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Moshui, the Books of Stone and Water #3
Hidden Cities
The mythic beasts and glorious legends of feudal China illuminate a world at war in this, the conclusion to Daniel Fox’s critically acclaimed series.
Whatever they thought, this was always where they were to the belly of the dragon, or the belly of the sea.
More by chance than good judgment, the young emperor has won his first battle. The rebels have retreated from the coastal city of Santung—but they’ll be back. Distracted by his pregnant concubine, the emperor sends a distrusted aide, Ping Wen, to govern Santung in his place. There, the treacherous general will discover the healer Tien, who is obsessed with a library of sacred mage texts and the secrets concealed within—secrets upon which, Ping Wen quickly realizes, the fate of the whole war may turn.
As all sides of this seething conflict prepare for more butchery, a miner of magical jade, himself invulnerable, desperately tries to save his beautiful and yet brutally scarred clan cousin; a priestess loses her children, who are taken as pawns in a contest beyond her comprehension; and a fierce and powerful woman commits an act of violence that will entwine her, body and soul, with the spirit of jade itself. Amid a horde of soldiers, torturers, and runaways, these people will test both their human and mystical powers against a violent world. But one force trumps the huge, hungry, wrathful dragon.
Whatever they thought, this was always where they were to the belly of the dragon, or the belly of the sea.
More by chance than good judgment, the young emperor has won his first battle. The rebels have retreated from the coastal city of Santung—but they’ll be back. Distracted by his pregnant concubine, the emperor sends a distrusted aide, Ping Wen, to govern Santung in his place. There, the treacherous general will discover the healer Tien, who is obsessed with a library of sacred mage texts and the secrets concealed within—secrets upon which, Ping Wen quickly realizes, the fate of the whole war may turn.
As all sides of this seething conflict prepare for more butchery, a miner of magical jade, himself invulnerable, desperately tries to save his beautiful and yet brutally scarred clan cousin; a priestess loses her children, who are taken as pawns in a contest beyond her comprehension; and a fierce and powerful woman commits an act of violence that will entwine her, body and soul, with the spirit of jade itself. Amid a horde of soldiers, torturers, and runaways, these people will test both their human and mystical powers against a violent world. But one force trumps the huge, hungry, wrathful dragon.
432 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
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May 16, 2011
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Hidden Cities is the final installment in Daniel Fox’s Moshui trilogy. The first book, Dragon in Chains, and the second, Jade Man’s Skin, have already been reviewed at The Ranting Dragon. Hidden Cities begins with the exiled boy-emperor’s first victory against the rebels, but this victory is slim indeed and only happens with the luck of the dragon. In the battle’s aftermath, concubine Mei Feng convinces the emperor to send the secretly treacherous general Ping Wen across the strait to the mainland to govern the coastal city of Santung. Ping Wen soon encounters Tien, a doctor’s niece, who, in between healing rebel and imperial soldiers alike, has discovered a library full of secret, mystical books that may help recapture the all-powerful dragon. Throughout the epic battles and intrigue, many more small yet significant lives are woven, like the two broken children destroyed by war, a jade miner torn between two loves, and a mother-cum-priestess who fails to save her daughters.
Beautiful and heartrending
Once again, Fox’s prose astounds. Each book in Moshui improves upon its predecessor, and Hidden Cities is full of the rich, magical, transportive writing that makes this series so unique. I’ve raved about the writing in every review, but Fox’s style is worth it. Like I’ve said before, the book’s poetry may not be to everyone’s tastes, but I will say that Fox has definitely improved his game. The action scenes in Hidden Cities, unlike in Dragon in Chains, are always immediately exciting and breathtakingly described at the same time. Despite my understandable desire to find out what happens at the end of Moshui, I’m still glad I took the time to read this book slowly and savor the language. It’s fantastic in all senses of the word.
No punches pulled
The characters of Moshui’s first two novels are lively and vivid, and Hidden Cities is no different. Major characters like Mei Feng, Han, Yu Shan, and Jiao achieve even greater depth and emotional resonance, while previously minor characters like Tien, Ma Lin, and Chung are happily given more prominence.
That said, don’t expect everyone to get a happy ending. Every character in Moshui goes through hell and none of them emerge unscathed. In some places the emotional pain is so potent that the novel becomes hard to read – which is, really, the mark of a truly excellent book. Two moments even made me cry. You may not end up in tears – Fox’s gorgeous writing never makes you forget that what you’re reading is purely fictional – but nevertheless, Fox is unafraid to take his plot to its natural conclusion, and for many characters that’s not a happy place at all.
But for the reader? It’s immensely satisfying.
Missed potential … or is it?
This is a nearly perfect book, and yet I can’t give it five stars since, as an epic fantasy, Moshui fails to reach its potential. The culture and religion remain vague, while the large cast, crammed into just three books, isn’t quite done justice; some emotional scenes and dark decisions feel too short, too unexplored. Also, the ending of Hidden Cities leaves a lot of important questions unanswered. I finished the book uneasily balanced between feeling a wistful desire for more in the knowledge that all good things come to an end, and also feeling downright upset that the author didn’t finish what he started.
And yet … I can’t help but hope that this feeling of incompletion is intentional. There are enough loose ends straggling at the end of Hidden Cities that, perhaps, Daniel Fox has another series set in this world hidden up his sleeve. If that’s the case, I can’t wait to return to the world of Moshui. (And if it’s not the case, I’m very disappointed.)
Why should you read this book?
With Hidden Cities, Moshui: The Books of Stone and Water trilogy improves in every category that made Dragon in Chains so worth reading in 2009. This trilogy isn’t perfect, but it’s certainly one of the most excellent fantasy series in recent years. Fox’s beautiful style makes this series utterly unique, and the many sophisticated characters are unforgettable. This is a book to savor slowly at night before bed.
Hidden Cities is the final installment in Daniel Fox’s Moshui trilogy. The first book, Dragon in Chains, and the second, Jade Man’s Skin, have already been reviewed at The Ranting Dragon. Hidden Cities begins with the exiled boy-emperor’s first victory against the rebels, but this victory is slim indeed and only happens with the luck of the dragon. In the battle’s aftermath, concubine Mei Feng convinces the emperor to send the secretly treacherous general Ping Wen across the strait to the mainland to govern the coastal city of Santung. Ping Wen soon encounters Tien, a doctor’s niece, who, in between healing rebel and imperial soldiers alike, has discovered a library full of secret, mystical books that may help recapture the all-powerful dragon. Throughout the epic battles and intrigue, many more small yet significant lives are woven, like the two broken children destroyed by war, a jade miner torn between two loves, and a mother-cum-priestess who fails to save her daughters.
Beautiful and heartrending
Once again, Fox’s prose astounds. Each book in Moshui improves upon its predecessor, and Hidden Cities is full of the rich, magical, transportive writing that makes this series so unique. I’ve raved about the writing in every review, but Fox’s style is worth it. Like I’ve said before, the book’s poetry may not be to everyone’s tastes, but I will say that Fox has definitely improved his game. The action scenes in Hidden Cities, unlike in Dragon in Chains, are always immediately exciting and breathtakingly described at the same time. Despite my understandable desire to find out what happens at the end of Moshui, I’m still glad I took the time to read this book slowly and savor the language. It’s fantastic in all senses of the word.
No punches pulled
The characters of Moshui’s first two novels are lively and vivid, and Hidden Cities is no different. Major characters like Mei Feng, Han, Yu Shan, and Jiao achieve even greater depth and emotional resonance, while previously minor characters like Tien, Ma Lin, and Chung are happily given more prominence.
That said, don’t expect everyone to get a happy ending. Every character in Moshui goes through hell and none of them emerge unscathed. In some places the emotional pain is so potent that the novel becomes hard to read – which is, really, the mark of a truly excellent book. Two moments even made me cry. You may not end up in tears – Fox’s gorgeous writing never makes you forget that what you’re reading is purely fictional – but nevertheless, Fox is unafraid to take his plot to its natural conclusion, and for many characters that’s not a happy place at all.
