Strike the Zither follows Zephyr, a strategist for one of the three warlordesses in conflict over the land in the realm. Zephyr goes undercover in the enemy camp to tip the scale in her side’s favor. There, she meets challenges in a rival strategist named Crow and otherworldly encounters.

I loved this. Zephyr is such an unapologetic character. She’s arrogant, but for good reason. She’s a very good strategist and I loved being inside her brain throughout this book. I got to hear all her plans and ideas. I love political intrigue and war in a book and this one had plenty of that! I loved her and Crow’s relationship and how it developed from a rivalry to something much more. Their connection was very genuine and intellectual. Joan He always done such an amazing job with plot twists. It’s always something you never see coming and could never possibly guess. Her stories are always so unique and different. The story was rooted in history and possibilities and I enjoyed the journey it took me on.

This was a hard book for me. Right off the bat I didn’t love how it started. If you are looking for a book that jumps straight into the story this is the book for you. There is no preamble there is nothing you are right in the middle of a battle. I can not tell you how many times I looked up to make sure that this was in fact the first book in the series. I also had a really hard time keeping track of all the different characters and how they fit within the war lord hierarchy. I did enjoy Zephyr’s relationship with Crow. It was one of the few pairs I was able to easily follow, and I appreciated that while they could never truly trust each other that they still could be mutually impressed with the other one’s prowess. I did love the character artwork that helped a little bit, but still there are so many characters from so many lands. Unlike Zephyr I was not able to strategize how to keep them all organized correctly. Overall, I didn’t dislike the book, I just think that I got way to lost to truly apricate what was going on throughout the story.
Thank you to Macmillans Children’s Publishing Group and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

Whoa. I don't even know how to feel about this book--mainly because it made me feel so many things. This was my first novel by Joan He (but definitely won't be my last) and I was super excited to read Strike the Zither due to all the amazing things I heard about Descendant of the Crane and The Ones We're Meant To Find. I went into Strike the Zither expecting an action-packed Chinese-inspired fantasy with strong and cunning female characters, and got exactly that and more. The story is not just a story of Zephyr, an extremely smart strategist of warlordess Xin Ren, it's also a story of family, sisterhood, friendship, and identity. I'm not even joking when I say that I found myself bawling in the middle of the story due to the all the events that Zephyr endures (without giving any spoilers away). I definitely think that the aforementioned themes are more prominent to the story than the romance, which is what has primarily been used to market this book, which is pretty misleading in my opinion. I also think that the pacing and abrupt time jumps several days or weeks into the future made the pacing of the novel a bit choppy and hard to follow along. Nevertheless, I will most likely pick up Book 2 to ensure that all my favorite characters make it out okay (yes this book does end pretty unresolved on a semi-cliffhanger).

one of the promising ya fantasy reads. fast read, no confusing terms you find in fantasy books and the art cover is soooo pretty!

Let's just admit that He is one of the brightest stars in YA fiction right now. We have all come to expect the fantastic from her. And she keeps delivering. I have no familiarity with the classic tale He is retelling here, but I am fully committed to this story. I care deeply about each of these characters and their hopes and dreams. Zephyr is smart and cut throat, yet also so venerable. You simultaneously want to protect her and know she doesn't need you. Just trust anything that He puts out, read this, and then try to restrain the impulse to go read about the Three Kingdoms and spoil yourself.

I was so excited to find out that Joan He was writing fantasy again, especially because DOTC is one of my fave books ever. Of course, STRIKE THE ZITHER is not DOTC and there's nothing wrong with that. I will confess I wasn't super aware of the source material before reading this book, but that didn't really impact my enjoyment at all. I really enjoyed Zephyr as a main character with her shrewdness and confidence in who she is. It's always refreshing to have a morally grey character like her who is willing to risk everything to achieve her goals. I loved all of the political intrigue in this book and how well that He weaves these different threads together so skillfully. That was one of my favorite parts of DOTC as well and He is just unparalleled in her ability to create it. Another thing He does really well in all of her books is creating character relationships, romantic, familial and platonic, that are dynamic and complex in their own unique ways. There's a massive twist about halfway through the book I didn't see coming, and while it momentarily threw me off because I wasn't expecting it, it was handled in such a way that I was able to keep going with the book. Those kinds of massive twists (iykyk) can either make a book a masterpiece or can completely lose a reader, and this one was written well where the latter didn't happen. STRIKE THE ZITHER is a story about redemption where a strategist must navigate the greatest challenge she's ever faced, and it was yet another wonderful Joan He book that left me craving more.

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

I was a big fan of Joan He's sci-fi novel, The Ones We're Meant to Find, so I had expected to love this one as well. However, this one did not work for me as well as that one did. Zephyr is certainly an unlikeable main character, as other reviewers have mentioned, but I tend to like unlikeable main characters, especially if they're women, so I had no problem with that. However, the other characters felt quite wooden. It felt like they were moving through the story instead of their actions moving the plot along. I did not understand the romance between Zephyr and Crow, a strategist of the enemy, at all. It felt thrown in there for no real reason, but I am glad that Crow had a personality.
The first 50% of the book, this was actually going to be 4-5 stars for me. I really enjoyed the political intrigue, the strategy, and the writing is beautiful. However, around the 50% mark, there is a HUGE shift/twist in the story (which I won't spoil here). This completely changed the entire trajectory of the story, introduced a ton of new characters, and I felt my interest drop off almost as soon as it happened. That being said, I still enjoyed reading about Zephyr's story.

Fanstacllially written book! I was lucky enough to get this arc and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. The politics and world were so detailed and intricate. I honestly couldn't get enough of the politics and strategy! This book does a fantastic job of introducing the characters and the world without being boring.
The main character is a genius and her strength lies within her mind, not in her physical strength. I think that this is a super refreshing main character and I enjoyed reading about her. Watching her strategize her way out of close calls and seeing her fight for her cause is riveting. I also loved her relationship with Crow and seeing her interact with the enemy.
The themes and imagery in this are so beautiful and well done. This is the first book I ever invite them and it is fantastic. I will definitely be checking out their other stories.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this eARC.

Inspired by Three Kingdoms, Strike the Zither follows strategist Rising Zephyr as she is forced to infiltrate an enemy camp in order to further her warlordess’s chances in a high-stakes war for the empire.

I was very pleasantly surprised by this book! I’ve read and enjoyed Joan He before, but Strike the Zither really feels like a marked improvement on He’s other works. The characters and world are rich and interesting, and I was particularly pleased with the crowd control in the book. We’re met up front with a list of characters and several character illustrations, and I was definitely feeling overwhelmed by the idea of wrapping my mind around so many characters. But ultimately, He manages to deftly introduce us to all the characters in ways that are meaningful and memorable, and she really maximizes their screen time.

I also found the plot of this book to be continually more and more riveting as it went on. I definitely wasn’t expecting the twist at the midpoint, and it was fascinating to see things play out following the twist. Though there were some plot points that felt predictable, I do think that He did a fantastic job of keeping me as the reader reasonably in the dark on the bigger twists without making me feel alienated, which is really all you can ask for in a twisty political fantasy.

I’m definitely already chomping at the bit for book 2 (and for some more of that phenomenal character art!) and I look forward to seeing where this story goes from here.

Plot : 7/10
On one hand, I loved the political, military style of the story. This is a retelling of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, a classical Chinese work, and I've never read one of those before. The strategy is so interesting to read about, and there are so many good plot twists. On the other, one of those plot twists, arguably the biggest one, seems to come out of nowhere. It totally took me by surprise, but it felt rushed, and the context isn't explained enough. I think an extra fifty or so pages dedicated to contextualizing that twist and the new elements it introduces would have helped a lot.

However, I did overall enjoy the plot. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: I love political fantasy. The way the events of this war unfolded was so interesting, and since the story was through the perspective of an unusually clever character, we as the readers get to be privy to many details we may have missed out on otherwise. The worldbuilding is intriguing, though there's more I'd like to know. There's enough to keep the story afloat, but I do wish there was more about the political system (i.e. how Miasma came to power, who else might have influence over the empress) and the supernatural elements (i.e. the extent of their powers, especially in different forms).

Characters: 9/10
I loved the characters in this book. Zephyr is my favorite kind of main character; calculating, scheming, manipulative, and wholly unashamed of it. She did what she had to do, she was prepared to make sacrifices for the greater good, but that didn't stop her from building connections. Her relationships with other people seem to make her hesitate every once in a while, adding a level of humanity, but there doesn't seem to be the sort of statement that she must choose between being capable of emotions or efficiency.

There are a lot of characters in this book, as there are a lot of moving parts, but the side characters are done well for the sheer number of them. My personal favorites were Crow, Ku, and Tourmaline. Some characters seemed pretty one-dimensional, but I feel like everyone had a little bit of depth to them by the end. Ironically, some characters only got that development after they died, but it added to the emotional weight. The only thing I could say is that Miasma, the antagonist, while she's interesting, doesn't have much depth. It's unclear whether she's seizing control to serve her own, power-hungry ends or if she has a greater reason for her actions.

Writing Style: 6/10
For the most part, I really like the writing, but there were some parts I just couldn't ignore. Most of the book fits the setting, a high fantasy world based on Ancient China, but there are certain lines here and there that are so crazily anachronistic. For example, one of the characters, a more formal one at that, says "Hey, is everything okay?" It's such a modern, casual phrase that it sticks out like a sore thumb, so much so that I was actually stuck on it for a while. If those occasional bits would be fixed, it would greatly help the immersion of the piece.

Also, I briefly mentioned this in the plot area, but this story is pretty rushed. I appreciate when a book is fast-paced, but this just went by way too quickly. For the kinds of developments that were taking place, the story desperately needed to slow down, take a breath, and explain things before moving on. For example, Zephyr plays the role of a double agent for a good portion of the book, but we don't really get to see her earning Miasma's trust. Instead, she's immediately put on the front lines opposing those she supposedly betrayed, and it feels unrealistic. If this book were fifty or a hundred pages longer, I think it would benefit it drastically.

Overall: 7/10
I did really like this book! I'll definitely be reading the rest of the series, and I loved the characters, especially Zephyr. However, there are certain issues, especially with the pacing, that are pretty glaring looking back. I think the overarching plot and characters did a lot of heavy lifting; looking closely reveals a lot of issues in the smaller details. I would still recommend this book—it did a pretty amazing job with the space it had, I just really wish there was more.

Joan He has written some of my favorite books, and her latest, STRIKE THE ZITHER, is no exception. 🦚

This YA Fantasy is a genderbent reimagining of the Chinese classic Three Kingdoms. It follows Zephyr, an ambitious strategist advising her warlordess. To gain allies, she must infiltrate an enemy camp.🦚

I was so excited to read this book, and it did not disappoint. I loved Zephyr immediately. From chapter one, her determination, no-nonsense attitude, and witty remarks captivated me. She’s hyper-competent, driven, and gets things done.🦚

But Zephyr’s also flawed–her ego might soar to the heavens, but she's grounded with relatable self-doubts. This makes her arc even more gratifying as she grapples with identity and others’ perceptions of her. Her internal conflict resonated with me sharply.🦚

The book itself is bursting with action, war intrigue, and deception. With pacing taut as an arrow, I couldn’t turn pages fast enough. And as always, He’s midpoint twist blew me away. It’s her finest yet. (Plus, there’s such great subtle hints, and I love how this intertwines with Zephyr’s arc!!)🦚

The colorful cast of characters are distinct and vividly drawn (shoutout to Tourmaline, Cloud, and Crow!), and I look forward to seeing them more in the sequel.🦚

Finally, He’s writing is always gorgeous and atmospheric, but she truly outdoes herself here. Themes of identity, self-worth, fate, and family coalesce beautifully in this stunning series opener.
(Side note, there's also SUCH funny scenes and one-liners!)🦚

Full disclosure, I knew nothing about the original Three Kingdoms before He announced this book, but I checked out the podcast that covers it, and I was hooked. While background knowledge isn’t necessary, I’d recommend reading a synopsis. In my opinion, seeing how He remixed the storyline and played with different elements made reading much richer and more fun.🦚

🦚✨If you like books with complicated characters, war intrigue, deception, and incredible twists, pick this up when it releases! STRIKE THE ZITHER is utterly compelling.✨🦚

Note: have already boosted book in tweets, will also post review link on twitter

This was a rough read for me and I am really disappointed that I wasn't able to enjoy it.

Zephyr is a very difficult main character, especially because she is the only POV. She is obnoxiously arrogant and yet the book gives us no evidence to believe that she is as brilliant as she claims. From page one I was waiting for everything to blow up in her face. She is the only distinct character and even then she only has one personality trait.

The other characters felt really underdeveloped and their interactions were stiff and bland. Zephyr and Crow's dynamic had potential but was still underwhelming. I liked the idea of them more than I liked them in reality.

I wasn't engaged for most of the story. Zephyr's personality really kept me from enjoying the story but I held out because I love scheming and backstabbing in books. Unfortunately, the war strategy in this book felt very basic and convenient.

Strike the Zither really lost me in the middle. The shift in the plot felt incredibly random and I did not like the direction the story went from there. Zephy's already annoying personality became a lot worse. This shift may have been inspired by the original tale of the three kingdoms, but, in this book, it felt very disconnected and clunky.

I am not familiar with the original tale of the three kingdoms. Perhaps if I had been, the story would have made more sense. I felt like I was missing a lot of context for the events that were happening and the character motivations.

A layered story with an unexpected twist halfway through. Zephyr was not who she thought she was and realizes she is part of an intricate web of connections built on missing memories and ascribed emotions. Joan He keeps you guessing as to who is part of which faction and who will prevail in this tumultuous time of a fractured empire.

Strike the Zither reimagines the classic Chinese tale Romance of the Three Kingdoms. There is no doubt the book is well-written, but I felt like the characters could have been fleshed out more. Also, about halfway through the book, things took a turn and there was some body swapping going on. There was a lot of potential in this book that the author did not explore. Overall, it was an okay read.

I really enjoyed the beginning of this book. About halfway through there was a twist that I saw coming. It felt like the writing style changed a bit and I didn't the changed style as much. I did really like the very last chapter.

Interesting premise that valued strategy and intelligence, which is not unfortunately seen as much in YA fantasy, so I enjoyed the fresh story. I enjoyed the politics of the story, it made it a lot more realistic especially given its historical and war settings. It gave me some Game of Thrones feels, but also Six of Crows. The fund family aspect was also pretty cool, I am a huge fan of this trope. Only added to my Six of Crows comparison.

I haven't read other Joan He novels, so I can't compare this to her other novels, but would definitely recommend her as author to my students!

My review of this book will appear in the February 2023 Historical Novel Review; thanks for your patience.

This was such an exciting read! This reimagining of Three Kingdoms is filled with complex characters and plot twists, and I enjoyed every single one of them. I loved the constant scheming and how it kept me constantly eyeing the characters as far as their motives and relationships. I can't wait for book two!

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.

Finally, Joan He’s getting to publish the epic duology her readers knew she had the potential to write! Strike the Zither is everything her debut (an unfinished duology, b/c big publishing sucks sometimes) promised to be and more. While I liked her foray into sci-fi in between, I love He’s reimagining of Chinese classics, so despite not knowing much about the Three Kingdoms, I went in prepared to be wowed.

And it is absolutely worth the hype. I love court intrigue and political maneuvering, and there’s a lot of that here. I was immediately pleased upon starting the ARC to see a geographic breakdown of the different factions and their ranks. It helped immensely as I made my way into the story, figuring out the relationships hierarchy, as well as how Zephyr fit into the pecking order within her own faction. It also helped set me up for the interfactional conflicts, which were illustrated impeccably and with such tension and stakes throughout the book.

And while I don’t know a ton about that time period, I do know that various time periods of Chinese history were notoriously patriarchal (ie the harem system, foot binding), and I like how the book uses the “historical fantasy” label as an excuse to distance itself from that, instead of going the route of many mainly white fantasies *coughGameofThronescough* Women are in positions of power, from the empress to various warlordesses to even Zephyr herself.

I also love the fact that Zephyr is the strategist for her faction, and her cunning and intelligence is something that is explicitly shown. She’s also somewhat flawed, being overconfident and conceited. But she’s also easy to sympathize with, because she’s incredibly loyal to those she’s sworn to serve and because of her willingness to do what she must.

I appreciated the nuance in how the lines were drawn in terms of the dynamics among characters, illustrating how far people would go to fulfill their own ambition. It sets up high stakes and intrigue, which are maintained throughout with brisk plotting and pacing.

This is a fabulous start to a debut, and I am already eager for the sequel. If you’re looking for a more feminist take on a Chinese classic, I recommend picking this up!

I’ve heard a lot of great things about Joan He, so when I saw that her newest book was a YA fantasy centering a brilliant strategist—a trope that usually hits nicely for me—it was an easy decision to request an ARC. Strike the Zither is inspired by the Chinese classic story of the Three Kingdoms, with a few important changes. Most obviously, most of the key figures are cast as women. It is written to be accessible for those who are not familiar with the original, as I am not, and so I will be reviewing it on its merits as a distinct work, and not on its merits as a retelling. 

Strike the Zither opens in a fantasy analogue of China that has been split into three territories—the Empire itself, with its base of power in the North, and territories of varying loyalty in the South and West. But our heroine doesn’t belong to any of these factions, rather attaching herself to a landless rebel leader trying to restore the power of an empress who has become nothing more than a puppet of the Empire’s lead warlordess. And it will take every ounce of guile she possesses for the brilliant teen strategist to deliver her warlordess to victory. 

As is so often the case, the first impression here is the prose, and it impresses from the get-go. That’s not by being stunningly beautiful or exceptionally ornamented—this is aimed at younger audiences, after all—so much as simply describing both action and introspection in a clear, fluid manner that makes the story both easy and pleasurable to read. She writes in a way that fosters investment in the story while generating plenty of forward momentum to keep the pages turning. It’s clear, but never simplistic, evocative without being bogged down in description. It’s a difficult balance, and the storytelling walks it admirably. 

Also worthy of note was the complexity of the main character, fiercely loyal to a leader whose strict ethical code doesn't align especially well with a strategist's willingness to do whatever it takes to achieve victory. Unfortunately, the second half of the story introduced a supernatural element that distanced the lead from many of the relationships that were so valued at the outset, making for a second half that didn’t have the interpersonal intrigue of the first. 

But while He’s reputation as a writer made me expect a quality interpersonal plot, the thing that drew me to this book was the strategizing. And that’s the one place where Strike the Zither never really managed to deliver. After an opening gambit undercut by someone else's failure, we move to another whose success relies on an opponent’s baffling underestimation of the heroine. And this is followed by a plan that any veteran reader will see coming a mile away (admittedly, the presence of this one in the original Three Kingdoms story may be part of the reason that it was so predictable). The book never convinced by that the lead was in fact a brilliant strategist, which made it hard to immerse in what was supposed to be a key aspect of the story. If the interpersonal storylines were good enough, perhaps Strike the Zither could’ve underwhelmed on the strategizing and still been a terrific read. But with underwhelming strategy and interpersonal conflict that fizzled in the back half, it took skilled storytelling to maintain any tension at all. That quality of storytelling still made for a decent read, but not one that has me lining up to grab the sequel. 

Recommended if you like: Non-Western YA.

Overall rating: 12 of Tar Vol's 20. Three stars on Goodreads.