The Hidden Blade by Sherry Thomas is a YA historical adventure novel that follows the parallel stories of two young protagonists, Ying Ying and Leighton Atwood, set in 19th-century England and China. Ying Ying, a half-breed Chinese girl, is taken under the wing of her martial arts master Amah after her mother's death, while Leighton, a British boy, escapes the cruelty of his uncle to seek out his father's friend Herb. The book weaves together themes of love, heroism, martial arts training, and coming of age, creating a captivating narrative with elements of romance and adventure. The writing style is praised for its beautiful prose, intricate character development, and engaging storytelling, making it a memorable read that sets the stage for the follow-up book, My Beautiful Enemy.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
There are significant content warnings for child abuse and themes of loss and trauma, which may be distressing for some readers.
From The Publisher:
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. THE HIDDEN BLADE is a full-length companion volume/prequel to MY BEAUTIFUL ENEMY. They can each be read as standalones, but together they make for a uniquely rich and multilayered reading experience.
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About the Author:
SHERRY THOMAS was also raised on the east coast. After leaving college, she built an ran a successful sheep ranch on the California coast, raising goats, chickens, pigs, and steers in addition to sheep. She was also a founder of Country Women magazine and wrote two other books, one focused on old women farmers in the U.S. She retired from a career as a landscape designer in 2020.
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