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Distant Clouds: Samsara Book One
"I AM THE boatgirl rowing your raft across the River of Separation. Once, I was just like you, an immortal disciple, soaring above the clouds and wielding the five elements. I have opened portals to worlds others do not know even exist. The first time I killed, I slew one hundred demons in a breath. They got their revenge, of course, which is why I now know of sorrows you will never need to see. And when they struck me down the heavens, you only watched from the opposite shore."
WHEN YOUNG AYIN'S fishing village is devastated by a terrible storm, she is offered the opportunity of a lifetime in becoming immortal. Choosing to abandon all that she had once known, she accepts the tutelage of Elder Clearnight upon the misty mountains of Distant Cloud Sect, and soon grows into a prodigy of her generation.
Upon coming of age, she sneaks away in pursuit of adventure, and is thrown into a complex world of magic and danger. In a land forsaken by gods and ravaged by demons, power means everything. When one of these adventures mercilessly strikes her from the heavens, she is stripped of everything she once thought was her identity and truth...
BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN AND deeply thought-provoking, Distant Clouds is a powerful story of humanity's pursuit for deeper meaning, insightfully exploring themes of self-identity and impermanence through a hero's doomed journey towards enlightenment.
Seamlessly weaving together elements of Far Eastern mythology and Western epic fantasy, Gregorian's debut novel, and first in a series, lyrically unveils the romance of medieval China.
From the Author: My lifelong fascination with Fantasy began when I opened my first Narnia book. I immediately locked myself in the closet, hoping that some sudden power would whisk me away to a magical world of snow. It didn't happen, obviously. But that only stoked the fire in my heart, and I continued my afternoons at the library, pouring over covers like a sponge, or else listening to video game lore and reading Chinese internet novels. All the while, I longed to reconcile my two identities--geeky Asian gamer and Californian sorority girl. Years later, I finally poured my heart into creating Distant Clouds, a pioneer novel in many ways, to share the mystical beauty of the Orient with my American friends.
WHEN YOUNG AYIN'S fishing village is devastated by a terrible storm, she is offered the opportunity of a lifetime in becoming immortal. Choosing to abandon all that she had once known, she accepts the tutelage of Elder Clearnight upon the misty mountains of Distant Cloud Sect, and soon grows into a prodigy of her generation.
Upon coming of age, she sneaks away in pursuit of adventure, and is thrown into a complex world of magic and danger. In a land forsaken by gods and ravaged by demons, power means everything. When one of these adventures mercilessly strikes her from the heavens, she is stripped of everything she once thought was her identity and truth...
BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN AND deeply thought-provoking, Distant Clouds is a powerful story of humanity's pursuit for deeper meaning, insightfully exploring themes of self-identity and impermanence through a hero's doomed journey towards enlightenment.
Seamlessly weaving together elements of Far Eastern mythology and Western epic fantasy, Gregorian's debut novel, and first in a series, lyrically unveils the romance of medieval China.
From the Author: My lifelong fascination with Fantasy began when I opened my first Narnia book. I immediately locked myself in the closet, hoping that some sudden power would whisk me away to a magical world of snow. It didn't happen, obviously. But that only stoked the fire in my heart, and I continued my afternoons at the library, pouring over covers like a sponge, or else listening to video game lore and reading Chinese internet novels. All the while, I longed to reconcile my two identities--geeky Asian gamer and Californian sorority girl. Years later, I finally poured my heart into creating Distant Clouds, a pioneer novel in many ways, to share the mystical beauty of the Orient with my American friends.
176 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 26, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
June 30, 2018
I’m a huge sucker for fantasy and would give this book 5* in a heartbeat. Distant Clouds isn’t bloodily epic like Game of Thrones, but I loved the book because it is so relatable and original. Definitely a fast read and the plot for sure has that addictive nature to it.
First off, the writing was beautiful. Gregorian treads a fine line between poetry and prose, creating imaginative backdrops without being overly descriptive. I would reread the book just for some of the breathtaking landscapes—the Forsaken Cliffs, Waterfall Peak, the Kingdom of Wu with the yellow cabbage flowers. The whole novel was a journey through medieval and mythological China, with some Japanese and Indian themes interwoven as well. I’ve always been a fan of Asian history and culture, and Distant Clouds very successfully pulled me into a wonderful world I didn’t want to part with.
The characters themselves were the most compelling aspect of the novel to me. It’s been a long time since I’ve found a heroine I could identify with so much. When you first meet Ayin, she is an orphaned daughter of a fisherman, who is taken into a world of magic where she grows into adulthood and embarks on adventures with other cultivators and sprites. I loved all the characters—the strong yet tragic Ayin, the powerful and yet helpless Yeqing (Ayin’s teacher), the proud yet borderline crazy Luyao, and the brave warrior Korin (Ayin’s friend) who must chose between friendship and power. The character development was impeccable.
The ending was what completely blew me away. The first half of the book was reminiscent of popular magic school books, like Harry Potter or the Name of the Wind. But two thirds in, the story becomes an emotional rollercoaster, bittersweet but also so insightful and very different from anything I have ever read. And I think this is where the Distant Clouds completely sheds its YA fantasy genre and becomes a tearjerker for a more mature audience.
