I really enjoyed this one. I received an early readers copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This story mostly follows two strategists at war with one another. The author does a great job at keeping you guessing as to her objectives so that the audience is also spending their time trying to figure out what certain goals are throughout the book. The only thing I didn't love from this was the naming scheme for a lot of the characters. I struggled on occasion to remember who was on what side due to the seeming randomness of many characters names.

I have loved Joan He's other books, but my feelings are conflicted with this one, for various reasons:

- total disconect with all the characters. They come to me feeling very plain, not humanized at all, and Zephyr, who is more elaborate was kinda cartonish and way arrogant (which makes sense, considering) but I would love for her to have been more fleshed out in all her facets

- we get a major twist. I was pleasantly surprised by it, imagining how it would affect the chAracter from here on. But... Let's say the character changes (really changes) and I just couldn't relate at all (I wasn't relating or caring much for them at this point, but it got worse).
Also would have appreciated more backstory about all of that and the characters and relationships we find at this point

- the plot of the story Is a good one, but I am a character driven reader, and I felt left out?
I was skimming pages towards the end, and I am not sure if I like the book or not (the twists at the end make up for many so-and-so moments). Maybe it wasn't the right moment for me to read this one?

I don't know how to rate this one. 2'5 over 5? 2? 3? I would lobe to be able to leave the rating blank

This book had such wonderful world building. It really sucks you into it right away. It had such a fun and fresh plot. I highly recommend!

This was such a great read!! It took a little bit for me to really get sucked in, but once I was, I wasn’t ready for it to end. And that ending!?!? Why do we have to wait for book 2!?!?

good book and really enjoyed the characters and their journey. I liked the romance.. I enjoyed how the characters grew in the book and what happened.

Wow.

Wow. Wow. WOW.

When I first saw that a fantasy novel was coming out that was riffing upon the Chinese classic "Romance of the Three Kingdoms," I was more than a little intrigued. I'm by no means any kind of expert on Chinese classic literature, but I'm at least vaguely familiar with a couple of the Six Great Classic Chinese Novels, with "Romance" being the oldest of them.

I'm also, admittedly, a fan of East Asian television dramas -- those produced from China, included -- and so I had a sneaking suspicion that the narrative of the story and, in particular, some potential plot elements were ones that I would not only enjoy, but was eagerly hoping for.

Needless to say, Joan He did not disappoint. While I can easily imagine that the mid-point shift is one that might throw some readers unaccustomed with eastern fantasy tropes for a loop, I found that He navigated that plot point with ease. She laid seeds for what was to come, but didn't bang it over the reader's head heavy-handedly.

Actually, my own (relatively ignorant, white) opinion is that, overall, I think He did a phenomenal job in this retelling/riff on the original story. It's not an easy kind of story to tackle, and holy crap if she didn't plunge headfirst and just bang out a, well, absolute banger.

If I have any critiques, it might be in the swift progression of the seeming romance between our primary character, Zephyr, and the opposing tactician, Crow.

Side note:I'm going to refer to any character by their soubriquets in this review, just for my own ease. Soubriquets are rather important, by the way, so if you're not used to any kind of Chinese historical or fantasy stories, strap yourself in and get ready to learn about naming schemes. (It's really not all that complicated, but if you've never encountered such a thing, I can imagine it might be a little overwhelming at first.)

Where was I? Oh yes: Zephyr and Crow. Given the relatively short time they spend together, I found their relationship just a hair rushed. That's not to say I didn't enjoy it -- I absolutely did -- nor even that I haven't seen such a trope before in Chinese dramas -- I have and more than once -- but when thinking about it for this review, I was struck by how quickly Crow went from total distrust to willingly taking a physical wound for to passionately making out with and potentially infecting Zephyr with a terminal illness. Now, there is the fact that this is a duology to be considered, so perhaps there are things about Crow which we have yet to discover that may explain away some of this rapid pace. There's also the fact that this is a time of civil war and, hey, when you might die any day, I suppose a rapid fall into romance isn't that strange in such circumstances.

But it is a bit quick. Again, I love them together and would happily take someone re-enacting their zither scenes together so I could bask in the tension...but it was still just a wee bit fast.

War has come to the Xin Empire, and the noble warlordess Xin Ren leads a small force to oppose Miasma, the prime ministress who claims to be the will of Ren’s cousin, the empress. In order to combat superior, well-supplied forces, Ren needs a master strategist, someone who will join her cause. Rising Zephyr, one of the most brilliant strategists in all of Xin, has filled that position—and is determined to lead Ren to victory. No matter what the cost.
If this description sounds almost familiar, it should. Joan He’s Strike the Zither is her reinvention of the epic Romance of the Three Kingdoms, a historical fiction saga credited to Luo Guanzhong. While the stories are incredibly familiar to Chinese readers, they’re less well-known to American audiences. At 800,000 words and with a cast of thousands that would make Golden Age Hollywood proud, Romance of the Three Kingdoms is justifiably daunting to a modern audience. But its core story—three friends who swear an oath to support each other through thick and thin, a strategist so gifted as to make it seem as if the weather obeys their whims, honorable warriors determined not to win by cheating, and an abundance of courtly intrigue despite those honorable attitudes—resonates well beyond its early origins. Which is why it’s so delightful that He draws on those tales here and then makes them entirely her own.

The story opens in media res, with Ren’s forces fleeing from the larger imperial army led by Miasma. Ren, in all her noble intent, has insisted that her forces also shepherd the peasants who sheltered them to safety. This complication is irksome to Rising Zephyr, to whom people are really just pieces on a game board; peasants cannot appreciate her brilliance, after all. When it looks as though all might be lost, Zephyr still has tricks up her sleeve: she sends Lotus, one of Ren’s swornsisters, to convince Miasma that their forces are much greater than the prime ministress expected. For awhile, it seems to have worked—but that dolt warrior Lotus botches things, and soon, it looks like Ren will be on the run again. Zephyr decides to take matters into her own hands: she feigns defection to Miasma, using the prime ministress to take her to the allies Zephyr has always planned to secure for Ren.
Zephyr believes in very little, but she believes in Ren. In her heart, she feels Ren is her one path to being remembered through all history as a brilliant strategist: if Ren can restore the Xin Empire, then the strategist who guided her will become a hero.
From the opening pages, Zephyr’s personality shines so brightly it dominates the page. Her first-person narrative is told in present tense, giving every moment a sense of immediacy. Zephyr’s skeptical outlook on the world—a denial of gods and ghosts, which she claims to be superstitions of the less intelligent—reveals a rich, vibrant empire of political intrigue, alliances, and betrayals. As the first-third of the novel passes, a sudden shift in the status quo upends almost everything readers have learned, in a way that only serves to deepen just how fantastic Zephyr’s world is. He’s twist is beautifully done, completed in a way that only makes Zephyr more likable and sympathetic as the story unfolds. Watching a character who views the world as a strategic game grow to better understand and care for those around her, despite her own intentions, makes following Zephyr’s journey all the more worthwhile.
He also makes beautiful use of the zither throughout, blending music and the spirit with stratagems and gods. The way that the music flows in different scenes, and the way that it’s emotionally described, gives the novel its own sense of a soundtrack. There’s so much revealed about the characters, not only by how they act and what they say, but by how they play and what respect they give to music, that it’s almost an added sense, a key that grants both Zephyr and the readers access to other characters’ motivations and desires.

While readers who know Romance of the Three Kingdoms will be able to use their own knowledge of the source material to enrich their experience of He’s novel, familiarity isn’t necessary. Zephyr guides readers through all the trappings of the story seamlessly, emphasizing what parts are important to her own worldview while letting other details slide by. And He takes the world in a different direction almost immediately—that most of the main characters are women instead of men, in a story so traditionally masculine-dominated, sets a more modern-feeling tone. And He’s story notes at the end help readers identify where she’s made changes and why, especially where elements of the gods are concerned.

Because the novel ends with the expectation of a part two, readers may use Strike the Zither as their excuse to finally pick up a translation of Guanzhong’s saga (in her social media, He recommended the Moss Roberts translation) or sit down and watch Red Cliff to better understand the inspiration behind Zephyr and the others. But even if the story doesn’t whet the appetite for other versions of the story, it will certainly keep readers looking forward to more of Zephyr’s adventures.

In a divided empire, Qilin, better known by her sobriquet Rising Zephyr, serves as the strategist for Xin Ren. Though Ren is the weakest of the powers in the kingdom, she is the most honest, serving the empress faithfully when others, like Miasma, are only after power for themselves. Zephyr and Ren flee from Miasma’s forces, but Zephyr sees an opportunity. She pretends to defect, seeking to destroy Miasma and all she holds dear from within her ranks. However, all is not as it seems and more betrayal lies around the corner.

After following Joan He from The Ones We’re Meant to Find, which was a book that I appreciated even if the execution was not perfect, I was pleased that I enjoyed this novel quite a bit. I don’t know much about Three Kingdoms but that did not detract from my enjoyment. The story as a whole was entertaining and the pacing was snappy. Midway through the novel there was a twist that I did not expect; however, this created some interesting dynamics that propelled the novel to its conclusion. The epilogue was also unexpected and leaves a lot to be explored in the next installment.

Additionally, there’s much to commend here. The role of women was significant. All of the main characters were women, and even though there is a hint at romance, this did not detract from the Zephyr’s plans. These plans foreshadow many of the alliances that eventually come to pass. However, there were also some surprises. In many ways, this novel reminded me of Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End: there are several shufflings of loyalty and it’s never clear how these pacts may influence events.

Overall, I don’t have a lot to say about Strike the Zither other than I enjoyed it and you should check it out and see if you do too.

3.75
Strike the Zither by Johan He is an historical fiction, a retelling from the chinese "Three Kingdoms" fiction from the omonimous name's era.
The majority of the characters are girls! The protagonist is Zephyr, an orphan girl that took control of her fate and become the best strategist serving under Xin Ren.
This is a political book, but the reader can found out themes like found family, love and power.
The first part of the novel is full of action, but while I was reading I thinked: "too much is up in the air". After a plot twist I was a little bit distracted.
The writing is descriptive and I liked the characters building.

This book is absolutely brilliant.

My only regret is that I didn’t have a chance to read it sooner.

The world-building? Stunning. The imagery? Astounding. The story? One you won’t be able to put down.

Wow, I cannot praise this book enough. I am blown-away by this one! It is easily a five-star read for me. It’s intense, emotional, and powerful. From the very first page you’re thrown into action. However, it isn’t too confusing. I picked up on the world quickly and was impressed by how rich the author made it.

There’s a plot twist midway through the book that I wasn’t expecting, but it added to the overall storyline in an enriching way. I truly have no idea how this series is going to end, but I am so excited to find out. Thank goodness there will be another book!

Also, can I just say star-crossed lovers + enemies to lovers? Swoon. But don’t go into this story expecting a ton of romance. The romance that exists is an absolutely whirlwind but not necessarily every page on the book. It doesn’t detract from the storyline at all, but adds another element that sucks you (the reader in).

So, if you’ve been sleeping on this book or eyeing it, this is your sign. Do it. Read this book.

Thank you Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group and NetGalley for this eARC! I will be posting my review to Bookstagram on 11/25. My review is already live on Goodreads and Amazon.

This was an interesting novel, and I enjoyed reading it. Strike the Zither is historical fiction, based on older historical fiction from the Three Kingdoms era toward the end of the Han dynasty. If you have any interest in historical fiction of that era, you will, quite likely, enjoy this novel. Likewise, if you enjoy fantasy with gods and goddesses, egalitarian societies, sagas about war, and/or Asian mythology, you are also likely to enjoy this novel. The characters - particularly Rising Zither, the main character - are engaging, well-developed, and interesting, as is her situation, which is fairly unique - a female strategist, strategizing for a female warlord, trying to support the out-of-favor heiress to the Empire. And yet, if the characters were male, the story would be more commonplace.

This novel, in many ways, supports female empowerment, by having women in a traditional story taking the roles traditionally reserved for men. However, the use of the terms "lordess" and "ministeress" rather than "lady" (which is the more usual term) and "minister" (which is, itself, gender neutral), are somewhat jarring, and in that sense detracts from what should be a commonplace occurrence: men and women doing whatever jobs their skills are appropriate for. Still, this is a relatively minor issue in an otherwise enjoyable novel. I look forward to the sequel.

So my first intro to Joan was Descendant Of The Crane (which I still really want a sequel to because reasons) and loved that book so much so I was so glad when she announced this book, which is a fantasy like DOTC. This book was so good! The cast of characters were so great, an MC who is too smart for her own good with a cause that she believes in and a twist that I definitely didn’t see coming. I was biting my nails most of the time I was reading but enjoyed the entire experience. It also doesn’t help that I’m complete trash for a period book of any kind (it’s the nerd in me, what can I say?!)! I’m super anxious for book two (which I believe we get in 2023…it feels so far but in reality isn’t).

Strike the Zither has some excellent twists. Joan He always has an incredible one at the 50% mark, and then an ending that reminds you that you always need to expect more. This is definitely a heavily political book, with a lot of warring factions and regions and scheming. However, there was definitely more action than I ever would have expected, and it all worked for me!

I wish I had gotten to see just a little bit more of Zephyr’s scheming. When she came through, she came through. Her brain is very cunning whereas my own schemes are more about how to procure the last cookie in the jar. Anyways, this is actually a very easy-to-read book that has a rich world but never feels like it’s dumping information on you. If you want to try a fantasy that has some excellent political intrigue, I would definitely recommend picking this up!

Finally, I really didn’t love the romance. It was lacking in the chemistry department for sure. However, some of the other relationships were great! Every character is fun and brings something new to the table.

This was a stunning and poetic read, with a richly woven world and throughly engaging cast of characters. Pacing was smooth and lovely and I was hooked from start to finish.

I really, really enjoyed this. Zephyr was such an interesting perspective to read and I really enjoyed her character. The twist was shocking, I had to put the book down for 10 minutes until I picked it back up again. I think my least favorite was the romance. It wasn’t terrible, it was just very eh. I wasn’t that invested in it.

I'm still trying to figure out how I feel about this one and I meant that in a good wsy. It's like having two books that come together with an unexpected plot twist to bridge the two. The only off part is that the middle of each book is just....well... minor in comparison to the start and finish.

You have an epic beginning with an onslaught of deeply crafted characters. The war, culture and strategy is utterly captivating. Than things taper and slowly pull you through a methodic narrative. Cue the plot twist that had me riveted and adoring the second half even more (all thanks to a little 🐝). Then it tapers again. Slight hints at romance, character connection and politics, but still... slow. I think I'm used to the heavy pace of He's other novels in comparison but I can't deny that I enjoyed this one too.

This was beautifully done and wonderfully narrated by Nancy Wu. Wu narrates effortlessly and made the slower sections move smoother for me. I'm glad I had the ability to request the audio through Tantor. It made the novel stick with me more.

Thank you to Fierce Reads, Roaring Brook Press for the ability to review this new release for my honest and unbiased thoughts. I'd recommend this to all readers who've come to love Joan He and her wonderful story telling.

I almost DNFed this after the big twist, because I was really invested in the main character and her relationships. I managed to push through, but my enjoyment definitely dropped. That's not to say that it isn't a good book, but the twist changed the story so completely that it wasn't the book I thought I was reading.

I was really excited for this book! It did a lot of cool things, but a plot twist in the middle totally threw me for a loop, and I lost interest after that. I think the twist made a lot of what happened less interesting and less valuable to me. Overall, I really enjoyed the first half of the book, and I'd still reread it for that part, but the second part just wasn't for me.

With complex characters, high stakes, and jaw-dropping twists, Strike the Zither will delight fans of Joan He's previous work and new readers alike.
Zephyr is not your typical sword-wielding "strong female character" in this gender-bent YA fantasy retelling of the Chinese classic "3 Kingdoms". Her power comes from her mind, in concocting strategies to bring her lordess, Ren, victory over the kingdom's usurpers. She has to overthink every scenario, a comfort to those of us who do that in our everyday lives.
Style-wise, the writing feels purposeful without ever coming across as pretentious, and the pacing keeps the reader glued to the page for chapter after chapter.

It's only this year that I have started reading Joan He's works and after reading Strike the Zither , I have realized exactly why I like her writing. My knowledge about the original story of the Three Kingdoms is absolutely negligible. But He wrote Zither in such a way that feels (to me) like a tribute to the original, and being its own piece at the same time. The writing is descriptive and pulls you into the story with ease. The strategies, the power politics...those were written impeccably. Like they're probably some of the best I have ever read.

I love love loved the ending and I can't wait to read the sequel!