A Book of the Month™ Selection
A Publishers Lunch Spring/Summer 2019 YA Buzz Book
The Best Young Adult Fantasy Novels of 2019, Forbes
2020 Chelsey Award for Best Cover Illustration Finalist
SEVENTEEN MAGAZINE:"The 35 Best YA Books of 2019 So Far"
POPSUGAR.:"The 20 Best New Books to Read in April"
EPIC READS:"April is Bringing Us Three of the Year's New Must-Read Fantasy Novels"
B&N Teen:“20 of Our Most Anticipated YA Debuts of 2019”
Goodreads:“Spring's Most Epic YA Books”
Buzzfeed: “24 YA Books to Devour During Asian Pacific American Heritage Month”
"A gripping tale full of intrigue, unpredictable twists, and betrayal—this is the Chinese fantasy readers have been waiting for." - Hafsah Faizal, New York Times-bestselling author of the Sands of Arawiya duology
"Descendant of the Craneis my favorite kind of story: lyrical, romantic, politically complex, but most of all, driven by an iron-willed heroine who will do what must be done—no matter the cost." -Kristen Ciccarelli, internationally bestselling author of The Last Namsara
"A beautiful debut with thrilling politics and strokes of magic, set in a lush world that feels real and weighted with its own complex history." -Lori M. Lee, author of the "Gates of Thread and Stone" series and contributor to A Thousand Beginnings and Endings
"Joan He has penned a lovely and intriguing tale of secrets, family, and betrayal. You'll be drawn in by this marvelously vivid world… and keep turning the pages for the plot twists!" -Traci Chee,New York Times bestselling author of The Reader
"Deep world-building, magical family secrets, and intricate palace politics—Descendant of the Crane soars from page one. Its twists and treacheries kept me guessing until the very end." - Rachel Hartman,New York Timesbestselling author of Seraphina
"The plot twists are truly dizzying at times, and everyone, from villain to ally, has an intriguing backstory... With complex world-building and character development, readers tired of cookie-cutter stories will find some surprise twists here." - Kirkus Reviews
"A compelling, immersive book. Young adults will find a story and a world that is a joy to explore in this highly original mystery." - Foreword,starred review
"A fully realized history helps make this adventure, rooted in Chinese folklore, feel epic, while Hesina will appeal to contemporary readers." - Booklist
"Hesina is a heroine for the ages––brilliant, determined, and fierce. It is impossible not to root for her." -Laura Sebastian, New York Times bestselling author of Ash Princess
"[A] fast-moving debut... He combines a highly detailed Asian-inspired culture that incorporates Chinese names and traditions, aspects of top-notch thrillers, and complex characters to create a series opener that should appeal to teens and adults alike." - Publishers Weekly
05/20/2019
Princess Hesina of Yan is determined to find her father’s murderer in this fast-moving debut, even if she must break with the traditions of her country. In an irregular act punishable by death, Hesina visits one of the hidden sooths, beings who appear to be human, can see the future, and, some say, perform magic. Silver Iris, a sooth, points Hesina to a prisoner, Akira, to be her advocate in court, where the two try to prove that her father, who died suddenly, was actually assassinated. Hesina ascends to the throne as suspicion is cast upon the sooths and the neighboring kingdom of Kendi’a. She desperately tries to avoid war, while her younger brother, General Sanjing, takes forces to the border. Hesina is never sure whom to trust, and He conceals and reveals the characters’ motives, continually surprising both Hesina and her readers. He combines a highly detailed Asian-inspired culture that incorporates Chinese names and traditions, aspects of top-notch thrillers, and complex characters to create a series opener that should appeal to teens and adults alike. Ages 13–up. (Apr.)
06/14/2019
Gr 7 Up-In this dystopian fantasy rooted in Chinese culture, the king has died and Princess Hesina, soon to be crowned queen, is determined to prove it was murder. Relying on treasonous information from a soothsayer, a group of people feared and hated for their magical abilities and contribution to the previous dynasty's authoritative rule, Hesina selects an enigmatic convict to represent the case in court. Hesina's quest for the truth leads her into a complex web of political intrigue, conspiracy, and both literal and figurative backstabbing. Hesina finds herself questioning not only her own actions and morals, but also those of everyone around her: her siblings, parents, and the government itself. Although the book suffers from lengthy exposition as a large cast of characters are introduced and the political stage is set, once Hesina's father's earth-shattering secret is revealed, the deftly crafted plot hurdles to the crushing, yet hopeful conclusion. He's skill lies in building multiple perspectives and motivations for the intricate characters, allowing her to create plot twists that are unexpected, yet obvious in retrospect. Thought-provoking and urgent, Hesina's journey forces readers to confront weighty issues, such as the perils of seeking justice and truth in a flawed, corrupt government built on systemic oppression, as well as the challenge of undoing centuries of societal hate and fear. VERDICT This rich and complex OwnVoices fantasy deserves a spot on library shelves.-Amy Seto Forrester, Denver Public Library
In this Chinese-inspired fantasy, narrator Nancy Wu makes Princess Hesina’s reluctance to be heir to the throne fully believable. When her father is murdered and Hesina becomes queen at age 17, Wu transforms her as she learns to focus on the well-being of her subjects while also finding out who killed the king. Wu maintains a well-balanced pace through the extensive world-building as she weaves an atmosphere of political intrigue. She draws upon a broad range of voices to help the listener navigate the complex plot. Wu also proves to be adept at using tone to distinguish older people who seek to advise Hesina, particularly her mother and senior military advisors, from her contemporaries. J.E.M. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine
2019-02-17
Her father, the king, taught her to believe in the people, the courts, truth, and the new era.
As Hesina begins to seek justice for his death, she finds hard truths and becomes entangled in lies, some of her own making. In her debut, He creates an Asian-inspired fantasy where centuries ago, the last of the relic emperors, who pursued selfishness over the welfare of the people, was overthrown by the Eleven, a group of outlaw heroes who authored the Tenets, a book that the rulers of Yan have since lived by. In building this new era, they also perpetuated the systematic slaughter of the emperor's henchmen, the sooths, and anyone else with the power to see the future—those whose blood burns blue. At 17, Hesina needs to be the ruler her father groomed her to be while navigating the land mines of court politics, internal power plays, and personal betrayal. The plot twists are truly dizzying at times, and everyone, from villain to ally, has an intriguing backstory. Learning forgiveness and the need to sympathize with the things people do to survive, Hesina evolves, sometimes painfully, from a naïve, reckless girl to a compassionate queen. All characters may be assumed Asian, and the author makes an effort to incorporate Chinese terms and writing conventions throughout.
With complex worldbuilding and character development, readers tired of cookie-cutter stories will find some surprise twists here. (Fantasy. 14-18)