But for the reader? It’s immensely satisfying.
Missed potential … or is it?
This is a nearly perfect book, and yet I can’t give it five stars since, as an epic fantasy, Moshui fails to reach its potential. The culture and religion remain vague, while the large cast, crammed into just three books, isn’t quite done justice; some emotional scenes and dark decisions feel too short, too unexplored. Also, the ending of Hidden Cities leaves a lot of important questions unanswered. I finished the book uneasily balanced between feeling a wistful desire for more in the knowledge that all good things come to an end, and also feeling downright upset that the author didn’t finish what he started.
And yet … I can’t help but hope that this feeling of incompletion is intentional. There are enough loose ends straggling at the end of Hidden Cities that, perhaps, Daniel Fox has another series set in this world hidden up his sleeve. If that’s the case, I can’t wait to return to the world of Moshui. (And if it’s not the case, I’m very disappointed.)
Why should you read this book?
With Hidden Cities, Moshui: The Books of Stone and Water trilogy improves in every category that made Dragon in Chains so worth reading in 2009. This trilogy isn’t perfect, but it’s certainly one of the most excellent fantasy series in recent years. Fox’s beautiful style makes this series utterly unique, and the many sophisticated characters are unforgettable. This is a book to savor slowly at night before bed.
March 30, 2020
I finally got to this book and really enjoyed it. I love the complexity of this series. The ending was so clever and just made sense. Strongly recommend this series!
May 26, 2011
This is a terrific concluding volume to what has proved one of the best fantasy trilogies of the last ten years. It balances intelligent plotting with a transparent prose style. But do not under any circumstances treat this as a standalone. You must read the first two, Dragon in Chains and Jade Man's Skin first.
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December 20, 2023
Third in the Moshui fantasy series based on myths and legends of ancient China about the healing powers and strength of jade. About dragons and sea goddesses.
The Story
The dragon has escaped her imprisonment under the sea and unleashed typhoons upon the lands. The storm has destroyed Tunghai Wang's chance at certain victory to capture Santung while saving the boy emperor from defeat. The goddess' children have provided safe passage for Chien Hua, Man of Jade, and his pregnant concubine, Mei Feng, to escape back across the strait to his own city, Taishu. With the opportunity to rid themselves of the traitor, Ping Wen, whom the emperor sends back to Santung to govern and defend the indefensible.
For the emperor does not leave any boat that will allow Ping Wen back across the sea. With the dragon in the sky, Tunghai Wang cannot cross either so both traitors' efforts bow down to finding a way. Others of the emperor's party head into the mountains. Home. Home where the jade is mined. Where the jade will help them heal from the hurts of war. Yu Shan particularly hopes that the jade will help heal the woman he loves. For whom he left Jiao. A Jiao who follows them into the mountains only to slay a jade tiger and adopt its kit after skinning its mother.
A fraudulent doctor, Biao has scammed his way through life and has tumbled onto the tiger skin Jiao leaves behind. His use of it spreads through the land—aided by the gossip Biao spreads himself. When Mei Feng begins to lose her child, the empress sends for Biao and his tiger skin to save her.
Then there's Ma Lin who guards the goddess' temple and whose daughters have been given to the goddess. Only soldiers keep taking the girls and bringing them back. Then there's young Han, the dragon's boy. He interprets her thoughts to people. Tien is Han's friend and she has medical knowledge which she places at anyone's behest. Tien does not care about sides but about her patients. And the dragon. Refusing to accompany Mei Feng across the sea to Taishu, Tien remains behind to care for people and to explore the palace library for any knowledge of the dragon.
Old Yen, Mei Feng's grandfather and a fishing master, has become the fisherman the emperor goes to for braving the watery crossing. In this confidence, Old Yen finds the courage to confront the dragon asking for leeway for the fishermen to continue to fish the sea to provide food for the people.
The dragon's success with the people of Taishu leads her to believe she can find the same accommodation with Santung but she reckons without thought of men's greed and ambition.
My Take
Reading the first half was so difficult and confusing, I almost didn't finish Hidden Cities. There is so much going on with so many referrals to previous events. Bits and pieces that somehow draw together. Eventually.
Fascinating bit about the evolution of flaming bombs and throwing machines. To be honest, it was probably my favorite teeny part. I have inwardly moaned and complained as I've read other stories in series about how repetitive the author is in re-informing me of events that have occurred in previous stories. I won't do that again. Fox writes this story as though we have been with him from the beginning and it has contributed to my confusion. I seriously and strongly suggest you read the books in order to understand what is happening.
As I write this, I see a pattern of tiny tales woven together into one—a whole lot of little bits. I suspect Fox has woven many myths together to form this story. I must confess I don't think he's done a very good job of it. His writing is rather fascinating. Sometimes confusing. Sometimes Fox simply uses a phrase unexpectedly. Sometimes disjointed. Sometimes turning it back on itself. It makes for interesting reading but not enough that I want to subject myself to the other stories in this series.
The Cover
The cover is certainly appropriate although there is some cover artist license. A typhoon-whipped wave towering over a tiny sailing junk with a sea goddess forming up out of the wave. Menacing with a hint of a typical Chinese-style mountain rising out of the mist in the background. I would have thought a dragon rising menacingly out of the water would have been more likely than Old Yen's goddess since she is supposed to be his protector and the dragon the enemy.
Please, if you read this, start with the very first book, Dragon in Chains. It will be so much less confusing…
The Story
The dragon has escaped her imprisonment under the sea and unleashed typhoons upon the lands. The storm has destroyed Tunghai Wang's chance at certain victory to capture Santung while saving the boy emperor from defeat. The goddess' children have provided safe passage for Chien Hua, Man of Jade, and his pregnant concubine, Mei Feng, to escape back across the strait to his own city, Taishu. With the opportunity to rid themselves of the traitor, Ping Wen, whom the emperor sends back to Santung to govern and defend the indefensible.
For the emperor does not leave any boat that will allow Ping Wen back across the sea. With the dragon in the sky, Tunghai Wang cannot cross either so both traitors' efforts bow down to finding a way. Others of the emperor's party head into the mountains. Home. Home where the jade is mined. Where the jade will help them heal from the hurts of war. Yu Shan particularly hopes that the jade will help heal the woman he loves. For whom he left Jiao. A Jiao who follows them into the mountains only to slay a jade tiger and adopt its kit after skinning its mother.
A fraudulent doctor, Biao has scammed his way through life and has tumbled onto the tiger skin Jiao leaves behind. His use of it spreads through the land—aided by the gossip Biao spreads himself. When Mei Feng begins to lose her child, the empress sends for Biao and his tiger skin to save her.
Then there's Ma Lin who guards the goddess' temple and whose daughters have been given to the goddess. Only soldiers keep taking the girls and bringing them back. Then there's young Han, the dragon's boy. He interprets her thoughts to people. Tien is Han's friend and she has medical knowledge which she places at anyone's behest. Tien does not care about sides but about her patients. And the dragon. Refusing to accompany Mei Feng across the sea to Taishu, Tien remains behind to care for people and to explore the palace library for any knowledge of the dragon.
Old Yen, Mei Feng's grandfather and a fishing master, has become the fisherman the emperor goes to for braving the watery crossing. In this confidence, Old Yen finds the courage to confront the dragon asking for leeway for the fishermen to continue to fish the sea to provide food for the people.
The dragon's success with the people of Taishu leads her to believe she can find the same accommodation with Santung but she reckons without thought of men's greed and ambition.
My Take
Reading the first half was so difficult and confusing, I almost didn't finish Hidden Cities. There is so much going on with so many referrals to previous events. Bits and pieces that somehow draw together. Eventually.
Fascinating bit about the evolution of flaming bombs and throwing machines. To be honest, it was probably my favorite teeny part. I have inwardly moaned and complained as I've read other stories in series about how repetitive the author is in re-informing me of events that have occurred in previous stories. I won't do that again. Fox writes this story as though we have been with him from the beginning and it has contributed to my confusion. I seriously and strongly suggest you read the books in order to understand what is happening.
As I write this, I see a pattern of tiny tales woven together into one—a whole lot of little bits. I suspect Fox has woven many myths together to form this story. I must confess I don't think he's done a very good job of it. His writing is rather fascinating. Sometimes confusing. Sometimes Fox simply uses a phrase unexpectedly. Sometimes disjointed. Sometimes turning it back on itself. It makes for interesting reading but not enough that I want to subject myself to the other stories in this series.
The Cover
The cover is certainly appropriate although there is some cover artist license. A typhoon-whipped wave towering over a tiny sailing junk with a sea goddess forming up out of the wave. Menacing with a hint of a typical Chinese-style mountain rising out of the mist in the background. I would have thought a dragon rising menacingly out of the water would have been more likely than Old Yen's goddess since she is supposed to be his protector and the dragon the enemy.
Please, if you read this, start with the very first book, Dragon in Chains. It will be so much less confusing…
July 14, 2012
Third part of the medieval China-inspired fantasy by Chaz Brenchley writing under his Daniel Fox pen name. And make no mistake, this is the third and final part of a single story which began with Dragon in Chains, rather than the third of three novels. You'll need to have read the first two parts to get the most out of this book. Fortunately, that's no hardship. This is a complex story that needs the space to do justice to the lives of its characters.[return][return]At the end of the second part (Jade Man's Skin), the young Emperor had control of the island of Taishu, source of the jade that underpins imperial power, and was about to lose the city of Santung across the strait to the general who was attempting to overthrow him -- until the no-longer-chained dragon disrupted the petty wars of humans. In this volume the characters have to deal with the consequences -- the dragon will not permit boats to cross the strait unless they are protected by the presence of the Li-goddess of the sea, in the form of one of the children the goddess has taken for her use as a human avatar. As the humans play out their struggles for power, so do the dragon and the goddess, in a complex tales with many strands. It does not end in the boy Emperor winning back his entire empire, but that would not be the right end for this story, and it ends well enough.[return][return]As with the first two parts, this offers a thoughtful look at war and its aftermath, written in stunning prose. The trilogy is a long read, but well worth the time.
January 19, 2012
Daniel Fox juggles a host of narrators in “Hidden Cities” (Del Rey, $15, 416 pages), but like many authors, he gives his readers too much credit and assumes they will immediately remember everything about all of them. Unfortunately, it takes a hundred pages or so to get back up to speed in this series about an alternate Taiwan with goddesses, dragons and jade that’s infused with life-giving powers.
Fox also stretches his wings as a writer, and his forays into a more poetic style sometimes work, and sometimes don’t – but the depth of his characters, who often confound their own expectations, gives the series a bit of heft not usually found in these kinds of fantasies. That said, the pace slowed in “Hidden Cities” compared to “Jade Man’s Skin” and “Dragon in Chains,” and it seems we may be two books away from the conclusion of what promises to become a saga about a young emperor hoping to hold off various rebels and reclaim the throne of China.
Fox also stretches his wings as a writer, and his forays into a more poetic style sometimes work, and sometimes don’t – but the depth of his characters, who often confound their own expectations, gives the series a bit of heft not usually found in these kinds of fantasies. That said, the pace slowed in “Hidden Cities” compared to “Jade Man’s Skin” and “Dragon in Chains,” and it seems we may be two books away from the conclusion of what promises to become a saga about a young emperor hoping to hold off various rebels and reclaim the throne of China.
February 18, 2011
This was a little hard, given that I haven't read the other two in the series, but it makes me want to go back and start those. More thoughts later.
September 5, 2015
A disappointing end to an enjoyable trilogy, as the plot just seemed to peter out.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews