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Upper Kingdom #1
To Journey In The Year Of The Tiger
TO JOURNEY IN THE YEAR OF THE TIGER is the first in a Ground-Breaking Original Series by H. Leighton Dickson. This is a powerful, post-apocalyptic story of lions and tigers, wolves and dragons, embracing and blending the cultures of Dynastic China, Ancient India and Feudal Japan. Half feline, half human, this genetically altered world has evolved in the wake of the fall of human civilization. Fans of Tolkien, Game of Thrones, Redwall or Japanese anime will be entertained in these intelligent and beautifully written pages in a blend of science, fantasy and zoological speculation. Kirin Wynegarde-Grey is a young lion with a big job - Captain of the Guard in a Kingdom that spans from the mountains of western China to the deserts of the Middle East. When an ancient threat awakens in the West and threatens to overthrow the Empire, he must lead a team that includes his enigmatic brother, a lethal swordswoman and three radically different and mysterious specialists through a world where humans are legend and animals walk like men. This is the journey of six individuals as they travel beyond the edges of the known Empire, into lands uncharted and wild. It is a journey of magic and mystery, science and swords, romance and intrigue. It is a journey of different perspectives and unexpected kharma and love found in surprising places. It is a journey that takes place five thousand years or so in the future, naturally in the Year of the Tiger.
556 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 21, 2012
376 people are currently reading
1320 people want to read
About the author
H. Leighton Dickson
19 books287 followersH. Leighton Dickson grew up in the wilds of the Canadian Shield, where her neighbours were wolves, moose, deer and lynx. She studied Zoology at the University of Guelph and worked in the Edinburgh Zoological Gardens in Scotland, where she was chased by lions, wrestled deaf tigers and fed antibiotics to Polar Bears by baby bottle.
A successful indie author, Heather is now repped by D. Ellis Wilson of Looking Glass Literary & Media. She has 10 indie novels including the 'Rise of the Upper Kingdom' series and the Empire of Steam series, as well as the award-winning DRAGON OF ASH & STARS. Her next novel, SHIP OF SPELLS, is published by Red Tower Books and will be available November 4, 2025.
Come join the conversation at http://www.hleightondickson.com or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/HLeightonDickson
A successful indie author, Heather is now repped by D. Ellis Wilson of Looking Glass Literary & Media. She has 10 indie novels including the 'Rise of the Upper Kingdom' series and the Empire of Steam series, as well as the award-winning DRAGON OF ASH & STARS. Her next novel, SHIP OF SPELLS, is published by Red Tower Books and will be available November 4, 2025.
Come join the conversation at http://www.hleightondickson.com or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/HLeightonDickson
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
October 17, 2016
It has been some time that I've read pure fantasy and this is one of the best!
We start, in the first book, with an on-the-road, on-the-quest trope, not very interesting, a little bit boring, a little bit immature and stupidly stubborn, but since it was so very well written I went along. And more I read, the more I wanted to know what will happen next!
The basic story is deceptively simple - a group of people is call in front of the empress: a warrior-commander, his traveler brother, a scholar and an alchemist and give a quest - save the lives of the seers who are mysteriously dying.
Since the society is very reminiscent to feudal Japan, they're not give a choice. They're honor bound to obey the empress and save the seers.
But they're not simply people, as we soon discover: they're feline people! The warrior, Kirin, is a lion (a leading caste of warriors), the brother, Kerris, is a grey lion (shunned because he's grey), the scholar, Fallon, is a tigress and the alchemist, Sherah, is a cheetah.
The first book is a kind of introduction, a way to let us get acquainted with the culture, with the people and with their feelings and actions.
They've a long way to go to reach the monastery where the seers live. The descriptions are breathtaking: the high mountains, the cold, the beauty... I had the feeling i was there with them!
Each of them has his, or hers own character.
Kirin is very duty/honor bound. He's strict, he's inflexible, he's cold.
Kerris is a jester. He's always laughing, joking, teasing.
Fallon is an eternal optimist. She’s always talking, talking, talking, laughing and trying to life the spirits of everyone.
Sherah is a mystery. She’s always calm, always shrouded in shadows. You never know what she’s thinking. She never talks strait.
But all of them have another face they’re keeping secret. Nothing is what it seems…
And while they travel something is trying to keep them from reaching their goal. Strange things happen. An avalanche, a broken bridge, brigands…
When they reach the monastery all the seers, except one, are dead and the one left living is strange. He’s a mongrel. A mixed breed. An abomination. And he’ll soon be dead too if they don’t manage to save him.
With a twist, where Fallon’s geniality shines, they manage to save him, but they discover something that nobody was expecting: the presence of an Ancestor. Joseph....
We start, in the first book, with an on-the-road, on-the-quest trope, not very interesting, a little bit boring, a little bit immature and stupidly stubborn, but since it was so very well written I went along. And more I read, the more I wanted to know what will happen next!
The basic story is deceptively simple - a group of people is call in front of the empress: a warrior-commander, his traveler brother, a scholar and an alchemist and give a quest - save the lives of the seers who are mysteriously dying.
Since the society is very reminiscent to feudal Japan, they're not give a choice. They're honor bound to obey the empress and save the seers.
But they're not simply people, as we soon discover: they're feline people! The warrior, Kirin, is a lion (a leading caste of warriors), the brother, Kerris, is a grey lion (shunned because he's grey), the scholar, Fallon, is a tigress and the alchemist, Sherah, is a cheetah.
The first book is a kind of introduction, a way to let us get acquainted with the culture, with the people and with their feelings and actions.
They've a long way to go to reach the monastery where the seers live. The descriptions are breathtaking: the high mountains, the cold, the beauty... I had the feeling i was there with them!
Each of them has his, or hers own character.
Kirin is very duty/honor bound. He's strict, he's inflexible, he's cold.
Kerris is a jester. He's always laughing, joking, teasing.
Fallon is an eternal optimist. She’s always talking, talking, talking, laughing and trying to life the spirits of everyone.
Sherah is a mystery. She’s always calm, always shrouded in shadows. You never know what she’s thinking. She never talks strait.
But all of them have another face they’re keeping secret. Nothing is what it seems…
And while they travel something is trying to keep them from reaching their goal. Strange things happen. An avalanche, a broken bridge, brigands…
When they reach the monastery all the seers, except one, are dead and the one left living is strange. He’s a mongrel. A mixed breed. An abomination. And he’ll soon be dead too if they don’t manage to save him.
With a twist, where Fallon’s geniality shines, they manage to save him, but they discover something that nobody was expecting: the presence of an Ancestor. Joseph....
October 6, 2013
Now, what to make of this book?
It gets one extra star for the rich story it tells and one extra for its cat protagonists, but truth be told, there were so many missing or misspelled words (not the ones from the artificial language or language shift created for the novel), missing letters or spaces, missing or wrong punctuation marks in the version I read, it made me really sad because it distracted me a great deal while reading and it took away from the brilliance of the tale.
There is so much potential for a really sparkling tale here. I'll never understand why an author leaves a rough gem like this unedited. This could be up there with the best.
Also, the story-telling was kind of jumbled up in some parts. It is of course hard to juggle as many viewpoints as six main characters, but it should be at least clear who is the focal point or the speaker in a scene. The protagonists are really great, really well painted characters with personality, if sometimes a little incomprehensible in their actions. I think this is mostly because of the author trying not to disclose too much too soon, but it sometimes ends up being not enough to comprehend what's going on.
I loved Fallon the scholar and Sireth the Seer especially. They have the best and the clearest scenes in the book, true moments, where one can see the talent of the author really sparkle.
Others, like Ursa the Soldier and Sherah the Alchemist are a little too restrained in their characterization. Sherah's motives never once become clear in this first book of the trilogy. But for a truly enticing mystery, there need to be more clues, more psychology behind what she's doing - and there simply is none. At all. And some dancing and kissing around doesn't make a sublimely dangerous temptress. Sometimes, she appears to be merely a function, or a robot, even.
About Ursa we learn a little bit more, but the violence she exudes is sometimes uncalled for and makes her appear more brutish than the skilled assassin and loyal-to-a-fault soldier she's supposed to be.
Another thing that I didn't like was the red-shirt treatment of the leopard guards. (Pardon the Trekkie term here. ^^) They didn't even get names until late in the book. The only thing they are supposed to do is die in appropriate situations to enhance the drama of the scene without killing off main characters. This doesn't work, though, because, as mere ciphers, the reader doesn't really care about it. The reader gets to care more about the horses the party rides on then the guards. If this is meant to convey the particular station of leopard guards in the rigid feudalistic society of the Upper Kingdom, I think it's not quite to the point. They may be inferiors in rank and station, but they are not personality-less expendables, or are they? Would a proud Captain like Kirin Wynegarde-Grey treat his well-trained men in this way? I think he would know a little more about his elite soldiers, as he should have chosen them very carefully.
The world and the society are made up exceptionally beautiful. That's another strength of the book. With one exception: there's not enough information given on how the court of the Empress, the Mages and the Seers are connected with each other. What are their aims? The whole game of intrigue is simply hinted at, but then left hanging in mid-air. The reader doesn't really get to care about how the court intrigues may impact the journey of the protagonists. And what is the role of the persian (?) chancellor? He stars prominently in the first 15% of the book and then vanishes behind the shadowy 'Archmage'. And the Archmage is never really introduced to us. He is another one of this mere functional characters. Who is he? What are his powers? Even if this may be a loose strand of storytelling left for the following books, we readers need hints to keep us interested.
To sum this review up, "To Journey in the Year of the Tiger" is a book I enjoyed and recommend, but I would have loved to see it developed to its full potential. There is much talent, much promise, but still some practice and polishing needed.
It gets one extra star for the rich story it tells and one extra for its cat protagonists, but truth be told, there were so many missing or misspelled words (not the ones from the artificial language or language shift created for the novel), missing letters or spaces, missing or wrong punctuation marks in the version I read, it made me really sad because it distracted me a great deal while reading and it took away from the brilliance of the tale.
There is so much potential for a really sparkling tale here. I'll never understand why an author leaves a rough gem like this unedited. This could be up there with the best.
Also, the story-telling was kind of jumbled up in some parts. It is of course hard to juggle as many viewpoints as six main characters, but it should be at least clear who is the focal point or the speaker in a scene. The protagonists are really great, really well painted characters with personality, if sometimes a little incomprehensible in their actions. I think this is mostly because of the author trying not to disclose too much too soon, but it sometimes ends up being not enough to comprehend what's going on.
I loved Fallon the scholar and Sireth the Seer especially. They have the best and the clearest scenes in the book, true moments, where one can see the talent of the author really sparkle.
Others, like Ursa the Soldier and Sherah the Alchemist are a little too restrained in their characterization. Sherah's motives never once become clear in this first book of the trilogy. But for a truly enticing mystery, there need to be more clues, more psychology behind what she's doing - and there simply is none. At all. And some dancing and kissing around doesn't make a sublimely dangerous temptress. Sometimes, she appears to be merely a function, or a robot, even.
About Ursa we learn a little bit more, but the violence she exudes is sometimes uncalled for and makes her appear more brutish than the skilled assassin and loyal-to-a-fault soldier she's supposed to be.
Another thing that I didn't like was the red-shirt treatment of the leopard guards. (Pardon the Trekkie term here. ^^) They didn't even get names until late in the book. The only thing they are supposed to do is die in appropriate situations to enhance the drama of the scene without killing off main characters. This doesn't work, though, because, as mere ciphers, the reader doesn't really care about it. The reader gets to care more about the horses the party rides on then the guards. If this is meant to convey the particular station of leopard guards in the rigid feudalistic society of the Upper Kingdom, I think it's not quite to the point. They may be inferiors in rank and station, but they are not personality-less expendables, or are they? Would a proud Captain like Kirin Wynegarde-Grey treat his well-trained men in this way? I think he would know a little more about his elite soldiers, as he should have chosen them very carefully.
The world and the society are made up exceptionally beautiful. That's another strength of the book. With one exception: there's not enough information given on how the court of the Empress, the Mages and the Seers are connected with each other. What are their aims? The whole game of intrigue is simply hinted at, but then left hanging in mid-air. The reader doesn't really get to care about how the court intrigues may impact the journey of the protagonists. And what is the role of the persian (?) chancellor? He stars prominently in the first 15% of the book and then vanishes behind the shadowy 'Archmage'. And the Archmage is never really introduced to us. He is another one of this mere functional characters. Who is he? What are his powers? Even if this may be a loose strand of storytelling left for the following books, we readers need hints to keep us interested.
To sum this review up, "To Journey in the Year of the Tiger" is a book I enjoyed and recommend, but I would have loved to see it developed to its full potential. There is much talent, much promise, but still some practice and polishing needed.
January 7, 2013
H. Leighton Dickinson's To Walk in the Way of Lions (Tails from the Upper Kingdom) bring to a highly-satisfying conclusion the action-packed an emotionally wrenching quest began in the To Journey in the Year of the Tiger (Tails from the Upper Kingdom). With fantasy, and especially Indie fantasy, "standard" plot lines are often followed into cliché land, but not so with this novel. Dickinson perfectly handled the writer's task of giving the reader what they want, but still surprising me, the reader.
Like the first novel, Dickinson left leeway for further novels in this world, but unlike in the first book there is an excellent, well-thought-out, resolution to the "story" of each character and the plot as a whole. They aren't all "happy" conclusions by any means, but for me that makes a better read because some tragedy makes the happier ending all the more sweet, and without pain few people, or characters, grow as they do in this novel.
Also, either I grew used to the formatting or it improved dramatically but it seemed far less obtrusive into my experience for this second novel in the duology.
To those who found even moderate enjoyment in the first novel and are on the fence as to whether they want to invest their time in this conclusion, I say you should definitely go for it. I give this novel the highest recommendation.
Like the first novel, Dickinson left leeway for further novels in this world, but unlike in the first book there is an excellent, well-thought-out, resolution to the "story" of each character and the plot as a whole. They aren't all "happy" conclusions by any means, but for me that makes a better read because some tragedy makes the happier ending all the more sweet, and without pain few people, or characters, grow as they do in this novel.
Also, either I grew used to the formatting or it improved dramatically but it seemed far less obtrusive into my experience for this second novel in the duology.
To those who found even moderate enjoyment in the first novel and are on the fence as to whether they want to invest their time in this conclusion, I say you should definitely go for it. I give this novel the highest recommendation.
September 19, 2022
To Journey in the Year of the Tiger is the first book in the Upper Kingdom series by fantasy author H. Leighton Dickson. What an interesting intro to what I hope will be a most entertaining series. Let's see, it kind of reminded me of Planet of the Apes, from the apes (or in this case, Cats) perspective or also a bit like Phyllis Gotlieb's Space Cats Sci-Fi series (but only from the aspect of cats as major players)
The story is set in the Upper Kingdom, in a future Earth, the Upper Kingdom being in Asia, mainly a future Nepal. The Empresses Captain of the Guards, one Kirin Wynegarde-Grey (a grey lion) is sent by the Empress to the monastery of Sha-Hadin, where the 7 Seers are dying. He is to ascertain why and try to stop any further deaths (murders?). Accompanying him are his twin brother, Kesser, an explorer who will guide them and also take care of the horses; the Scholar, Fallon Waterford, a tiger; Sherah al Shiva, a leopard and the Alchemist; and Major Ursa Laenskaya, a snow leopard, Kirin's right hand woman; plus 8 leopards of the bodyguard. Firstly, let my say that I love the character's names. There must be an explanation in later books where they came from; some Russian, some English, etc. Just fascinating.
The journey to Sha-Hadin is interesting and what takes place at the monastery just adds to the interest in this world that has been created by Dickson. There will be a twist that makes you go, huh? Wow! (I'm sort of paraphrasing Fallon Waterford, a wide - eyed innocent and a bit of a Valley Girl, but just adorable). The characters are all fascinating, each with their own characteristics, Kirin, with his strait - laced personality and his belief in Bushido, Laenskaya, filled with anger but with the best skills as a fighter maybe, Fallon, I've already mentioned; Sherah, mysterious, almost magical and filled with sensuality... Kerris is a gadabout, free spirit. I haven't yet mentioned Sireth, the Seer, a mixed breed cat, who will be the link to another world, in the person of Solomon (I won't say anything more about him)
The journey to Sha-Hadin will result in another journey, along the Great Wall and carrying into the 2nd story. It's a great introduction to this series. I loved the culture, the characters and the story was well-crafted and so interesting. It takes a little while to get into the story itself, but it's worth the effort. Try it, you'll like it! (4.0 stars)
The story is set in the Upper Kingdom, in a future Earth, the Upper Kingdom being in Asia, mainly a future Nepal. The Empresses Captain of the Guards, one Kirin Wynegarde-Grey (a grey lion) is sent by the Empress to the monastery of Sha-Hadin, where the 7 Seers are dying. He is to ascertain why and try to stop any further deaths (murders?). Accompanying him are his twin brother, Kesser, an explorer who will guide them and also take care of the horses; the Scholar, Fallon Waterford, a tiger; Sherah al Shiva, a leopard and the Alchemist; and Major Ursa Laenskaya, a snow leopard, Kirin's right hand woman; plus 8 leopards of the bodyguard. Firstly, let my say that I love the character's names. There must be an explanation in later books where they came from; some Russian, some English, etc. Just fascinating.
The journey to Sha-Hadin is interesting and what takes place at the monastery just adds to the interest in this world that has been created by Dickson. There will be a twist that makes you go, huh? Wow! (I'm sort of paraphrasing Fallon Waterford, a wide - eyed innocent and a bit of a Valley Girl, but just adorable). The characters are all fascinating, each with their own characteristics, Kirin, with his strait - laced personality and his belief in Bushido, Laenskaya, filled with anger but with the best skills as a fighter maybe, Fallon, I've already mentioned; Sherah, mysterious, almost magical and filled with sensuality... Kerris is a gadabout, free spirit. I haven't yet mentioned Sireth, the Seer, a mixed breed cat, who will be the link to another world, in the person of Solomon (I won't say anything more about him)
The journey to Sha-Hadin will result in another journey, along the Great Wall and carrying into the 2nd story. It's a great introduction to this series. I loved the culture, the characters and the story was well-crafted and so interesting. It takes a little while to get into the story itself, but it's worth the effort. Try it, you'll like it! (4.0 stars)
May 5, 2015
To Journey in the Year of the Tiger is a tale about honour, love, racial boundaries, discovery of self and the world, all while the shadow of death looms nearby.
Something, or someone, is killing the Empresses Council of Seers – those with the best talent with the gift of vision and far sight. In response to these deaths, the Empress sends a diversely skilled group to uncover the truth, bring the killings to a stop, and punish whoever is responsible.
To Journey in the Year of the Tiger is the first book in the Tails of the Upper Kingdom saga and through the pages, Dickson opens our eyes, and those of her characters, to the great scope that this journey will take.
H. Leighton gives us a diverse group of characters, all of whom bring skills to aid them in either surviving the journey, or determining the cause of the deaths. Kirin, the brave and noble Captain who, even if it goes against his deepest wishes and desires, will follow the traditions of his people and the orders of his Empress. Kerris, Kirin’s brother, an easy going, Geomancer who has traveled across more of the world than most. Fallon, a young upbeat Scholar whose wisdom well exceeds her years, while her views on the world challenge the traditions of the Upper Kingdom. Shera the alchemist, shrouded in mystery and who weaves spells to keep it that way. Ursa, the Captain’s right hand woman and Major in the army, has a tongue that is often sharper then her blades, and strikes with just as much accuracy. Finally, benAramis, last of the Council of Seers, whose very life rests in the hands of the others.
Her characters are well defined, and even when a chapter or section opens without directly stating who is thinking or speaking, it is made clear by the character’s actions or mannerisms. The clacking of heels and pacing can only belong to the Major, while an incensed filled room belongs to Shera. Their pasts define their actions and are revealed through small moments and glimmers, making it all the more clear that their choices are rooted by who they are and their experiences, thus making them deeper and richer characters than the standard tropes.
