The Wall of Storms

Starred review from September 5, 2016
Hugo-winner Liu delivers truly epic fantasy adventure in the magnificent second chapter (after The Grace of Kings) of the groundbreaking Dandelion Dynasty series, inspired by the legends surrounding China’s Han Dynasty. Onetime con man Kuni Garu, now Emperor Ragin of Dara, has successfully ruled the island archipelago—and kept the peace—for nearly a decade. But now that Kuni’s sons are old enough to be given official responsibilities, there’s increased scheming at court; Kuni’s not the only one playing the long game. Add in growing civil unrest caused by the heavy hand of tradition behind government appointments, fresh political intrigue brewing offshore, and the sudden appearance of invaders from the north, and Liu has enough plots for five novels. He keeps them all moving like a juggler tossing up bowling balls, boomerangs, and crystal goblets: disaster seems imminent more than once, but somehow everything stays up in the air and gloriously unbroken. Liu’s characters are a delight, the worldbuilding is unusual and impeccable, and the writing is smooth and luminous. This tale of divided loyalties, deadly ambition, and “silkpunk” technology delivers enough excitement and sense of wonder to enchant any fan of epic fantasy.

October 15, 2016

The Dandelion Empire is at peace, with Kuni Garu, now known as Emperor Ragin, ruling Dara with his wives, Empress Jia and Consort Risana, by his side and four children being educated to carry on his dynasty. But a rift grows between the military and the nobles with many of Kuni's family and old friends lining up on opposing sides. Only scholar Luan Zya refuses to take part in the Imperial government, preferring to wander the world and record his observations. His travels inadvertently lead to disaster for Dara when a foreign force invades. While Liu's Locus Award-winning The Grace of Kings was largely the story of the power struggle between two strong-willed men, this sequel paints a complicated picture of what happens after victory: the challenges of rule, the rivalries at court, the competing visions of what is right for Dara, and the unexpected plunge back into war. Women have more to do in this volume as well, with Empress Jia a fascinatingly ambitious figure as well as new character Zomi, a student of Luan who comes to the capital. VERDICT This absorbing fantasy, influenced by Chinese history yet utterly fresh, gets better as it marches along. Despite its length, fans of epic fantasy will devour this story and be clamoring for the next entry. [See Eric Norton's SF Genre Spotlight, "Imagined Multiverses," LJ 8/16.]--MM

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