Published by Orbit on May 4, 2021
Genres: Epic Fantasy
Pages: 640
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher
I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I am Yeshin’s daughter, whether I deny it or not.
Queen Talyien is finally home, but dangers she never imagined await her in the shadowed halls of her father’s castle.
War is on the horizon. Her son has been stolen from her, her warlords despise her, and across the sea, a cursed prince threatens her nation with invasion in order to win her hand.
Worse yet, her father’s ancient secrets are dangerous enough to bring Jin Sayeng to ruin. Dark magic tears rifts in the sky, preparing to rain down madness, chaos, and the possibility of setting her nation aflame.
Bearing the brunt of the past and uncertain about her future, Talyien will need to decide between fleeing her shadows or embracing them before the whole world becomes an inferno.
My Thoughts
The Dragon of Jin-Sayeng concludes a trilogy that redefines what epic fantasy can do. It started as a character-driven novel that is fast-paced, abounding in plots and intrigue. Then, as Taliyien learns more about the state of Jin-Sayeng and unravels her father’s schemes, the world broadens while simultaneously delving deeper into the characters and the intrigue, growing increasing more intricate and complex as the story progresses. At times, it reads like it is taking its time (while completely immersing me in the world). Then, as each book builds to its conclusion, the pace increases, until I was flying through the pages. It is rich in history and culture and place, such that it feels like it holds a library of stories to tell. Much of the story, up until the end of The Dragon of Jin-Sayeng, is told from Tali’s perspective, as she reflects on her story and how she foresees history interpreting her reign.
This book explores the deep impact family has on our lives, whether they’re present or not. From the beginning of this series, Thanh has been a driving motivator for Tali. Despite his physical absence, I felt his presence, I felt Tali’s love for him, and I felt her determination to fight tooth and claw for him. Although Yeshin is dead, his memory lingers. People remember Tali as her father’s daughter, not as a queen with her own name and person. But, while Tali is her father’s daughter, she is not her father. This book is, in part, about her coming to terms with the different faces of Yeshin: the tyrant that the world knows, the ambitious ruler who continues to work his schemes from the grave, and the father that she loved and admired. And this book is about her learning about who she is, apart from her father.
He tasted like wine, a potency that stung. I fell asleep in his arms and time slipped through my fingers like water poured from a jug
Tali is different from the classic fantasy hero. She is fierce and powerful, but in telling her story, she also bares her vulnerabilities and short-comings, and the ways that she failed to be the queen she was reared to be. This kind of character writing reminds me of Robin Hobb’s The Farseer Trilogy, which places on display Fitz’s goodness, but also all of his weaknesses and vulnerabilities. Both trilogies taught me to feel compassion for characters that I wanted to hate. Both trilogies also features characters writing about, and reflecting on, their lives from an older perspective. My heart broke time after time for Tali, as she fights to free herself of her father’s schemes, and from the political machinations of other players vying for power.
In many ways, Tali lacks power. Though she is queen, many in her court still serve Yeshin. Other warlords serve their own purposes, or another master. Schemes abound. While some people feature more heavily in this book than others, there is a sense that each person is a fully realized person with their own goals and motivations. I learned to question even those that I had considered certain allies. Yet, in other ways, Tali still has privilege and power, over the lives of the common people of Jin-Sayeng. While this theme has been touched upon in earlier books, it comes out more to the front in this third book, particularly with other women of various social classes. I love the large role that women play in this book. Though they come from different backgrounds and have different expectations, they are all daughters of Jin-Sayeng, and they desire to create a world where their children will not suffer.
It is the desire for illusion that sustains us. We want to believe there is a happily-ever-after and it involves those who cannot possibly be as we are.
This book is about Tali, about family and about her father’s legacy, but it is also about privilege and power (particularly what it means to be a woman in a position of power). It is about the effects of war and politics on the common people. It is about broken relationships and about healing. View Spoiler » It is about the choices that we choose to make, even when it seems like we have none. And it is about the nature of hope.
The Dragon of Jin-Sayeng has cemented The Chronicles of the Bitch Queen as one of my favorite epic fantasy series. I will read whatever else K. S. Villoso puts out into the world!
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