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The Dragon Songs Saga #1
Songs of Insurrection
Princess Kaiya’s voice could charm a dragon.
Had she lived when the power of music could still summon typhoons and rout armies, perhaps Cathay’s imperial court would see her as more than a singing fool. With alliances to build and ambitious lords to placate, they care more about her marriage prospects than her voice.
Only the handsome Prince Hardeep, a foreign martial mystic, recognizes her potential. Convinced Kaiya will rediscover the legendary but perilous art of invoking magic through music, he suggests her voice, not her marriage, might better serve the realm.
When members of the emperor’s elite spy clan-- Kaiya’s childhood friend Tian and his half-elf sidekick (or maybe he’s her sidekick?)-- discover mere discontent boiling over into full-scale rebellion, Kaiya must choose. Obediently wedding the depraved ringleader means giving up her music. Confronting him with the growing power of her voice could kill her.
Had she lived when the power of music could still summon typhoons and rout armies, perhaps Cathay’s imperial court would see her as more than a singing fool. With alliances to build and ambitious lords to placate, they care more about her marriage prospects than her voice.
Only the handsome Prince Hardeep, a foreign martial mystic, recognizes her potential. Convinced Kaiya will rediscover the legendary but perilous art of invoking magic through music, he suggests her voice, not her marriage, might better serve the realm.
When members of the emperor’s elite spy clan-- Kaiya’s childhood friend Tian and his half-elf sidekick (or maybe he’s her sidekick?)-- discover mere discontent boiling over into full-scale rebellion, Kaiya must choose. Obediently wedding the depraved ringleader means giving up her music. Confronting him with the growing power of her voice could kill her.
416 pages, Hardcover
First published March 2, 2016
329 people are currently reading
3392 people want to read
About the author
J.C. Kang
37 books457 followersJC Kang's unhealthy obsession with Fantasy and Sci-Fi began at an early age when his brother introduced him to The Chronicles of Narnia, Star Trek, and Star Wars. As an adult, he combines his geek roots with his professional experiences as a Chinese Medicine doctor, martial arts instructor, and technical writer to pen epic fantasy stories.
To learn more about what goes on in his twisted mind, follow his Facebook page:
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 221 reviews
February 5, 2021
This was an intriguing read. Its a book that has elves and dragons and even orcs in its history. This is very much influenced by DnD. And in a world where these types of books are heavily white washed, i was so excited to read an asian inspired fantasy like this. On top of that, this book has a heavy focus on misogyny, somewhat (maybe too little given the statements used in the writing) on racism within Asia, and while its a coming of age story it also has a lot of political intrigue. So on the surface level it has a lot going on for it.
But oh boy, there’s a lot to unpack. I did not enjoy this book as much as i would’ve hoped to. I’ll get to the serious issues i had in a bit, but first, i did not enjoy the writing style. It did not fit well with the voices of each character, at least in my opinion. But thats not a huge problem, its accessible enough!! But the huge problem for me was the lack of descriptions. On surface level the book had a good world building. We got to see different cultures, the food and clothing of Ankirans, etc..., but... its not original. Even the names are completely the real life names (of people, food, clothes and other things). But i could have let that slide if i had gotten a visual of the settings we were in, but that too lacked. There were a lot of different names of different locations thrown around but not even the main setting, the palace or the country was described well enough to paint a picture in my mind. As for people, a lot of them(men) were described as being “beautiful” or “handsome”. These are very general terms and it differs so much with different people. So there wasn’t much for me to visualize these characters.
Another issue was the handling of misogyny in the culture. That was explored a lot in the main character Kaiya’s pov chapters. Now the thing here is i have conflicted opinions on whether or not this was well done. Its a very serious issue and we got to see a lot of the restrictions that are bound to especially women in this society, and the things that were brought up, i would say was done really well. But the problem arrived when Kaiya, after breaking some rules thought that yeah its fine all of it were for the right reasons; to be more than just a political bride, liberate a people etc... BUT THEN GOES ON TO SAY and i quote, “All possible because this one man saw true potential in her.” The one man in question is Prince Hardeep whom she “fell in love” after seeing just twice. The insta love is a trope i hate a lot but thats just my personal opinion, regarding that aside the statement that was put kind of insinuates that yes she can try to change her position in this culture *but* only when a man allows it. Now i could be reading the undertone wrong, but thats how i understood this. So it kind of defeats a lot of character work that was previously going on for Kaiya.
The biggest thing that just had me mad, was the way how racism was handled. And it was NOT handled well. This isn’t even a major plot point but it was still brought up especially (surprisingly only) in earlier chapters. I think the author was just trying to establish that this racism existed in the world, and thats okay it doesn’t have to be a plot point in every book, but there are much better ways in approaching to establish that racism and I wouldn’t have a huge problem with it if this specific statement wasn’t used. So for context, a character is acting as a stowaway and she got caught where she wasn’t supposed to be, so the people who caught her asked what she saw. She replied with this.
“I ain’t see nothin’. Just some curry-lovin’ brown folk.”
And yes she is not Ayuri (south asian equivalent in this book that the author himself has pointed out at the end of the book).
This statement was used to stereotype in this book by an EAST ASIAN author when its a very commonly used statement in the real world specifically to insult and stereotype a community of SOUTH ASIANS. That just doesn’t sit right with me. There are so many other ways to have tackled it but using exact phrases that are used as insults in the real world against some south asians just so casually? Especially when the racism within Asia is such a relevant topic, it doesn’t sit right with me.
As for the plot twist even though i called it early on i think that was pretty well done and again this is just my personal opinion and i can see how the storyline can be alluring to a lot of people, but the way certain things were handled just took a lot away from me enjoying this book.
(Note: i got an ARC for this book from Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)
But oh boy, there’s a lot to unpack. I did not enjoy this book as much as i would’ve hoped to. I’ll get to the serious issues i had in a bit, but first, i did not enjoy the writing style. It did not fit well with the voices of each character, at least in my opinion. But thats not a huge problem, its accessible enough!! But the huge problem for me was the lack of descriptions. On surface level the book had a good world building. We got to see different cultures, the food and clothing of Ankirans, etc..., but... its not original. Even the names are completely the real life names (of people, food, clothes and other things). But i could have let that slide if i had gotten a visual of the settings we were in, but that too lacked. There were a lot of different names of different locations thrown around but not even the main setting, the palace or the country was described well enough to paint a picture in my mind. As for people, a lot of them(men) were described as being “beautiful” or “handsome”. These are very general terms and it differs so much with different people. So there wasn’t much for me to visualize these characters.
Another issue was the handling of misogyny in the culture. That was explored a lot in the main character Kaiya’s pov chapters. Now the thing here is i have conflicted opinions on whether or not this was well done. Its a very serious issue and we got to see a lot of the restrictions that are bound to especially women in this society, and the things that were brought up, i would say was done really well. But the problem arrived when Kaiya, after breaking some rules thought that yeah its fine all of it were for the right reasons; to be more than just a political bride, liberate a people etc... BUT THEN GOES ON TO SAY and i quote, “All possible because this one man saw true potential in her.” The one man in question is Prince Hardeep whom she “fell in love” after seeing just twice. The insta love is a trope i hate a lot but thats just my personal opinion, regarding that aside the statement that was put kind of insinuates that yes she can try to change her position in this culture *but* only when a man allows it. Now i could be reading the undertone wrong, but thats how i understood this. So it kind of defeats a lot of character work that was previously going on for Kaiya.
The biggest thing that just had me mad, was the way how racism was handled. And it was NOT handled well. This isn’t even a major plot point but it was still brought up especially (surprisingly only) in earlier chapters. I think the author was just trying to establish that this racism existed in the world, and thats okay it doesn’t have to be a plot point in every book, but there are much better ways in approaching to establish that racism and I wouldn’t have a huge problem with it if this specific statement wasn’t used. So for context, a character is acting as a stowaway and she got caught where she wasn’t supposed to be, so the people who caught her asked what she saw. She replied with this.
“I ain’t see nothin’. Just some curry-lovin’ brown folk.”
And yes she is not Ayuri (south asian equivalent in this book that the author himself has pointed out at the end of the book).
This statement was used to stereotype in this book by an EAST ASIAN author when its a very commonly used statement in the real world specifically to insult and stereotype a community of SOUTH ASIANS. That just doesn’t sit right with me. There are so many other ways to have tackled it but using exact phrases that are used as insults in the real world against some south asians just so casually? Especially when the racism within Asia is such a relevant topic, it doesn’t sit right with me.
As for the plot twist even though i called it early on i think that was pretty well done and again this is just my personal opinion and i can see how the storyline can be alluring to a lot of people, but the way certain things were handled just took a lot away from me enjoying this book.
(Note: i got an ARC for this book from Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)
February 9, 2021
https://www.bookwormblues.net/2021/02...
One of my favorite things about my job is seeing books evolve. JC Kang’s books were a bit different than my usual, because I wasn’t hired to edit them, but proofread them, so they were already pretty done when they made their way to my desk. Regardless, I was absolutely swept away by the story being told, and the way he told it. There are a lot of nuances in Songs of Insurrection that I really enjoyed immensely (I am such a sucker for details), and an attention to detail on the author’s part that not only intrigued me but left a path of subtle eggs for me to follow throughout the novel.
I love stuff like that.
Songs of Insurrection is a unique amalgamation of fantasy with enough recognizable real-world cultural elements to keep any reader intrigued. There are elves, dwarves, and dragons of numerous kinds mentioned in the book. While not given overly detailed descriptions (and thus, never bogged down the plot), there’s enough there for readers to be able to understand the role each has in this world. These fantasy elements, however, are set against a backdrop that truly fascinated me, and this is really where Kang’s vision truly shines.
His world building is nothing short of incredible. With an obviously Chinese-inspired setting, there are also enough other cultures drawn from real world influence that you will undoubtedly recognize (India, for example). Furthermore, as with the real world, nothing in this one is simple. Layers abound, as Kang deftly avoids keeping anything surface-simple. Cultures clash. People say bad things about other people. Stuff can get ugly, and while that sucks, it is REAL and I appreciated Kang’s unflinching desire to show how ugly things can be in both overt and subtle ways.
On the other hand, his world truly is beautiful, and there are quiet moments sprinkled throughout the book where you can truly see the author settling in to just appreciate the world and the characters he’s built. The relationships that form and evolve feel as realistic as the world they are set in. They aren’t easy, and there are conflicts and strife, misunderstandings and pain, but there are moments of intense beauty as well. I loved how Kang seemed to know exactly when to turn the screws, and when to back off and let the reader just enjoy the setting, and the characters in this extremely nuanced world of his.
There are enough mentions of other places, other lands, and a much wider world that makes this entire book feel like it’s just one small piece of the whole. There’s a whole lot of room for Kang to spread his wings and explore, and not just that, but I found it fascinating how he used conflict, and consequence in this book. As in, something happens over here, but it impacts these people over there too. Like dominoes, nothing is untouched, and like our world, it’s a large, large place full of diverse peoples and unique cultures and I am honestly eager to explore more of it.
The plot is relentless, and that’s another thing I enjoyed. While there are quiet moments, nothing in this book is wasted as it all comes barreling toward a magnificent ending. Kang has a way with building tension, but he also has managed to balance that with hope, and passion. This isn’t a book written using some formula. Kang put a lot of thought into not only the story, but how he tells it. He has a set of tools at his disposal, and, like a master craftsman, he knows exactly when and how to use which tool.
The characters in this book are young, and while that might make some readers thing YA fantasy, it’s really not. The themes here are fully adult, and some of the ways they are handled are as well. However, I actually thought the young age of the characters was a benefit to the story itself. As I’ve read further into this series, I’ve realized that one of the joys of it is growing right along with the young cast. They don’t stay young forever, and life twists them all up and changes them. A few years passes between this book and the next in the series, for example, and a lot of personal growth and development happens not just in the books, but between the characters themselves. I truly enjoyed that element of the story. We don’t just get to see the characters as they appear “now” but we get to grow with them as well. It gives the entire saga a level of intimacy that I just absolutely dug on every level.
One thing I really want to touch on involves the three main perspectives in this book, because I think what Kang did with them is genius. As in, each character sort of understands the world a completely different way than any other. Kaiya senses understand the world more through a soundscape, while Jie, for example, seems more keen on noticing smells than anything else. Then, you have Tian (who I just absolutely fell in love with) who was a sort of mix of both of those characters. While this might be a small detail people don’t notice unless they really think about it, the author did this on purpose, and he put a lot of thought into why and how to do this throughout his narrative. Honestly, I thought it was a superb way to draw on each character’s strengths. First of all, these three individuals are all so different, there’s no way to mix up their voices, or how they see the world. Secondly, the mixture of these perspectives actually weaves together a really dynamic, detailed understanding of not just what is happening, but the larger world as a whole. It is really rare that I come across three POV characters in a novel that are so completely different from each other but complement each other so well.
So, where does this leave us?
It should be pretty obvious that I loved this book. It’s a solid start to a very dynamic, fast moving, layered series. The characters are just as well-crafted as the world itself, and it’s a delight to grow and evolve with them as the series expands. Perhaps my favorite part of this book was the author’s passion, which infuses each and every page. He put so much thought into every aspect of this book, and I think it came together beautifully.
Excellent start to a fantastic series. Highly recommended.
April 14, 2017
There is beauty in song. There is also magic and strength if the right songs are sung by the right voice. The realm of Cathay will need that magic to survive, but the art of the Dragon Songs has been left unsung forever, until finally, a voice of unparalleled beauty has been born and she dreams of the past and the lost songs.
Kaiya dreams of the magic of music and the powers it can hold. If she could unleash the magic, perhaps her heartbreaking existence as the forgettable princess would end forever.
With a rumored insurrection coming from powerful enemies, young Kaiya is offered as the sacrificial bride, but marrying the brutal warlord would quench her fire for music and kill her very soul as the Dragon Song would be lost forever…and she would lose her love interest, Prince Hardeep.
Will Kaiya find that magic that calls the dragons? Caught on the cusp of womanhood, this determined, yet sheltered girl will risk everything to bring the magic to life.
J.C. Kang’s SONGS OF INSURRECTION brings Asian fantasy to life, settings of great beauty, scenes filled with dark despair and moments when young Kaiya shines brilliantly. Told in 3 POVs, this tale becomes well-rounded and for those unfamiliar with Asian culture and fantasy, we are treated to a different atmosphere, a different feel and world.
Follow the magic, the danger and witness the intertwining plight of these characters as they tell their version of the events that unfold.
J.C. Kang has a gift for writing that shines through in his debut fantasy and is certainly an author to watch as he puts his own signature and imprints his own style on this remarkable fantasy.
I received this copy from J.C. Kang in exchange for my honest review.
Publisher: Three Moons Press; 2 edition (March 2, 2016)
Publication Date: March 2, 2016
Genre: Fantasy
Print Length: 487 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Kaiya dreams of the magic of music and the powers it can hold. If she could unleash the magic, perhaps her heartbreaking existence as the forgettable princess would end forever.
With a rumored insurrection coming from powerful enemies, young Kaiya is offered as the sacrificial bride, but marrying the brutal warlord would quench her fire for music and kill her very soul as the Dragon Song would be lost forever…and she would lose her love interest, Prince Hardeep.
Will Kaiya find that magic that calls the dragons? Caught on the cusp of womanhood, this determined, yet sheltered girl will risk everything to bring the magic to life.
J.C. Kang’s SONGS OF INSURRECTION brings Asian fantasy to life, settings of great beauty, scenes filled with dark despair and moments when young Kaiya shines brilliantly. Told in 3 POVs, this tale becomes well-rounded and for those unfamiliar with Asian culture and fantasy, we are treated to a different atmosphere, a different feel and world.
Follow the magic, the danger and witness the intertwining plight of these characters as they tell their version of the events that unfold.
J.C. Kang has a gift for writing that shines through in his debut fantasy and is certainly an author to watch as he puts his own signature and imprints his own style on this remarkable fantasy.
I received this copy from J.C. Kang in exchange for my honest review.
Publisher: Three Moons Press; 2 edition (March 2, 2016)
Publication Date: March 2, 2016
Genre: Fantasy
Print Length: 487 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
February 23, 2021
This is my second reading of J.C. Kang’s SONGS OF INSURRECTION. This time out the author has added more depth, cleaned up loose ends and given us characters that literally step off the pages. From the young princess with a special gift to the young prince she loves, to the mysterious Jie and Tian, a boy long ago banished from the court, the intrigue of their stories come to life with an edgy grace.
Political machinations are brewing, war could be on the horizon, yet, these four could play a pivotal role in defusing the tension with magic. Can one of them make the Dragon Scale Lute sing? The magic from song may be all that saves their world.
J.C. Kang melds the beauty and grace of Asian fantasy with the edginess of the Western world into a tale that feels deep, mysterious and fascinating.
Sometimes an author should leave their work alone, but sometimes just a little tweaking here and there create a tale becomes even more outstanding.
I received a complimentary ARC/updated edition from J.C. Kang & Dragonstone Press! This is my honest and voluntary review.
Series: The Dragon Songs Saga - Book 1
Publisher : Dragonstone Press (March 12, 2021)
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Print length : 481 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Political machinations are brewing, war could be on the horizon, yet, these four could play a pivotal role in defusing the tension with magic. Can one of them make the Dragon Scale Lute sing? The magic from song may be all that saves their world.
J.C. Kang melds the beauty and grace of Asian fantasy with the edginess of the Western world into a tale that feels deep, mysterious and fascinating.
Sometimes an author should leave their work alone, but sometimes just a little tweaking here and there create a tale becomes even more outstanding.
I received a complimentary ARC/updated edition from J.C. Kang & Dragonstone Press! This is my honest and voluntary review.
Series: The Dragon Songs Saga - Book 1
Publisher : Dragonstone Press (March 12, 2021)
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Print length : 481 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
March 21, 2021
Thanks to Caffeine Book Tours for making this book available to me as part of the Blog Tour!
Trigger warnings: Torture, misogyny, racism and racial microaggressions.
I gave this book a 3.8 out of 5 stars.
We start this book out in the place of the emperor, Tianzi. Kaiya is the princess and she is about to be handed over in marriage to a man that she does not want nor know. She knows he is pompous and self-absolved like every other suitor. Her father has allowed her liberties to learn music and freely live her life.
She was called up to meet Prince Hardeep, a foreigner who was not necessarily accepted in the palace. Hardeep has come to seek an audience with the Emperor but the princess as been sent. That is enough for him to know that he would not be getting an audience with the emperor. Whilst his meeting his important he has found a more valuable resource in princess Kaiya who has a voice that could charm a dragon. A dragon that has long been asleep. They both have a common goal at that point. They both want the Dragon Scale Lute! A lute that is said to be made from the scales of an ancient dragon. A dragon long believed to be asleep. He hopes that she can play the lute wake the dragon or soothe the emperor in order to save his people. With this happening, Kaiya begins to feel more for Hardeep than she has ever felt for anyone else in her life and that includes Tian who she once childishly promised to marry.
At the same time, Kaiya's childhood friend Zheng Tian who is a member of the emperor's spy clan and his 'friend' Jie discover brewing rebellion. Jie who is half-elf has skills that were useful in fighting the rebellion. Kaiya must decide if she is willing to use her voice to fight while questioning the morality of using the power she holds for destruction.
Personally, this book was a bit hard for me to read which is why I gave it less than 4 stars. The world was very hard for me to picture because we kept jumping from scene to scene without exploring the geography and scope of every space. Hardeep was a very interesting character but I wish we spent more time with him. Kaiya was a well-written character in my opinion but the problem was I could tell when I was in and out of her head and that is a major problem when the story runs across different perspectives. Even with all that said, I will be reading other books in the series but what the hell was that ending?!!!!! It was amazing to read about the myths imbibed into this story. The dragon wakes!
Trigger warnings: Torture, misogyny, racism and racial microaggressions.
I gave this book a 3.8 out of 5 stars.
We start this book out in the place of the emperor, Tianzi. Kaiya is the princess and she is about to be handed over in marriage to a man that she does not want nor know. She knows he is pompous and self-absolved like every other suitor. Her father has allowed her liberties to learn music and freely live her life.
She was called up to meet Prince Hardeep, a foreigner who was not necessarily accepted in the palace. Hardeep has come to seek an audience with the Emperor but the princess as been sent. That is enough for him to know that he would not be getting an audience with the emperor. Whilst his meeting his important he has found a more valuable resource in princess Kaiya who has a voice that could charm a dragon. A dragon that has long been asleep. They both have a common goal at that point. They both want the Dragon Scale Lute! A lute that is said to be made from the scales of an ancient dragon. A dragon long believed to be asleep. He hopes that she can play the lute wake the dragon or soothe the emperor in order to save his people. With this happening, Kaiya begins to feel more for Hardeep than she has ever felt for anyone else in her life and that includes Tian who she once childishly promised to marry.
At the same time, Kaiya's childhood friend Zheng Tian who is a member of the emperor's spy clan and his 'friend' Jie discover brewing rebellion. Jie who is half-elf has skills that were useful in fighting the rebellion. Kaiya must decide if she is willing to use her voice to fight while questioning the morality of using the power she holds for destruction.
Personally, this book was a bit hard for me to read which is why I gave it less than 4 stars. The world was very hard for me to picture because we kept jumping from scene to scene without exploring the geography and scope of every space. Hardeep was a very interesting character but I wish we spent more time with him. Kaiya was a well-written character in my opinion but the problem was I could tell when I was in and out of her head and that is a major problem when the story runs across different perspectives. Even with all that said, I will be reading other books in the series but what the hell was that ending?!!!!! It was amazing to read about the myths imbibed into this story. The dragon wakes!
April 12, 2021
A huge thank you goes out to J.C. Kang for e-copy in exchange for review
Songs of Insurrection, is a fun and twisty romp through a richly layered world. Somewhere between political mystery and coming of age story, its setting is an interesting mix of traditional and current, gritty and beautiful, naïve and worldly.
On the one side we have Kaiya- the young gangly princess, sheltered and terribly naïve. It’s her duty as imperial princess to marry well; strengthening ties between countries. But Kaiya fears losing her identity with such a marriage, and her one joy; her music.
Kaiya is anxious to prove to herself and others, that she can be more than just the wife that tradition allows. Given the opportunity, she believes her music can be used to help others, so, when the Prince Harkeep comes looking for aid, she jumps at the chance to prove she is more than an ornament.
Kaiya’s parts of the story, especially in the beginning have a distinctly Asian feel; with the back-drop of the palace grounds and its gorgeously named temples- the setting is as beautiful as the book cover implies.
I am also really drawn to music-based magic, so I enjoyed those scenes with her a lot. I think the beauty of the setting and the sound, together, made for some lovely moments.
Yes, Kaiya, is very naïve, and yes, I definitely wanted to slap her silly some of the time. But as frustrating as she could be, Kaiya’s life/world at the palace almost feels like a whole other planet compared to the world down by the docks with its workers, thieves, and pleasure houses, making it easier to understand how one so sheltered could be so gullible- also with four books in the series, I am going to assume she slowly makes progress and gains some worldliness.
Which brings us to the other side of the coin, where we have Jie- the half-elf spy (who I met last year when I read JC Kang’s Masters of Deception, and fell in love). She is spunky and just a lot of fun. Trained as a Black Lotus, she sees the seedier side of the world and people and is a lot more open-eyed when it comes to the shortcomings and ulterior motives of people around her.
I was very glad to see Jie in this book and I loved her and Tian’s parts of the story, which fall into more of an intrigue/spy category- something I really enjoy blended into pretty much every genre that I read.
I liked how the difference between the palace and ship yard were showcased. The juxtaposition of two parts of the story were so strongly contrasted that you can feel the class difference where it’s gruffer in Jie’s neck of the woods, compared to Kaiya’s scenes where everything has beautiful names, and is very formal.
As the story progresses and the mystery at the docks bleeds over to Kaiya’s parts of the story, the world opens up quite a bit. I said this is Masters of Deception but you never feel like these characters exist inside a bubble because these stories are so full of people, cultures, and powerplays- big and small.
One thing you find in self-pub is a willingness to straddle the genres. While Kaiya’s coming of age parts of the story feel almost YA, Jie’s parts prove that is not the case- there is a pretty complicated and twisty subplot going on underneath the surface.
The story is full of old tradition but with a modern feel, as Kaiya actually thinks about things like periods (even if it is referred to as morning dew) and our cast of players all the way around is incredibly diverse and despite being set against that tradition heavy back-drop, there are some powerful women like Wen (who runs the brothel) thrown in the mix.
Other notes-
I was so busy suspecting Harkeep of being Avarax in disguise, that I missed the signs pointing to the actual bad guy. I also did wonder if there was a bit of magical coercion going on with the prince but that could have been my distrust of Hardeep’s motives.
Songs of Insurrection, is a fun and twisty romp through a richly layered world. Somewhere between political mystery and coming of age story, its setting is an interesting mix of traditional and current, gritty and beautiful, naïve and worldly.
On the one side we have Kaiya- the young gangly princess, sheltered and terribly naïve. It’s her duty as imperial princess to marry well; strengthening ties between countries. But Kaiya fears losing her identity with such a marriage, and her one joy; her music.
Kaiya is anxious to prove to herself and others, that she can be more than just the wife that tradition allows. Given the opportunity, she believes her music can be used to help others, so, when the Prince Harkeep comes looking for aid, she jumps at the chance to prove she is more than an ornament.
Kaiya’s parts of the story, especially in the beginning have a distinctly Asian feel; with the back-drop of the palace grounds and its gorgeously named temples- the setting is as beautiful as the book cover implies.
I am also really drawn to music-based magic, so I enjoyed those scenes with her a lot. I think the beauty of the setting and the sound, together, made for some lovely moments.
Yes, Kaiya, is very naïve, and yes, I definitely wanted to slap her silly some of the time. But as frustrating as she could be, Kaiya’s life/world at the palace almost feels like a whole other planet compared to the world down by the docks with its workers, thieves, and pleasure houses, making it easier to understand how one so sheltered could be so gullible- also with four books in the series, I am going to assume she slowly makes progress and gains some worldliness.
Which brings us to the other side of the coin, where we have Jie- the half-elf spy (who I met last year when I read JC Kang’s Masters of Deception, and fell in love). She is spunky and just a lot of fun. Trained as a Black Lotus, she sees the seedier side of the world and people and is a lot more open-eyed when it comes to the shortcomings and ulterior motives of people around her.
I was very glad to see Jie in this book and I loved her and Tian’s parts of the story, which fall into more of an intrigue/spy category- something I really enjoy blended into pretty much every genre that I read.
I liked how the difference between the palace and ship yard were showcased. The juxtaposition of two parts of the story were so strongly contrasted that you can feel the class difference where it’s gruffer in Jie’s neck of the woods, compared to Kaiya’s scenes where everything has beautiful names, and is very formal.
As the story progresses and the mystery at the docks bleeds over to Kaiya’s parts of the story, the world opens up quite a bit. I said this is Masters of Deception but you never feel like these characters exist inside a bubble because these stories are so full of people, cultures, and powerplays- big and small.
One thing you find in self-pub is a willingness to straddle the genres. While Kaiya’s coming of age parts of the story feel almost YA, Jie’s parts prove that is not the case- there is a pretty complicated and twisty subplot going on underneath the surface.
The story is full of old tradition but with a modern feel, as Kaiya actually thinks about things like periods (even if it is referred to as morning dew) and our cast of players all the way around is incredibly diverse and despite being set against that tradition heavy back-drop, there are some powerful women like Wen (who runs the brothel) thrown in the mix.
Other notes-
I was so busy suspecting Harkeep of being Avarax in disguise, that I missed the signs pointing to the actual bad guy. I also did wonder if there was a bit of magical coercion going on with the prince but that could have been my distrust of Hardeep’s motives.
August 9, 2018
Songs of Insurrection has a great deal to like. It is one part thriller spy novel with hints of a larger mystery looming in the background, one part naïve princess romance, one part coming-of-age story, and one part epic fantasy all set within a beautifully crafted world filled with the sort of detail that fans of intricate world building will love.
JC Kang has crafted a story that is fun and engaging. Whether it is the spy/mystery that we see playing out in the chapters from Tian and Jie’s perspectives or the hints of court intrigue we see from Kaiya’s perspective the pages keep turning. I particularly enjoyed the world building that Kang weaves so expertly. There is a history to this world, a richness, the hint of things happening off screen both in terms of empires and kingdoms, but also in terms of the everyday lives of people. If you’re looking for your next fantasy read in a non-western setting, you should absolutely consider Songs of Insurrection. The various magic systems are also intriguing, and I’m very interested to know more about how the magic of the world works. The idea of art of various kinds (calligraphy, music, etc) being a channel for magical energy is fascinating. Add to this that this magic appears to work by influencing the emotions of others and I’m intrigued. There are enticing mysteries here, especially when combined with the hints of martial magic mentioned several times throughout the book. I absolutely loved both Tian and Jie as I felt they were well rounded characters who weren’t super-powered.
There is one exception, at least for me, to the generally well-crafted characters in Songs of Insurrection. Kaiya, the main character in the novel, is incredibly gullible and naïve. And this naivete and gullibility does not change. At the end of the book she appears to be every bit as naïve and gullible as she was on page one. I quickly found myself wishing fewer chapters were devoted to Kaiya and more to Tian and Jie. Throughout the novel she makes poor decision after poor decision, endangering the lives and livelihoods of dozens. Yet she continues making those poor decisions. It was incredibly frustrating to me that she didn’t grow or develop concerning this obvious character flaw. It is a testament to Kang’s writing and to how engaging the other perspectives and the larger world is that I kept reading. But I’m glad I did.
Everyone has their preferences about characters. There is tremendous world building, an engaging and mystery filled story, and a ton of fun to be had here. Songs of Insurrection belongs on your TBR pile. I’m hoping that Kaiya’s gullibility is something she grows out of, very quickly, in book two. 3.7/5 stars.
5 – I loved this, couldn’t put it down, move it to the top of your TBR pile
4 – I really enjoyed this, add it to the TBR pile
3 – I liked it, depending on your preferences it may be worth your time
2 – I didn’t like this book, it has significant flaws and I can’t recommend it
1 – I loathe this book with a most loathsome loathing
JC Kang has crafted a story that is fun and engaging. Whether it is the spy/mystery that we see playing out in the chapters from Tian and Jie’s perspectives or the hints of court intrigue we see from Kaiya’s perspective the pages keep turning. I particularly enjoyed the world building that Kang weaves so expertly. There is a history to this world, a richness, the hint of things happening off screen both in terms of empires and kingdoms, but also in terms of the everyday lives of people. If you’re looking for your next fantasy read in a non-western setting, you should absolutely consider Songs of Insurrection. The various magic systems are also intriguing, and I’m very interested to know more about how the magic of the world works. The idea of art of various kinds (calligraphy, music, etc) being a channel for magical energy is fascinating. Add to this that this magic appears to work by influencing the emotions of others and I’m intrigued. There are enticing mysteries here, especially when combined with the hints of martial magic mentioned several times throughout the book. I absolutely loved both Tian and Jie as I felt they were well rounded characters who weren’t super-powered.
There is one exception, at least for me, to the generally well-crafted characters in Songs of Insurrection. Kaiya, the main character in the novel, is incredibly gullible and naïve. And this naivete and gullibility does not change. At the end of the book she appears to be every bit as naïve and gullible as she was on page one. I quickly found myself wishing fewer chapters were devoted to Kaiya and more to Tian and Jie. Throughout the novel she makes poor decision after poor decision, endangering the lives and livelihoods of dozens. Yet she continues making those poor decisions. It was incredibly frustrating to me that she didn’t grow or develop concerning this obvious character flaw. It is a testament to Kang’s writing and to how engaging the other perspectives and the larger world is that I kept reading. But I’m glad I did.
Everyone has their preferences about characters. There is tremendous world building, an engaging and mystery filled story, and a ton of fun to be had here. Songs of Insurrection belongs on your TBR pile. I’m hoping that Kaiya’s gullibility is something she grows out of, very quickly, in book two. 3.7/5 stars.
5 – I loved this, couldn’t put it down, move it to the top of your TBR pile
4 – I really enjoyed this, add it to the TBR pile
3 – I liked it, depending on your preferences it may be worth your time
2 – I didn’t like this book, it has significant flaws and I can’t recommend it
1 – I loathe this book with a most loathsome loathing
on-hold-maybe-finish-later
April 24, 2019I'm sorry - I had to stop about 40% in - there were just too many names I couldn't keep track of and I was getting too confused to continue.
It's one of : "it's me...not you" moments
It's one of : "it's me...not you" moments
April 21, 2018
I used to love playing Dungeons and Dragons back in the day, but one thing I always forgot to include in the game was the dragons ironically. Fortunately for me, J.C. Kang has just the remedy with his Songs of Insurrection, the first in the Dragon Songs series.
This series is instantly fresh as it creates a unique fantasy world based more on Eastern philosophy and traditions. I also really enjoyed Songs of Insurrection’s system of magic. Magic is drawn from music, and using it comes with a price. It drains its user and signals other magic users at the same time. Our main character Princess Kaiya must contend with this as she faces off with the dreadful dragon Avarax and stop an impending attack on her kingdom. In addition to having a kick butt female main character, all of Kang’s characters are well rounded and relatable, and the action is gripping and well paced. All around a solid read if you’re looking for your healthy dose of dragons for your fantasy.
This series is instantly fresh as it creates a unique fantasy world based more on Eastern philosophy and traditions. I also really enjoyed Songs of Insurrection’s system of magic. Magic is drawn from music, and using it comes with a price. It drains its user and signals other magic users at the same time. Our main character Princess Kaiya must contend with this as she faces off with the dreadful dragon Avarax and stop an impending attack on her kingdom. In addition to having a kick butt female main character, all of Kang’s characters are well rounded and relatable, and the action is gripping and well paced. All around a solid read if you’re looking for your healthy dose of dragons for your fantasy.
August 23, 2016
The Dragon Scale Lute is one of the most engaging novels I have read so far and seems likely to be the first of a great series. Kaiya's exploration of music and her budding understanding of her own strength has the potential to become really fascinating. It was refreshingly unusual to come across a fantasy in an Asian setting, and the characters - especially Jie, Tian and Kai-Long with his shocking transformation at the end of the book - are genuinely interesting people; it should be fun to see how they turn out. All in all, this is a book that will keep you turning the pages until the very end. Highly recommended for all fantasy fans and for everyone else looking for a riveting read, for a tale of brave adventure spiced with dragons and magic music.
dnf
September 4, 2020I should probably try harder to finish this because dragons and music, but the main character appears to have fallen in insta-love and is blindly following this person, and they have reminded me in this chapter that she had one sip of alcohol and is now drunk about 30 times, and I can't.
August 9, 2016
This book follows the journey of Kiaya, an awkward sixteen-year-old princess who is trying to find her place in the world. Groomed from birth to be everything her culture perceives as the 'Perfect Princess', Kaiya struggles to meet that ideal. Especially when everyone around her is waiting with baited breath for her to blossom into womanhood. Then she will be eligible to marry one of the hand-picked suitors her father has chosen for her.
She is merely a political tool in a land where power means everything.
But in a world steeped in magic, Kaiya soon discovers that she is more than just a foolish girl or a piece on the political chessboard. Through her music, she can wield ancient magic that the world believed lost. The same magic legend claims can tame the dragon.
But is she brave enough to learn the power her talents can wield? Will she defy convention and everything she has been taught to be, to risk herself prove she is more than what people say she should be?
Alongside Princess Kaiya's story, we are introduced to Tian - her banished childhood friend and Jie, a half-elf female who wishes Tian would see her as more than a sister. Through these characters, we see the world J.C. King has created through a different perspective to that of the naive princess. We see the underbelly of an ancient oriental society and are introduced to magic and charms, the likes only a fantasy such as this can bring to life. Yet, the magic is so well meshed with the 'realistic' style world that you feel it could be real.
I felt a close tie to the female characters, and felt restrained alongside with them. Although, the males were curtailed the same, only in different ways. Everyone in this society seems to be stuck to a strict set of rules about how they should behave. Even the Tianzi can only rule based on the laws laid out - having to present himself as a just and honourable ruler, even if it means the death of his daughter.
I liked the way Kaiya was written. She's awkward, plain, naive and trapped by the circumstance of her birth. I like the fact that the last person to play the lute was a slave, in direct contrast to Kaiya's position in society, yet they share a common power. It spoke to me as a metaphor that if Kaiya ould just see past the constraints of the role she'd been bred into then she could wield the power to change the world. It was such a pretty irony, yet because she's so well written she doesn't see her true potential.
So we go through all of the murder, plotting, wars, traitor and all of the brilliant creatures and beings in between and we find ourselves at the end. And I did not see it coming.
I won't spoil it for you, but I will say that everything sort of slid into place when you find out who the bad guy is. And then you smack yourself on the forehead for not seeing it sooner. I did.
Needless to say, I can't wait to see where this goes!
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
She is merely a political tool in a land where power means everything.
But in a world steeped in magic, Kaiya soon discovers that she is more than just a foolish girl or a piece on the political chessboard. Through her music, she can wield ancient magic that the world believed lost. The same magic legend claims can tame the dragon.
But is she brave enough to learn the power her talents can wield? Will she defy convention and everything she has been taught to be, to risk herself prove she is more than what people say she should be?
Alongside Princess Kaiya's story, we are introduced to Tian - her banished childhood friend and Jie, a half-elf female who wishes Tian would see her as more than a sister. Through these characters, we see the world J.C. King has created through a different perspective to that of the naive princess. We see the underbelly of an ancient oriental society and are introduced to magic and charms, the likes only a fantasy such as this can bring to life. Yet, the magic is so well meshed with the 'realistic' style world that you feel it could be real.
I felt a close tie to the female characters, and felt restrained alongside with them. Although, the males were curtailed the same, only in different ways. Everyone in this society seems to be stuck to a strict set of rules about how they should behave. Even the Tianzi can only rule based on the laws laid out - having to present himself as a just and honourable ruler, even if it means the death of his daughter.
I liked the way Kaiya was written. She's awkward, plain, naive and trapped by the circumstance of her birth. I like the fact that the last person to play the lute was a slave, in direct contrast to Kaiya's position in society, yet they share a common power. It spoke to me as a metaphor that if Kaiya ould just see past the constraints of the role she'd been bred into then she could wield the power to change the world. It was such a pretty irony, yet because she's so well written she doesn't see her true potential.
So we go through all of the murder, plotting, wars, traitor and all of the brilliant creatures and beings in between and we find ourselves at the end. And I did not see it coming.
I won't spoil it for you, but I will say that everything sort of slid into place when you find out who the bad guy is. And then you smack yourself on the forehead for not seeing it sooner. I did.
Needless to say, I can't wait to see where this goes!
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 18, 2021
Check out my full review at my blog Papertea & Bookflowers
Okay, first: this has MAPS! (yes, plural!)
We follow Kaiya, a 16-year-old princess with a wonderful voice. She's bound to be married off for political reasons. Her father loves her but he also doesn't recognize how powerful her voice can be. Someone else does though, Prince Hardeep.
"𝗗𝘂𝘁𝘆 𝗱𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹. 𝗛𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗹 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱."
We also follow Tian (Kaiya's childhood friend). He works as a Black fist and uncovers a plot against the kingdom. Always working with him is the half-elf Jie.
𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬:
✨
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝:
1. The magic system!! (Channeling magic through art/music is so intriguing to read about) 💙
2. Jie, love reading about her skills!
The character of Hardeep the Ayuri Prince.
3. the politics and intrigue
4. Kaiya and her growth
✨
𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐯 𝐪𝐮𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬:
"Hold the dragonfly with care, for even their fleeting lives have value"
"How simple those days were! When there was no grey area between Right and Wrong, just like in the songs."
"My song resonates with your heart and comes back to me"
Okay, first: this has MAPS! (yes, plural!)
We follow Kaiya, a 16-year-old princess with a wonderful voice. She's bound to be married off for political reasons. Her father loves her but he also doesn't recognize how powerful her voice can be. Someone else does though, Prince Hardeep.
"𝗗𝘂𝘁𝘆 𝗱𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹. 𝗛𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗹 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱."
We also follow Tian (Kaiya's childhood friend). He works as a Black fist and uncovers a plot against the kingdom. Always working with him is the half-elf Jie.
𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬:
✨
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝:
1. The magic system!! (Channeling magic through art/music is so intriguing to read about) 💙
2. Jie, love reading about her skills!
The character of Hardeep the Ayuri Prince.
3. the politics and intrigue
4. Kaiya and her growth
✨
𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐯 𝐪𝐮𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬:
"Hold the dragonfly with care, for even their fleeting lives have value"
"How simple those days were! When there was no grey area between Right and Wrong, just like in the songs."
"My song resonates with your heart and comes back to me"
July 8, 2018
Loved this one! I've always loved ancient Chinese lore. Their ingenuity, their weapons and unorthodox battle strategies . . . just amazing. In Kang's book, Jie and Tian were my favorites--kind of the underground characters who really just rake in the excitement! The magic in the book was unique and the conspiracies....ohhhh....don't get me started! I don't want to spoil anything! The race to the book's climatic end just revs up the excitement! If you haven't read this yet, it's an adventure you don't want to miss!
dnf
March 11, 2021DNF at 40%
I'm sorry. I can't do it.
Songs of Insurrection has a very intriguing premise. I was so fascinated with the idea of a girl who can call dragons with her songs. An asian fantasy. It was such a good idea. In fact, the premise(and the cover) sold me to read the book. And when you are reading the a book part of a series, its job is to subtly sell the next on to you - to hook you by plot, characters, or so. However, as I read the actual story, it didn't sell anything to me at all.
There was a lack of build up for our main character, Kaiya. I find it so hard to believe that suddenly she can play the Yanyan's pipa without any teacher. It was such a perfect-main-character moment. The kind that lets the main character get away with everything to serve their purpose in the story even when it makes no sense. It’s like everything is handed to her on silver platter to satisfy the role of being a main character. Somehow, I wished that Kaiya said something about how she learned it. A little monologue that made her think perhaps she was destined to do something and would use her gift to save the others, which would also would have made me resonate with her. But no. Because her sole existence is dedicated to liking Hardeep - an insta-love (really, at like chapter 3). Ugh. Her personality trait is literally only liking him.
The details in the book were so blown out of proportion. The looooong list of characters before you start reading turned me off a little. Why would I want to remember the names of the messengers? There are just too many characters. Irrelevant characters should've been cut off. AND THE TIME AS QUOTED. THE TIME. I WANT TO SCREAM. I literally do not care about unnecessary and overly exaggerated details such as that. Just say she was two or ten years older than them. Done. It's so confusing and a little cringe.
I don't understand reading into the point of views of different characters that have not been introduced to me as important to the plot beforehand. Why am I reading about them? Who are they to the story? I just didn't care.
As much as I wanted to read more to have a say on the misogyny as mentioned by previous reviewers, I could no longer persevere my way through it. It's not a secret that in ancient times - like this one - women were deemed insignificant. Then it should've been Kaiya's job to change that. Arise in the situation and prove herself as a female warrior like what the dedication said. How did she do it? That was what I was very curious on. But the story was dragged on for so long, the little events that could've been compiled into ten chapters were stretched on for twenty instead. I feel that there was so many things that could've been cut off to shorten it because the chapters had the same goal.
The premise, the idea for the book is one of a kind in my own opinion. But the execution was a bit of a miss. I would probably read it and try to finish it someday.
ARC from NetGalley
I'm sorry. I can't do it.
Songs of Insurrection has a very intriguing premise. I was so fascinated with the idea of a girl who can call dragons with her songs. An asian fantasy. It was such a good idea. In fact, the premise
"You have already grown more in a day than Paladin trainees."
There was a lack of build up for our main character, Kaiya. I find it so hard to believe that suddenly she can play the Yanyan's pipa without any teacher. It was such a perfect-main-character moment. The kind that lets the main character get away with everything to serve their purpose in the story even when it makes no sense. It’s like everything is handed to her on silver platter to satisfy the role of being a main character. Somehow, I wished that Kaiya said something about how she learned it. A little monologue that made her think perhaps she was destined to do something and would use her gift to save the others, which would also would have made me resonate with her. But no. Because her sole existence is dedicated to liking Hardeep - an insta-love (really, at like chapter 3). Ugh. Her personality trait is literally only liking him.
"...even if Jie looked thirteen, and had for as long as he knew her, she was three years, two months, and eighty-seven days older than Wen: ten years, three months, and two days older than him."
The details in the book were so blown out of proportion. The looooong list of characters before you start reading turned me off a little. Why would I want to remember the names of the messengers? There are just too many characters. Irrelevant characters should've been cut off. AND THE TIME AS QUOTED. THE TIME. I WANT TO SCREAM. I literally do not care about unnecessary and overly exaggerated details such as that. Just say she was two or ten years older than them. Done. It's so confusing and a little cringe.
I don't understand reading into the point of views of different characters that have not been introduced to me as important to the plot beforehand. Why am I reading about them? Who are they to the story? I just didn't care.
As much as I wanted to read more to have a say on the misogyny as mentioned by previous reviewers, I could no longer persevere my way through it. It's not a secret that in ancient times - like this one - women were deemed insignificant. Then it should've been Kaiya's job to change that. Arise in the situation and prove herself as a female warrior like what the dedication said. How did she do it? That was what I was very curious on. But the story was dragged on for so long, the little events that could've been compiled into ten chapters were stretched on for twenty instead. I feel that there was so many things that could've been cut off to shorten it because the chapters had the same goal.
The premise, the idea for the book is one of a kind in my own opinion. But the execution was a bit of a miss. I would probably read it and try to finish it someday.
ARC from NetGalley
August 3, 2021
I’m torn on this one. Worldbuilding and plot have a lot to enjoy, but I couldn’t get over the love interest as it was always at the forefront. Readers who enjoy romance fantasy might enjoy this more than I did. Good concept, just not really my taste
August 23, 2018
Read this review and more at Book Geeks Uncompromised!
1.5 stars
I really expected more out of this. As of writing this review, it has been almost 2 weeks since I read it and honestly, all I can remember is how much the MC and the love interest irked me.
Kaiya is a 16 year old princess in this Asian-inspired fantasy world where rebellion and insurrection are brewing on all sides. After meeting Hardeep, a prince from a neighboring kingdom, and hearing the plight of his people and how it has been perpetuated by her own nation, Kaiya sets about writing the wrongs that her country has been doing.
In two side POVs we see the story of Tian, former childhood friend the princess now exiled and turned spy, and Jie, a half elf who works alongside Tian in covert operations. These POVs made the book readable for me. Their story and backstories were interesting and fun to read.
Kaiya's....not so much.
I really kind of hated her for the first half of the book. She meets Prince Hardeep in pretty much the first chapter and basically turns into a simpering moron.
I had actually convinced myself that he was using some sort of mind magic on her because she was just not thinking at all. Funnily enough, when he disappears for a few chapters, she actually makes (mostly) intelligent decisions and comments and I kinda liked her. Then Hardeep shows back up and she goes back to being his slave. All because he's hot and likes music.
Beyond all that, I didn't even think that Hardeep had much character development at all. No personality whatsoever. His function seemed to be eye candy and plot device and acting cheesy.
The story itself was okay, especially toward the end where it got a lot better. But again, characters that I could not stand ruined the whole thing for me. I love the idea of Asian-inspired fantasy and it seems like we are seeing more and more of it lately so I was excited about this one.
Like I said, the Tian and Jie chapters were great. I could read a whole book just about them and very likely love it. They are both intelligent, capable, and fully crafted characters that I would love to see more of. And if Kaiya would get away from Hardeep and show off more of the strength that was displayed when he is not around, I would read more.Unfortunately, I don't see that being the case and so I don't think I will be continuing the series.
1.5 stars
I really expected more out of this. As of writing this review, it has been almost 2 weeks since I read it and honestly, all I can remember is how much the MC and the love interest irked me.
Kaiya is a 16 year old princess in this Asian-inspired fantasy world where rebellion and insurrection are brewing on all sides. After meeting Hardeep, a prince from a neighboring kingdom, and hearing the plight of his people and how it has been perpetuated by her own nation, Kaiya sets about writing the wrongs that her country has been doing.
In two side POVs we see the story of Tian, former childhood friend the princess now exiled and turned spy, and Jie, a half elf who works alongside Tian in covert operations. These POVs made the book readable for me. Their story and backstories were interesting and fun to read.
Kaiya's....not so much.
I really kind of hated her for the first half of the book. She meets Prince Hardeep in pretty much the first chapter and basically turns into a simpering moron.
I had actually convinced myself that he was using some sort of mind magic on her because she was just not thinking at all. Funnily enough, when he disappears for a few chapters, she actually makes (mostly) intelligent decisions and comments and I kinda liked her. Then Hardeep shows back up and she goes back to being his slave. All because he's hot and likes music.
Beyond all that, I didn't even think that Hardeep had much character development at all. No personality whatsoever. His function seemed to be eye candy and plot device and acting cheesy.
The story itself was okay, especially toward the end where it got a lot better. But again, characters that I could not stand ruined the whole thing for me. I love the idea of Asian-inspired fantasy and it seems like we are seeing more and more of it lately so I was excited about this one.
Like I said, the Tian and Jie chapters were great. I could read a whole book just about them and very likely love it. They are both intelligent, capable, and fully crafted characters that I would love to see more of. And if Kaiya would get away from Hardeep and show off more of the strength that was displayed when he is not around, I would read more.Unfortunately, I don't see that being the case and so I don't think I will be continuing the series.
November 4, 2020
This Asian-inspired epic fantasy was an excellent read. I was hooked by the prologue! A dragon trapped in the body of a human, thought to have been lulled to sleep by magical music – and I was like “give me more!!!” I have the feeling he’ll be a BIG part of the story in later books (this is book one of four).
This first book sets the scene with Princess Kaiya, the youngest child and only daughter of the Emperor struggling between following her dream as a musician and doing her royal duty as a political tool in a marriage organised by her father.
Kaiya is determined to learn the Dragon Songs, the legendary music that was thought to have lulled the dragon many years before. When a mysterious, and handsome, foreign prince comes calling for aid for his war-ravaged country, Kaiya is sent to greet him as a fob off. But he’s also interested in the Dragon Songs and she soon finds herself on an adventure to find the instrument and revive the music. Music that also has the power to stop wars and fend off attackers – when performed by the right person.
Interweaved with this story is that of a rebellion brewing in the north. And we follow the pov characters of Jie, a half-elf spy, and her spy colleague Tian, a childhood friend of Princess Kaiya, but since banished from the palace. Jie and Tian are on the tail of illegal shipments of firepowder and unravelling a plot that threatens the Emperor and his empire.
When Kaiya is offered as a bride to appease the rebellion leader, Tian, Jie and the princess’ stories collide with an epic battle. Kaiya is a hugely likeable character. She is fearless, yet also mindful of her royal position. She’s kind but can be forceful when necessary. She considers all those around her and, although written off as a woman, she is clever and bold, willing to put herself at risk to save others.
It soon becomes clear that the plot – thought solved – is just a teeny part of a much bigger scheming and I can’t wait to read the next book to find out what happens next! I loved the evocative descriptions of the sounds the music made and the Asian flavour, with place names, ceremonies and descriptions. The action and fight scenes were vivid and just long enough to move the plot along but not get boring. Highly entertaining.
This review and more on my blog www.rosalynkelly.co.uk/blog
This first book sets the scene with Princess Kaiya, the youngest child and only daughter of the Emperor struggling between following her dream as a musician and doing her royal duty as a political tool in a marriage organised by her father.
Kaiya is determined to learn the Dragon Songs, the legendary music that was thought to have lulled the dragon many years before. When a mysterious, and handsome, foreign prince comes calling for aid for his war-ravaged country, Kaiya is sent to greet him as a fob off. But he’s also interested in the Dragon Songs and she soon finds herself on an adventure to find the instrument and revive the music. Music that also has the power to stop wars and fend off attackers – when performed by the right person.
Interweaved with this story is that of a rebellion brewing in the north. And we follow the pov characters of Jie, a half-elf spy, and her spy colleague Tian, a childhood friend of Princess Kaiya, but since banished from the palace. Jie and Tian are on the tail of illegal shipments of firepowder and unravelling a plot that threatens the Emperor and his empire.
When Kaiya is offered as a bride to appease the rebellion leader, Tian, Jie and the princess’ stories collide with an epic battle. Kaiya is a hugely likeable character. She is fearless, yet also mindful of her royal position. She’s kind but can be forceful when necessary. She considers all those around her and, although written off as a woman, she is clever and bold, willing to put herself at risk to save others.
It soon becomes clear that the plot – thought solved – is just a teeny part of a much bigger scheming and I can’t wait to read the next book to find out what happens next! I loved the evocative descriptions of the sounds the music made and the Asian flavour, with place names, ceremonies and descriptions. The action and fight scenes were vivid and just long enough to move the plot along but not get boring. Highly entertaining.
This review and more on my blog www.rosalynkelly.co.uk/blog
Read
February 11, 2017What attracted me to the fantasy Dragon Scale Lute by J.C. Kang was the word "lute". I was drawn to the musical aspect of the novel. I was also interested in the fact that the book takes place in an alternate version of China. I received a free copy from the author in return for this review.
Based on the cover you'd think this was a romance. The female character is carrying a musical instrument, but she looks insipid and is dressed in faded pastels which implies timidity. I'm delighted to say that the protagonist, Princess Kaiya, is anything but timid. She's unpredictable, bold, incredibly stubborn and a very talented singer/musician. There is a romantic hero and a strong romantic element, but anyone who thinks that this is a romance is likely to be disappointed. The handsome prince is from alternate India, and he's got the invasion of his country on his mind. There's a connection between him and Princess Kaiya, but he has other priorities and readers would think that she's a bit young at fourteen for a committed relationship.
I enjoyed reading this book. It was quite suspenseful because I never knew how Princess Kaiya would survive her latest adventure. Dragon Scale Lute may not be the best fantasy of the year, but it was a good read.
Update 2/29/16--I was reading the ARC version. J.C. Kang informed me that he has raised Princess Kaiya's age to sixteen based on feedback on the ARC.
For my complete review see http://shomeretmasked.blogspot.com/20...
Based on the cover you'd think this was a romance. The female character is carrying a musical instrument, but she looks insipid and is dressed in faded pastels which implies timidity. I'm delighted to say that the protagonist, Princess Kaiya, is anything but timid. She's unpredictable, bold, incredibly stubborn and a very talented singer/musician. There is a romantic hero and a strong romantic element, but anyone who thinks that this is a romance is likely to be disappointed. The handsome prince is from alternate India, and he's got the invasion of his country on his mind. There's a connection between him and Princess Kaiya, but he has other priorities and readers would think that she's a bit young at fourteen for a committed relationship.
I enjoyed reading this book. It was quite suspenseful because I never knew how Princess Kaiya would survive her latest adventure. Dragon Scale Lute may not be the best fantasy of the year, but it was a good read.
Update 2/29/16--I was reading the ARC version. J.C. Kang informed me that he has raised Princess Kaiya's age to sixteen based on feedback on the ARC.
For my complete review see http://shomeretmasked.blogspot.com/20...
March 18, 2021
Thank you to the author, J.C. Kang, for sending me an e-ARC to review!
Where to start with this book? First off, it’s a chunky one! I didn’t expect that since the other book I read by this same author was a short novella. Although the main character from that novella makes appearances in this book, she never directly crosses paths with the main character here (who is a princess). The world-building in this book was just as spectacular as the one in the novella, but even more in-depth with politics, history, and magic pertaining to music. It was really fleshed-out and I love the characters. Interestingly, I found that the princess is a foil to the main character from the novella, although both are strong characters in their own right. The magic and lore surrounding dragon songs and musical instruments were fascinating and reminded me a bit of This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab. Highly recommend this book for fans of Asian-inspired high fantasy with great characters and even better plot twists!
I have a spoiler-free review video for this on my BookTube channel:
https://youtu.be/TAevtf8itdw
Where to start with this book? First off, it’s a chunky one! I didn’t expect that since the other book I read by this same author was a short novella. Although the main character from that novella makes appearances in this book, she never directly crosses paths with the main character here (who is a princess). The world-building in this book was just as spectacular as the one in the novella, but even more in-depth with politics, history, and magic pertaining to music. It was really fleshed-out and I love the characters. Interestingly, I found that the princess is a foil to the main character from the novella, although both are strong characters in their own right. The magic and lore surrounding dragon songs and musical instruments were fascinating and reminded me a bit of This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab. Highly recommend this book for fans of Asian-inspired high fantasy with great characters and even better plot twists!
I have a spoiler-free review video for this on my BookTube channel:
https://youtu.be/TAevtf8itdw
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December 22, 2019Smoothly-flowing prose and convincingly detailed Asian-inspired worldbuilding are the stars of this story - Kang knows his stuff when it comes to weapons, battle tactics and martial arts, which is always refreshing.
February 6, 2021
DNF at 15%
I must admit that the cover and description got me hooked. Something about the story grabbed my attention right away. The aspect of racism, the Asian culture and lots more. Yet, this book is so chaotic that I have no clue what I was -trying- to read.
At the beginning of the book there are maps, long lists with names (and terms?) and after the prologue you're kind of left in a black hole. The book misses a lot of description and background information. The world building for a fantasy story is very weak which made it hard for me to understand the setting and atmosphere. I missed the Asian feeling which I was hoping for.
But most of all, there were so many characters and names to remember. I'm not good at names. I barely knew who was who.
Not only did the characters confuse me, but the whole story did. Even after 15%, so much was happening. I didn't know what exactly was happening. I also had no clue where the plot was going.
I think it might speak to other readers, but it wasn't my cup of tea. Might be taste, but I feel like it's too chaotic. The author wanted to tell way to much and included too much elements that don't matter to the plot. Which eventually turned out to be a problem because crucial information was left out.
I must admit that the cover and description got me hooked. Something about the story grabbed my attention right away. The aspect of racism, the Asian culture and lots more. Yet, this book is so chaotic that I have no clue what I was -trying- to read.
At the beginning of the book there are maps, long lists with names (and terms?) and after the prologue you're kind of left in a black hole. The book misses a lot of description and background information. The world building for a fantasy story is very weak which made it hard for me to understand the setting and atmosphere. I missed the Asian feeling which I was hoping for.
But most of all, there were so many characters and names to remember. I'm not good at names. I barely knew who was who.
Not only did the characters confuse me, but the whole story did. Even after 15%, so much was happening. I didn't know what exactly was happening. I also had no clue where the plot was going.
I think it might speak to other readers, but it wasn't my cup of tea. Might be taste, but I feel like it's too chaotic. The author wanted to tell way to much and included too much elements that don't matter to the plot. Which eventually turned out to be a problem because crucial information was left out.
February 4, 2021
An interesting concept of the book, however there were a lot of things missing for me. I missed specific descriptions, since the story is happening In Asia, and there could've been so many descriptions of smells, architecture, dresses, traditions (Since there is a mix of cultures). Book is very predictable, Kaiya sees the first male and falls in love, no way...
Fair enough, author in the book description says that the main character Kaiya is very naïve, but level of her naiveness is well exaggerated, I could not stop rolling my eyes. Also, too much talks about her period “Heaven’s Dew”.
I really liked the fact (and it truly makes me sad, because book could’ve much bigger potential) of mixing two different cultures of Cathay and something that reminds me of India.
This is also one of those books where you like secondary characters more. I’m an absolute fan of half elf girl (unexpected in this book), she’s cool and I think that she would be much better than the main heroine, just because of her I want to keep reading this series, hoping that things will improve.
Thank you @Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Fair enough, author in the book description says that the main character Kaiya is very naïve, but level of her naiveness is well exaggerated, I could not stop rolling my eyes. Also, too much talks about her period “Heaven’s Dew”.
I really liked the fact (and it truly makes me sad, because book could’ve much bigger potential) of mixing two different cultures of Cathay and something that reminds me of India.
This is also one of those books where you like secondary characters more. I’m an absolute fan of half elf girl (unexpected in this book), she’s cool and I think that she would be much better than the main heroine, just because of her I want to keep reading this series, hoping that things will improve.
Thank you @Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
arcs
January 19, 2021Thanks to NetGalley and Dragonstone Press for providing an ARC!
February 8, 2021
So I found my first one-star read of 2021.
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First, I'd like to start with spreading some positivity: I loved the references to ancient Chinese culture and traditional folklores. The book vividly depicted the life in a palace. I'm not into palace dramas but it was nice to see things that are familiar thanks to years of hearing Chinese fantasy dramas being played as background music at home.
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Despite the familiarity, this book was so difficult to get through. I felt like I was reading a directly translated script of a fantasy drama (instant tb to Chinese Paladin...). I'm not sure if the author wrote the book in English, or in Chinese, but the abundant use of honorific titles gave me constant headache, and a bilingual crisis. The passage doesn't read congruently as it required constant code-switching. The characters felt inhumane, and there are so many of them......... Again, I have no problem with remembering Chinese names. But I have problems with characterless characters. I had who-are-you moments so frequently I quickly became frustrated. Also, is it really necessary to mention how unpretty someone is for multiple times? Girls can be friends with girls, really. And we don't judge each other's appearance all the time.
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Another issue I had was head hopping and the connection. I really didn't understand the need of following other character's journeys. It was so pointless as their stories don't even...connect? Maybe they did in the last page of the story. But at least for 80% of the book, they felt like people living in separate lives and their perspectives don't add up to an epic picture. Maybe the plot was also partially responsible. It was very plain even though it involved lots of politics and cruelty. I have wished for a deeper exploration of the magical system but apparently one's *intention* is enough...? Just focus, listen, feel the connection, congrats you have magic.
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To conclude. I have no intention to read the sequels. I might have appreciated this book slightly more if I read it in Chinese.
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First, I'd like to start with spreading some positivity: I loved the references to ancient Chinese culture and traditional folklores. The book vividly depicted the life in a palace. I'm not into palace dramas but it was nice to see things that are familiar thanks to years of hearing Chinese fantasy dramas being played as background music at home.
-
Despite the familiarity, this book was so difficult to get through. I felt like I was reading a directly translated script of a fantasy drama (instant tb to Chinese Paladin...). I'm not sure if the author wrote the book in English, or in Chinese, but the abundant use of honorific titles gave me constant headache, and a bilingual crisis. The passage doesn't read congruently as it required constant code-switching. The characters felt inhumane, and there are so many of them......... Again, I have no problem with remembering Chinese names. But I have problems with characterless characters. I had who-are-you moments so frequently I quickly became frustrated. Also, is it really necessary to mention how unpretty someone is for multiple times? Girls can be friends with girls, really. And we don't judge each other's appearance all the time.
-
Another issue I had was head hopping and the connection. I really didn't understand the need of following other character's journeys. It was so pointless as their stories don't even...connect? Maybe they did in the last page of the story. But at least for 80% of the book, they felt like people living in separate lives and their perspectives don't add up to an epic picture. Maybe the plot was also partially responsible. It was very plain even though it involved lots of politics and cruelty. I have wished for a deeper exploration of the magical system but apparently one's *intention* is enough...? Just focus, listen, feel the connection, congrats you have magic.
-
To conclude. I have no intention to read the sequels. I might have appreciated this book slightly more if I read it in Chinese.
March 16, 2021
One Sentence Summary: When she meets the foreign prince Hardeep, Princess Kaiya wants nothing more than to become a Dragon Singer to save his kingdom, but little does she know she might need the talent for her own country as rebellion brews to the North.
First of all, I really liked the cover. I was quite excited to learn this is also a Chinese-inspired fantasy as I've been trying to push myself to read more Asian and Asian-inspired books. Being also musically inclined, I loved that this book involved music and Kaiya trying to become a legendary Dragon Singer. This book seemed to have everything I was looking for, but the execution was a little lacking.
The Plot: A Brewing Rebellion
Sixteen-year-old Princess Kaiya is on her way to meet a potential husband when she's diverted to meet the foreign prince Hardeep. Upon their meeting, the two become quite taken with each other and Kaiya learns there's a possibility she can help save his country if only she can learn to become a legendary Dragon Singer.
But, while Kaiya runs around the city with a prince she shouldn't be with, Jie and Tian, members of the supposedly fictional Black Lotus Clan, are busy sniffing out whiffs of a rebellion. All does not seem well and all the threads seem to be leading to one place: the one place Kaiya should be nowhere near.
In theory, I really liked the idea of what Songs of Insurrection was about. It kind of reminded me of some of the Chinese dramas my parents watch, but with dragons and magic added in. In actuality, Kaiya definitely felt very young and sex-obsessed (as a matter of fact, sex-related things was a running thread throughout the book) and the story as a whole felt kind of weak. Interesting though it may be, I felt it was stretched out a little too far and required a little too much willing suspension of disbelief.
There are two main storylines: Kaiya's, and Jie and Tian's. Kaiya's was the prominent one, and also the less interesting one. It follows a girl who falls in love at first sight with a man she cannot be with, but who will do anything for him. Sure, they had some fun and interesting and dangerous times, but, overall, it was lackluster. Jie and Tian's storyline, though, was quite fascinating as they were hunting down clues to a growing rebellion and definitely getting their hands dirty and bloody. They had all the real fun, and I loved reading how they put things together, though it also seemed a little too easy. Still, the rebellion side of the story was the more interesting part. Fortunately, the two storylines collide at the end, making the story much more bearable.
The Characters: One Note Characters
Princess Kaiya is, by far, the main character of Songs of Insurrection. Most of the story is told from her perspective. She comes across as young and naive, but also quite forceful in her need to be useful and do something good and honorable. At the same time, I disliked how obsessed she became with sex, how obsessed she was with Hardeep. It was so overdone that it felt artificial. I found it rather interesting that the male author chose to tell the story through a teenage female. Kaiya lacked the complexity typically found in women (which was also true of all of the female characters) and I became disgusted by just how sex-starved and sex-obsessed she was. Yes, I know I've mentioned it, but it really is that prevalent and annoying in the book.
As a matter of fact, all of the characters lacked complexity. They all felt one note, as though they had a single role in life and that was all they did. There was nothing deeper to any of them. Even the mastermind behind it all could be seen a mile away. The romance between some of the characters felt forced and completely unnecessary, and only served to weaken my opinion of them. The concern Tian had for Kaiya was really the only thing that touched me. Whether it was love or friendship I didn't really care because it seemed to be the only time one of the characters felt something real for another.
Overall, I found the characters to be quite simple and a little annoying. Most of them had a weird sex on the brain thing going on, which really took away from the story, almost as though the energy was being diverted from a potentially complex plot in order to focus on how sex-obsessed the characters were.
The Setting: Asian-Inspired
Songs of Insurrection is set in a fictional Asia and is mostly Chinese-inspired. This was my favorite part of the book. I loved the world and how it explored fantastical versions of China and India. Of course, most of it was set in Cathay, the fictional version of China, but there were still some tidbits of Asian-inspired settings outside of Cathay.
While I didn't necessarily feel like I was walking in an Asian world, I did love that every garden and every hall had it's own name. As confusing as they could be, it did tickle me and remind me China. I also liked that many of the customs are taken from reality, that Kaiya was bound by what women were and were not allowed to do, that there was pressure to conceive an heir, and all those fun Chinese things. I felt it was the only real thing that led to any real tension in the book as Kaiya had to fight against the ties binding her.
Even though I didn't care for the simplistic characters and plot, I did really love the world. Being Chinese, it was nice to feel like I was surrounded by many of the things I was familiar with and had grown up around. It reminded me of some of the Chinese dramas my parents watch and tell me about. Needless to say, the world was quite comforting and familiar to me.
Overall: A Fairly Simple Fantasy
I really wanted to love Songs of Insurrection. It started out on a strong foot with me, but then it gradually weakened. By the time Kaiya became sex-obsessed, I was kind of done with it. The characters, initially fresh and interesting, took a too simple turn and the plot felt too divided and lacked complexity. The world was the highlight for me, but it served as too strong a background for the story to the point where I have a hard time recalling parts of the story without the setting. Overall, not a terrible book, but definitely on the easy and simple side.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
First of all, I really liked the cover. I was quite excited to learn this is also a Chinese-inspired fantasy as I've been trying to push myself to read more Asian and Asian-inspired books. Being also musically inclined, I loved that this book involved music and Kaiya trying to become a legendary Dragon Singer. This book seemed to have everything I was looking for, but the execution was a little lacking.
The Plot: A Brewing Rebellion
Sixteen-year-old Princess Kaiya is on her way to meet a potential husband when she's diverted to meet the foreign prince Hardeep. Upon their meeting, the two become quite taken with each other and Kaiya learns there's a possibility she can help save his country if only she can learn to become a legendary Dragon Singer.
But, while Kaiya runs around the city with a prince she shouldn't be with, Jie and Tian, members of the supposedly fictional Black Lotus Clan, are busy sniffing out whiffs of a rebellion. All does not seem well and all the threads seem to be leading to one place: the one place Kaiya should be nowhere near.
In theory, I really liked the idea of what Songs of Insurrection was about. It kind of reminded me of some of the Chinese dramas my parents watch, but with dragons and magic added in. In actuality, Kaiya definitely felt very young and sex-obsessed (as a matter of fact, sex-related things was a running thread throughout the book) and the story as a whole felt kind of weak. Interesting though it may be, I felt it was stretched out a little too far and required a little too much willing suspension of disbelief.
There are two main storylines: Kaiya's, and Jie and Tian's. Kaiya's was the prominent one, and also the less interesting one. It follows a girl who falls in love at first sight with a man she cannot be with, but who will do anything for him. Sure, they had some fun and interesting and dangerous times, but, overall, it was lackluster. Jie and Tian's storyline, though, was quite fascinating as they were hunting down clues to a growing rebellion and definitely getting their hands dirty and bloody. They had all the real fun, and I loved reading how they put things together, though it also seemed a little too easy. Still, the rebellion side of the story was the more interesting part. Fortunately, the two storylines collide at the end, making the story much more bearable.
The Characters: One Note Characters
Princess Kaiya is, by far, the main character of Songs of Insurrection. Most of the story is told from her perspective. She comes across as young and naive, but also quite forceful in her need to be useful and do something good and honorable. At the same time, I disliked how obsessed she became with sex, how obsessed she was with Hardeep. It was so overdone that it felt artificial. I found it rather interesting that the male author chose to tell the story through a teenage female. Kaiya lacked the complexity typically found in women (which was also true of all of the female characters) and I became disgusted by just how sex-starved and sex-obsessed she was. Yes, I know I've mentioned it, but it really is that prevalent and annoying in the book.
As a matter of fact, all of the characters lacked complexity. They all felt one note, as though they had a single role in life and that was all they did. There was nothing deeper to any of them. Even the mastermind behind it all could be seen a mile away. The romance between some of the characters felt forced and completely unnecessary, and only served to weaken my opinion of them. The concern Tian had for Kaiya was really the only thing that touched me. Whether it was love or friendship I didn't really care because it seemed to be the only time one of the characters felt something real for another.
Overall, I found the characters to be quite simple and a little annoying. Most of them had a weird sex on the brain thing going on, which really took away from the story, almost as though the energy was being diverted from a potentially complex plot in order to focus on how sex-obsessed the characters were.
The Setting: Asian-Inspired
Songs of Insurrection is set in a fictional Asia and is mostly Chinese-inspired. This was my favorite part of the book. I loved the world and how it explored fantastical versions of China and India. Of course, most of it was set in Cathay, the fictional version of China, but there were still some tidbits of Asian-inspired settings outside of Cathay.
While I didn't necessarily feel like I was walking in an Asian world, I did love that every garden and every hall had it's own name. As confusing as they could be, it did tickle me and remind me China. I also liked that many of the customs are taken from reality, that Kaiya was bound by what women were and were not allowed to do, that there was pressure to conceive an heir, and all those fun Chinese things. I felt it was the only real thing that led to any real tension in the book as Kaiya had to fight against the ties binding her.
Even though I didn't care for the simplistic characters and plot, I did really love the world. Being Chinese, it was nice to feel like I was surrounded by many of the things I was familiar with and had grown up around. It reminded me of some of the Chinese dramas my parents watch and tell me about. Needless to say, the world was quite comforting and familiar to me.
Overall: A Fairly Simple Fantasy
I really wanted to love Songs of Insurrection. It started out on a strong foot with me, but then it gradually weakened. By the time Kaiya became sex-obsessed, I was kind of done with it. The characters, initially fresh and interesting, took a too simple turn and the plot felt too divided and lacked complexity. The world was the highlight for me, but it served as too strong a background for the story to the point where I have a hard time recalling parts of the story without the setting. Overall, not a terrible book, but definitely on the easy and simple side.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
August 9, 2016
I received free copy of this book for an honest review of mine.
First, I would like to congratulate JC Kang for the fabulous story.
It is epic, fast pace, and is narrated is such beautiful way that it grips me from the very start. It combine magic with Chinese art and literature, that made it a very interesting read. The type of magic that the author bring forth in his story are also the one that I don't find very often in fantasy books. Magic through music and calligraphy, and the way the magic is being used in fighting skills and techniques, brings unique color to the fantasy genre.
If there is anything I dislike, I found the sequence of events in the beginning of the story, about the very early adventure of Princess Kaiya dan Prince Hardeep, are a bit rushed. Without giving any spoiler, I think that in the early part of the book, both of them keep finding things that are important for the development of music magic, too easy. But other than that, I trully enjoy this story.
First, I would like to congratulate JC Kang for the fabulous story.
It is epic, fast pace, and is narrated is such beautiful way that it grips me from the very start. It combine magic with Chinese art and literature, that made it a very interesting read. The type of magic that the author bring forth in his story are also the one that I don't find very often in fantasy books. Magic through music and calligraphy, and the way the magic is being used in fighting skills and techniques, brings unique color to the fantasy genre.
If there is anything I dislike, I found the sequence of events in the beginning of the story, about the very early adventure of Princess Kaiya dan Prince Hardeep, are a bit rushed. Without giving any spoiler, I think that in the early part of the book, both of them keep finding things that are important for the development of music magic, too easy. But other than that, I trully enjoy this story.
April 13, 2018
From the first page the author managed to draw me into a wonderful world of magic and dragons. I can compare it to few popular books in the genre but I don’t think that will give the story justice. It’s unique in its own right. Kiaya is a young woman suffering the circumstances of her birth as an imperial princess. At only 16 she is required to meet suitors. Her entire life takes a new and dangerous spin when a foreign prince visits the palace. Internal plots, betrayals and power hungry officials try to push her into being a pawn for the crown but her heart leads her on an unforgettable adventure. Learning the Dragon Song and the magic that comes with it, Kiaya follows her heart. I can’t wait to continue reading the series. The characters are three dimensional, the storytelling is masterful and the plots keep you on the edge of your seat! Definitely a must read!
December 4, 2019
I want to start off this review by stating outright that I’m not really qualified to talk about the accuracy of various cultural aspects of this novel. I have no background in Chinese studies, little knowledge of Mandarin Chinese beyond, “Yes,” “No,” “My name is [name],” and, “I want tea,” and I do not have any Chinese ancestry. So it should be left to people wiser and more knowledgeable than me to say whether or not this book has a good portrayal of Chinese culture at any point through China’s history. I’m not the one to make that judgment.
The story is based on historical China, at least, though for me it lies somewhere between historical fantasy and secondary-world fantasy, given that as much as there are referenced to the country being called Cathay, the Great Wall, and a load of other little things that peg it as historical, it also makes references to multiple moons, which makes me think secondary-world. Either way, the feel is very much “ancient China,” with a few other cultures thrown in for good measure. It does make it a welcome change from the glut of western-based fantasies, for certain.
I do like Kang’s writing style. it’s fluid, it’s clear, and it moves the story along well. There’s some good detail in here that manages to balance giving the reader a good image of an unfamiliar culture without bogging the whole thing down with too much description in an attempt to explain everything that might not be 100% clear to every reader We don’t need to know exactly what Dian-xia translates to in order to pick up that it’s the formal title of the princess.
From the description, the story is largely about the young princess Kaiya, though to be perfectly honest, Kaiya’s part in the novel could have been skipped without losing very much. She has magical talent that manifests through music, reportedly powerful enough that she could subdue dragons, but for the most part, her chapters involve her mooning over Prince Hardeep, a visiting noble from Ankira who has little personality and spends his time on the pages trying to guide Kaiya into doing exactly what he wants her to do. The story happens to Kaiya, not because of her, and it gets tedious to read. Pretty much until close to the end, the most contribution she makes to the story is to agree to marry an abusive lord for political reasons. And practice musical magic while thinking longingly of Hardeep.
Kaiya may play a greater role in the story in the rest of the series, but here she’s largely passive and not particularly interesting. Even looking at it from the standpoint of young romance, I couldn’t really get into her sections. Hardeep wasn’t that interesting or developed, and it seemed like her only interest in him stemmed from his good looks and the fact that he was nice to her. And from that she’s willing to go along with dangerous and troublesome ideas for literally no other reason than because he says so. We don’t really see anything from his perspective, so all we see of him is through he eyes of someone besotted, and even that doesn’t make him compelling.
Far more interesting were Tian and Jie, who have far more defined personalities, infiltrate political plots, take part in espionage and combat and all sorts of things, and generally do more to uncover the meat of the plot than Kaiya does. I would have rather read the whole story from Jie’s perspective, honestly, than flip back and forth between her and Kaiya. She takes a more active role through the whole book, is sarcastic, is in a great position to provide commentary on how people don’t take her seriously because of her presumed maturity… Seriously, Jie was the star of this book, not Kaiya.
There’s a rather unique cultural mish-mash going on in this book that is worth talking about, and I feel I can at least comment on it even if I don’t make any “this is wrong/right” judgments. While the story is told in a Chinese-inspired area, and there are mentions of other places that I believe are inspired at least by India (and possibly a couple of other places I couldn’t entirely identify), there’s also some pieces of western Europe and its mythologies thrown in. Both Asian- and European-style dragons are said to exist. There’s mentions of elves and dwarves, and though no really solid description is given of either of them barring the fact that elves have pointed ears, it seems a fair assumption that they’re the elves and dwarves that we think of when we think of Lord of the Rings, for instance. These people aren’t commonly seen in the book, having their own homelands and own affairs to tend to, but they do show up every now and again. Often with Cathayi names, though that might be a nod to the culture they’re all hanging out in rather than their actual names, I’m not sure. Regardless, there are enough references to other places and cultures that The Dragon Scale Lute feels like it’s taking place in one small part of a much larger world, which is something that I often see ignored in fantasy novels. Unless characters are actually traveling that larger world, any multiculturalism tends to get left by the wayside, and it was good to see something where that wasn’t the case.
While the overall combination of political intrigue and magic and a non-western setting definitely made this book stand out to me, I think its real weakness is the utter lack of character in Kaiya, who is ostensibly the main character of the whole story. The writing was decent, but it wasn’t enough to really keep me going through sections in which nothing related to either plot or character-building actually happened, and that spoiled what could otherwise have been a really good book, especially considering that Kaiya’s POV was about half of the novel. Maybe it would appeal to younger readers or those who enjoy a mooning one-sided romance, but that’s not the sort of story that appeals to me, and that aspect rather spoiled it for me, unfortunately.
The story is based on historical China, at least, though for me it lies somewhere between historical fantasy and secondary-world fantasy, given that as much as there are referenced to the country being called Cathay, the Great Wall, and a load of other little things that peg it as historical, it also makes references to multiple moons, which makes me think secondary-world. Either way, the feel is very much “ancient China,” with a few other cultures thrown in for good measure. It does make it a welcome change from the glut of western-based fantasies, for certain.
I do like Kang’s writing style. it’s fluid, it’s clear, and it moves the story along well. There’s some good detail in here that manages to balance giving the reader a good image of an unfamiliar culture without bogging the whole thing down with too much description in an attempt to explain everything that might not be 100% clear to every reader We don’t need to know exactly what Dian-xia translates to in order to pick up that it’s the formal title of the princess.
From the description, the story is largely about the young princess Kaiya, though to be perfectly honest, Kaiya’s part in the novel could have been skipped without losing very much. She has magical talent that manifests through music, reportedly powerful enough that she could subdue dragons, but for the most part, her chapters involve her mooning over Prince Hardeep, a visiting noble from Ankira who has little personality and spends his time on the pages trying to guide Kaiya into doing exactly what he wants her to do. The story happens to Kaiya, not because of her, and it gets tedious to read. Pretty much until close to the end, the most contribution she makes to the story is to agree to marry an abusive lord for political reasons. And practice musical magic while thinking longingly of Hardeep.
Kaiya may play a greater role in the story in the rest of the series, but here she’s largely passive and not particularly interesting. Even looking at it from the standpoint of young romance, I couldn’t really get into her sections. Hardeep wasn’t that interesting or developed, and it seemed like her only interest in him stemmed from his good looks and the fact that he was nice to her. And from that she’s willing to go along with dangerous and troublesome ideas for literally no other reason than because he says so. We don’t really see anything from his perspective, so all we see of him is through he eyes of someone besotted, and even that doesn’t make him compelling.
Far more interesting were Tian and Jie, who have far more defined personalities, infiltrate political plots, take part in espionage and combat and all sorts of things, and generally do more to uncover the meat of the plot than Kaiya does. I would have rather read the whole story from Jie’s perspective, honestly, than flip back and forth between her and Kaiya. She takes a more active role through the whole book, is sarcastic, is in a great position to provide commentary on how people don’t take her seriously because of her presumed maturity… Seriously, Jie was the star of this book, not Kaiya.
There’s a rather unique cultural mish-mash going on in this book that is worth talking about, and I feel I can at least comment on it even if I don’t make any “this is wrong/right” judgments. While the story is told in a Chinese-inspired area, and there are mentions of other places that I believe are inspired at least by India (and possibly a couple of other places I couldn’t entirely identify), there’s also some pieces of western Europe and its mythologies thrown in. Both Asian- and European-style dragons are said to exist. There’s mentions of elves and dwarves, and though no really solid description is given of either of them barring the fact that elves have pointed ears, it seems a fair assumption that they’re the elves and dwarves that we think of when we think of Lord of the Rings, for instance. These people aren’t commonly seen in the book, having their own homelands and own affairs to tend to, but they do show up every now and again. Often with Cathayi names, though that might be a nod to the culture they’re all hanging out in rather than their actual names, I’m not sure. Regardless, there are enough references to other places and cultures that The Dragon Scale Lute feels like it’s taking place in one small part of a much larger world, which is something that I often see ignored in fantasy novels. Unless characters are actually traveling that larger world, any multiculturalism tends to get left by the wayside, and it was good to see something where that wasn’t the case.
While the overall combination of political intrigue and magic and a non-western setting definitely made this book stand out to me, I think its real weakness is the utter lack of character in Kaiya, who is ostensibly the main character of the whole story. The writing was decent, but it wasn’t enough to really keep me going through sections in which nothing related to either plot or character-building actually happened, and that spoiled what could otherwise have been a really good book, especially considering that Kaiya’s POV was about half of the novel. Maybe it would appeal to younger readers or those who enjoy a mooning one-sided romance, but that’s not the sort of story that appeals to me, and that aspect rather spoiled it for me, unfortunately.
January 25, 2021
*I received this as an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. Thanks!*
DNFd at 20%. I really wanted to push myself to finish this, especially so that I would have evidence for the things I liked/didn’t like. Nonetheless, it increasingly felt like a chore to pick this up, and this to me is a sign that a book is not for me. I can say, however, that this 20% of the book was enough to figure out how the rest of it was going to go.
First of all, I hated the insta-love. I had never seen a book where the main character falls in love with the love interest SO QUICKLY. Not even romance novels do that. She is sixteen, but even at sixteen, I think kids have some sense, or so I want to believe. Sure, do all the stupid stuff you want, you’re a teen... but what I can’t believe is that this character immediately aligns with the political goals of a nation she had never seen in her life. We are supposed to believe that she is a princess, and even though she has been educated as a musician and not a diplomat, she surely should have some sense of politics... right?
But I’m not sure what’s going on with that, to be honest, because we don’t get explanations for anything. Anything! It’s like the author wanted to avoid worldbuilding info dumps, and so they treat the reader like they’ve read an encyclopedia’s worth of background content before embarking in the reading experience. I don’t know what Kaiya, the princess, is supposed to know and not know, because I know nothing about her life or what she’s supposed to do and be like. Apart from the fact she is going to be married off to some noble and she hates the idea, but when this foreign prince comes around she’s suddenly into him like it’s her only purpose.
Tying into that: there is no description at all. The maximum I spotted (and I know because I was paying attention) were two lines saying what colour and shape a room was. And a description of a dragon-shaped throne. Otherwise, no description. The reader is presented with action and dialogue, nonstop, but we are never shown what this world looks like, or what the characters dress like, or the kind of city we are in. If you’re telling me the princess is taking off an outer robe, tell me what the robe is like or what her outfit looks like now, at the very least! It made immersion in the world impossible and it meant I never cared for anything because I wasn’t truly introduced to it.
For the worldbuilding: I think the setting makes sense, sounds appealing and cool, and the premise is awesome too – I could make out some of the myths and legends of this nation which were certainly cool. We aren’t shown the world, though, and the author assumes the reader already knows it all, when it’s not the case. Additionally, some aspects felt very much pulled straight out of Dungeons & Dragons. The dwarf artificers making toys that are mentioned a couple of times, the stereotypical rogue, this foreign prince being trained as a Paladin (yeah, with a capital letter.) These elements alone aren’t necessarily connected to D&D, but unless you flesh them out and explain them, that’s what people are going to connect them to. For instance, in Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir (a book that I didn’t love, don’t get me wrong!), we are presented with “Cavaliers” and “Necromancers”, which initially sound very much like Fighters and Warlocks, but the author spends a while fleshing out the intricacies of it so it’s never stereotypical.
But I digress. My last point is on the writing style, which I have noted pretty much throughout this review but I think deserves a moment. It’s bad, I didn’t enjoy it. It’s clunky in the way it jumps from omniscience to character perspectives, and we aren’t shown the characters’ feelings either. The dialogue is repetitive and unnatural, and the action doesn’t read smoothly - I had a hard time figuring out what was going on during action scenes. Finally, I spotted quite a few grammar and punctuation errors, which usually I would be fine with when reading an ARC. This, however, is a book that is being released for the second time, so I expected the editors to be more careful with it.
Overall, Songs of Insurrection was stereotypical, hard to get through despite the writing not being dense or overly complicated, and to be honest, quite a disappointment.
DNFd at 20%. I really wanted to push myself to finish this, especially so that I would have evidence for the things I liked/didn’t like. Nonetheless, it increasingly felt like a chore to pick this up, and this to me is a sign that a book is not for me. I can say, however, that this 20% of the book was enough to figure out how the rest of it was going to go.
First of all, I hated the insta-love. I had never seen a book where the main character falls in love with the love interest SO QUICKLY. Not even romance novels do that. She is sixteen, but even at sixteen, I think kids have some sense, or so I want to believe. Sure, do all the stupid stuff you want, you’re a teen... but what I can’t believe is that this character immediately aligns with the political goals of a nation she had never seen in her life. We are supposed to believe that she is a princess, and even though she has been educated as a musician and not a diplomat, she surely should have some sense of politics... right?
But I’m not sure what’s going on with that, to be honest, because we don’t get explanations for anything. Anything! It’s like the author wanted to avoid worldbuilding info dumps, and so they treat the reader like they’ve read an encyclopedia’s worth of background content before embarking in the reading experience. I don’t know what Kaiya, the princess, is supposed to know and not know, because I know nothing about her life or what she’s supposed to do and be like. Apart from the fact she is going to be married off to some noble and she hates the idea, but when this foreign prince comes around she’s suddenly into him like it’s her only purpose.
Tying into that: there is no description at all. The maximum I spotted (and I know because I was paying attention) were two lines saying what colour and shape a room was. And a description of a dragon-shaped throne. Otherwise, no description. The reader is presented with action and dialogue, nonstop, but we are never shown what this world looks like, or what the characters dress like, or the kind of city we are in. If you’re telling me the princess is taking off an outer robe, tell me what the robe is like or what her outfit looks like now, at the very least! It made immersion in the world impossible and it meant I never cared for anything because I wasn’t truly introduced to it.
For the worldbuilding: I think the setting makes sense, sounds appealing and cool, and the premise is awesome too – I could make out some of the myths and legends of this nation which were certainly cool. We aren’t shown the world, though, and the author assumes the reader already knows it all, when it’s not the case. Additionally, some aspects felt very much pulled straight out of Dungeons & Dragons. The dwarf artificers making toys that are mentioned a couple of times, the stereotypical rogue, this foreign prince being trained as a Paladin (yeah, with a capital letter.) These elements alone aren’t necessarily connected to D&D, but unless you flesh them out and explain them, that’s what people are going to connect them to. For instance, in Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir (a book that I didn’t love, don’t get me wrong!), we are presented with “Cavaliers” and “Necromancers”, which initially sound very much like Fighters and Warlocks, but the author spends a while fleshing out the intricacies of it so it’s never stereotypical.
But I digress. My last point is on the writing style, which I have noted pretty much throughout this review but I think deserves a moment. It’s bad, I didn’t enjoy it. It’s clunky in the way it jumps from omniscience to character perspectives, and we aren’t shown the characters’ feelings either. The dialogue is repetitive and unnatural, and the action doesn’t read smoothly - I had a hard time figuring out what was going on during action scenes. Finally, I spotted quite a few grammar and punctuation errors, which usually I would be fine with when reading an ARC. This, however, is a book that is being released for the second time, so I expected the editors to be more careful with it.
Overall, Songs of Insurrection was stereotypical, hard to get through despite the writing not being dense or overly complicated, and to be honest, quite a disappointment.
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