Unlike most sagas, Dickson has not completed a story in this book that will resume in the next. Instead, book one is just the start of the journey, and I found this quite a refreshing change. Instead of trying to cram a small story into a book that is part of a greater arc, Dickson has taken the arc and separated it. This change is bold, but something I sorely needed, as it seems that with most trilogies (or sagas) that the characters can’t seem to get a break from one book to the next. This series seems to be telling one tale in the span of multiple books and it gives me hope that when I reach the end, the survivors will have come through their stories changed, but alive, and allowed to rest, and live their lives.
H. Leighton’s choice to spread her arc over many books is not the only aspect that separates her books apart, but also her choice to make her characters anthropomorphic. The Upper Kingdom belongs to cats of all breeds; snow leopards, cheetahs, lynx, tigers, and most important of all lions. Mating between the breeds is considered blasphemy, and any mixed breeds are ostracized as mongrels. This has become a consternation for more than a couple of characters when their hearts belong to someone of a different breed. It will be interesting to see if the characters will choose to betray their culture for love, or live lonely and duty bound.
Another unique aspect to the world is that Dickson has found a way to modify our world and that of her new world. It is still unclear exactly how those worlds are connected, but I have no doubt that by the end of the journey we will learn how this new world came to be, and what happened to humans, if we still even exist on the same plane.
I cannot wait to continue this journey with Kirin and his headache educing companions (especially Kerris… love that lion), and see where To Walk in the Way of Lions takes me.
Something, or someone, is killing the Empresses Council of Seers – those with the best talent with the gift of vision and far sight. In response to these deaths, the Empress sends a diversely skilled group to uncover the truth, bring the killings to a stop, and punish whoever is responsible.
To Journey in the Year of the Tiger is the first book in the Tails of the Upper Kingdom saga and through the pages, Dickson opens our eyes, and those of her characters, to the great scope that this journey will take.
H. Leighton gives us a diverse group of characters, all of whom bring skills to aid them in either surviving the journey, or determining the cause of the deaths. Kirin, the brave and noble Captain who, even if it goes against his deepest wishes and desires, will follow the traditions of his people and the orders of his Empress. Kerris, Kirin’s brother, an easy going, Geomancer who has traveled across more of the world than most. Fallon, a young upbeat Scholar whose wisdom well exceeds her years, while her views on the world challenge the traditions of the Upper Kingdom. Shera the alchemist, shrouded in mystery and who weaves spells to keep it that way. Ursa, the Captain’s right hand woman and Major in the army, has a tongue that is often sharper then her blades, and strikes with just as much accuracy. Finally, benAramis, last of the Council of Seers, whose very life rests in the hands of the others.
Her characters are well defined, and even when a chapter or section opens without directly stating who is thinking or speaking, it is made clear by the character’s actions or mannerisms. The clacking of heels and pacing can only belong to the Major, while an incensed filled room belongs to Shera. Their pasts define their actions and are revealed through small moments and glimmers, making it all the more clear that their choices are rooted by who they are and their experiences, thus making them deeper and richer characters than the standard tropes.
Unlike most sagas, Dickson has not completed a story in this book that will resume in the next. Instead, book one is just the start of the journey, and I found this quite a refreshing change. Instead of trying to cram a small story into a book that is part of a greater arc, Dickson has taken the arc and separated it. This change is bold, but something I sorely needed, as it seems that with most trilogies (or sagas) that the characters can’t seem to get a break from one book to the next. This series seems to be telling one tale in the span of multiple books and it gives me hope that when I reach the end, the survivors will have come through their stories changed, but alive, and allowed to rest, and live their lives.
H. Leighton’s choice to spread her arc over many books is not the only aspect that separates her books apart, but also her choice to make her characters anthropomorphic. The Upper Kingdom belongs to cats of all breeds; snow leopards, cheetahs, lynx, tigers, and most important of all lions. Mating between the breeds is considered blasphemy, and any mixed breeds are ostracized as mongrels. This has become a consternation for more than a couple of characters when their hearts belong to someone of a different breed. It will be interesting to see if the characters will choose to betray their culture for love, or live lonely and duty bound.
Another unique aspect to the world is that Dickson has found a way to modify our world and that of her new world. It is still unclear exactly how those worlds are connected, but I have no doubt that by the end of the journey we will learn how this new world came to be, and what happened to humans, if we still even exist on the same plane.
I cannot wait to continue this journey with Kirin and his headache educing companions (especially Kerris… love that lion), and see where To Walk in the Way of Lions takes me.
May 8, 2014
I had no idea what to expect going into this book. It's fantasy, a genre I rarely read. It was also self-published, and those can go either way. But I was promised talking cats and swordfighting women, so I took a risk.
It did not disappoint. It's hard to describe without giving away plot points, but for such a plot-heavy book, all 6 main characters are well developed. The romance is a little cliche, in the sense that there are three men and three women, and it becomes apparent from relatively early on how things are going to go in that department, but that's a very small subplot in this fascinating world. The setting is one of my favorite things about this book, with race and class issues being another. I doubt there is much fantasy set in China, and the author describes it beautifully.
I can't think of a thing I didn't enjoy about this book, save for the fact we only have the one sordswoman, but she is awesome and I love her! Did I mention this book is currently 2.99 on amazon kindle? If the idea of talking cats having adventures and struggling to work together appeals to you at all, go snatch this up!
It did not disappoint. It's hard to describe without giving away plot points, but for such a plot-heavy book, all 6 main characters are well developed. The romance is a little cliche, in the sense that there are three men and three women, and it becomes apparent from relatively early on how things are going to go in that department, but that's a very small subplot in this fascinating world. The setting is one of my favorite things about this book, with race and class issues being another. I doubt there is much fantasy set in China, and the author describes it beautifully.
I can't think of a thing I didn't enjoy about this book, save for the fact we only have the one sordswoman, but she is awesome and I love her! Did I mention this book is currently 2.99 on amazon kindle? If the idea of talking cats having adventures and struggling to work together appeals to you at all, go snatch this up!
November 4, 2013
“I love big cats and I will not lie…” OK, a little too lighthearted for Book 1 from “Tails of the Upper Kingdom” series but I couldn’t resist.
Dickson has created a fantastic world full of court intrigue, perilous journeys, unrequited love, magics – light and dark – and shocking revelations. And, of course, cats…Really big cats. Lions, tigers, ocelots, jaguars all standing upright doing all the things humans do and more. Love, hate, war, bigotry, making stupid societal codes and searching for enlightenment. With a mid/far east flavor there are names and locations we almost recognize – almost. One reads with a nagging little itch at the back of the brain that there is a key; some clue one is missing. That itch begging to be relieved draws one into the Year of the Tiger. The year when great changes occur and for better or worse they will occur.
Join “the Journey in the Year of the Tiger” and, hopefully, you will be as enthralled as I and anxious for Book 2 “to Walk in the Way of Lions.”
Dickson has created a fantastic world full of court intrigue, perilous journeys, unrequited love, magics – light and dark – and shocking revelations. And, of course, cats…Really big cats. Lions, tigers, ocelots, jaguars all standing upright doing all the things humans do and more. Love, hate, war, bigotry, making stupid societal codes and searching for enlightenment. With a mid/far east flavor there are names and locations we almost recognize – almost. One reads with a nagging little itch at the back of the brain that there is a key; some clue one is missing. That itch begging to be relieved draws one into the Year of the Tiger. The year when great changes occur and for better or worse they will occur.
Join “the Journey in the Year of the Tiger” and, hopefully, you will be as enthralled as I and anxious for Book 2 “to Walk in the Way of Lions.”
December 6, 2014
My review is more 4.5 stars than anything. The knock down of half a star is purely because some grammar and spelling issues that I couldn't ignore. The way this universe was spun was so intriguing to me and fascinating. I'm so glad that I bought the second book when I got the first one. I need to start the next one ASAP for sure. Kerris is by far my favourite character and my least favourite has to be the Alchemist. She's suspicious and untrustworthy to me. Fallon is a fantastic character. And I'm glad she tore into Kerris when she did. Maybe it'll smarten him up. But I think it might not work unfortunately lol such a good book. I recommend everyone reads this book!
November 26, 2014
4 stars is me being a little harsh. The book isn't perfect - the glue in the spine isn't very strong, there are some typos, some places in the book imply backstory that feels important but you don't actually find out what the story is. But the plot and characters are fantastic! Kerris is easily one of my favourite fictional characters period. I'm actually pretty pissed off that I have to be up early tomorrow. I'm dying to crack open book 2.
August 23, 2013
Wow, what a refreshing read. This is really a break from the books I have been reading and it was really refreshing. A true fantasy novel for fantasy lovers. I highly recommend this book to fantasy readers. Take a break from reality and fall into the world of the Upper Kingdom where Lions rule and tigers, cheetahs, and leopards are second class citizens.
September 1, 2016
An amazing starting book to a very promising series, the premise of anthropomorphic big cats as samurai like warriors intrigued me to read. Strong plot with very good twists throughout, very likeable characters, strong atmosphere and great use of culturalism. I can't wait to meet the author when she visits my library in Oct.
October 10, 2021
Humanity is extinct, Canines and Felines have become the dominant species. They walk on two feet, have language and culture. The Cats have a vast Empire stretching from the Far to the Middle East. The Empresses' Seers are dying off, which is a great cause for concern. She despatches the captain of her personal guard to sort it out. This is a lovely sword & sorcery adventure, based on oriental cultures. Recommended reading.
November 17, 2014
Originally published at West Coast Book Reviews.
I finished reading To Journey in the Year of the Tiger a couple of weeks ago and found it hard to sit down and write a review. It should be easy, considering how very much I adore this book but then again, that could be what makes it such a challenge to find the right words. Now that I'm half way through the second book, To Walk in the Way of Lions, I have a good idea what to say.
I've never read anything like this. The idea of big cats living in the hierarchy and values of Imperial China caught my attention and the mystery and characters held me to the story. Each powerful character avoids stereotype. From the amazed and energetic Scholar, the dark and seductive Alchemist to the honour-first Captain each was well rounded, developed and managed to surprise me while staying in character.
The descriptions of everything from scenes to garments draws on my knowledge of Imperial China and builds on my own imagery without making me struggle to make things fit in my own mind. I could use words like vivid and stunning because they would be true but the fact that the complex settings are so digestible makes this book so very rich.
I found both books one and two in this series free and made sure I paid for book three before I found it free as well. Didn't feel right to enjoy this book so much without supporting the author with a few dollars. To Journey in the Year of the Tiger is like finding a bag of treasure and knowing you've stumbled upon something fantastic. It is definitely worth purchasing.
To Journey in the Year of the Tiger is seductive and crass, powerful and humble, wicked and pure, humorous and stoic and rich and simple. The power of this book is in the contrasts it presents.
Experience it.
I finished reading To Journey in the Year of the Tiger a couple of weeks ago and found it hard to sit down and write a review. It should be easy, considering how very much I adore this book but then again, that could be what makes it such a challenge to find the right words. Now that I'm half way through the second book, To Walk in the Way of Lions, I have a good idea what to say.
I've never read anything like this. The idea of big cats living in the hierarchy and values of Imperial China caught my attention and the mystery and characters held me to the story. Each powerful character avoids stereotype. From the amazed and energetic Scholar, the dark and seductive Alchemist to the honour-first Captain each was well rounded, developed and managed to surprise me while staying in character.
The descriptions of everything from scenes to garments draws on my knowledge of Imperial China and builds on my own imagery without making me struggle to make things fit in my own mind. I could use words like vivid and stunning because they would be true but the fact that the complex settings are so digestible makes this book so very rich.
I found both books one and two in this series free and made sure I paid for book three before I found it free as well. Didn't feel right to enjoy this book so much without supporting the author with a few dollars. To Journey in the Year of the Tiger is like finding a bag of treasure and knowing you've stumbled upon something fantastic. It is definitely worth purchasing.
To Journey in the Year of the Tiger is seductive and crass, powerful and humble, wicked and pure, humorous and stoic and rich and simple. The power of this book is in the contrasts it presents.
Experience it.
October 24, 2014
(This review has been adapted a bit from my blog).
I picked this book up because it promised anthropomorphic cat people amid a mixed Asian cultural setting, which is a bit different than what I've been getting into lately. Gotta admit, though, I love foreign settings, especially those set in Asia, and regularly go about collecting anything about that culture in this genre that I can find.
Reading "Journey" was much like watching an anime, or playing a JRPG. All the usual characters are there (the perky girl, the brooding loner, the upbeat guy) and so it all felt very comfortable. That's not to say that the characters don't have depth; they very much do, and you'll find that the chirpy girl is often making insightful comments, while the upbeat guy may be hiding some things that aren't immediately apparent, and I'm never quite sure what's going on with the alchemist (I don't think the rest of the group knows either, so I'm not the only one out of the loop). Kirin Wingarde-Grey is sent out in the world after six of his country's beloved seers die, all in very odd - yet similar - ways, leaving a seventh to await a brutal death. As Kirin and his companions fight to keep the last seer alive, a person begins to realize that this book isn't exactly what they think it is - which was pretty darned neato to begin with. Journey kicks off an epic quest with mismatched heroes, a book that seems to only scratch the surface of the true issue. Rich with social issues and cryptic hints, I was thoroughly pleased that Kirin and co. knocked me out of my funk.
The only issue I had in an otherwise stellar tale was that I frequently couldn't tell who the speaker was (at the beginning of a chapter) until a page, or two, later. That said, I have an outdated copy and this may not be an issue for others.
All told, super fun read, rife with mysteries and kitties. PROMISE DELIVERED.
I picked this book up because it promised anthropomorphic cat people amid a mixed Asian cultural setting, which is a bit different than what I've been getting into lately. Gotta admit, though, I love foreign settings, especially those set in Asia, and regularly go about collecting anything about that culture in this genre that I can find.
Reading "Journey" was much like watching an anime, or playing a JRPG. All the usual characters are there (the perky girl, the brooding loner, the upbeat guy) and so it all felt very comfortable. That's not to say that the characters don't have depth; they very much do, and you'll find that the chirpy girl is often making insightful comments, while the upbeat guy may be hiding some things that aren't immediately apparent, and I'm never quite sure what's going on with the alchemist (I don't think the rest of the group knows either, so I'm not the only one out of the loop). Kirin Wingarde-Grey is sent out in the world after six of his country's beloved seers die, all in very odd - yet similar - ways, leaving a seventh to await a brutal death. As Kirin and his companions fight to keep the last seer alive, a person begins to realize that this book isn't exactly what they think it is - which was pretty darned neato to begin with. Journey kicks off an epic quest with mismatched heroes, a book that seems to only scratch the surface of the true issue. Rich with social issues and cryptic hints, I was thoroughly pleased that Kirin and co. knocked me out of my funk.
The only issue I had in an otherwise stellar tale was that I frequently couldn't tell who the speaker was (at the beginning of a chapter) until a page, or two, later. That said, I have an outdated copy and this may not be an issue for others.
All told, super fun read, rife with mysteries and kitties. PROMISE DELIVERED.
October 12, 2014
I'd probably give this 3.8 stars - not quite a 4.
This was very good for a self-published book. I really liked the worldbuilding, characters, and storyline in this book. I can't think of another book I've read like this - very original. I loved the futuristic world of cat-people that still had some things there from the past world. I loved the characters, and thought they were very well-designed.
But of course, there were a few problems. I didn't like how the characters had European-sounding names (like Kerris Wynegarde-Grey) even though they lived in China. A lot of sentences were worded strangely. This problem gets better as the book goes on, but the first 50-100 pages were not edited very well. There were lots of grammar errors and words Randomly Capitalized. Thankfully, I can see the writing and editing improve as I got further in the book. I definitely plan on continuing the series, and expect the next two books to be stronger than this one.
This was very good for a self-published book. I really liked the worldbuilding, characters, and storyline in this book. I can't think of another book I've read like this - very original. I loved the futuristic world of cat-people that still had some things there from the past world. I loved the characters, and thought they were very well-designed.
But of course, there were a few problems. I didn't like how the characters had European-sounding names (like Kerris Wynegarde-Grey) even though they lived in China. A lot of sentences were worded strangely. This problem gets better as the book goes on, but the first 50-100 pages were not edited very well. There were lots of grammar errors and words Randomly Capitalized. Thankfully, I can see the writing and editing improve as I got further in the book. I definitely plan on continuing the series, and expect the next two books to be stronger than this one.
January 4, 2021
This is a warning. No spoilers.
The last book in the series was published in may of 2018. There is no place holder for additional books and after that much time with no other activity I assumed the series was complete. I do not want to get onto another Game of Thrones or Name of the Wind situation. So after nearly two years and 4 books I thought it was safe. But NO. It is not finished and the author is not even working on it. Like G RR Martin she is involved in other projects and does not know when she will get back to this. I wasted a lot of time reading these and am very frustrated.
The last book in the series was published in may of 2018. There is no place holder for additional books and after that much time with no other activity I assumed the series was complete. I do not want to get onto another Game of Thrones or Name of the Wind situation. So after nearly two years and 4 books I thought it was safe. But NO. It is not finished and the author is not even working on it. Like G RR Martin she is involved in other projects and does not know when she will get back to this. I wasted a lot of time reading these and am very frustrated.
August 12, 2016
TJYT is now one my favorite fantasy books
I really liked To Journey in the Year of the Tiger, because it was influenced by Asian cultures, unlike most fantasy books. It was pretty surprising that the anthropomorphic cats, monkeys, and dogs were genetically created by humans thousands of years earlier, when humanity suffered from near-extinction.I really liked the blend of fantasy, post apocalypse, and a little sci fire.
I really liked To Journey in the Year of the Tiger, because it was influenced by Asian cultures, unlike most fantasy books. It was pretty surprising that the anthropomorphic cats, monkeys, and dogs were genetically created by humans thousands of years earlier, when humanity suffered from near-extinction.I really liked the blend of fantasy, post apocalypse, and a little sci fire.
October 11, 2016
Excellent journey, enjoy the ride
Very reminiscent of guy gavriel kay and under heaven, in a semi fictional realm that's maybe adjacent to ours. As other reviews state it's a mix of China, Japan and India with maybe Switzerland. Strong characters, good action and compelling world building. To be honest the only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was the personal annoyance of trying to match it to real world geography.
Very reminiscent of guy gavriel kay and under heaven, in a semi fictional realm that's maybe adjacent to ours. As other reviews state it's a mix of China, Japan and India with maybe Switzerland. Strong characters, good action and compelling world building. To be honest the only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was the personal annoyance of trying to match it to real world geography.
May 23, 2014
Fascinating
Love the concept of cat ppl. Author had drawn me in with the 1st chapter. Adding a modern day mystery was the icing on the cake... forgive me for cutting this review short... I have book 2 waiting and I am anxious to see where this Author takes me.
Love the concept of cat ppl. Author had drawn me in with the 1st chapter. Adding a modern day mystery was the icing on the cake... forgive me for cutting this review short... I have book 2 waiting and I am anxious to see where this Author takes me.
July 23, 2016
Enjoyed muchly :-) Nice plot twists.
February 26, 2019
"The Upper Kingdom, a genetically-altered Empire built on the Ashes of the ‘Ancestors,' where humans are legend and animals walk like men."
The above taken from the book’s blurb is the perfect description of a post-apocalyptic world in which the 4-book The Rise of the Upper Kingdom series is set. Imagine that big cats inherit the world from humans and are the dominant species. The characters have names like Kirin Wynegarde-Grey, and there are Indian, Chinese and Japanese cultural elements that make for some unique world building.
To Journey in the Year of the Tiger starts off with the empress of DharamShallah’s seers dying off one by one. With only two of the five still alive, the empress sends her favourite captain of the guard, Kirin Wynegarde-Grey, to the seers’ monastery to prevent the last of them from dying. Kirin takes along with him his brother, Kerris (a fun-loving but shunned lion because his fur is grey), Kirin’s adjutant, the snow leopard Major Ursa (who doesn’t suffer fools gladly and has to be reminded not to kill them), the tigress scholar, Fallon (a wet behind the ears optimist) and the devious cheetah alchemist, Sherah (whom no one can decide whether to trust). There is another character who joins ‘the team,’ but I don’t want to include any spoilers.
The world building is imaginative and the dynamics between the characters—they don’t all get on—means there’s never a dull moment. The plot is essential a quest to reach Switzerland, which only just gets going in this book. We’re given an insight into why the seers are dying and what (or rather who) is waiting in an ancient bunker in the Alps.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I’ve purchased a copy of the second book in the series, To Walk in the Way of Lions.
The above taken from the book’s blurb is the perfect description of a post-apocalyptic world in which the 4-book The Rise of the Upper Kingdom series is set. Imagine that big cats inherit the world from humans and are the dominant species. The characters have names like Kirin Wynegarde-Grey, and there are Indian, Chinese and Japanese cultural elements that make for some unique world building.
To Journey in the Year of the Tiger starts off with the empress of DharamShallah’s seers dying off one by one. With only two of the five still alive, the empress sends her favourite captain of the guard, Kirin Wynegarde-Grey, to the seers’ monastery to prevent the last of them from dying. Kirin takes along with him his brother, Kerris (a fun-loving but shunned lion because his fur is grey), Kirin’s adjutant, the snow leopard Major Ursa (who doesn’t suffer fools gladly and has to be reminded not to kill them), the tigress scholar, Fallon (a wet behind the ears optimist) and the devious cheetah alchemist, Sherah (whom no one can decide whether to trust). There is another character who joins ‘the team,’ but I don’t want to include any spoilers.
The world building is imaginative and the dynamics between the characters—they don’t all get on—means there’s never a dull moment. The plot is essential a quest to reach Switzerland, which only just gets going in this book. We’re given an insight into why the seers are dying and what (or rather who) is waiting in an ancient bunker in the Alps.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I’ve purchased a copy of the second book in the series, To Walk in the Way of Lions.
September 18, 2024
A friend of mine sent me a quiz recently, which had titles and short descriptions of fantasy novels that may or may not have been real. I didn't do particularly well at guessing - but was delighted to discover that To Journey in the Year of the Tiger by H Leighton Dickson was actually real. I bought the whole trilogy immediately and thoroughly enjoyed this first instalment.
The description reads:
"This is a powerful, post-apocalyptic story of lions and tigers, wolves and dragons, embracing and blending the cultures of Dynastic China, Ancient India and Feudal Japan. Half feline, half human, this genetically altered world has evolved in the wake of the fall of human civilization."
And, frequent annoying typos and surface errors aside (I'd love the opportunity to correct them all so they don't detract from other readers' experience because this book deserves more readers), it's pretty good. It's a little bit turgid to start with (too much clunky exposition), but the array of really fantastic characters really brings it to life once it gets going.
Captain Kirin Wynegarde-Grey is tasked by his Empress with taking a disparate group of anthropomorphic cats on a quest to discover why the Seers of Sha'Hadin are dying one by one. I love a 'group of antagonistic misfits on a mysterious quest' stories and this is a good one. The various inter-relationships are great and all the characters are interesting and very layered.
There are also some fascinating and very unexpected developments as the plot progresses - and I look forward to finding out what happens in the next book.
The description reads:
"This is a powerful, post-apocalyptic story of lions and tigers, wolves and dragons, embracing and blending the cultures of Dynastic China, Ancient India and Feudal Japan. Half feline, half human, this genetically altered world has evolved in the wake of the fall of human civilization."
And, frequent annoying typos and surface errors aside (I'd love the opportunity to correct them all so they don't detract from other readers' experience because this book deserves more readers), it's pretty good. It's a little bit turgid to start with (too much clunky exposition), but the array of really fantastic characters really brings it to life once it gets going.
Captain Kirin Wynegarde-Grey is tasked by his Empress with taking a disparate group of anthropomorphic cats on a quest to discover why the Seers of Sha'Hadin are dying one by one. I love a 'group of antagonistic misfits on a mysterious quest' stories and this is a good one. The various inter-relationships are great and all the characters are interesting and very layered.
There are also some fascinating and very unexpected developments as the plot progresses - and I look forward to finding out what happens in the next book.
September 11, 2017
In a field so often swamped by Tolkien clones, what a refreshing change this book is! The premise -- a feudal Asiatic civilisation in which anthropomorphic cats occupy different castes based on race (lions, tigers, etc.) -- is intriguing in itself. On this foundation, the author builds a richly-described world of heroic fantasy, with a "hard" science fiction concept at its core. That amalgam can be difficult to pull off, but Dickson does it well. In fact, the cross-genre tension drives the plot and unfolds the mystery behind the tale.
Of course, a novel is only as good as its characters, and Dickson populates hers with a whole litter of heroic, funny, compelling felines you can't wait to spend more time with! More than anything, it's the witty dialogue and poignant character moments that give this book its charm. My only quibble, which I share with a previous reviewer, is that sometimes it's tricky to tell who's talking, especially when there's a shift in POV. But these characters are so well-drawn that the reader quickly gets to know them and the problem largely disappears.
This is widescreen epic fantasy with a humorous, character-driven twist. It would make a terrific big-budget movie -- I can dream, can't I? In the meantime, a great beginning to the "Tails of the Upper Kingdom" -- I'm looking forward to sinking my teeth into the next installment!
May 10, 2018
Return to an amazing adventure...4.5 Stars
Of course with the (finally) new release of The Year of the Dragon, Book 5 of Tails from the Upper Kingdom, I had to start over with book one again so all was fresh when I got to the ‘newbie’. With this authors’ amazing imagination and writing skills that was not a hardship at all.
Leigh writes with the lyricism of myth and her world building reads as historical fiction. Reading her words is like sitting by the warmth of a heath sipping an exceptional vintage, smooth all the way down. In her romantic Asian atmosphere, a remade world of East and Middle East, you can taste the air, feel the ruggedness of majestic mountains, the the sough of the wind and sun on your back while your eyes are drinking in the amazing colors of her world.
And her characters are cats! Not just any old cats, but lions and tigers, panthers and cheetahs, a host of every wild cat there is and, lest we forget, a snow leopard. Prideful all with human attributes so uncanny that you forget that you are reading about felines instead of those around you.
She is just an amazing writer. It is the way of things.
Of course with the (finally) new release of The Year of the Dragon, Book 5 of Tails from the Upper Kingdom, I had to start over with book one again so all was fresh when I got to the ‘newbie’. With this authors’ amazing imagination and writing skills that was not a hardship at all.
Leigh writes with the lyricism of myth and her world building reads as historical fiction. Reading her words is like sitting by the warmth of a heath sipping an exceptional vintage, smooth all the way down. In her romantic Asian atmosphere, a remade world of East and Middle East, you can taste the air, feel the ruggedness of majestic mountains, the the sough of the wind and sun on your back while your eyes are drinking in the amazing colors of her world.
And her characters are cats! Not just any old cats, but lions and tigers, panthers and cheetahs, a host of every wild cat there is and, lest we forget, a snow leopard. Prideful all with human attributes so uncanny that you forget that you are reading about felines instead of those around you.
She is just an amazing writer. It is the way of things.
July 27, 2017
Very Interesting, Not A Shifter Story but Shifter-ish
Most will enjoy this different type of shifter story. They are more animals that walk on two legs, have the powers of their type of animal than someone who changes back and forth from animal to human. But I would love to continue this story to see what happens to everyone. Who is killing the seers? Where is Solomon from? Will they find him? What is it between the captain and his twin besides their different colors? What of the cat women? Three different kinds, three different personalities, and all with a different station in life. I have loved reading the story to this point.
Most will enjoy this different type of shifter story. They are more animals that walk on two legs, have the powers of their type of animal than someone who changes back and forth from animal to human. But I would love to continue this story to see what happens to everyone. Who is killing the seers? Where is Solomon from? Will they find him? What is it between the captain and his twin besides their different colors? What of the cat women? Three different kinds, three different personalities, and all with a different station in life. I have loved reading the story to this point.
May 9, 2018
This is a combination of fantasy and apocalypse/future that actually seems to work decently well. The characters are interesting, the world is built well, and you get a different perspective of a race other than human. My biggest gripe that kept this from 5 stars is the number of implied things that were never explained if they happened or how leaving me wondering what really happened. Also, as it is a blend of fantasy and apocalyptic future, some things that happened aren't explained how they happen, for the most part, they are but when it comes to how an ancestor and a member of their party connect, it isn't explained.
September 2, 2018
Note: The review refers to the edition included in Sword, Steam and Sky: Four Book Fantasy Bundle.
Excellent writing, interesting setting and characters, and quite a relief to see the focus staying on the main characters and only a couple of times briefly switching to the scheming going on elsewhere. The flowery descriptions are written so well that they’re a notable positive aspect, the dialogues are natural, believable, and the same can for the most part also be said about the characters. It’s somewhat unpleasant that, despite being part of the group all along, those guards remain generic, expendable and largely ignored, but the main characters have very different personalities, with facets, layers and pasts that are gradually revealed, as their interactions and bonds become deeper. You will get to cheer and even actually care for most of them… Or at least I did.
The problem, however, is the postapocalyptic setting. Fortunately, at least in this book, there are only glimpses of it, so I could largely ignore it and not let it detract from the rest, but I could have really done without it, perhaps only mentioning something about it a few times in order to explain some details about the setting, and the fact that the action takes place on Earth, not on some fantasy world. That’s a matter of taste, of course, as I simply dislike the genre, but To Journey in the Year of the Tiger would in pretty much any other way be the start of a good fantasy series, yet, however occasionally and briefly, it insists on jarringly tearing the reader away from all its other aspects, from the atmosphere and even the mindset that suits reading such a book, and jumping into something entirely different and, at least from my point of view, out of place. Definitely makes me dread what’s coming.
Excellent writing, interesting setting and characters, and quite a relief to see the focus staying on the main characters and only a couple of times briefly switching to the scheming going on elsewhere. The flowery descriptions are written so well that they’re a notable positive aspect, the dialogues are natural, believable, and the same can for the most part also be said about the characters. It’s somewhat unpleasant that, despite being part of the group all along, those guards remain generic, expendable and largely ignored, but the main characters have very different personalities, with facets, layers and pasts that are gradually revealed, as their interactions and bonds become deeper. You will get to cheer and even actually care for most of them… Or at least I did.
The problem, however, is the postapocalyptic setting. Fortunately, at least in this book, there are only glimpses of it, so I could largely ignore it and not let it detract from the rest, but I could have really done without it, perhaps only mentioning something about it a few times in order to explain some details about the setting, and the fact that the action takes place on Earth, not on some fantasy world. That’s a matter of taste, of course, as I simply dislike the genre, but To Journey in the Year of the Tiger would in pretty much any other way be the start of a good fantasy series, yet, however occasionally and briefly, it insists on jarringly tearing the reader away from all its other aspects, from the atmosphere and even the mindset that suits reading such a book, and jumping into something entirely different and, at least from my point of view, out of place. Definitely makes me dread what’s coming.
April 22, 2020
Още една цафара. В такова настроение съм днес. И тази е в графата недовършени заради безкрайни описания и муден сюжет, но не само.
В случая авторката е създала свят на антропоморфни зверове, които са бойци, вдъхновени от самураите. И след като е описала и самите зверове, сюжетът й се забива в един манастир и има само описания и инстриги. Кел файда от мечовете, ноктите и зъбите. Така ми се искаше да харесам тая книга, че я мъчих повече отколкото трябва. Но не мога да си изкривя вкуса - бавно и скучно четиво. А както е казал колегата Бранимир Събев, проклятието на всяка жанрова книга е това да е скучна.
Затова - двойка.
В случая авторката е създала свят на антропоморфни зверове, които са бойци, вдъхновени от самураите. И след като е описала и самите зверове, сюжетът й се забива в един манастир и има само описания и инстриги. Кел файда от мечовете, ноктите и зъбите. Така ми се искаше да харесам тая книга, че я мъчих повече отколкото трябва. Но не мога да си изкривя вкуса - бавно и скучно четиво. А както е казал колегата Бранимир Събев, проклятието на всяка жанрова книга е това да е скучна.
Затова - двойка.
September 16, 2020
I have mixed feelings about this. The plot and world are interesting, but the author's borrowing of Asian cultures and languages was a little cringey. I get the borrowing of things like Bushido and Mandarin (spelled differently in the book to, I think, show the passing of time) is supposed to show continuity between the past human civilization and future post apocalypse cat society but they were really treated as props and very shallow compared to the aspects of the world the author made up. Unfortunately, Bushido was key character trait for one of the main characters so it was difficult to ignore.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 2, 2018
I downloaded To Journey in the Year of the Tiger, book 1 of the Upper Kingdom series, as a free book from Amazon. A beautifully written story with excellent imagery. This Shogun-meets-Planet-of-the-Apes, errrr Cats, story was brilliantly done. Lots of interesting sub-plots, twists and turns, and backstabbing to keep the reader on the edge of his/her seat. I really enjoyed the story. Book one doesn't end the storyline, but there is so much packed it, you won't feel shortchanged-- budget for the next book, as you'll want to grab book 2 right away.
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