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Crowned: The Sign of the Dragon, Book 1
Rhysling Award winner Mary Soon Lee has created a fantastic world that is marvelous in scope. Drawing upon elements from Asian and Celtic culture while incorporating dragons, bloody wars, horsemanship, kingship and other tropes of the genre, she never ignores the human cost of heroism. Gorgeous black-andwhite illustrations by M. Wayne Miller complete this first book of The Sign of the Dragon, an epic fantasy in verse.
And what will you pay for the crown,
little princeling? Gold? Men? A song
My freedom! he shouted at her.
Well, she said, that's a start.
Praise for Crowned:
Lee conjures the magic of hoofbeats and human kindness in her poems revolving around the remarkable King Xau. These Chineseinspired epic fantasy poems are both easy to read and profound. I'm very glad that this is just book one. Beth Cato, author of The Clockwork Dagger
Here is the voice of a true-born storyteller, using the oldest of narrative tools poetry in a vibrant and thoroughly contemporary way. This multi-faceted tale of a prince's evolution toward kingship gallops along at the pace of legend. It is a world to fall into, a lyrical entertainment for fantasy fans and lovers of speculative verse alike. -Ann K. Schwader, author of Twisted in Dream Stoker Award Finalist
And what will you pay for the crown,
little princeling? Gold? Men? A song
My freedom! he shouted at her.
Well, she said, that's a start.
Praise for Crowned:
Lee conjures the magic of hoofbeats and human kindness in her poems revolving around the remarkable King Xau. These Chineseinspired epic fantasy poems are both easy to read and profound. I'm very glad that this is just book one. Beth Cato, author of The Clockwork Dagger
Here is the voice of a true-born storyteller, using the oldest of narrative tools poetry in a vibrant and thoroughly contemporary way. This multi-faceted tale of a prince's evolution toward kingship gallops along at the pace of legend. It is a world to fall into, a lyrical entertainment for fantasy fans and lovers of speculative verse alike. -Ann K. Schwader, author of Twisted in Dream Stoker Award Finalist
186 pages, Paperback
First published June 15, 2015
87 people want to read
About the author
Mary Soon Lee
110 books89 followersMary Soon Lee was born and raised in London, but has lived in Pittsburgh for thirty years. She is a Grand Master of the Science Fiction & Fantasy Poetry Association, and three-time winner of both the AnLab Readers’ Award and the Rhysling Award. Her latest books are from opposite shores of the poetry ocean: How to Navigate Our Universe containing 128 astronomy poems, and The Sign of the Dragon, a novel-length epic fantasy told in poetry. She hides her online presence with a cryptically named website (marysoonlee.com) and an equally cryptic BlueSky account (@marysoonlee.bsky.social).
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
October 26, 2017
Now this...is a motherfucking epic.
I don't think I've felt the mythological and historical weight of something, its sheer status as legend, since The Song of Achilles.
I want to read the comics and watch the TV show and the movies. (None of these exist, but they should.) I am also prepared to purchase action figures.
I don't think I've felt the mythological and historical weight of something, its sheer status as legend, since The Song of Achilles.
I want to read the comics and watch the TV show and the movies. (None of these exist, but they should.) I am also prepared to purchase action figures.
December 13, 2015
I love this book! It's a great story of a perfect king, the sort of hero we all wish existed. Looking forward to the next installment. Full review forthcoming on Amazing Stories.
January 19, 2019
Told entirely in Soon Lee's beautiful poems, each chapter explores a different aspect of King Xau's life as he goes from fourth son to king. Not since I first read Beowulf have I been so captivated by an epic poem told so brilliantly.
Each verse takes the reader deeper into young Xau's life as he matures into an empathetic king. The relationships between the characters are what sealed the deal for me. They are sweet and caring, yet none of them flinch from doing what's hard in life.
Soon Lee's author's note says there are one hundred and thirty poems that continue King Xau's story. I wish I could read them all.
If you love a rousing story told in gorgeous language, I cannot recommend this work enough.
Each verse takes the reader deeper into young Xau's life as he matures into an empathetic king. The relationships between the characters are what sealed the deal for me. They are sweet and caring, yet none of them flinch from doing what's hard in life.
Soon Lee's author's note says there are one hundred and thirty poems that continue King Xau's story. I wish I could read them all.
If you love a rousing story told in gorgeous language, I cannot recommend this work enough.
October 14, 2015
I first encountered Mary Soon Lee's King Xau poems while working as one of the poetry editors of Strange Horizons, where I had the I'm sure frustrating tendency to reject them at the very last minute with long notes about how much I like them. The problem (if you can call it a problem) is that although most individual poems are pretty good, it's the aggregation that makes them something special. This anthology contains the chronologically first 60 or 70 poems in a linked cycle of hundreds set in a secondary world which reminds me of Avatar and the Dothraki. I don't know anybody else who's doing that.
Lee says in her author's note that she's "been warned repeatedly that Xau is too perfect." It's a fair cop, although I'd say instead that the most forgettable poems are the ones that try to demonstrate how good a king he is by having him do something polite by modern standards and having everyone else be amazed. The more interesting - and more poetic - sections are the descriptions of the world's small details, such as "Wedding Gifts," a sly list of both practical and showy presents that accompany a treaty-securing wedding. It's a surprisingly poignant illustration of the anxiety and relief of a ceremony with an uncertain outcome.
The most outstanding standalone poem is "Interregnum," about young Xau's ascent to the throne after a mountaintop encounter with a fire elemental dragon, originally published in Star*Line. Appropriately, this won the 2014 Rhysling Award. Moments of magic are rare in this book, which makes them thrilling. It's a nice device that horses are loyal to Xau, but not in his direct control; it gives him supernatural power without the classic "well then why can't he use that every time to win every time."
In the early going, which these poems are, battle descriptions are perfunctory, and Xau's military opponent Donal is dull and distractingly of-this-world; it's like watching Mulan go up against somebody pledging a frat who says "fucking" a lot when he's had too many beers. I can say, having read poems from later in the cycle (not yet anthologized) that Lee gets better at this, to the point where eventually her battle (and post battle) scenes are a real pleasure. For now, in book one, they're more prosaic, the work of an author who knows characters have to get from a to b.
The first glimmer of what will eventually become a strength appears late in this book, in a handful of lines in the poem "Help," where Lee describes the horror of someone who sent out a message as quickly as possible after a disaster, only to realize afterward that it would be impossible to send any further messages. Lee doesn't overplay this moment, and it's gutwrenchingly relatable: the agony of having kept a cool head and done exactly the right thing, only to find out that all the rules have changed and you've possibly doomed yourself.
In any case, I recommend the book, although I think only 100 copies were printed and it is likely hard to find. And I recommend continuing to keep an eye out for future anthologies. In the meantime, join the hunt for new poems as they show up in Star*Line, Ideomancer, Dreams and Nightmares, and elsewhere, as a thread that has already brought together a dozen diverse SF magazines as participants in a single epic.
Lee says in her author's note that she's "been warned repeatedly that Xau is too perfect." It's a fair cop, although I'd say instead that the most forgettable poems are the ones that try to demonstrate how good a king he is by having him do something polite by modern standards and having everyone else be amazed. The more interesting - and more poetic - sections are the descriptions of the world's small details, such as "Wedding Gifts," a sly list of both practical and showy presents that accompany a treaty-securing wedding. It's a surprisingly poignant illustration of the anxiety and relief of a ceremony with an uncertain outcome.
The most outstanding standalone poem is "Interregnum," about young Xau's ascent to the throne after a mountaintop encounter with a fire elemental dragon, originally published in Star*Line. Appropriately, this won the 2014 Rhysling Award. Moments of magic are rare in this book, which makes them thrilling. It's a nice device that horses are loyal to Xau, but not in his direct control; it gives him supernatural power without the classic "well then why can't he use that every time to win every time."
In the early going, which these poems are, battle descriptions are perfunctory, and Xau's military opponent Donal is dull and distractingly of-this-world; it's like watching Mulan go up against somebody pledging a frat who says "fucking" a lot when he's had too many beers. I can say, having read poems from later in the cycle (not yet anthologized) that Lee gets better at this, to the point where eventually her battle (and post battle) scenes are a real pleasure. For now, in book one, they're more prosaic, the work of an author who knows characters have to get from a to b.
The first glimmer of what will eventually become a strength appears late in this book, in a handful of lines in the poem "Help," where Lee describes the horror of someone who sent out a message as quickly as possible after a disaster, only to realize afterward that it would be impossible to send any further messages. Lee doesn't overplay this moment, and it's gutwrenchingly relatable: the agony of having kept a cool head and done exactly the right thing, only to find out that all the rules have changed and you've possibly doomed yourself.
In any case, I recommend the book, although I think only 100 copies were printed and it is likely hard to find. And I recommend continuing to keep an eye out for future anthologies. In the meantime, join the hunt for new poems as they show up in Star*Line, Ideomancer, Dreams and Nightmares, and elsewhere, as a thread that has already brought together a dozen diverse SF magazines as participants in a single epic.
December 5, 2016
Mary Soon Lee’s most recent published work is a Chinese-inspired fantasy adventure written in poetic free verse. Crowned, the Sign of the Dragon follows the life of King Xau, the heir apparent to the throne and eventual ruler of a great eastern kingdom.
Populated with diverse, heroic, interesting, and tragic characters, the narrative is beautifully told through various points-of-views and wonderfully descriptive writing. This book won the 2016 Elgin Award from the Science Fiction Poetry Association.
The story begins when Xau is sixteen. He’s the youngest son, the only one of his four brothers to not only be picked to be the future king by a great dragon, but to survive the encounter with the magical beast. Reluctant to assume the crown and its responsibilites, he, nevertheless, realizes, even at that young age, the “kingdom needs a king.”
The story continues with Xau’s training, both martial and diplomatic, introducing other characters such as Princess Mei, captain of the guards Tsung, the prostitute Moon Swan, the doctor Leong, and the stable boy Khyert, among others.
Xau develops a deep rapport with horses, able to calm and direct them in their actions, which comes in handy in more than one battle. He becomes famous for this ability as well as for his calm demeanor and talent for negotiating. He wins the hearts of his people by remaining one of them.
Each “chapter” of the book is a poem which relates an episode in either Xau’s life or the life one of the other characters. Many are action-packed battle scenes while some are more involved in the inner workings of the court. All are vividly described.
One of my favorite chapters is told from Tsung’s point-of-view. Titled “Midnight,” this episode reveals Tsung’s love for the prostitute, Moon Swan. Though she entertains many of the soldiers in Xau’s army, Tsung doesn’t care, and Moon Swan also loves him. But both are reluctant to show their true feelings for each other. Really moving and skillfully written.
Mary’s exceptional writing and storytelling skills are on full display in this novel. The story grabs hold and keeps the pages turning. The setting, characters, and story are, by turns, emotional, riveting, surprising, and uplifting.
And this is only the first book. Can’t wait for the next one. Highly recommended.
Populated with diverse, heroic, interesting, and tragic characters, the narrative is beautifully told through various points-of-views and wonderfully descriptive writing. This book won the 2016 Elgin Award from the Science Fiction Poetry Association.
The story begins when Xau is sixteen. He’s the youngest son, the only one of his four brothers to not only be picked to be the future king by a great dragon, but to survive the encounter with the magical beast. Reluctant to assume the crown and its responsibilites, he, nevertheless, realizes, even at that young age, the “kingdom needs a king.”
The story continues with Xau’s training, both martial and diplomatic, introducing other characters such as Princess Mei, captain of the guards Tsung, the prostitute Moon Swan, the doctor Leong, and the stable boy Khyert, among others.
Xau develops a deep rapport with horses, able to calm and direct them in their actions, which comes in handy in more than one battle. He becomes famous for this ability as well as for his calm demeanor and talent for negotiating. He wins the hearts of his people by remaining one of them.
Each “chapter” of the book is a poem which relates an episode in either Xau’s life or the life one of the other characters. Many are action-packed battle scenes while some are more involved in the inner workings of the court. All are vividly described.
One of my favorite chapters is told from Tsung’s point-of-view. Titled “Midnight,” this episode reveals Tsung’s love for the prostitute, Moon Swan. Though she entertains many of the soldiers in Xau’s army, Tsung doesn’t care, and Moon Swan also loves him. But both are reluctant to show their true feelings for each other. Really moving and skillfully written.
Mary’s exceptional writing and storytelling skills are on full display in this novel. The story grabs hold and keeps the pages turning. The setting, characters, and story are, by turns, emotional, riveting, surprising, and uplifting.
And this is only the first book. Can’t wait for the next one. Highly recommended.
January 1, 2017
There is good reason this book won the 2016 Elgin Award for best science fiction poetry book. Though the author concedes that many of the poems lack poetic elements and Xau is too perfect, this is the book for 2017. After a year when leadership was a hot topic and a shambles, we need reminders about what it means to lead.
I read this book in two sittings, though could have done it easily in one. The poems flow easily separately and blend together seamlessly. The illustrations are a fine addition to the story, but the words themselves ring true.
If, as Garrison Keillor noted in his introduction to "Good Poems for Hard Times," that "the meaning of poetry is to give courage," then I can imagine no more fitting poetry for the coming year.
I read this book in two sittings, though could have done it easily in one. The poems flow easily separately and blend together seamlessly. The illustrations are a fine addition to the story, but the words themselves ring true.
If, as Garrison Keillor noted in his introduction to "Good Poems for Hard Times," that "the meaning of poetry is to give courage," then I can imagine no more fitting poetry for the coming year.
October 31, 2016
So I got a copy of this book at Confluence when Mary Soon Lee was doing a signing. It was an enjoyable read, in large part because it told me the story of this world and this king in a deftly condensed manner. Lee captures moments, brief flashes of character, and all those moments and flashes are strung together like beads on a necklace to form the larger picture.
It reminds me of a technique I sometimes see in anime or indie films, and which I enjoy when it's done well: the camera shows a series of separate static images, and lets the viewer fill in the blanks that connect those images. The full scene is put together in the viewer's mind, like pieces of a puzzle fit together to create a whole. That's what this book reminds me of, and I can't think of any other book I've read that has done something similar.
Lee admits that King Xau is often criticized for being too perfect, and I admit that was the one downside I found to this book. Xau's continued insistence on being openly treated like everyone else around him, on removing the walls of privilege that separate him from his servants, strikes me as too modern a philosophy, and almost implausible after a while. Part of the tragedy of kingship is that wall of separation: one stops being a person and becomes a symbol, and that symbol must show strength even when the world is crumbling. I like seeing Xau struggle with that wall, and maintain his humble humanity among his closest servants and guards. But there is a scene where Xau is sitting in rough work clothes among a group of commoners, recovering from an injury and obviously looking the part of a pained convalescent. And all I could think was how his choice of humility would terrify me if I were a commoner in that crowd. Here was my hero, my divinely-ordained king, looking broken and mortal and awfully human. Such a sight might very well devastate me.
In a world such as the one in this book, the wall is there for a reason. But Xau tries to tear it down at every chance he can, and the masses react only with amazement and respect. He said to the dragon that he would give up his freedom to be king, and in some ways, he has. But in other ways, he never gave it up at all.
Still...that is really my only complaint in an otherwise solid read. If you are a fantasy reader looking for something different, or a writer who wants to see how simple human moments can be captured and crystallized, I recommend this book.
It reminds me of a technique I sometimes see in anime or indie films, and which I enjoy when it's done well: the camera shows a series of separate static images, and lets the viewer fill in the blanks that connect those images. The full scene is put together in the viewer's mind, like pieces of a puzzle fit together to create a whole. That's what this book reminds me of, and I can't think of any other book I've read that has done something similar.
Lee admits that King Xau is often criticized for being too perfect, and I admit that was the one downside I found to this book. Xau's continued insistence on being openly treated like everyone else around him, on removing the walls of privilege that separate him from his servants, strikes me as too modern a philosophy, and almost implausible after a while. Part of the tragedy of kingship is that wall of separation: one stops being a person and becomes a symbol, and that symbol must show strength even when the world is crumbling. I like seeing Xau struggle with that wall, and maintain his humble humanity among his closest servants and guards. But there is a scene where Xau is sitting in rough work clothes among a group of commoners, recovering from an injury and obviously looking the part of a pained convalescent. And all I could think was how his choice of humility would terrify me if I were a commoner in that crowd. Here was my hero, my divinely-ordained king, looking broken and mortal and awfully human. Such a sight might very well devastate me.
In a world such as the one in this book, the wall is there for a reason. But Xau tries to tear it down at every chance he can, and the masses react only with amazement and respect. He said to the dragon that he would give up his freedom to be king, and in some ways, he has. But in other ways, he never gave it up at all.
Still...that is really my only complaint in an otherwise solid read. If you are a fantasy reader looking for something different, or a writer who wants to see how simple human moments can be captured and crystallized, I recommend this book.
July 14, 2016
There are fine reviews of this collection online, and I'll let them speak to the reading experience. I'd like to focus this brief comment on the utility of the work to writers of Fantasy, to whom I recommend it in the strongest terms.
Mary Soon Lee has been writing a large number of connected poems, on the life and times of a fictional King Xau, in a medieval Fantasy world where a dragon determines who will be King, and demons and curses and magic shape many events. This collection contains around 60 of these poems, from the early years of his life, arranged chronologically. There are many more poems in the "series" that have already been published both in online journals and print journals, which makes it clear why the subtitle of this volume is _The Sign of the Dragon: Book 1_.
I urge you NOT to imagine that this is a novel in verse. Or an epic poem. Both of those imply a single verse style, and a long-running narration of events. These poems are high points and snapshots, with great gaps of time between them, and written in a variety of styles. They are the essence of the story only, in tightly realized scenes, with iconic gestures and verbal exchanges that imply much that is not told.
The subject matter is simple, and it's revealed in the very first poem: the price of being king.
I cannot tell you how many books I've seen, both in print and in manuscript, which clearly betray no knowledge of the burdens of kingship. These poems, heartbreakingly and relentlessly, drive the lesson home. For that reason alone, I recommend it to anyone writing feudal Historicals or Fantasies.
The emotional impact is considerable, as well; which is another reason for writers of prose to pay attention. Xau is trying very hard to be such a ruler as any of us, on our best days, would hope to be. The result brought tears to this reader's eyes on several occasions.
Like Tolkien, she seems to be aware that the central icon of the Eurasian mythos is the horse; and she makes considerable use of that icon.
Finally, the poet really knows how to do two essential things that I find to be missing in both narrative poems and prose fiction. First, she knows how to widen the perspective so that you can see how human activities fit into the rest of the world, giving epic scope to the tale by discussing pigeons, or bees. Second, she knows how to end a scene.
Mary Soon Lee has been writing a large number of connected poems, on the life and times of a fictional King Xau, in a medieval Fantasy world where a dragon determines who will be King, and demons and curses and magic shape many events. This collection contains around 60 of these poems, from the early years of his life, arranged chronologically. There are many more poems in the "series" that have already been published both in online journals and print journals, which makes it clear why the subtitle of this volume is _The Sign of the Dragon: Book 1_.
I urge you NOT to imagine that this is a novel in verse. Or an epic poem. Both of those imply a single verse style, and a long-running narration of events. These poems are high points and snapshots, with great gaps of time between them, and written in a variety of styles. They are the essence of the story only, in tightly realized scenes, with iconic gestures and verbal exchanges that imply much that is not told.
The subject matter is simple, and it's revealed in the very first poem: the price of being king.
I cannot tell you how many books I've seen, both in print and in manuscript, which clearly betray no knowledge of the burdens of kingship. These poems, heartbreakingly and relentlessly, drive the lesson home. For that reason alone, I recommend it to anyone writing feudal Historicals or Fantasies.
The emotional impact is considerable, as well; which is another reason for writers of prose to pay attention. Xau is trying very hard to be such a ruler as any of us, on our best days, would hope to be. The result brought tears to this reader's eyes on several occasions.
Like Tolkien, she seems to be aware that the central icon of the Eurasian mythos is the horse; and she makes considerable use of that icon.
Finally, the poet really knows how to do two essential things that I find to be missing in both narrative poems and prose fiction. First, she knows how to widen the perspective so that you can see how human activities fit into the rest of the world, giving epic scope to the tale by discussing pigeons, or bees. Second, she knows how to end a scene.
August 17, 2015
'Crowned', by Mary Soon Lee, is a richly told fantasy novel set in ancient China that just happens to be formatted as a series of long, easy-to-read poems. In fact, the first poem in the book won the Rhysling Award as the best long speculative poem of 2014. Don’t let the format fool you. This is the best fantasy book I’ve read in at least twenty years.
As sometimes happens in creating a new world, the book starts a little slowly introducing Xau, the new king of Meqing, and his royal household. The new king is scrawny, cranky, kind, brash, and wise in turns. Mostly he is a work in progress.
This is the story of Xau’s selection as king, at the age of 16, and the first five years of his reign. It includes major events such as his first war as king, and coping with a natural disaster striking in his kingdom. It includes small moments and personal moments, and a lot of people I’d like to meet. The book circles around its subject matter coming at it from different directions, and for that purpose the structure as a series of long poems is strong.
The nature of poetry is to distill language. The result here is that the 170 page book reads faster than prose, but also deeper. There are many selections where I immediately reread sections to explore the connections, and really, just to enjoy the many emotional shivers the book sent through me.
Please note that the book includes adult themes including violence and action, and tasteful sex scenes. Sometimes readers assume such things are absent from poetry. And sometimes book-buyers assume that a book about a 16 year-old (when Crowned starts) is a young adult book. There are characters old and young.
I am the father of four children, and the poem “One Week” about Xau managing to find one week to enjoy his three year-old son stops me cold every time I read it. I am no king, but all parents are trying to run the business of their personal kingdom, with all the confusions and demands of a country. The poem nails the miracle of navigating all that and still finding time to be a parent.
The book is billed as ‘The Sign of the Dragon: Book 1’. I’ll have book 2 on pre-order.
As sometimes happens in creating a new world, the book starts a little slowly introducing Xau, the new king of Meqing, and his royal household. The new king is scrawny, cranky, kind, brash, and wise in turns. Mostly he is a work in progress.
This is the story of Xau’s selection as king, at the age of 16, and the first five years of his reign. It includes major events such as his first war as king, and coping with a natural disaster striking in his kingdom. It includes small moments and personal moments, and a lot of people I’d like to meet. The book circles around its subject matter coming at it from different directions, and for that purpose the structure as a series of long poems is strong.
The nature of poetry is to distill language. The result here is that the 170 page book reads faster than prose, but also deeper. There are many selections where I immediately reread sections to explore the connections, and really, just to enjoy the many emotional shivers the book sent through me.
Please note that the book includes adult themes including violence and action, and tasteful sex scenes. Sometimes readers assume such things are absent from poetry. And sometimes book-buyers assume that a book about a 16 year-old (when Crowned starts) is a young adult book. There are characters old and young.
I am the father of four children, and the poem “One Week” about Xau managing to find one week to enjoy his three year-old son stops me cold every time I read it. I am no king, but all parents are trying to run the business of their personal kingdom, with all the confusions and demands of a country. The poem nails the miracle of navigating all that and still finding time to be a parent.
The book is billed as ‘The Sign of the Dragon: Book 1’. I’ll have book 2 on pre-order.
December 15, 2016
An utterly charming verse novel in a fantasy milieu - with dragons, and horses.
Mary Soon Lee has taken what could have been a simple sword-and-sorcery conflict between magic-using civilisations, and turned it into a deep, complex study of character, and particularly of that much-neglected quality, goodness.
At the same time, she has managed to make the story compellingly page-turning.
Even more astonishingly, the poetry is excellent, but never impedes the story.
Highly recommended!
Mary Soon Lee has taken what could have been a simple sword-and-sorcery conflict between magic-using civilisations, and turned it into a deep, complex study of character, and particularly of that much-neglected quality, goodness.
At the same time, she has managed to make the story compellingly page-turning.
Even more astonishingly, the poetry is excellent, but never impedes the story.
Highly recommended!
July 11, 2015
Most readers of Crowned will not be disappointed. It is a rich story about a young man learning how to be a king and ruler, and in turn, learning about himself. For those readers looking for solidly crafted poetry, there will be issues and glaring flaws, but the story and its characters will override this. Lee has begun what promises to be a solid series of books, and when she taps into her clear skills as a poet, this series will be an exciting addition to speculative literature.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews