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The Grace of Kings

Book 1 in the series:The Dandelion Dynasty

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'The Grace of Kings' by Ken Liu is an epic fantasy novel that takes inspiration from ancient Chinese history while incorporating elements of Polynesian and Japanese culture. The story follows the lives of two main characters as they navigate through a world filled with political intrigue, battles, and complex relationships. The narrative style of the book has been described as quasi-historical, allowing the author to cover large events over vast distances and time periods, creating a rich tapestry of a world.

Characters:

The characters, especially Kuni Garu and Mata Zyndu, are well-defined yet flawed, with a broad supporting cast that adds to the complexity of the narrative, though some characters receive less development.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is lyrical and poetic, using a mix of historical narrative and folklore with multiple perspectives, creating a rich but sometimes dense storytelling experience.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot revolves around two main characters, Kuni Garu and Mata Zyndu, as they navigate rebellion and political intrigue in the archipelago of Dara, exploring the nature of friendship and ambition amid the rise and fall of empires.

Setting:

Set in the fictional archipelago of Dara, the novel incorporates Asian cultural influences and steampunk elements, creating a richly detailed world.

Pacing:

The pacing is uneven, with slower sections due to extensive world-building and character introductions, contrasted by faster-paced battle sequences and dramatic developments.
Kuni Garu decided to take his band deep into the Er-Mé Mountains to minimize the risk of encountering Imperial patrols. The trail, winding slowly up the side of the mountain, was not steep, and the fa...

Notes:

The Grace of Kings is about a rebellion against a corrupt emperor.
It features two main characters, Kuni Garu and Mata Zyndu, whose friendship turns into rivalry.
The book is influenced by Chinese history, particularly the rise of the Han Dynasty.
Ken Liu refers to his style as 'silkpunk', blending Eastern aesthetics with technology.
The narrative is unique in that it utilizes multiple perspectives and not just a single protagonist.
The plot involves gods who interact subtly in the affairs of mortals.
Themes include power corruption, personal ambition, and the complexity of relationships.
The book has been compared to Game of Thrones for its political intrigue and scale.
The writing style is poetic and often reflects traditional storytelling methods.
It explores gender roles in a feudal society, depicting women in significant but varied roles.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

The novel contains themes of war, violence, and betrayals which may be triggering for some readers.

From The Publisher:

One of the Time 100 Best Fantasy Books Of All Time

Two men rebel together against tyranny-and then become rivals-in this first sweeping book of an epic fantasy series from Ken Liu, recipient of Hugo, Nebula, and World Fantasy awards. Hailed as one of the best books of 2015 by NPR.

Wily, charming Kuni Garu, a bandit, and stern, fearless Mata Zyndu, the son of a deposed duke, seem like polar opposites. Yet, in the uprising against the emperor, the two quickly become the best of friends after a series of adventures fighting against vast conscripted armies, silk-draped airships, and shapeshifting gods. Once the emperor has been overthrown, however, they each find themselves the leader of separate factions-two sides with very different ideas about how the world should be run and the meaning of justice.

Fans of intrigue, intimate plots, and action will find a new series to embrace in the Dandelion Dynasty.

Ratings (23)

Incredible (5)
Loved It (6)
Liked It (5)
It Was OK (4)
Did Not Like (2)
Hated It (1)

Reader Stats (112):

Read It (22)
Want To Read (77)
Did Not Finish (3)
Not Interested (10)

1 comment(s)

Loved It
1 week

This was one of the biggest and most epic books I've read in a long while. So many characters and so much happening not to mention the page count, but I was never bored or wanted to put the book away. Felt fully emersed. Looking forward for the next book.

 

About the Author:

Ken Liu is an award-winning American author of speculative fiction. His collection, The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories, has been published in more than a dozen languages. Liu's other works include The Grace of Kings, The Wall of Storms, The Veiled Throne, and a second collection The Hidden Girl and Other Stories. He has been involved in multiple media adaptations of his work including the short story "Good Hunting," adapted as an episode in Netflix's animated series Love, Death + Robots; and AMC's Pantheon, adapted from an interconnected series of short stories. "The Hidden Girl," "The Message," and "The Cleaners" have also been optioned for development. Liu previously worked as a software engineer, corporate lawyer, and litigation consultant. He frequently speaks at conferences and universities on topics including futurism, cryptocurrency, the history of technology, and the value of storytelling. Liu lives with his family near Boston, Massachusetts.

 
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