An exciting and diverse middle grade novel. I think the adventure will really entice the readers but the overwhelming themes keep it relevant!

After reading and loving Iron Widow, I was more than ready to read this book and it has not disappointed. I am a hardcore Percy Jackson fan and this book hit all the sweet spots that I loved about the Percy Jackson series. There's humour, fun history and mythology, action, and magic.

This book also is heavy with Zachary being an immigrant kid and how isolating and frankly traumatizing it is. Anyone that is in that inbetween of trying to fit in yet also embracing their heritage will be personally attacked for this book (not really but it feels like it).

If you aren't fascinated by history in general, this book may feel too intense and information heavy but if you're a history need this will be a must read.

What keeps impressing me about middle grade reads is the depth of exploration of societal issues, identity, culture, religion, and family. Zhao does this really well with Zachary and the way he feels about his, as he sees it, torn cultural heritage. Especially when it has been marred by violence and bigotry. Is he the Chinese boy in America or is he the American boy with Chinese lineage?

Using a great video game concept , Zhao allows Zachary a way to not only learn the history of China with its great mythical beasts, artifacts, leaders, artists, warriors, and combat styles; it gives him the ability to engage with and examine this history from many angles, gaining knowledge and insight that will help him in discovering who he wants to be and how he can achieve that.

As a lover of both strategy games and history, this truly was a pleasure to read. The characters are so lively and carry the story along with great action scenes, dialogue, teaching moments, and paying attention to the bond between mother and child.

I knew I would enjoy this book, because I really enjoy the author's writing style. They have a knack for embodying a truth to their characters
.
First off, Omystars, the chapter titles are hilarious !!!

The story was very intriguing, because the author seamlessly included the historical and mythological aspects of the story with the action of a VR MMORPG. I loved learning about all the Chinese Emporors/esses involved in the story, and the characterizations really gave me a feel for the characters' lives. The lack of "Western" knowledge about the Chinese histories is sad, as it is so rich. The addition of the MC having Hui ancestry just added to the interest and information in the story.

The only thing wrong is, the sequel isn't out yet !!!!! cliffhanger !

I am not the right person for this book as this is not my age demographic, and I knew that going into this. Nevertheless, I still wanted to give it a shot and, unfortunately, I wasn't a huge fan of this book. I found myself enjoying the history more than the actual story which wasn't exactly what I wanted from this book.

Let's get into the details.
 

WRITING:

I found the writing to be a bit mediocre but, again, this is a middle-grade novel so that probably won't be an issue for the younger audience. I also wasn't a fan of when dialogue would be coming through the game interphase as it came off as awkward.


PLOT:

This is Percy Jackson meets Ready Player One with a dash of Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior. There is no hiding how this was influenced by Percy Jackson, which was an issue for me as I liked that book in theory but not in execution, and the same could be said for this.

We follow Zach, a Chinese-American who must go on a journey to save his mom after he became the host for the legendary emperor, Qin Shi Huang. Aside from the fact that the formula for this is the same as Percy Jackson, I was not a fan of the addition of a virtual reality game. I tend to stray away from books and manga/manhwa when the plot involves something like that, and I probably should have with this book as well.

As a story where ancient figures are still currently active in the present, I found it to be a bit awkward. The way they tried to integrate modern culture was a bit cringey to me.

As for the magic system, it was not unlike others I have seen before. I didn't hate the idea of it, that because of people perpetuating stories about the figures, they gain whatever ability is tied to those stories. Still though, I found the system to be a bit wonky for lack of a better word. One specific issue I had with the magic system was the inclusion of fictional characters from folktales as it put a hole in the story.


CHARACTERS:

I felt lukewarm about most of the characters who were hosts and was more interesting in all of the historical figures (and their character profiles as they were amusing). I knew a fair amount of the historical figures in this, but it was nice to learn more about ancient Chinese history through this.

Zach, as the main character, was like Percy to me. I didn't connect with either of them because they were kids, and kids make bad decisions and can be cruel. Like, for example, the fact that Zach didn't want to bother his mom with his issue with making friends, but threw away the food she made for him because they were bothered with the smell.


