Overall, this book is a fantastic second novel and a great asset to the Rick Riordan presents series. I am even more excited for book three to see what method the author uses to deliver another level to the storyline.

A great sequel to Dragon Pearl, we get to see a different angle of Min now in Tiger Honor. It gives depth to the situation and is well written

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was unfortunately a disappointing sequel to one of my favorite middle grade books of all time. While Dragon Pearl was memorable and I rooted for the characters the entire time, I felt that Tiger Honor was forgettable and I did not feel as deeply for the characters. While it was interesting to read a book from the opposite perspective as Dragon Pearl, Sebin was just not as compelling a character as Min.
I will also say that beginning this book with Sebin looking for the mail was not a very attention-grabbing way to start what is supposed to be an action-packed story. So, while I loved the original book and I loved the queer representation in this book, it didn't work for me as a whole.

I received an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was so excited to see that there would be another book set in the world of Dragon Pearl! I absolutely loved that book when I read it awhile back and have been patiently awaiting Tiger Honor’s release.

Yoon Ha Lee’s Tiger Honor follows Sebin, a tiger spirit who wants to join the Thousand World Space Forces. They look up to their Uncle Hwan and cannot wait to be the captain of their own battle cruiser one day. Sebin is shocked and confused when news arrives declaring Hwan a traitor. The timing of this along with their acceptance letter to the Space Forces raises some suspicion. Sebin hopes to clear their uncle’s name, but nothing really goes according to plan.

This was such a fun read. I absolutely love the author’s writing style and how every detail is crafted in a way that holds your attention. I loved the world building and learning more about the mythology behind the story and characters.

I really enjoyed seeing Min’s character again. I had no idea how the interactions between Sebin and Min would play out, but I could not help rooting for both of them. It was interesting to see Sebin’s growth throughout the book as well, especially considering how they struggled with the duty to family versus the Space Forces.

I also liked all of the other cadets and how they truly worked together as a team. Seeing them gradually build a friendship was really cool. They all had their own strengths that added to the team dynamic.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Science fiction intersects with Korean folklore in this interesting new take on middle grade fiction. A young man wants to follow in his uncle’s footsteps and become a space cadet, only to find on the day when he gets his acceptance letter to the academy, his uncle is under suspicion of treachery.
#TigerHonor #NetGalley

Tiger Honor follows a new character in the Thousand Worlds Universe shortly after the events of Dragon Pearl. Sebin, from the Tiger Clan, was so excited to join the Space Force, until they find out that their Uncle Hwan has been branded a traitor. Now they have a new task as they join the Force: clear their Uncle's name.

This book was a fun and fast read. Sebin is an empathetic character and tries their best through the tough situation they are put into. It was also nice seeing characters from Dragon Pearl throughout the novel as well.

This book would be great in intermediate and middle school classrooms. If a student loved Dragon Pearl, make sure to stick the sequel in their hands.

This is a companion to Dragon Pearl, which I own but have not yet read. It was a solid story on its own and a great introduction to the world. I’m even more excited to read Dragon Pearl. Very good middle grade story, with the quality I’ve come to expect from books recommended by Rick Riordan.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really loved the first book in this series, but this one fell flat for me. I felt like the action was rushed and it was a little confusing.

I received a copy from Netgalley (thank you) which in no way influenced my review. When I had requested this I hadn't realized it was the second book but the first one seemed interesting so I read that and was underwhelmed. That continues with this. I will say I liked the protagonist here much better than I did Min.

Sebin is a thirteen year old non-binary tiger shifter and like the previous book draws from Korean folklore. I liked Sebin. They are very serious about their desire to be in the Space Force and honor their clan which is cold and aggressive to not put too fine a point on it. Their dreams get in a twist when their Uncle Hwan (from book one) has been disgraced and is on the run.

There is nothing Sebin can do about that and tries to take joy in their acceptance into the force. Things go immediately awry once onboard when the ship is under attack by their uncle. Sebin's loyalties are immediately tested and it doesn't help that they grew up with a mistrust of gumihos like Min.

This takes place in basically one day so there is a good time clock set on the action. The ending, however felt a wee bit too easy.

I did have issues with this book though and it's entirely that it IS middle-grade. I would have had less troubles if Sebin had been 18 not 13. I know it won't entire the minds of the middle grade reader but the thirteen year old mind isn't anywhere near close to an adult one or even an eighteen year old one. Judgement centers aren't fully developed yet and even if they were there is still a lack of experience to inform decision making.

And that's where I run into issues. Some of i t could have been handled with a simple sentence of two and having Sebin joining the ship the Haetae after they had some training. Instead, Sebin and Jee the computer-hacking new cadet they are brought on board with are given NO training. Let that sink in for a minute. I think even kids would be sitting there wondering what kind of military starship group of soldiers is going to take in untrained thirteen year olds and then throw them immediately into a mission that could be dangerous. It makes no sense. It's cruel even.

If you can get passed the idea that the officers in this organization are happy to take on kids with zero training and use them as cannon fodder then you'll probably enjoy the rest of it.

Any child who enjoyed Dragon Pearl will be excited to read this new shifter story in the Thousand Worlds series from Rick Riordan Presents. It's basically a Korean Mythological Space Opera for kids. Wonderful.

Tiger Honor by Yoon Ha Lee

As I have mentioned before, I discovered Yoon Ha Lee, as many people did, with Ninefox Gambit. That book hit me like a freight train - there was so much happening, and I didn’t know if I understood half of it, it what I did get, I loved. I devoured the Machineries of Empire series and have been saving the short stories, reading them slowly, because I don’t want them to end. I read his YA novel, Dragon Pearl, when it came out, which I frankly did not love. I’m not sure if I just found the plot too haphazard, or if the YA tone didn’t work for me, or if I didn’t enjoy the Space Fantasy aspects, but when I read it, I kept thinking two things: this protagonist is making all of the wrong choices, and the writing style is too simplistic and is turning me off.

I decided to give Tiger Honor, another book in the same universe as Dragon Pearl, a try (thanks, NetGalley, for the eARC in exchange for this honest review!). I didn’t love this either, it I enjoyed it more than I did Dragon Pearl. I think my main problem is that I am not the target audience - this is more middle grade than YA, and so the conventions are different. I felt the pacing was off, and several of the secondary characters felt like cyphers, and the protagonist felt both too competent t and incompetent at the same time. I may just wait for the author’s next adult novel. But I will recommend it to my kid.

I read Tiger Honor, written by Yoon Ha Lee, with my 9-year-old. Overall, we enjoyed it. However, there were a few parts that were slow. It contains a bit of Korean folktale, stories I hadn't previously heard. My 9-year-old was entertained and I will be adding this to my classroom library for other children to read. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my opinion.

I love the author and their fiction is brilliant; this sequel is no exception. Note that this book is more on the 8 year old side of the 8-12 range that the Rick Riordan Presents imprint: think more Warrior Cats and less Tristan Strong.

I really enjoyed reading this book! I actually went and read the first book before this one, and really liked how the stories are connected yet can stand alone as well. The plot happens mostly over a few hours, so at times I felt like it's moving a little slow, but it was overall a good story with a good amount of Korean folklore elements.
I'll definitely keep an eye out for future books by Yoon Ha Lee!

I am always in awe of the sheer talent of the Rick Riordan Presents lineup. TIGER HONOR is an incredible feat of imagination and complexity that never underestimates its readers, and I'm hungry for more upper-MG science fiction in this vein!

I should preface by saying that I haven't read DRAGON PEARL before, but Yoon Ha Lee's second installment stands alone very well. I realized I was missing some context regarding Min & Hwan's history, but overall, this book does an excellent job of contextualizing everything for newcomers. And what a world it is! We've got giant space ships and tiger spirits and gumiho and ghosts and so much more, and I was starry-eyed taking it all in!

Weirdly, the expansiveness of the world was also one of its weaknesses. Despite seeing the tiger compound and starports in earlier chapters, the vast majority of the story takes place on a hijacked ship. There's (supposedly) a lot at stake, with mentions of this planet-altering Dragon Pearl, but we don't see/feel any of it; the hijackers' plan felt kinda nebulous, as did the loyalties involved, and I struggled to connect. It should've been an urgent book. But I never felt that urgency. I wanted off the ship, but instead we got almost an entire novel of stealthily playing cat-and-mouse inside a vacuum.

The writing itself was occasionally difficult to connect to, too. While I loved the complexity, it was also DENSE for middle grade, and Sebin's voice wasn't always engaging. I don't know. Nobody quite felt real, and in a plot that heavily relies on the drama of shifting loyalties, it was tricky to care when those loyalties came across as quite dry & manufactured. I'm just a little unconvinced that this was the best story to tell, given the potential of the Thousand Worlds!

HOWEVER, there's still lots to love about TIGER HONOR. The wider worldbuilding, obviously, but also the casual nonbinary rep (like, SO many characters used they/them pronouns!) and themes of courage & honor. it won't be going on my favorites list, but I'm nevertheless glad I got the opportunity to read.

Love anything that comes from RR & this did not disappoint. I’m incredibly grateful for diverse books with non-binary leads, especially in middle grade fiction. Please read!!

* I got this book for review from the publisher*
I thought this was soild comanion book set in the same world dragon peral. i really loved the ease of the Lbgq+ was a delight it was a super fun space adventure. I also really liked how this book did dive more into tiget spirts and still connected back to fox spirts. I also thought it was fun read, I want to read more set in this world in the future.

Thanks to NetGalley & Disney Publishing Worldwide for the early copy in exchange for an honest review.

A sequel to Lee's "Dragon Pearl" this follows a different character set in the same universe. Sebin is a magical tiger spirit--loyal to his clan but his loyalty is put in question when he joins a space force set to protect all worlds. Should he follow his family's clan or protect the universe?

I wasn't really a huge fan of Sebin as a protagonist, but I think it's mainly because the book is way shorter than Dragon Pearl. I think it really could've benefitted from more world-building like DP...it had really cool concepts in it, carried over from DP, but it was lacking. Still, fantasy mixed with sci-fi is a great combo and I can't wait to see what else Yoon Ha Lee writes!

yoon ha lee fan here! their books are just amazing. the worldbuilding and imagination in their books is unmatched. so rich in detail and every fantasy nerds dream! loved this one!

Disclaimer: I received this e-arc and finished copy from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: Tiger Honor

Author: Yoon Ha Lee

Book Series: Thousand Worlds Book 2

Rating: 5/5

Diversity: Chinese Characters, Nonbinary Character mentioned, Deaf Sapphic Characters mentioned

Recommended For...: middle grade readers, sci-fi, Chinese mythology inspired and based

Publication Date: January 4, 2022

Genre: MG Sci-Fi

Recommended Age: 10+ (violence, abandonment)

Explanation of CWs: There is some violence in this book. There is also some abandonment of family in this book.

Publisher: Rick Riordan Presents

Pages: 247

Synopsis: Sebin, a young tiger spirit from the Juhwang Clan, wants nothing more than to join the Thousand World Space Forces and, like their Uncle Hwan, captain a battle cruiser someday. But when Sebin's acceptance letter finally arrives, it's accompanied by the shocking news that Hwan has been declared a traitor. Apparently, the captain abandoned his duty to steal a magical artifact, the Dragon Pearl, and his whereabouts are still unknown. Sebin hopes to help clear their hero's name and restore honour to the clan.

Nothing goes according to plan, however. As soon as Sebin arrives for orientation, they are met by a special investigator named Yi and his assistant, a girl named Min. Yi informs Sebin that they must immediately report to the ship Haetae and await further instructions. Sebin finds this highly unusual, but soon all protocol is forgotten when there's an explosion on the ship, the crew is knocked out, and the communication system goes down. It's up to Sebin, three other cadets, and Yi and Min to determine who is sabotaging the battlecruiser. When Sebin is suddenly accused of collaborating with the enemy, the cadet realizes that Min is the most dangerous foe of all...

Review: This is a wonderful sequel to Dragon Pearl! I loved seeing Min again and I am excited to see how Sebin will fit into the story. The book is inspired by Chinese mythology and I loved seeing Sebin’s backstory and how his family clan is female led. The book had a great plotline and I loved seeing Sebin’s development. The character development is great. The world building is marvelous. And I can’t wait for the next book!

The only thing I didn’t like is the pacing is a bit too fast in places and I wanted more of Sebin’s inner conflict and the end scene.

Verdict: It’s great! Highly Recommend.