjoyed the first book but absolutely loved this one.
The story alternates between present day but mainly in the past where we meet and read of Ja who becomes the queen. I have to admit I much preferred the chapters in the past and was dying to get back to them as Ja’s story is such a compelling read. Ja when we first meet her is a young girl with no real aspirations who has been taken in by her aunt and uncle. It was so interesting to see her blossom. She is faced with so much at a young age and I truly admired how brave she was.
Being a queen is by no means an easy job. In the 18oo’s, women were definitely to be seen and not heard but Ja has a thirst for knowledge and she cares deeply about her country that is going through a lot of unrest. In the afterward by the author, he explains more about the history of the country and due to it’s location, how other countries have controlled it and how it has divided the country itself. Even though I have heard of the Korean war, I never knew much about it and it is a real eye opener.
The Dragon Queen was a story I literally inhaled it was that good. Past and present collide and is a reminder of how issues faced years before are still not being learned from. It’s saddening even in today’s world that people in Korea are having to pay vast sums to spend just a few hours with their loved ones. In some ways it was like a history lesson but one that the reader soaks up and is eager to learn more. Queen Min is a truly captivating character in this story and I can’t wait to see what happens in third and last book in the trilogy. So great to see strong women in this light.
The story alternates between present day but mainly in the past where we meet and read of Ja who becomes the queen. I have to admit I much preferred the chapters in the past and was dying to get back to them as Ja’s story is such a compelling read. Ja when we first meet her is a young girl with no real aspirations who has been taken in by her aunt and uncle. It was so interesting to see her blossom. She is faced with so much at a young age and I truly admired how brave she was.
Being a queen is by no means an easy job. In the 18oo’s, women were definitely to be seen and not heard but Ja has a thirst for knowledge and she cares deeply about her country that is going through a lot of unrest. In the afterward by the author, he explains more about the history of the country and due to it’s location, how other countries have controlled it and how it has divided the country itself. Even though I have heard of the Korean war, I never knew much about it and it is a real eye opener.
The Dragon Queen was a story I literally inhaled it was that good. Past and present collide and is a reminder of how issues faced years before are still not being learned from. It’s saddening even in today’s world that people in Korea are having to pay vast sums to spend just a few hours with their loved ones. In some ways it was like a history lesson but one that the reader soaks up and is eager to learn more. Queen Min is a truly captivating character in this story and I can’t wait to see what happens in third and last book in the trilogy. So great to see strong women in this light.
July 5, 2018
I had really liked Andrews' related book, "Daughters of the Dragon," so my expectations were high. I expected to find out more about the family's fall from royalty to commoners, but this book focused only on the queen (by marriage). In general, I always prefer to read about ordinary people in extraordinary situations, not about royalty and politics.
There was little connecting the two books except for the character of Anna, and I didn't really buy her transformation (10 years had passed since her visit to Korea in the first book). I didn't connect with the other modern main character here either (Nate Simon).
The first-person narration from Nate's and Queen Min's viewpoints didn't work well for me. They were lonely characters - the queen didn't really have a confidant, and Nate was alone on a work assignment in Korea. This basically meant long internal monologues or stories that were interrupted by everything they thought but couldn't say or reveal in action. The book grabbed my interest much better when there were open dialogues.
It was also interesting to read tidbits of Korean history and its (ab)use as a pawn in world politics. Did you know that Queen Victoria sent Queen Min a wedding gift? Or that Queen Min oversaw the end of slavery in Korea? These are mentioned in the novel, but there is also interesting comments in the Author's Note.
There was no mention of the secret daughter of Queen Min who had received the comb in "Daughters of the Dragon." I would encourage the author to revisit the family, but focus on the two generations between Queen Min and Mrs. Hong.
There was little connecting the two books except for the character of Anna, and I didn't really buy her transformation (10 years had passed since her visit to Korea in the first book). I didn't connect with the other modern main character here either (Nate Simon).
The first-person narration from Nate's and Queen Min's viewpoints didn't work well for me. They were lonely characters - the queen didn't really have a confidant, and Nate was alone on a work assignment in Korea. This basically meant long internal monologues or stories that were interrupted by everything they thought but couldn't say or reveal in action. The book grabbed my interest much better when there were open dialogues.
It was also interesting to read tidbits of Korean history and its (ab)use as a pawn in world politics. Did you know that Queen Victoria sent Queen Min a wedding gift? Or that Queen Min oversaw the end of slavery in Korea? These are mentioned in the novel, but there is also interesting comments in the Author's Note.
