What do you think?
Rate this book
Silk and Song Trilogy #1
Everything Under the Heavens
Raised in a prosperous family of 14th century Chinese merchants, Wu Johanna has grown up on camelback, in bustling city marketplaces, and in the cool, shaded depths of Silk Road caravanserai. Hers is a world of spice merchants and pearl divers, bandits and troubadours, servants and sheikhs. A world in which trust is more valuable than gold, and the right name can unlock a network of contacts from Japan to North Africa. Johanna is, after all, the granddaughter of Marco Polo.
In the wake of her father’s death, however, Johanna finds that lineage counts for little amid the disintegrating court of the Khan. Dynastic loyalties are shifting, petty jealousies lead to cold-blooded murders, and the long knives are coming out. If Johanna is to find a future for herself, she’ll have to rely on her wits, the vagaries of fortune, and a close-knit circle of friends and traveling companions. Her destiny—if she has one—lies more than a continent away, at the very edge of the known world.
In the wake of her father’s death, however, Johanna finds that lineage counts for little amid the disintegrating court of the Khan. Dynastic loyalties are shifting, petty jealousies lead to cold-blooded murders, and the long knives are coming out. If Johanna is to find a future for herself, she’ll have to rely on her wits, the vagaries of fortune, and a close-knit circle of friends and traveling companions. Her destiny—if she has one—lies more than a continent away, at the very edge of the known world.
238 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 3, 2014
113 people are currently reading
534 people want to read
About the author
Dana Stabenow
104 books2,152 followersDana Stabenow was born in Anchorage and raised on 75-foot fish tender in the Gulf of Alaska. She knew there was a warmer, drier job out there somewhere.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
January 28, 2017
I bought this book because it is uncommon to find English language historical fiction books about China. This book takes place in 14th century China, at the end of the reign of Kublai Khan (the grandson of Genghis Khan). The main character is the granddaughter of Marco Polo and, due to a variety of reasons, leaves her home to find her grandfather's people. She is accompanied by various friends and relatives.
The historical period is interesting enough, and the historical detail is well integrated throughout the book. But I found the writing flat and without depth. And the characters were not interesting enough for me to be deeply invested in their fate. In fact, the story ends on a cliffhanger (which also annoyed me because even in a series, each book should be self-contained enough to stand on its own), but even that is probably not enough for me to read the next one in the series.
I say this with some disappointment, as I was truly hoping I would like the book. And I did enjoy it--it was a fast and easy read of an interesting historical time. Unfortunately, the book just wasn't compelling enough to entice me to read the next one in the series.
The historical period is interesting enough, and the historical detail is well integrated throughout the book. But I found the writing flat and without depth. And the characters were not interesting enough for me to be deeply invested in their fate. In fact, the story ends on a cliffhanger (which also annoyed me because even in a series, each book should be self-contained enough to stand on its own), but even that is probably not enough for me to read the next one in the series.
I say this with some disappointment, as I was truly hoping I would like the book. And I did enjoy it--it was a fast and easy read of an interesting historical time. Unfortunately, the book just wasn't compelling enough to entice me to read the next one in the series.
June 4, 2020
"Everything Under the Heavens" - written by Dana Stabenow and published in 2014 by Gere Donovan Press. This historical fiction novel has elements of several of my favorite things to read - the ancient Eastern world, romance and high adventure. The granddaughter of Marco Polo, who displays both her Venetian and Chinese heritages, is a skilled trader like her father Wu Li, but when he dies, her world is thrown into chaos. Taking items of great value, both living and inanimate, she heads out over the deserts with her comrades, encountering both dangers and delights. "At every league there was a new and almost invariably fatal disease waiting to infect them, thieves and bandits eager to rob them, rival merchants hoping to cheat them, bears and wolves with their next meal on their minds." Stabenow is especially skilled at describing this ancient, colorful world and the setting comes alive, with never a dull moment. The end of the book is a true cliffhanger and I look forward to continuing in the three-book series.
December 30, 2017
This reminded me in a good way of books I loved when I was young: of adventures in foreign countries and olden times. I may have gotten this ebook for free (it is available for free at Amazon right now), and am now "forced" to buy the second volume, because of the cliffhanger ending. But I also went ahead and bought two other ebooks by the same author. Meaning: I really liked it.