CONCLUDING THOUGHTS:

If you liked Percy Jackson, you are probably going to like this as well. I didn't really and the same could be said for this.

If you came for the historical aspect like I did, I would recommend something like Drifters or Kingdom, which are mangas/animes.

If you are looking for something with a similar magic system, there are tons of leveling manga and manhwa out there, such as Solo Leveling. Keep in mind though that they are for an older audience.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Margaret K. McElderry Books for giving me the opportunity to review this in advance.

What a fantastic book!

This book follows twelve year old Zachary Ying who finds himself thrusted into a world of based on Chinese history & mythology - a topic he has very little knowledge of. After learning he is host to the spirit of Chinas first emperor, he must take on the mission of sealing the portal to the Chinese underworld in order to save China.

This book describes itself as Percy Jackson meets Yugioh, and while I have never seen Yugioh, this book 100% has Percy Jackson vibes. Although I am well past being a middle schooler I think this could potentially be the next big series for that age group! 12 year old me would have ate it up - and I hope this generation of twelve year olds will as well. I think this is a great series that will allow many kids to have a story and a character they see themselves reflected in and can relate to, and for other kids to learn about a new culture that they may know little of! I look forward to seeing where this series goes and how it flourishes!

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for giving me the opportunity to read and review a digital arc of this book!

Middle grade readers will love this sci-fi adventure for its quirky historical figures and relatable main characters. A fun thrilling read for all.

Zachary Ying, a 12 year immigrant kid in the US, and avid Mythrealm player, gets possessed by the former emperor of China, and he must team up with some quirky people to save his mom and save the world. Will he be able to save them both?

This middle grade book was fun and exciting! Xiran Jay Zhao can do no wrong, and I loved this contemporary fantasy book that addresses Chinese history and mythology, ethnic minorities, the immigrant experience, and friendship in an accessible, nerdy way. It was medium to fast paced and kept me guessing the whole way through. Zachary was such a great protagonist, who you root for the whole time. Don’t let the fact that this is coded as middle grade deter you – it was action packed and fun!

Thanks to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. 4.25 stars rounded down to 4 stars.

Things I loved about this book: learning about Chinese history, the video game references, the anime-like powers, the tongue-in-cheek humour, the immigrant story. This is Xiran Jay Zhao all the way. As fun as the plot was, I did find myself wishing for more character depth, and the sheer number of characters and powers started to confuse me after a while. If you like heavy worldbuilding and a lot of fun myths and information thrown at you, you'll enjoy this!

i ADORED this book! everything-- from the voice to the heist to the emperor- was so interesting, nostalgic, and purely FUN. it brought me back to my favourite MG sff stories, and I love Zhao's direction in both their YA and MG stories.

This is definitely for fans of Percy Jackson and the Rick Riordan Presents titles. It follows a similar plot trajectory and reminds me a lot of the quirky humour and adventure of those sorts of books Unfortunately, I don't care for them usually and while I preferred this title to the PJ series, it's not a new favourite of mine. But if you do like PJ or Riordan-esque titles, this may be your new favourite!

This book has good humour both in the dialogue and in the ludicrous plot of the novel. It's action-packed with chase scenes, heists, and other dangerous circumstances. This for me meant that the character development was less prioritized and the emotional depth didn't come until the very end of the novel.

It was great to learn some interesting Chinese history and myths and see some familiar faces from stories I already knew too. There are a lot of cameos and this can get a bit overwhelming but the repeating appearances helped solidify these characters better.

I loved the representation of Chinese minority ethnic and religious groups and the commentary of who is Chinese, who claims Chinese stories as their heritage, and how the current government is controlling the narrative about China and "unifying" through violence and homogenization.

Good hook for a sequel, but I don't think I'll be continuing in the series as it's not my kind of thing. I picked this up because I LOVED <i>Iron Widow</i> and I love Chinese history and folktales, but couldn't get past the formulaic PJ style. I'm definitely in the minority in this opinion so I hope this doesn't discourage hopeful readers.


***Thank you NetGalley for the e-arc copy of this title! My opinions are my own.***

<b>content warnings:</b> violence, parent/child separation, murder, Islamophobia, brief mentions of genocide and East Turkestan prison camps, betrayal, suicide/self-sacrifice.

Wow! I really liked this adventure and learning so much abojut China's history through it. I was sometimes a little lost in all the actions that were going on; this book is definitely for advanced reader childrens. I still really liked the story and would love to know what happens next!

Thank you to the publishers for allowing me to review this book.

I, unfortunately, am DNFing this book. There’s nothing wrong with it, from what I’ve read, I’m just not vibing with it. Maybe I will try to pick it up again in the future but as of right now, it’s not for me.

I am such a huge Xiran Jay Zhao fan and knew that I had to read this as soon as they announced it. Even as an adult, middle grade can be so charming, and I think that Zhao has succeeded in creating a story that is engaging and entertaining for all ages, not a simple feat by any means!

This book was rich with Chinese history, culture, and myth, providing a perfect primer for kids on the country's past and present in a way that felt accessible and interesting. Kids will love the hilarious cast of characters and the high-action scenes that keep the reader on the edge of their seat throughout.

I particularly loved how the author integrated video games and virtual reality into the magic system- it felt very fresh and unlike what I'm used to seeing in this age group.

All in all, I would highly recommend this to any older tweens/younger teens with an interest in magic, mythology, or gaming as a fantastic option to expand their worldview whilst reading a thoroughly enjoyable story.

If you're looking for Percy Jackson meets American Gods meets Yu-Gi-Oh meets Chinese mythology meets virtual reality, first of all, that's a very specific combination to come up with yourself. Second, this book is what you need.

Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor was an easy 10/10 for me! I had so much fun reading this and following Zach on his adventure. This was the perfect combination of action and fun with great characters, fascinating mythology and history, a comedic writing style I loved, and also a really nuanced and caring look at cultural identity. Zach is a boy who feels he either isn't American or Chinese enough for others and the growth he goes through as he discovers and explores his own identity was a really great thread to tie together such a fun, fast-paced story.

This was my second book by Xiran Jay Zhao. I also gave Iron Widow by them 5 stars because I find the way they combine Chinese mythology/history and sci-fi elements to be really unique, smart, and just straight up really cool (Qi-powered mechsuits and AR goggles possessed by Chinese emperors... I mean, come on!)

I'm already desperate for the next installment of Zach's story. This scratched that Percy Jackson itch for me while also being totally unique from Riordan's beloved series. Xiran Jay Zhao has quickly become an author whose books I will always pick up!

I ARC read Iron Widow, became obsessed, bought a physical copy, recommended it to everyone ever (including people on dating sites) because it was incredible. This book is no less amazing than their first release! Please read it!

Notice: I was given an ARC (Advance reading copy) of the book from the publisher so keep that in mind when reading this review. I will try to keep all spoilers out of the review and will talk in general terms.

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I asked for a copy, but based on Xiran Jay Zhao’s other work, Iron Widow, I knew that it wouldn’t be what I expected. And I was right. From the beginning of the book to the end of the book I was pleasantly surprised by the complexity and depth of the book, given its middle-grade target.

I’m not a middle-grade student, far from it, as my youngest daughter is in university working towards becoming a teacher so my perspective is probably somewhat different than that of the target audience. That being said, I found the characters to be rich and warm, although at times older than I would have expected. I still have those hazy memories of when I was twelve and I’m not sure that I would have ever sounded like Zachary Ying or even behaved like him. But that’s what fantasy is all about, isn’t it?

The book is filled with Chinese history, Chinese legends, and contemporary adaptations done through video games. At times the history lessons were used as an excuse to introduce a plot twist while at other times there were done to explain the actions of one of the characters. In both cases, they gave me a better understanding of both history and the changes that occur over time between reality and what we think occurred.

As with many adventure novels the main character needs to accomplish something in order to achieve his dreams and/or desires. Along the way, he encounters friends, foes and obstacles, eventually arriving at the conclusion. Standard fare, but the way that Zhao approaches the main characters and the obstacles that he faces are uniquely her style. If you have read her previous work you know what to expect, or rather, what not to expect.

An unexpected but uniquely satisfying journey through the mind of a twelve-year-old as he learns what it means to embrace his Chinese heritage.

I'm convinced Xiran is incapable of missing because they simply never do!

Zachary Ying brings Xiran's talent for critical writing to middle-grade fiction in a fantastic way that integrates China's past and present with the added social commentary of being a minority in America and your own ancestral home.

And just like with all of their works, the social commentary is never one-sided, more focused on the morality of decisions made by those in power and how those choices impact the world that large.

A phenomenal book for readers of all ages.

I need to preface by saying this is a beautiful book, with China as a backdrop and Chinese legends a whole character of their own.

But it was really hard for me to rate it. I absolutely loved reading more about China, its current political situation, and its history in the form of legends. I learned so much about a part of the world that I don't know very much about. For this, I am rating it 4 stars.

However, as lovely and clever as the storyline was, it was extremely confusing. So many characters, so many legends, so many powers... It was extremely hard for me to keep up. Half the time, I didn't quite understand what was going on. And for that, I am rating it 3 stars.

I therefore ended up on an official rating of 3.5, but if I had to chose a round number, this would be a 4.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for a digital advanced copy of this book. Publication date: 1

"Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor" by Xiran Jay Zhao was a whirlwind of unexpected historical fun, a fast-paced adventure, and a sucker-punch to the unfeeling heart of any 2nd gen. Asian Immigrant who has ever experienced self-loathing or otherness because they don't think they belong in North American culture. I adored it. In fact, I would say that Zhao's writing style fits this book like a glove, even more so than their debut novel "Iron Widow." You can tell that Zhao has put their soul into this book and it gleams with all of their passion for history, anime, and culture.

This book is about a 12 year old Chinese American boy named Zachary Ying who immigrated to the USA when he was young. It opens with the introduction of a new student, Simon, and how he tries to bond with Zachary through Mythrealms, a popular VR game that has taken the world with its popularity. Quite soon, it's revealed that the first emperor of China has tried to possess Zach (to save the world and stuff) but failed, possessing his VR headset instead. As a consequence, enemies come searching for Zach because of the first emperor and then his mother's soul gets kidnapped. Zach is then thrust into a journal through modern China, to find ancient artifacts that will help him seal the gateway between the spirit realm and mortal realm.... and save his mother.

Zach is such a breath of fresh air as a protagonist. There's a gentleness to him that comes out in the strangest of circumstances, even when he's angry, and he loves his Mom with all his heart and soul. He gets scared and insecure about his heritage and whenever he blamed himself for not being 'Chinese enough' - I /felt/ that in my soul. I've been through that. I love that he learns to be proud of his history but also still critical of it. Being Chinese is complicated and intertwined with so much political history and atrocity. Zhao isn't afraid to address the nuances which really made me enjoy the book even more.

I also enjoy how Zhao interweaves history in snappy comparisons that help Westernized audiences (including little old 2nd gen. immigrant me) be more familiar with the history. I enjoyed going, "OH, I KNEW THAT!" when Wu Zetian popped up. Zhao has a talent for creating simple analogies that captures a huge scope of history for the purpose of their novel. I really enjoy their take on these historical figures AND on myths like Ao Guang.

What I also enjoyed is that Zhao isn't afraid to depict the reality of these historical figures... they aren't completely good... and they aren't completely evil. They're complicated and they've been compared to dictators. There are nuances and context for why they made certain decisions. Nothing is glorified, even if this is a fun book with lovely anime references.

I do wish that the friendships between the main trio were fleshed out but I think Zhao does a lot of character, history, and plot work that just shines in this novel. I enjoyed it a lot and I had fun figuring out the refences. The ending will make you so wrecked (but in a good way, I swear!), eager for the sequel. I hope a certain character returns (I'm tearing up already.)

Thank you, Mx Xiran Jay Zhao for writing this book! Only you could write it so well.