There was no mention of the secret daughter of Queen Min who had received the comb in "Daughters of the Dragon." I would encourage the author to revisit the family, but focus on the two generations between Queen Min and Mrs. Hong.
April 10, 2023
Když napětí na Korejském poloostrově roste a americký diplomat Nate Simon má zhodnotit politickou situaci, tajemná Anna mu převypráví příběh o královně Min. Strhující vyprávění o silné ženě, která pro mnoho lidí zůstává stále legendou. Nate díky tomu získává nový pohled na korejský národ.
Autor úspěšné knihy Dcera dvouhlavého draka přichází s dalším příběhem. Hned na začátku musím říct, že jsem jeho předchozí knihu nečetla. Pokud jste na tom stejně, nevadí, celý tento příběh bez problémů pochopíte i jako samostatnou knihu. Já ale po jejím dočtení rozhodně sáhnu i po předchozí knize.
Korejská historie mě poslední dobou zajímá čím dál tím víc, tato kniha přišla v pravou chvíli. Poznáme tu jednu legendu – královnu Min. V knize sledujeme její příběh mezi lety 1866 až 1895. Bojovala za to, aby Korea zůstala jednotná.
V příběhu se tak podíváme na královský dvůr, ale i na korejský venkov. Dozvíme se o běžném životě, o postavení žen ve společnosti, o důležitosti rodů, ale dojde i na politické intriky. Je zde ukázáno, jak na tom byla Korea oproti jiným zemím světa, a hlavně tu jsou vylíčeny složité vztahy s Čínou a s Japonskem.
V knize sledujeme současnou a historickou linku a musím říci, že mi ta současná úplně nesedla, skoro bych ji tam ani nepotřebovala. Příběh královny Min mi však vše dostatečně vynahradil.
Zajímavé téma, o kterém toho moc nevím. Kniha mě však nalákala, abych si přečetla další podobně laděné příběhy a rozhodně svou pozornost budu směřovat do Asie častěji (tedy alespoň v knihách).
V zahraničí už je i třetí díl této série a já se budu těšit, že vyjde i u nás.
Autor úspěšné knihy Dcera dvouhlavého draka přichází s dalším příběhem. Hned na začátku musím říct, že jsem jeho předchozí knihu nečetla. Pokud jste na tom stejně, nevadí, celý tento příběh bez problémů pochopíte i jako samostatnou knihu. Já ale po jejím dočtení rozhodně sáhnu i po předchozí knize.
Korejská historie mě poslední dobou zajímá čím dál tím víc, tato kniha přišla v pravou chvíli. Poznáme tu jednu legendu – královnu Min. V knize sledujeme její příběh mezi lety 1866 až 1895. Bojovala za to, aby Korea zůstala jednotná.
V příběhu se tak podíváme na královský dvůr, ale i na korejský venkov. Dozvíme se o běžném životě, o postavení žen ve společnosti, o důležitosti rodů, ale dojde i na politické intriky. Je zde ukázáno, jak na tom byla Korea oproti jiným zemím světa, a hlavně tu jsou vylíčeny složité vztahy s Čínou a s Japonskem.
V knize sledujeme současnou a historickou linku a musím říci, že mi ta současná úplně nesedla, skoro bych ji tam ani nepotřebovala. Příběh královny Min mi však vše dostatečně vynahradil.
Zajímavé téma, o kterém toho moc nevím. Kniha mě však nalákala, abych si přečetla další podobně laděné příběhy a rozhodně svou pozornost budu směřovat do Asie častěji (tedy alespoň v knihách).
V zahraničí už je i třetí díl této série a já se budu těšit, že vyjde i u nás.
January 21, 2021
4.5 stars
Considering Daughters of the Dragon was one of the most outstanding and gripping novels I have ever read, I was excited when I discovered Andrews had written two more books in the series.
The first one did not obviously lend itself to sequels, so I was very curious to see what he would do for follow up works.
The Dragon Queen is not quite as phenomenal as its predecessor, but I still loved it. If anything, its main fault is that it follows such an excellent piece of fiction. I may have enjoyed this without reservation if I had not read Daughters of the Dragon beforehand.
The main detracting element is the current day setting. While that helped tie this book to the series as a whole, the moments were so short and unremarkable that they took the reader out of the historical narrative rather than adding to it.
The titular queen is a fictionalized version of a real woman, and her story is a fascinating one.
Andrews consistently weaves his tales in a way that engages the reader in individual characters. The greatest strength of Daughters of the Dragon was how easy it was to grow invested in the protagonist. It took me a moment to fall as deeply into The Dragon Queen because I didn’t really know what to expect. But it was only a matter of time before I found myself caring deeply about the young queen and her political ambitions.
This is a fantastic sequel, which can be read as a standalone. I absolutely look forward to reading the third novel in the series.
Considering Daughters of the Dragon was one of the most outstanding and gripping novels I have ever read, I was excited when I discovered Andrews had written two more books in the series.
The first one did not obviously lend itself to sequels, so I was very curious to see what he would do for follow up works.
The Dragon Queen is not quite as phenomenal as its predecessor, but I still loved it. If anything, its main fault is that it follows such an excellent piece of fiction. I may have enjoyed this without reservation if I had not read Daughters of the Dragon beforehand.
The main detracting element is the current day setting. While that helped tie this book to the series as a whole, the moments were so short and unremarkable that they took the reader out of the historical narrative rather than adding to it.
The titular queen is a fictionalized version of a real woman, and her story is a fascinating one.
Andrews consistently weaves his tales in a way that engages the reader in individual characters. The greatest strength of Daughters of the Dragon was how easy it was to grow invested in the protagonist. It took me a moment to fall as deeply into The Dragon Queen because I didn’t really know what to expect. But it was only a matter of time before I found myself caring deeply about the young queen and her political ambitions.
This is a fantastic sequel, which can be read as a standalone. I absolutely look forward to reading the third novel in the series.
October 28, 2018
“As tensions rise on the Korean peninsula, US diplomat Nate Simon is sent to Seoul to gauge the political situation and advise the president. He also needs to find out why someone sent the president an ancient, intricately carved comb with an ivory inlay of a two-headed dragon. Though familiar with Korea’s language and culture, Nate knows little of its troubled history. Beautiful and mysterious embassy aide Anna Carlson believes it’s time he learns, starting with the extraordinary story of Korea’s last queen. Seoul, 1866. The beautiful orphan Ja-young is chosen to be the child bride of Gojong, Korea’s boy king. Highly intelligent but shy, Ja-young faces a choice: she can be a stone queen—silent and submissive—or she can be a dragon queen and oppose enemies and empires that try to rule Korea during the age of imperialism. Her choice leads her to forge a legend that will endure far beyond her lifetime. The more Nate discovers, the more he comes to realize that Queen Min’s story is still relevant today. Now the choice is up to him: be submissive and accepting…or change the world.”
This is a sequel/prequel to the book “Daughters of the Dragon.” It’s part historical fiction, in that it tells the story of Korea’s Queen Min, part story about what’s been going on on the Korean Peninsula. It’s very well written and engaging, making sure to include customs, the history, and how all of it still affects Korea today.
This is a sequel/prequel to the book “Daughters of the Dragon.” It’s part historical fiction, in that it tells the story of Korea’s Queen Min, part story about what’s been going on on the Korean Peninsula. It’s very well written and engaging, making sure to include customs, the history, and how all of it still affects Korea today.
April 20, 2019
Not as good as Daughters of the Dragon by a long shot. This is best read as historical fiction with a loose (very loose) tie-in to present times.
Daughters started out innocently enough, almost as a YA fiction read about an adopted Korean girl. It built into a powerful and educational tale of recent Korean history and the lives that were forever affected by it.
Queen begins in the present — an intriguing political crisis - but the political crisis in is never fully developed. As the book moves on it becomes obvious that political story is only a device — a loose frame to hold a conventional historical fiction drama about one of Korea’s great rulers in the 19th century. I have read many of these and as they go, the story of the Dragon Queen is interesting enough. But this book lacks the punch and eye opening political and historical detail of Daughters, I was eagerly looking forward to more political and/or cultural education about the two Koreas in the present day and I was disappointed when the present day part of the story evaporated, leaving only the 19th century Dragon Queen behind. Many books like this alternate cleverly between past and present actions, maintaining two fully developed stories. Such a novel by William Andrews would have been terrific. It seems he couldn’t sustain it and chose the older story as his centerpiece. Not a bad historical fiction but not at the level of Daughters— a book that blew my mind.
Daughters started out innocently enough, almost as a YA fiction read about an adopted Korean girl. It built into a powerful and educational tale of recent Korean history and the lives that were forever affected by it.
Queen begins in the present — an intriguing political crisis - but the political crisis in is never fully developed. As the book moves on it becomes obvious that political story is only a device — a loose frame to hold a conventional historical fiction drama about one of Korea’s great rulers in the 19th century. I have read many of these and as they go, the story of the Dragon Queen is interesting enough. But this book lacks the punch and eye opening political and historical detail of Daughters, I was eagerly looking forward to more political and/or cultural education about the two Koreas in the present day and I was disappointed when the present day part of the story evaporated, leaving only the 19th century Dragon Queen behind. Many books like this alternate cleverly between past and present actions, maintaining two fully developed stories. Such a novel by William Andrews would have been terrific. It seems he couldn’t sustain it and chose the older story as his centerpiece. Not a bad historical fiction but not at the level of Daughters— a book that blew my mind.
July 1, 2018
Wow. William Andrews does it again in his 3-part series on Korea! This 2nd book was entirely different from the first, but just as addicting to read, and piercing to the heart. I can’t wait ‘til his third book comes out…
What an amazing retelling of the last queen’s story! I was so captivated by the plot, and all of the amazing characters throughout. And I love you, Kyung-jik! To be that dedicated to her weak and straying king of a husband, and not go after Kyung-jik…just shows how self-disciplined and controlled she was, haha.
It was so heartbreaking to read about her first son, but as she said, “I could not let the death of my son destroy me. Yes, I had lost a child, my son. He would always have a place in my heart, and it would take effort to leave him behind, but I couldn’t stay in the dark forever.”
Other notable quotes-
“Then I remembered The Analects of Confucius and the saying, ‘They must often change, who would be constant in wisdom.’”
“You can wear the crown on your head and sit silently on the throne like the stones in the palace walls. Or you can wear the crown on your heart and be like a dragon who rules the forest. If you choose to be a stone, you must make yourself dead. If you choose to be a dragon, you must be alert and quick because many will want to slay you.”
What an amazing retelling of the last queen’s story! I was so captivated by the plot, and all of the amazing characters throughout. And I love you, Kyung-jik! To be that dedicated to her weak and straying king of a husband, and not go after Kyung-jik…just shows how self-disciplined and controlled she was, haha.
It was so heartbreaking to read about her first son, but as she said, “I could not let the death of my son destroy me. Yes, I had lost a child, my son. He would always have a place in my heart, and it would take effort to leave him behind, but I couldn’t stay in the dark forever.”
Other notable quotes-
“Then I remembered The Analects of Confucius and the saying, ‘They must often change, who would be constant in wisdom.’”
“You can wear the crown on your head and sit silently on the throne like the stones in the palace walls. Or you can wear the crown on your heart and be like a dragon who rules the forest. If you choose to be a stone, you must make yourself dead. If you choose to be a dragon, you must be alert and quick because many will want to slay you.”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 12, 2020
I can’t describe how much I loved this book!
To the author: First of all, thank you for introducing me to this period of history with your trilogy. I read the third book before this one (not realizing it was part of a trilogy, duh) and I am glad each book can exist on its own. All three are fabulous!!
I loved the Dragon Queen! She transported me to another era. She was such an amazing woman, strong and determined. I found myself spending a lot of time in Wikipedia reading about the Japanese Emperor, the Chinese Empress, the King, his father, their palaces, the social structure in Korea, religion and so forth. Endlessly interested. And the photographs ... definitely worth the extra bit of research! Unbelievable and fascinating. It’s another world.
I listened to the audio versions (all three novels) as well. Beautifully done! The female narrators convey a true sense of calm. Never rushed or emotional which is how I would expect them to be.
Definitely take a listen!
To the author: First of all, thank you for introducing me to this period of history with your trilogy. I read the third book before this one (not realizing it was part of a trilogy, duh) and I am glad each book can exist on its own. All three are fabulous!!
I loved the Dragon Queen! She transported me to another era. She was such an amazing woman, strong and determined. I found myself spending a lot of time in Wikipedia reading about the Japanese Emperor, the Chinese Empress, the King, his father, their palaces, the social structure in Korea, religion and so forth. Endlessly interested. And the photographs ... definitely worth the extra bit of research! Unbelievable and fascinating. It’s another world.
I listened to the audio versions (all three novels) as well. Beautifully done! The female narrators convey a true sense of calm. Never rushed or emotional which is how I would expect them to be.
Definitely take a listen!
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