And the best part is that the heroine isn’t driven by some mushy romance, but by her search for identity, enlightenment and other Buddhist themes. Very unique and one of a kind! But I definitely felt some sparks between her and her teacher so…
Lastly I just want to say that I do wish the author spent more time on world-building and explaining the magic system. Often, I read books that have too much boring filler stuff, and while Distant Clouds was a breath of fresh air, I think it could have been at least 20% longer and still be alright. The novel left me grappling for more, so I can only hope that Gregorian comes out with the second book in the series soon.
Overall, an amazing read! I would recommend it to readers of all ages.
First off, the writing was beautiful. Gregorian treads a fine line between poetry and prose, creating imaginative backdrops without being overly descriptive. I would reread the book just for some of the breathtaking landscapes—the Forsaken Cliffs, Waterfall Peak, the Kingdom of Wu with the yellow cabbage flowers. The whole novel was a journey through medieval and mythological China, with some Japanese and Indian themes interwoven as well. I’ve always been a fan of Asian history and culture, and Distant Clouds very successfully pulled me into a wonderful world I didn’t want to part with.
The characters themselves were the most compelling aspect of the novel to me. It’s been a long time since I’ve found a heroine I could identify with so much. When you first meet Ayin, she is an orphaned daughter of a fisherman, who is taken into a world of magic where she grows into adulthood and embarks on adventures with other cultivators and sprites. I loved all the characters—the strong yet tragic Ayin, the powerful and yet helpless Yeqing (Ayin’s teacher), the proud yet borderline crazy Luyao, and the brave warrior Korin (Ayin’s friend) who must chose between friendship and power. The character development was impeccable.
The ending was what completely blew me away. The first half of the book was reminiscent of popular magic school books, like Harry Potter or the Name of the Wind. But two thirds in, the story becomes an emotional rollercoaster, bittersweet but also so insightful and very different from anything I have ever read. And I think this is where the Distant Clouds completely sheds its YA fantasy genre and becomes a tearjerker for a more mature audience.
And the best part is that the heroine isn’t driven by some mushy romance, but by her search for identity, enlightenment and other Buddhist themes. Very unique and one of a kind! But I definitely felt some sparks between her and her teacher so…
Lastly I just want to say that I do wish the author spent more time on world-building and explaining the magic system. Often, I read books that have too much boring filler stuff, and while Distant Clouds was a breath of fresh air, I think it could have been at least 20% longer and still be alright. The novel left me grappling for more, so I can only hope that Gregorian comes out with the second book in the series soon.
Overall, an amazing read! I would recommend it to readers of all ages.
July 3, 2018
Distant Clouds in a couple of words? A fascinating new world, a heroine to root for, an ending leaving me grappling for more, and magic to tie it all together. As an avid young adult and fantasy lover growing up, I've already experienced all the tropes writers could possibly use in such stories, but I was pleasantly surprised and delighted when I started reading Distant Clouds. It wasn't predictable at all! The author takes these basic fantasy elements and completely makes it her own. She really has a way with words that immerses you in the world she builds and offers a fresh read with influences from Asian mythology and memorable characters to boot (Phaeli, the cheeky fellow, is a personal favorite of mine haha). This is a story all readers can relate to, in the universal journey to discover yourself, and one you will find yourself finishing in a heartbeat. Fall in love with Ayin and her magnificent world and give this book a shot!
July 30, 2018
What I found most captivating about this soaring fantasy novel is its spiritual roots. The Eastern thought that permeates the fantastical realm of immortal cultivators inspires the reader to pursue their own internal purpose. I was impressed by Lorraine Gregorian’s world-building, and intricate details to the different Kingdoms and races that occupy her immense world. I recommend this book to those who enjoy fantasy and the quissessential coming-of-age adventure! I’m so excited for the next books in the series.
My only critique is that there are a number of time jumps in this novel, all for significant periods of time. I understand their necessity in moving forward the plot and creating the space needed for new contexts, but it felt sometimes that the way that character motivations developed during this time was lost and could be hard to follow.
My only critique is that there are a number of time jumps in this novel, all for significant periods of time. I understand their necessity in moving forward the plot and creating the space needed for new contexts, but it felt sometimes that the way that character motivations developed during this time was lost and could be hard to follow.
June 30, 2018
Distant Clouds is filled with intrigue and mystique. Gregorian creates a world filled with power and desire to engulf the reader in the story. Following a young girl on her coming of age journey, this is the first installment where we get to know Ayin and grow to care for her. If you like jumping into fantasy worlds, you will definitely love this book!
August 29, 2018
I enjoyed reading this book! Very light and good beach read while also taking the reader into this mystical world. As someone who does not normally read fantasy novels, I must say this is definitely worth a read.
July 4, 2018
This book kept me at the edge of my seat! I was fascinated by the story line. I am looking forward to book two.
July 6, 2018
I loved it! I really had no idea what to expect when I opened it, and I have to say I wasn't disappointed. There were so many twists and turns I honestly didn't expect how it ended.
December 8, 2018
Loved this book. Very smooth reading and vivid imagery. She did a wonderful job painting her storyline. Would recommend this to anyone looking for a great weekend read.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews