Thank you to Roaring Brook Press for sending me a copy of Strike the Zither in exchange for an honest review!
In a land torn apart by war, three women fight for control while a puppet empress sits on the throne. The odds are against the most honorable warlordess, Xin Ren, who aims to liberate the child empress from her devious regent, Miasma. But Ren’s army is small, and her resources are dwindling. She relies on her strategist, the young Rising Zephyr, to devise clever tactics and defeat their opponents.
Fully loyal to Ren, Zephyr’s only choice is to infiltrate Miasma’s camp and take her out from within. But when Zephyr meets Miasma’s strategist Crow, he questions Zephyr’s newfound loyalties. She must prove herself to him while secretly undermining everything he works for. Trapped behind enemy lines, Zephyr may have finally met her match.
RELATED: Book Review: Fate’s Chosen
Joan He has done it again! Strike the Zither is her third novel, and it’s just as gripping as Descendant of the Crane and The Ones We’re Meant to Find. This is a retelling, of sorts, of the legendary 14th-century book Romance of the Three Kingdoms by Luo Guanzhong. You don’t, however, need a lot of background knowledge of the original story. He’s author note at the end expands on certain aspects of Strike the Zither that she changed in adapting the original source. It’s a helpful and necessary read after you finish the book itself.
So much of Strike the Zither’s strength comes from Zephyr’s narrative voice. She is powerfully self-assured; Zephyr knows she’s smarter than anyone around her and doesn’t suffer fools lightly. Still, her confidence never pushed me away. Yes, she’s arrogant, but she’s also endearing. Thinking on her feet is where she thrives, and she rarely doubts her capabilities throughout the story. Her dryly witty observations and the tight, first-person narrative let readers see how Zephyr’s mind actually works while allowing for fun commentary about those around her.
RELATED: Book Review: The Sunbearer Trials
While I could talk about Zephyr for days, I don’t want to say much about the plot. Halfway through Strike the Zither, something absolutely shocking and huge happens that is never even alluded to in promotional materials or the official description. Knowing anything about what happens might ruin your enjoyment of the book as a whole, so try not to go looking for too many plot points or spoilers.
If you love morally gray heroines, elaborate schemes and huge twists, Strike the Zither is perfect for you! If this review has you intrigued, head to He’s Twitter, where she shared some of the book’s official art. Once you do, you should definitely check out He’s other works as well!
Strike the Zither comes out on October 25 and is available for preorder from your local independent bookstore or Bookshop.org. Check it out, and let us know what you think!
TW: animal death, blood, death, disease, eye horror, graphic violence, major character death, starvation, torture, vomiting, verbal and physical abuse, war, xenophobia\
https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/book-review-lavender-house/
- New Release Radar: New Books Coming Out on January 21 - January 20, 2025
- Book Review: DEATH OF THE AUTHOR - January 16, 2025
- The Official DAREDEVIL: BORN AGAIN Trailer Is Here, and It’s Epic - January 15, 2025