September 17, 2014
Dana Stabenow writes awesome characters and this book shows off a few more. The problem I had was that the plot felt kind of chopped, with the first half of the book bouncing around for first-hand accounts of background events and the second half ending in an abrupt cliff-hanger just as the adventure gets moving. The whole story just felt a little too concise to allow me to truly empathize with our main characters. Johanna feels a little anachronistic for the setting. She has way more freedom than you'd expect would be allowed a girl of sixteen in fourteenth century China, definitely. She garners a lot more respect than I would have thought realistic, even though it is mostly coat-tail respect for her father. And our antagonists just ended up as caricatures of your standard fairy tale "bad guy" (thought that's not necessarily a bad thing for an adventure story).
This is apparently the first in a trilogy. I'm curious enough about where the story is going and where the characters end up (even though I'm pretty sure we all know where they'll end up given the fairy tale vibe) that I would totally pick up the next books at the library, but may not make the book budget.
This is apparently the first in a trilogy. I'm curious enough about where the story is going and where the characters end up (even though I'm pretty sure we all know where they'll end up given the fairy tale vibe) that I would totally pick up the next books at the library, but may not make the book budget.
August 16, 2015
I'd have given it another star, but I really really hate major cliffhanger endings. The way I see it, each book in a trilogy needs its own arc and to be a satisfying story in its own right. The trilogy then has a greater arc that covers all three books. Small cliffhanger endings are fine - the sense that the antagonists are continuing to plot etc - but I believe that the end of each book should reach a place of at least temporary calm, so that both characters and readers can catch their breath.
The last chapter of 'Everything' is the sort of small cliffhanger I mean - a good hook that makes me wonder where the next book will go. But the second last chapter? It's easily the darkest moment in the book - no resolution at all, so I finished the book with a sense of great dissatisfaction and irritation. Why do some authors think this is a good idea? Do they believe we won't read the next book unless we're dragged into it with a hook through our noses?
The last chapter of 'Everything' is the sort of small cliffhanger I mean - a good hook that makes me wonder where the next book will go. But the second last chapter? It's easily the darkest moment in the book - no resolution at all, so I finished the book with a sense of great dissatisfaction and irritation. Why do some authors think this is a good idea? Do they believe we won't read the next book unless we're dragged into it with a hook through our noses?
February 8, 2015
The main character in this novel is Wu Johanna. She is none other than Marco Polo's granddaughter, born into the family he left behind in China when he returned to Italy. Johanna is an attractive character. Lively and intelligent, she is also a risk taker. When a family crisis makes her position in her home in China untenable, she and a few close companions head west on the silk road. Adventures ensue.
Dana Stabenow obviously did a lot of research for this book. It is well written and I found some of the characters quite interesting. This story is quite a jump from her normal crime/mystery/romance mix. Also obviously, this is only the first part of the story. It is a bit irritating how she leaves things hanging at the end. But hey, if George RR Martin can get away with it, why not?
Dana Stabenow obviously did a lot of research for this book. It is well written and I found some of the characters quite interesting. This story is quite a jump from her normal crime/mystery/romance mix. Also obviously, this is only the first part of the story. It is a bit irritating how she leaves things hanging at the end. But hey, if George RR Martin can get away with it, why not?
June 12, 2016
The ending made me so feel so betrayed that I spend the next 24 hours nitpicking the book. All the enjoyment from the rest of the book was utterly ruined by the last few paragraphs of the second to last chapter.
The author could have so easily moved that offensive section into book 2. That would've made book 1 a satisfying stop in the saga. The last chapter would've provided all the foreshadowing necessary for the rest of the trilogy.
I'm not going to bother reading book 2 until there's book 3. I'm annoyed enough to never bother with the rest of the saga. Who knows what could happen at the end of book 2? She could literally be dangling off a cliff!
The author could have so easily moved that offensive section into book 2. That would've made book 1 a satisfying stop in the saga. The last chapter would've provided all the foreshadowing necessary for the rest of the trilogy.
I'm not going to bother reading book 2 until there's book 3. I'm annoyed enough to never bother with the rest of the saga. Who knows what could happen at the end of book 2? She could literally be dangling off a cliff!
January 3, 2016
I really, really wanted to like this book. I've lived along the old Silk Road and visited historic sites along the route... I got about halfway through the book before giving up. It just didn't seem believable or engaging to me in any way. I probably wouldn't have made it halfway in had I not had an interest in the area.
September 16, 2016
Go back and read some of the great book series, even look at some of the great movies that manage to do the followups well. You are not writing for TV, this is a book and when I come to the end I want to say that was great writing, I feel good or engaged because I read it NOT oh what am I supposed to do now look for the next in the series that may make me feel as disappointed as I do now.
August 19, 2017
Liked the book but the ending left a bad taste in my mouth. I have read a lot of trilogy books and the ending leaves you wanting more but has some closure. At the end of this book I felt like the author was afraid we wouldn't buy the next book unless we were left hanging. Therefore only deserves four stars, maybe three.
June 2, 2016
Great descriptions and engaging characters but didn't grab me as much as the Kate Shugak books have.
April 13, 2025
Dana Stabenow writes mystery stories, but with Everything Under the Heavens, she branched out to write a historical novel. The story is set on the famous Silk Road, the long, dangerous but lucrative trading route that stretched from Imperial China to the Mediterranean Sea as early as the time of the Mongols. This novel is set in the Medieval times (early 14th century) when the trade routes are well establish, though still dangerous. Everything Under the Heavens is apparently the name by which citizens of China referred to their empire during that era. The star of this tale is Johanna, the granddaughter of Marco Polo and his Chinese concubine.
The reader meets Johanna when she is just six years old, traveling with a merchant caravan along the Silk Road. Her father is Wu Li, a veteran, accomplished trader who married Shu Ming, the daughter of Marco Polo and his concubine. Shu Ming is Johanna mother, which explains her European looks: bronze hair and round eyes, tall and athletic. No bound feet for her! Each year, Wu Li travels as far as Kashgar, where he trades goods with caravans coming from the west over the Hindu Kush. Since the death of the Great Kahn, the roads are becoming more dangerous, with brigands increasing in daring and numbers. As Wu Li's caravan journeys to Kashgar, they stumble (literally) upon a young lad who no more than six years old. This is Jaufre, the sole survivor of an ambush the wiped out his father's caravan. Jaufre survived because his dying father fell on top of him, hiding Jaufre from the clutches of the slavers. Jaufre, like Johanna, has European ancestry - he has blonde hair, which is not something something commonly seen in Asia. Wu Li adopts Jaufre, and soon he and Johanna become inseparable friends.
The story jumps ahead more than a dozen years and now Johanna and Jaufre are young adults. Shu Ming died, and Wu Li remarried - this time to a much younger woman who is also a trader: Dai Fang. However, although Dai Fang may be young and beautiful, as well as an accomplished trader in her own right, Dai Fang is also ruthless, ambitious and greedy. Having a step daughter like Johanna around is certainly not in her evil plans, especially when Dai Fangs aims to make Wu Li's trading enterprises entirely her own.
Johanna is well aware of her precarious situation, Dai Fang takes no pangs to disguise her hostility. She and Jaufre decide that they will embark once more on the famed Silk Road, but this time, instead of stopping at Kashgar, they will continue west over the high mountains of the Hindu Kush and continue on to see the fabled empires around the great inland sea (the Mediterranean).
I picked up this book because the Silk Road sounds like an exotic place to set an adventure story. The cover image of the lone rider on a great white horse crossing a high desert dune is eye-catching. I don't know anything about those famed Silk Road trade routes, but fortunately Stabenow includes a map at the beginning the shows Asia at the time of this novel. There is also a list of characters at the front of the book, and I referred to that multiple times until I got used to the exotic names. Everything Under the Heavens ends with a cliff hanger, so now I must find a copy of the second book to see what happens next.
The reader meets Johanna when she is just six years old, traveling with a merchant caravan along the Silk Road. Her father is Wu Li, a veteran, accomplished trader who married Shu Ming, the daughter of Marco Polo and his concubine. Shu Ming is Johanna mother, which explains her European looks: bronze hair and round eyes, tall and athletic. No bound feet for her! Each year, Wu Li travels as far as Kashgar, where he trades goods with caravans coming from the west over the Hindu Kush. Since the death of the Great Kahn, the roads are becoming more dangerous, with brigands increasing in daring and numbers. As Wu Li's caravan journeys to Kashgar, they stumble (literally) upon a young lad who no more than six years old. This is Jaufre, the sole survivor of an ambush the wiped out his father's caravan. Jaufre survived because his dying father fell on top of him, hiding Jaufre from the clutches of the slavers. Jaufre, like Johanna, has European ancestry - he has blonde hair, which is not something something commonly seen in Asia. Wu Li adopts Jaufre, and soon he and Johanna become inseparable friends.
The story jumps ahead more than a dozen years and now Johanna and Jaufre are young adults. Shu Ming died, and Wu Li remarried - this time to a much younger woman who is also a trader: Dai Fang. However, although Dai Fang may be young and beautiful, as well as an accomplished trader in her own right, Dai Fang is also ruthless, ambitious and greedy. Having a step daughter like Johanna around is certainly not in her evil plans, especially when Dai Fangs aims to make Wu Li's trading enterprises entirely her own.
Johanna is well aware of her precarious situation, Dai Fang takes no pangs to disguise her hostility. She and Jaufre decide that they will embark once more on the famed Silk Road, but this time, instead of stopping at Kashgar, they will continue west over the high mountains of the Hindu Kush and continue on to see the fabled empires around the great inland sea (the Mediterranean).
I picked up this book because the Silk Road sounds like an exotic place to set an adventure story. The cover image of the lone rider on a great white horse crossing a high desert dune is eye-catching. I don't know anything about those famed Silk Road trade routes, but fortunately Stabenow includes a map at the beginning the shows Asia at the time of this novel. There is also a list of characters at the front of the book, and I referred to that multiple times until I got used to the exotic names. Everything Under the Heavens ends with a cliff hanger, so now I must find a copy of the second book to see what happens next.
August 19, 2018
I picked up this book because Dana Stabenow's Kate Shugak mystery series is a favorite of mine. I had no idea that she wrote historical fiction! Set in 14th century China, this is the story of Wu Johanna, the granddaughter of Marco Polo by the Chinese bride given to him by the Khan. Johanna has been raised with love by an unusually liberal trader father and half-Chinese mother, daughter of Marco Polo. She is taught many things usually denied women, and is indulged so because of her half-Western heritage. It begins with a Cinderella story, when her mother dies and her father marries again to a ruthless woman who hates Johanna and only wants the trading business her father has built over the years. Johanna escapes with her loyal friends, pursued by her stepmother's assassin.
I thoroughly enjoyed this. It took me awhile to get into it, but once Johanna comes into the picture the pace picks up considerably. The backdrop of 14th century China is fascinating and beautiful, the story is very entertaining, and the characters interesting and sympathetic. And although it's totally cliche and rather unbelievable, I still love Johanna's horse Night Wind.
I did not realize that the book I picked up was an omnibus of a trilogy. So I am reviewing each individual book as I finish it instead of reviewing the trilogy as a whole.
I thoroughly enjoyed this. It took me awhile to get into it, but once Johanna comes into the picture the pace picks up considerably. The backdrop of 14th century China is fascinating and beautiful, the story is very entertaining, and the characters interesting and sympathetic. And although it's totally cliche and rather unbelievable, I still love Johanna's horse Night Wind.
I did not realize that the book I picked up was an omnibus of a trilogy. So I am reviewing each individual book as I finish it instead of reviewing the trilogy as a whole.
January 29, 2023
I love Dana Stabenow’s writing in EVERYTHING UNDER THE HEAVENS. Descriptions are wonderful, like taking a virtual journey through time, so much history made real. Characters are strong and admirable. I love Johanna and her circle of family and friends. I admire their courage, cleverness, and loyalty. I sympathize with their struggles with bandits, court intrigue, family treachery, and nature’s extremes. Her stallion, North Wind, is as wonderful as any in literature, and Johanna is a worthy rider for him; together they can face all enemies and dangers.
. . . but then there’s the terrible, upset-everything ending (no, of course I won’t give details).
As a reader, I want resolution, success, a moment of peace, a safe space for the characters I’ve come to love before they launch into new adventures, not plop, right into new trouble. I’d probably have thrown a “tree book” across the room, but instead I turned off the iPad with a curse. I’ll read more of the series, perhaps at a bit of a distance emotionally. A friend reads endings first; I might adopt that strategy, to be prepared for a no-ending ending.
If you also dislike cliffhangers, you’ve been warned, as my brother said to his teacher on the first day of class, “Don’t get your hopes up.”
. . . but then there’s the terrible, upset-everything ending (no, of course I won’t give details).
As a reader, I want resolution, success, a moment of peace, a safe space for the characters I’ve come to love before they launch into new adventures, not plop, right into new trouble. I’d probably have thrown a “tree book” across the room, but instead I turned off the iPad with a curse. I’ll read more of the series, perhaps at a bit of a distance emotionally. A friend reads endings first; I might adopt that strategy, to be prepared for a no-ending ending.
If you also dislike cliffhangers, you’ve been warned, as my brother said to his teacher on the first day of class, “Don’t get your hopes up.”
December 20, 2019
Dana Stabenow is the author of the Kate Shugak series, one of my favorite mystery series ever. I had pretty high hopes for this new adventure. And up until the end, I found story centered around Marco Polo's granddaughter pretty enjoyable. It was a bit irritating how reckless the Joanna (the MC) is in regards to keeping a low profile, but this fell apart for me at the very end. I found the main character's willingness to impose the "death of the carpet" didn't fit my understanding of her, and the detailed method of execution itself disgusting to read about. But the most infuriating part was the cliff hanger ending. I understood this to be a trilogy, but that was an over the top cliffhanger that felt manipulative. I'll keep reading Stabenow, but will be skipping the rest of this particular trilogy.
August 13, 2017
This was my first Dana Stabenow book and probably my last. My book club invited her to a meeting and this was the one she suggested we read. It's self published (her publisher wasn't interested). I can see why. If you delete the blank pages between the chapters, it's about 160 pages. The front 'glossary' of characters gives three line descriptions of 33... helpful but still so many, not even the main character really develops. It's 'historical' in the sense it takes place in China/Mongolia in the 14th century and that's about it. It comes down to having so many characters her plot of a Marco Polo fictional granddaughter fighting for her life left out too much. Too short. Too abbreviated.
March 5, 2018
I was fascinated by the premise of Marco Polo having family who followed him to Europe, and the way of life he found in China- the Silk Road and the travelling that went along with trading as a matter of course. I found the book by accident, as I was looking for other of Dana Stabenow's books, and i have to say I was not at all disappointed by this and enjoyed every bit of it. Well written, clearly Dana enjoyed the writing of it ( her descriptive passages seem to bubble over with her enthusiasm to convey the sights and sounds to the reader.) I have to buy the next one, now, the cliffhanger is too much for me.
January 29, 2020
I have no idea how this ended up not only on my TBR list, but checked out and at home in my physical stack-- I don't remember seeing a recent post or recommendation, and it's a few years old. I don't know where it came from, but I really enjoyed it.
I doubt it's very historically accurate-- an afterward on the authenticity would have been appreciated. And I have no way of estimating how culturally accurate it is or if there's anything that another might feel as appropriation.
It does end in a weird place-- a real cliff-hanger, more appropriate to a thriller or middle-grade adventure novel.
I doubt it's very historically accurate-- an afterward on the authenticity would have been appreciated. And I have no way of estimating how culturally accurate it is or if there's anything that another might feel as appropriation.
It does end in a weird place-- a real cliff-hanger, more appropriate to a thriller or middle-grade adventure novel.
February 15, 2021
I liked the book. It was entertaining and I didn’t have an issue with the cliffhanger at the end of it because I purchased all three books before starting the trilogy. If there is something I cannot do is start a series that is not finished.
The story was maybe better suited for a younger audience. I would totally recommend this story to YA. It has all the components for success: love, friendship, lots of adventure, an awesome stallion, an evil stepmother, assassins and some history thrown in. For an older audience however, this story may feel a little too light hearted, too fairytale like, lacking in depth. Still enjoyable though.
The story was maybe better suited for a younger audience. I would totally recommend this story to YA. It has all the components for success: love, friendship, lots of adventure, an awesome stallion, an evil stepmother, assassins and some history thrown in. For an older audience however, this story may feel a little too light hearted, too fairytale like, lacking in depth. Still enjoyable though.
January 28, 2019
I read this book on a recent trip along the Silk Road in Western China and the Stans. It is the first of a series of three books that follow the fictional granddaughter of Marco Polo (born to his fictional Chinese concubine), her motley band of comrades, and her white stallion North Wind as they travel along the Silk Road from ancient Cambaluc (now Beijing) all the way to Venice, Italy. It's a light but fun look at what life in a caravan might have been like at the height of China's power in the 14th century.
March 13, 2019
Where will this end....
This is the story of the Granddaughter of Marco Polo, and honorable daughter of Wu Li, Johanna, determined, headstrong, and blessed. This tale,part 1 of 3, covers the youth of Johanna (now 16) and her foster brother Jaufre. After the death of her father, Johanna is being mistreated by Wu Li,s second wife. So Johanna and Jaufre join a caravan to escape and to travel the Silk Road. The journey will take them from”Everywhere Under the Heavens” to the Middle Sea. We are introduced to Mongol Lords, thieving Sheiks, Ronin Samurai
, and many others. This is an interesting and page turner. I am looking forward to reading Psrt 2.
This is the story of the Granddaughter of Marco Polo, and honorable daughter of Wu Li, Johanna, determined, headstrong, and blessed. This tale,part 1 of 3, covers the youth of Johanna (now 16) and her foster brother Jaufre. After the death of her father, Johanna is being mistreated by Wu Li,s second wife. So Johanna and Jaufre join a caravan to escape and to travel the Silk Road. The journey will take them from”Everywhere Under the Heavens” to the Middle Sea. We are introduced to Mongol Lords, thieving Sheiks, Ronin Samurai
, and many others. This is an interesting and page turner. I am looking forward to reading Psrt 2.
December 19, 2020
An exotic adventure
I dislike rereading a book, but in this case, I enjoyed every word. Dana Stabenow is one of my favorite authors. She not only gifts her readers with wonderfully realized characters, she gives us the bonus of explicitly drawn worlds. When I read her books I fully believe I am discovering a truthful landscape of sights, sounds, smells and peoples of lands I can never visit, but now can experience thanks to her skills of narration and description.
I dislike rereading a book, but in this case, I enjoyed every word. Dana Stabenow is one of my favorite authors. She not only gifts her readers with wonderfully realized characters, she gives us the bonus of explicitly drawn worlds. When I read her books I fully believe I am discovering a truthful landscape of sights, sounds, smells and peoples of lands I can never visit, but now can experience thanks to her skills of narration and description.
August 11, 2017
I acquired this book in 2016, but didn't start it until I was waiting for my grandson to be born and really needed something to divert my attention. From anyone else I would have thought it was pretty good, but I've put Dana Stabenow on a pedestal and maybe expect too much; but her other books are so good!
January 24, 2019
I've been a rabid fan of Kate Shugak throughout the series, and reading a different series by Dana Stabenow had me worried. But DS was (is) GREAT! Wow, the research she undertook for the Silk and Song Trilogy! And the characters are loveable or hate-able and one gets truly involved in their adventures! Now to read the next two books!
December 25, 2020
A new departure for Stabenow: historical fiction, along the Silk Road. I tried and failed, twice, to read this book. Each time, it sounds like Charlie Brown's teacher in my ears...just couldn't get into it.
December 18, 2023
This book could use a trigger warning for some of the violence. The characters certainly inhabit a dangerous world. I would like to know more about the research that went into this book and how it relates to known history.
December 18, 2023
A well laid out story, with good character development. The author seemed determined to make the Mongols look particularly brutal. The passage of time was also inconsistent, it's unclear why the story needed to start with Marco Polo, given his mostly inconsequential role in the story.
May 30, 2024
Quick little reread of this! The Silk Road as written by Stabenow feels lived and perfectly brought to life in this short first act. The characters are fun and feel real, the stakes high, the environment rich. It’s great
October 18, 2017
An excellent book from one of my favorite authors. 14th century China is the setting, with believable characters & situations to match. Plan on reading all 3 books because you will be hooked, promise. Dana Stabenow delivers a knock out punch with this trilogy.
November 21, 2017
Felt immersed into this world of the east in the Middle Ages.
Nice twists to leave book one on a cliffhanger.
Nice twists to leave book one on a cliffhanger.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews