Stevie‘s review of The Hidden Blade (Heart of Blade, Book 1) by Sherry Thomas
Historical Multicultural Young Adult Fiction published by Sherry Thomas 20 Jul 14
Being a bit of a stickler for reading books in the correct order, I decided to hunt down this prequel novel before reading and reviewing My Beautiful Enemy, which I’d already picked up a copy of. From my point of view, reading the two back-to-back was definitely worth it. This one has little in the way of romance, but much in the way of backstory, historical scene-setting and character development. So if you want to know how the central pairing of the more romance-focussed novel got to where they are at the beginning of that one, read on…
Ying-ying is the daughter of a high-status courtesan in Imperial China, although her mixed parentage makes it unlikely that she will find as good a match as her mother eventually did. Brought up within palace walls by her Amah, she longs for more freedom than is generally allowed to girls, and her chance comes when it is revealed that Amah, far from being a mere serving woman, is actually a skilled thief and martial arts master. When Ying-ying’s mother dies, the pair are taken to live in a single courtyard of another castle, but their seclusion gives Ying-ying the opportunity to learn from her Amah – who wants Ying-ying to take on her lifelong mission to reunite three precious jade tablets, believed to point the way to hidden treasure.
Meanwhile, in England, Leighton has also been told of the jade tablets by his father and his father’s best friend, Herb. Herb owned two of the tablets, but gave one to Leighton’s father. Leighton’s mother is often away from home with his younger brother, and the boy has grown to rely on Herb and his father’s companionship. Sadly, his world is shattered, when the depth of the two men’s relationship is revealed to the world, and Leighton’s father commits suicide rather than bring shame on his family. Herb is exiled, and Leighton is sent to stay with a malicious relative. However, he manages to ensure that his mother and brother are provided for and able to flee to San Francisco – where they find sanctuary.
Herb and Ying-ying meet after he becomes tutor to two of her stepfather’s sons, and she learns that he has one of the jade tablets in his possession. He tells he something of his past and about how he hopes to one day be reunited with the son of his lover.
Leighton travels the world in search of Herb, but just as it seems all three will meet, disaster strikes. This is very much the first half of the story, but the whole is so richly told that I devoured it in a short space of time and immediately started reading the sequel. Having now read that, I really need to find the time to go back and read this one again, as the two books enhance each other in ways that can only be fully appreciated after reading both. Highly recommended for anyone who likes historical novels with settings a little different from the usual favourites.
Grade: A
Summary:
In the waning days of the last dynasty, in a quiet, beautiful corner of imperial Peking, a young girl’s blissful ignorance is shattered when she learns that she is the illegitimate daughter of an English adventurer and a Chinese courtesan. What future is there for such a girl? But a mysterious figure steps forward and offers to instruct her in the highest forms of martial arts–a path to a life of strength and independence.
Half a world away in England, a young boy’s idyllic summer on the Sussex downs implodes with the firing of a single bullet. Torn from his family, he becomes the hostage of a urbanely sadistic uncle. He dreams of escaping to find his beloved friend–but the friend is in China, ten thousand miles away.
The girl trains to be deadly. The boy flees across continents. They do not know it yet, but their lives are already inextricably bound together, and will collide one fateful night when they least expect it.
CROUCHING TIGER HIDDEN DRAGON meets DOWNTON ABBEY, this remarkable tale of friendship, danger, and coming of age will stay with you long after you have finished the last page.
A prequel to MY BEAUTIFUL ENEMY.
Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
