River of Stars

February 25, 2013
The second chapter in the history of the ancient China–inspired empire of Kitai is exquisitely rendered alternate historical fantasy. Several hundred years after the events of Under Heaven (which was set in the equivalent of the Tang Dynasty), teen Ren Daiyan demonstrates legend-level archery prowess and becomes a marsh outlaw. Years later, when a cloistered emperor’s hobby begins destroying lives, Daiyan tries to redeem his honor by joining the imperial army to halt the empire’s decline. In a world ruled by gentleman scholars, female artist Lin Shan is lauded for her unique talent in the masculine arts of poetry and calligraphy. Shan’s courtly skills will prove vital to Daiyan as he navigates around scheming ministers, supernatural fox-women, and horsemen who drink from the skulls of their enemies. Students of Chinese literature will delight in allusions to Song Dynasty poetry and Chinese classics, and even casual readers will savor a flawed, complex culture, meticulously researched and recreated in powerful prose. Agent: John Silbersack, Trident Media Group.

In this return to the world created in UNDER HEAVEN, romance, political intrigue, military conflict, and barbarians at the border are at work in twelfth-century China. Narrator Simon Vance weaves the story of a young man who becomes a strong military leader and a young woman who challenges the norms of society by being educated and self-assured. Vance's skill with long passages of description and explication is put to good use here. His tone is nostalgic and introspective as the characters spend much of their time musing about the empire portrayed in UNDER HEAVEN, as well as events 400 years earlier. J.E.M. (c) AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine