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The Heart of Blade Duology #1
The Hidden Blade
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.
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.
350 pages, ebook
First published July 20, 2014
About the author
Sherry Thomas
37 books6,758 followersUSA Today-bestselling author Sherry Thomas decided years ago that her goal in life is to write every kind of book she enjoys reading. Thus far she has published romance, fantasy, mystery, young adult, and three books inspired by the martial arts epics she grew up devouring. Her books regularly receive starred reviews and best-of-the-year honors from trade publications, including such outlets as the New York Times and National Public Radio.
A Study in Scarlet Women, A Conspiracy in Belgravia, and The Hollow of Fear, the first three entries in her gender-bending Lady Sherlock historical mystery series, are all NPR best books of the year. The Magnolia Sword, her 2019 release, is the first young adult retelling of the original Ballad of Mulan in the English language.
Sherry emigrated from China at age 13 and English is her second language.
“Sherry Thomas has done the impossible and crafted a fresh, exciting new version of Sherlock Holmes. From the carefully plotted twists to the elegant turns of phrase, A Study in Scarlet Women is a splendid addition to Holmes’s world. This book is everything I hoped it would be, and the next adventure cannot come too soon!” —Deanna Raybourn, New York Times bestselling author
“Thomas weaves a lush, intricate fantasy world around a gorgeous romance that kept me riveted until the very last page. What a breathtaking journey!” (Marie Lu, New York Times bestselling author of the Legend series )
"Sherry Thomas is the most powerfully original historical romance author writing today."—Lisa Kleypas, New York Times bestselling author
Visit Sherry at her website
Follow Sherry on twitter
Find Sherry on Facebook
A Study in Scarlet Women, A Conspiracy in Belgravia, and The Hollow of Fear, the first three entries in her gender-bending Lady Sherlock historical mystery series, are all NPR best books of the year. The Magnolia Sword, her 2019 release, is the first young adult retelling of the original Ballad of Mulan in the English language.
Sherry emigrated from China at age 13 and English is her second language.
“Sherry Thomas has done the impossible and crafted a fresh, exciting new version of Sherlock Holmes. From the carefully plotted twists to the elegant turns of phrase, A Study in Scarlet Women is a splendid addition to Holmes’s world. This book is everything I hoped it would be, and the next adventure cannot come too soon!” —Deanna Raybourn, New York Times bestselling author
“Thomas weaves a lush, intricate fantasy world around a gorgeous romance that kept me riveted until the very last page. What a breathtaking journey!” (Marie Lu, New York Times bestselling author of the Legend series )
"Sherry Thomas is the most powerfully original historical romance author writing today."—Lisa Kleypas, New York Times bestselling author
Visit Sherry at her website
Follow Sherry on twitter
Find Sherry on Facebook
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 217 reviews
December 15, 2015
Boom. Favorite shelf. This book...WOW.
August 3, 2021
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I'm supposed to be working on a major assignment right now that's due tomorrow and then going to bed, because I have to wake up at 3:00AM for an overnight shift at work, but I haven't done any of that because I've been too busy reading this book.
THE HIDDEN BLADE is a genre-defying novel, which is the only explanation I can comprehend for why this only has 600 ratings instead of 6,000. BLADE is being tagged as a romance, but the love in this book isn't romantic - it's so much deeper than that. It's also published by a publishing house that gears towards an adult audience, but the two main characters in this book are both teenagers throughout the full course of the novel.
If you think that either of those things means that this book is deceptive or boring, however, you have another think coming.
Ying-ying is the only daughter of a beautiful Chinese courtesan. She and her mother are kept by Fu-ren's consort, Da-ren. Ying-ying is raised by her Amah, and kept out of sight. One night, however, she finds her Amah coming back from a strange midnight excursion, all drenched in blood. Amah tells her that she is part of a secret society, and that she has been thinking of indoctrinating Ying-ying into it for years. On pain of death, she makes Ying-ying bow to her and swear fealty before beginning her martial arts/chi-based training in earnest.
Leighton, on the other hand, is the oldest son of a rather odd family. His father is gay, and occasionally his lover, Herb, whom Leighton gets along with well, comes to visit. Leighton's mother is complicit in this arrangement, with the understanding that she will be able to have her own lovers, as well. And she does - she has a man in San Francisco who is the father of Leighton's half-brother.
This arrangement is disrupted when his Uncle, Sir Curtis, comes into the picture and threatens to put Leighton's father into an asylum and his father's lover, Herb, in prison for homosexuality. His father commits suicide, and Sir Curtis takes great pleasure in blackmailing his mother and Herb to leave, thereby seizing full custody of Leighton and effectively making him prisoner in his own estate.
The story alternates between Ying-ying and Leighton's POVs, and both made my heart ache. Ying-ying struggles to deal with the problems her interracial heritage and strange beauty bring to her, the tragedy of slowly losing her mother to tuberculosis, and her increasingly difficult training. Leighton finds that caring about people can be a great weakness, as it gives others leverage to use over you. Knowing that his Uncle will hurt others if he tries to escape, he plots a very intelligent and elaborate plan to flee the country and meet up with Herb, who has fled to China to escape being jailed.
THE HIDDEN BLADE is a beautiful story. It's been a while since I read a tale that was so epic and broad in scope. The secondary characters were amazing - good or bad, they all made me feel something. The women were especially well done. All of them were strong and clever in their own way, and exhibited full autonomy. Lady Atwood, Amah, Ying-ying, and Fu-ren were my favorites. Don't let the lack of romance dissuade you from reading this book. It is exceptional. I'm already trying to figure out how I can get my hands on MY DEAREST ENEMY as quickly as possible.
5 stars!
January 2, 2015
***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***
The Hidden Blade by Sherry Thomas
Book One of The Heart of Blade duology
Publication Date: July 20, 2014
Rating: 3 stars
Source: eARC from NetGalley
Summary (from Goodreads):
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.
What I Liked:
I love Sherry Thomas's books. Her YA series, The Burning Sky/The Perilous Sea/Book three, is amazing! One of my favorite YA series ever. I'm a huge historical romance fan as well, and I plan on reading some of her historical romance novels. This particular novel is not a historical romance novel - it is the prequel to a historical romance novel, My Beautiful Enemy. The Hidden Blade details the childhoods of Leighton, an English boy, and Ying-ying, a Chinese girl.
Leighton's father and mother are somewhat estranged - his mother goes to meet another man once a month, and has a child by the man. Leighton's father has found comfort in the arms of a man, Herb, but his father hates that he is homosexual. This book is set in the late eighteen hundreds, so it was politically and religiously "wrong" to be homosexual. Leighton's father and Herb are caught by Sir Curtis, Leighton's father's brother and patriarch of the family. The father kills himself, the mother and her bastard son are sent away, and Herb runs for his life. Leighton, a child of about eleven, must live with Sir Curtis, a prison-like life. He cannot escape, cannot leave the house, cannot run.
Meanwhile, Ying-ying leaves as the daughter of a concubine. Da-ren is not her father, but an unknown Englishman is. Ying-ying is not well-accepted in the Chinese society because she is the illegitimate daughter of a foreigner and an unmarried woman, and that woman is now a concubine. When her mother dies, she and Amah (a woman that has been taking care of her and training her in martial arts) move to Da-ren's home - which is a prison of its own.
This book is extremely sad. It's heartbreaking to watch the two stories parallel each other, because both children suffer so much, at young ages, in different situations. My heart hurt for both characters, for their losses, for their pain, for what they could have had. Neither character meets the other in this book, but they are bound by one thread. It was an interesting connection, though it was sad to see that they never actually met.
The storytelling is rich and intriguing. Thomas switches back and forth, between Leighton and Ying-ying's story. Thomas's writing is beautiful and purposeful, as always. She infuses so much culture and history into this book. I loved seeing the portrayal of women's roles in England and in China, the presence of homosexuality in England and in China - how different and yet how striking each "world' was. Very well done by Thomas.
Overall, I have a solidly positive outlook on this book - there were just some things that didn't work for me.
What I Did Not Like:
Why this book received three stars from me has nothing to do with the quality of the book. Thomas wrote an AMAZING prequel novel. The stories of Leighton and Ying-ying are beautiful and powerful, and I'm sure they put things into perspective for readers who plan on reading My Beautiful Enemy (I haven't decided if I want to read it or not).
My problem was, this book was entirely too heartbreaking for me. I spent the ENTIRE novel feeling desolate or angry and agonized or upset. While that definitely shows the skill of the writer, for making her reader so emotionally distraught while reading the book, it wasn't something I enjoyed. I didn't LIKE reading this book. I didn't enjoy feeling distraught. Sadly, there were times when I struggled to keep reading, because I wasn't enjoying the reading.
Again, this doesn't really have to do with the storytelling, the quality of the story, the genre, etc. The story made me incredibly sad and angry and I couldn't find myself liking the book as I was reading it. Do you see the distinction? I liked the book overall, but I didn't find myself enjoying it as I was reading it. I definitely cannot see myself rereading it.
Would I Recommend It:
Ehh. Not quite. Some people might like reading about hopelessness and despair and tragedy - personally, I don't. I try to read for enjoyment, enlightenment, enrichment, but not necessarily for sadness and heartache.
Rating:
3 stars. A great book! Definitely a well-written piece of literature. Just... not my type of read, in terms of the sadness and tragedy. Love the historical fiction though.
The Hidden Blade by Sherry Thomas
Book One of The Heart of Blade duology
Publication Date: July 20, 2014
Rating: 3 stars
Source: eARC from NetGalley
Summary (from Goodreads):
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.
What I Liked:
I love Sherry Thomas's books. Her YA series, The Burning Sky/The Perilous Sea/Book three, is amazing! One of my favorite YA series ever. I'm a huge historical romance fan as well, and I plan on reading some of her historical romance novels. This particular novel is not a historical romance novel - it is the prequel to a historical romance novel, My Beautiful Enemy. The Hidden Blade details the childhoods of Leighton, an English boy, and Ying-ying, a Chinese girl.
Leighton's father and mother are somewhat estranged - his mother goes to meet another man once a month, and has a child by the man. Leighton's father has found comfort in the arms of a man, Herb, but his father hates that he is homosexual. This book is set in the late eighteen hundreds, so it was politically and religiously "wrong" to be homosexual. Leighton's father and Herb are caught by Sir Curtis, Leighton's father's brother and patriarch of the family. The father kills himself, the mother and her bastard son are sent away, and Herb runs for his life. Leighton, a child of about eleven, must live with Sir Curtis, a prison-like life. He cannot escape, cannot leave the house, cannot run.
Meanwhile, Ying-ying leaves as the daughter of a concubine. Da-ren is not her father, but an unknown Englishman is. Ying-ying is not well-accepted in the Chinese society because she is the illegitimate daughter of a foreigner and an unmarried woman, and that woman is now a concubine. When her mother dies, she and Amah (a woman that has been taking care of her and training her in martial arts) move to Da-ren's home - which is a prison of its own.
This book is extremely sad. It's heartbreaking to watch the two stories parallel each other, because both children suffer so much, at young ages, in different situations. My heart hurt for both characters, for their losses, for their pain, for what they could have had. Neither character meets the other in this book, but they are bound by one thread. It was an interesting connection, though it was sad to see that they never actually met.
The storytelling is rich and intriguing. Thomas switches back and forth, between Leighton and Ying-ying's story. Thomas's writing is beautiful and purposeful, as always. She infuses so much culture and history into this book. I loved seeing the portrayal of women's roles in England and in China, the presence of homosexuality in England and in China - how different and yet how striking each "world' was. Very well done by Thomas.
Overall, I have a solidly positive outlook on this book - there were just some things that didn't work for me.
What I Did Not Like:
Why this book received three stars from me has nothing to do with the quality of the book. Thomas wrote an AMAZING prequel novel. The stories of Leighton and Ying-ying are beautiful and powerful, and I'm sure they put things into perspective for readers who plan on reading My Beautiful Enemy (I haven't decided if I want to read it or not).
My problem was, this book was entirely too heartbreaking for me. I spent the ENTIRE novel feeling desolate or angry and agonized or upset. While that definitely shows the skill of the writer, for making her reader so emotionally distraught while reading the book, it wasn't something I enjoyed. I didn't LIKE reading this book. I didn't enjoy feeling distraught. Sadly, there were times when I struggled to keep reading, because I wasn't enjoying the reading.
Again, this doesn't really have to do with the storytelling, the quality of the story, the genre, etc. The story made me incredibly sad and angry and I couldn't find myself liking the book as I was reading it. Do you see the distinction? I liked the book overall, but I didn't find myself enjoying it as I was reading it. I definitely cannot see myself rereading it.
Would I Recommend It:
Ehh. Not quite. Some people might like reading about hopelessness and despair and tragedy - personally, I don't. I try to read for enjoyment, enlightenment, enrichment, but not necessarily for sadness and heartache.
Rating:
3 stars. A great book! Definitely a well-written piece of literature. Just... not my type of read, in terms of the sadness and tragedy. Love the historical fiction though.
August 27, 2014
4 Star Review: The Hidden Blade by Sherry Thomas
Often I don’t find myself that pulled towards short stories or novellas, but Sherry Thomas completely captured my attention while reading The Hidden Blade.
It reminded me a lot of Wu Xia films like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. There’s actually two pretty smart kids, both of which you get to see grow up. Both of their tales are sad and heart wrenching. Their lives become tragedies by the choices of the adults who love them.
Leighton’s Story:
A little English boy by the name of Leighton Atwood enjoys spending time with father and his father’s good friend Herb. He discovers that his father and Herb aren’t just friends. They’re in love. His father resists his relationship with Herb because of the possibility of being thrown into an Asylum again. More than anything he fears that place.
Being gay in the Victorian era wasn’t unusual or unknown of in the least, but it was illegal to be publically gay. Many were sent to asylums to be “cured” or put into jail for their homosexuality.
The way Herb and Leighton’s father’s relationship was portrayed felt very realistic and accurate for the time. I almost felt like Herb was slightly naïve in his understanding of what society would do to publically gay people. It was as if he didn’t think any relatives would have a problem with them being gay and wouldn’t do anything about it.
Something happens to this couple, which leads to Leighton’s situation in the house of his uncle Curtis. He has no freedom. His uncle gets off on knowing other people’s sins. He likes to see other people unhappy.
I wanted to squish Leighton’s uncle. Kill him…like a bug.
I felt terribly sorry for Leighton. His uncle took away Leighton's fucking books; the only thing that was keeping him even slightly sane.
At this point I was glaring at my kindle.
The only issue I had with this was that the build up of the awful things that Leighton’s uncle did was unresolved satisfactorily. It felt empty or unfinished. Or built up in a way that leads the reader to believe there would be a bigger climax to the story.
Ying Ying’s Story:
Forget the silly name. I mean... Ying Ying? Sounds ridiculous, right? Just throw that fucking raised eyebrow off your face. Okay. I know how it sounds.
Ying Ying’s the illegitimate daughter of a Chinese concubine and a foreign Devil. Not a real devil, that’s just what the Chinese referred to White men. They didn’t like foreigners, apparently. Ying Ying is eight years old and her mother isn’t in the best of health. She knows that realistically, no respectable man will marry the daughter of a foreign devil. All she has to look forward to is becoming the third concubine of an important man.
One night she witnesses a thief all in black on the roof. It’s her nurse Amah. Amah tells Ying Ying she’s her master now. She teaches Ying Ying martial arts. The great thing about this is that Ying Ying doesn’t just tell us these things, she shows us. We don’t get told about the lessons. We see them:
Ying Ying is a smart ass eight year old. She’s witty and thinks about her actions. But she’s also inexperienced in life and has much to learn.
As Ying Ying grows into a young woman she becomes adept at the martial arts. But the eye of the son of Da-ren, her mother’s provider, wanders to the beautiful face of Ying Ying. He’s a big fat baby. He has tantrums when he doesn’t something he wants. See:
I have to mention this: I really loved how Sherry Thomas showed us the difference between being gay in China and being gay in England, through the eyes of the characters. When Master Gordon, Ying Ying’s English teacher, asks her how gay people are treated in China she tells him about the Majordomo having an affair with an opera singer.
I really loved the character of Ying Ying. She’s smart, witty, and literally kick ass.
This novella focused on Ying Ying and Leighton’s tragic childhoods. It felt as if this is the beginning of their story. Then, in novel we’ll get to understand the crux of the plot. However, this novel was more about the characters than it was about plot. I couldn’t find a straight through plot. Thomas is usually really great at plot; therefore I don’t think that’s what she wanted to do here. This novella is all character, emotion, and action.
Often I don’t find myself that pulled towards short stories or novellas, but Sherry Thomas completely captured my attention while reading The Hidden Blade.
“You don’t know men. The pain of death never stopped any man from sniffing roadside blossoms.”
Ying-ying turned on her side and rammed an elbow toward Amah’s solar plexus. “Then I will kill him in truth.”
It reminded me a lot of Wu Xia films like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. There’s actually two pretty smart kids, both of which you get to see grow up. Both of their tales are sad and heart wrenching. Their lives become tragedies by the choices of the adults who love them.
Leighton’s Story:
A little English boy by the name of Leighton Atwood enjoys spending time with father and his father’s good friend Herb. He discovers that his father and Herb aren’t just friends. They’re in love. His father resists his relationship with Herb because of the possibility of being thrown into an Asylum again. More than anything he fears that place.
Being gay in the Victorian era wasn’t unusual or unknown of in the least, but it was illegal to be publically gay. Many were sent to asylums to be “cured” or put into jail for their homosexuality.
The way Herb and Leighton’s father’s relationship was portrayed felt very realistic and accurate for the time. I almost felt like Herb was slightly naïve in his understanding of what society would do to publically gay people. It was as if he didn’t think any relatives would have a problem with them being gay and wouldn’t do anything about it.
Something happens to this couple, which leads to Leighton’s situation in the house of his uncle Curtis. He has no freedom. His uncle gets off on knowing other people’s sins. He likes to see other people unhappy.
I wanted to squish Leighton’s uncle. Kill him…like a bug.
I felt terribly sorry for Leighton. His uncle took away Leighton's fucking books; the only thing that was keeping him even slightly sane.
At this point I was glaring at my kindle.
The only issue I had with this was that the build up of the awful things that Leighton’s uncle did was unresolved satisfactorily. It felt empty or unfinished. Or built up in a way that leads the reader to believe there would be a bigger climax to the story.
Ying Ying’s Story:
Forget the silly name. I mean... Ying Ying? Sounds ridiculous, right? Just throw that fucking raised eyebrow off your face. Okay. I know how it sounds.
Ying Ying’s the illegitimate daughter of a Chinese concubine and a foreign Devil. Not a real devil, that’s just what the Chinese referred to White men. They didn’t like foreigners, apparently. Ying Ying is eight years old and her mother isn’t in the best of health. She knows that realistically, no respectable man will marry the daughter of a foreign devil. All she has to look forward to is becoming the third concubine of an important man.
One night she witnesses a thief all in black on the roof. It’s her nurse Amah. Amah tells Ying Ying she’s her master now. She teaches Ying Ying martial arts. The great thing about this is that Ying Ying doesn’t just tell us these things, she shows us. We don’t get told about the lessons. We see them:
In Ying-ying’s rooms, silence.
Then, sound: a barely perceptible disturbance of the air.
Ying-ying lifted the painted silk fan in her hand and blocked the incoming object a handspan from her face. She spun around and knocked another one that was coming for her shoulder. Then another, aimed at her knees.
The tiny missiles kept coming; she kept deflecting them, her mind blank, her concentration absolute.
Ying Ying is a smart ass eight year old. She’s witty and thinks about her actions. But she’s also inexperienced in life and has much to learn.
As Ying Ying grows into a young woman she becomes adept at the martial arts. But the eye of the son of Da-ren, her mother’s provider, wanders to the beautiful face of Ying Ying. He’s a big fat baby. He has tantrums when he doesn’t something he wants. See:
He lifted a braid of her hair. “Surely she will understand if you say I detained you.”
“She has her orders directly from Da-ren himself to strictly watch my every step. I’m afraid she’ll yield only when he commands differently.”
The lordling tore off an embroidered amulet sachet he wore at his waist and hurled it against the nearest wall. “Da-ren! Da-ren! My whole life I’ve had to listen to him. Everything I want, he stands in my way.”
I have to mention this: I really loved how Sherry Thomas showed us the difference between being gay in China and being gay in England, through the eyes of the characters. When Master Gordon, Ying Ying’s English teacher, asks her how gay people are treated in China she tells him about the Majordomo having an affair with an opera singer.
“Does Da-ren know it?”
“Everyone knows it.” His isolation saddened her. She had learned within weeks of coming into the compound. Not that people didn’t snicker behind the majordomo’s back, but before him they dared not show the least disrespect.
I really loved the character of Ying Ying. She’s smart, witty, and literally kick ass.
This novella focused on Ying Ying and Leighton’s tragic childhoods. It felt as if this is the beginning of their story. Then, in novel we’ll get to understand the crux of the plot. However, this novel was more about the characters than it was about plot. I couldn’t find a straight through plot. Thomas is usually really great at plot; therefore I don’t think that’s what she wanted to do here. This novella is all character, emotion, and action.
June 29, 2018
I wouldn't exactly say that historical romance is my go to genre, but The Hidden Blade by Sherry Thomas really surprised me. As it turns out, it was exactly up my alley - think Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon meets Downton Abbey. I particularly enjoyed getting to know her cast of characters as they face the challenges coming to them. Both Ying-ying and Leighton are equally fascinating and are equally well-developed as they each feel like they could walk right off of the page. The diversity in this historical fiction novel is quite refreshing and the settings are all vibrant. I will need to read book two of The Heart of Blade Duology, My Beautiful Enemy.
February 17, 2024
this is everything a prequel should be and more 😭
can't wait to read My Beautiful Enemy!
can't wait to read My Beautiful Enemy!
May 11, 2015
3.5 stars (I would’ve given a solid 4 stars to this if only I hadn’t been so bored for most of the first half.)
Despite this being very YA (almost middle-grade at times), this story managed to feel quite grand and epic in nature, spanning the globe from England to China.
It’s a prequel to My Beautiful Enemy, which follows the hero and heroine throughout their respective childhoods. Their lives are told via two completely separate storylines, with a connecting thread that develops later in the second half. It took me awhile to get into both stories but when I finally did, I did it in a big way and I finished it feeling completely invested in both characters.
When the book begins, our hero, Leighton, is a young English boy and as we watch him grow, he reminded me a bit of Titus in Thomas’s YA fantasy novel, The Burning Sky, both in temperament and intellect. Our heroine, Ying-Ying, is the young daughter of a concubine in Peking (and she’s hapa! cool, cool), who learns that a person close to her is not who she thought and who changes her life forever.
Both Leighton and Ying-Ying are hit with several tragic blows during the course of their childhoods (seriously, it was blow after blow after blow -- to the point where I was like, OMG what else could possibly go wrong?! And then wished I hadn’t asked), but the way they dealt with each of them impressed me with their strength of character and I found myself rooting for both of them with all my heart.
There is no romance in this book (rather, it is a set-up for the romance in the next book). Its main focus here is characterization and setting, which it does extremely well. There is only a tiny bit of action, but those few bits are kinda cool (think Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon moves). And it’s a prequel - so the ending feels very incomplete. But as its goal is to whet your appetite for the main book, all I can say is mission accomplished.
Despite this being very YA (almost middle-grade at times), this story managed to feel quite grand and epic in nature, spanning the globe from England to China.
It’s a prequel to My Beautiful Enemy, which follows the hero and heroine throughout their respective childhoods. Their lives are told via two completely separate storylines, with a connecting thread that develops later in the second half. It took me awhile to get into both stories but when I finally did, I did it in a big way and I finished it feeling completely invested in both characters.
When the book begins, our hero, Leighton, is a young English boy and as we watch him grow, he reminded me a bit of Titus in Thomas’s YA fantasy novel, The Burning Sky, both in temperament and intellect. Our heroine, Ying-Ying, is the young daughter of a concubine in Peking (and she’s hapa! cool, cool), who learns that a person close to her is not who she thought and who changes her life forever.
Both Leighton and Ying-Ying are hit with several tragic blows during the course of their childhoods (seriously, it was blow after blow after blow -- to the point where I was like, OMG what else could possibly go wrong?! And then wished I hadn’t asked), but the way they dealt with each of them impressed me with their strength of character and I found myself rooting for both of them with all my heart.
There is no romance in this book (rather, it is a set-up for the romance in the next book). Its main focus here is characterization and setting, which it does extremely well. There is only a tiny bit of action, but those few bits are kinda cool (think Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon moves). And it’s a prequel - so the ending feels very incomplete. But as its goal is to whet your appetite for the main book, all I can say is mission accomplished.
November 27, 2014
You know how some book's synopsis sometimes seem to have been "changed at birth", when you compare them with the actual book?
Well, not this one! ;)
This story really is a mix of "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon" with "Downton Abbey", or some other Regency inspired series.
I loved "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon"!
Downton Abbey? Well I have seen some episodes, but I am not crazy about it.
In this tale the author gives us the background of the main character's lives who will "star" in "My beautiful enemy" novel.
Through different cultures, and settings, we accompany Leighton's and Ying Ying growth from children to young adults.
How they were raised, what they had to fight against, and especially which social constraints that period threw at them...Ying Ying more than Leighton, although the boy doesn't end up having an easy life.
This has some action scenes _more towards the end _ but the story really has its worth, on its ability to make that time period come alive on each and every page, from the traditions to social practices. Eastern and western.
Also, the author managed to create a strong female character capable of taking care of herself in a very difficult time period for women, and that isn't a small achievement!
Thank you for that.
Despite all the situations that Ying Ying ends up facing, she never comes out as a victim.
The descriptions are beautifully done, the characters felt original, and the setting is just haunting.
Suffice to say that a "Beautiful Enemy" read is coming next.
______
p.s . I have however to mention this, because I got really upset by it's non existence...
That's what happens with expectations, you know?
Where is my chopped villain??? o_O
August 4, 2014
This novella is dubbed as a prequel to Sherry Thomas's new novel My Beautiful Enemy. The release date tomorrow (August 5, 2014), so I decided I needed to read this "prequel."
I was astounded to discover that this is actually almost novel length at 272 pages, much longer than most novellas. Also, this prequel doesn't tell the story of the main characters' parents, but the backstory of the main characters themselves. In fact, this prequel reads more like Part I of an epic romance novel--the kind of novel that used to be written back in the 80s before publishers decided that romance novels must be 372 pages full stop! So instead of reading a clever little novella length romance of some other connected main characters, I got a very long lead-in to Sherry Thomas's novel that I will receive tomorrow--thank goodness.
The characters Ying-ying and Leighton experience great heartache and adversity--Leighton in England, Ying-ying in Peking. Ying-ying secretly trains as a martial artist, while Leighton crosses wits with a cruel uncle set on controlling him.
I desperately love a good epic story. I love to be able to grow attached to characters over a series-length of novels. We get that often for urban fantasies or the rare sort of series such as The Outlander, but the publishing world has decided we don't need that type of thing anymore. So I'm happy to experience this rare gift Sherry Thomas has given us. I anxiously await My Beautiful Enemy.
I was astounded to discover that this is actually almost novel length at 272 pages, much longer than most novellas. Also, this prequel doesn't tell the story of the main characters' parents, but the backstory of the main characters themselves. In fact, this prequel reads more like Part I of an epic romance novel--the kind of novel that used to be written back in the 80s before publishers decided that romance novels must be 372 pages full stop! So instead of reading a clever little novella length romance of some other connected main characters, I got a very long lead-in to Sherry Thomas's novel that I will receive tomorrow--thank goodness.
The characters Ying-ying and Leighton experience great heartache and adversity--Leighton in England, Ying-ying in Peking. Ying-ying secretly trains as a martial artist, while Leighton crosses wits with a cruel uncle set on controlling him.
I desperately love a good epic story. I love to be able to grow attached to characters over a series-length of novels. We get that often for urban fantasies or the rare sort of series such as The Outlander, but the publishing world has decided we don't need that type of thing anymore. So I'm happy to experience this rare gift Sherry Thomas has given us. I anxiously await My Beautiful Enemy.
December 18, 2017
3.5 stars. An interesting book that had kind of a YA feel. There is virtually no romance in it, however the two characters who grow up throughout this book apparently do have a romance together in the sequel, My Beautiful Enemy, which I do intend to read.
We follow two parallel stories - a clever and likeable English boy, Leighton, who is bullied and mistreated by a nasty uncle. And Ying-ying, a half-Chinese half-English girl. She is the daughter of a beautiful Chinese concubine. Her father is not in the picture. Raised in China, Ying-ying has an unusual childhood for a Chinese girl. But she is brought up in Chinese culture and initially knows little about England.
The whole book basically follows the two children over a number of years as they grow to young adulthood in their separate worlds. Both of them experience dramatic and tragic changes in their lives, which no doubt forge them into the fascinating adults you sense they will mature into.
The book is well-written (hey, it's Sherry Thomas!) and gives an interesting picture especially into the hidden world of China at that time period. It moved along fairly solidly, but I'm not really a YA fan. I like to read romance, and that's not what this book is about. So therefore only a 3.5 from me.
I'm sure that when I do read My Beautiful Enemy I will appreciate having read this one first. I'm sure it will give a richness of understanding of the characters, their backgrounds and motivations. But as a standalone book, it wasn't really my cup of tea due to the lack in the romance department. Perhaps a novella would have been sufficient for this style of prequel to a Sherry Thomas romance, IMO. But for YA lovers I heartily recommend this read.
We follow two parallel stories - a clever and likeable English boy, Leighton, who is bullied and mistreated by a nasty uncle. And Ying-ying, a half-Chinese half-English girl. She is the daughter of a beautiful Chinese concubine. Her father is not in the picture. Raised in China, Ying-ying has an unusual childhood for a Chinese girl. But she is brought up in Chinese culture and initially knows little about England.
The whole book basically follows the two children over a number of years as they grow to young adulthood in their separate worlds. Both of them experience dramatic and tragic changes in their lives, which no doubt forge them into the fascinating adults you sense they will mature into.
The book is well-written (hey, it's Sherry Thomas!) and gives an interesting picture especially into the hidden world of China at that time period. It moved along fairly solidly, but I'm not really a YA fan. I like to read romance, and that's not what this book is about. So therefore only a 3.5 from me.
I'm sure that when I do read My Beautiful Enemy I will appreciate having read this one first. I'm sure it will give a richness of understanding of the characters, their backgrounds and motivations. But as a standalone book, it wasn't really my cup of tea due to the lack in the romance department. Perhaps a novella would have been sufficient for this style of prequel to a Sherry Thomas romance, IMO. But for YA lovers I heartily recommend this read.
November 4, 2014
WOW!!!
What a wonderful, wonderful book!
Pay attention: this is not a romance novel! The hero and the heroine NEVER meet! But still it is wonderful , wonderful tale of courage, love and friendship!
I found particularely interesting the setting in China with all the ritualistic ceremony, behaviour, strange habits.
I loved both the hero, Leighton, and the heroine, Ying Ying (Cathrine)!
Leighton because he was so serious, so clever for a boy his age. Also his understanding and non-judgement towards his father's homosexuality was like a fresh breath! (Even if I don't think very lausible for the period)
His love for his half-brother and his understanding of his mother's situation was also prise-worthy! His courage to do everything, even the most painful things, to insure their safety was just plain wonderful!
Ying-Ying was wonderful in her own way! Too stubborn to be a good chinese girl, too temperamental, too clever! Just wonderful!
I loved her martial-art lessons and was fascinated with everything that was happeing to her! I cried when her mother died, when Amah and Master Gordon also died. I cheered when she reacted against abuse and hated with vengance Da-ren's idiot son.
A very great adventure written in an excellent language and very, very good descriptions!
I loved it!
What a wonderful, wonderful book!
Pay attention: this is not a romance novel! The hero and the heroine NEVER meet! But still it is wonderful , wonderful tale of courage, love and friendship!
I found particularely interesting the setting in China with all the ritualistic ceremony, behaviour, strange habits.
I loved both the hero, Leighton, and the heroine, Ying Ying (Cathrine)!
Leighton because he was so serious, so clever for a boy his age. Also his understanding and non-judgement towards his father's homosexuality was like a fresh breath! (Even if I don't think very lausible for the period)
His love for his half-brother and his understanding of his mother's situation was also prise-worthy! His courage to do everything, even the most painful things, to insure their safety was just plain wonderful!
Ying-Ying was wonderful in her own way! Too stubborn to be a good chinese girl, too temperamental, too clever! Just wonderful!
I loved her martial-art lessons and was fascinated with everything that was happeing to her! I cried when her mother died, when Amah and Master Gordon also died. I cheered when she reacted against abuse and hated with vengance Da-ren's idiot son.
A very great adventure written in an excellent language and very, very good descriptions!
I loved it!
July 20, 2015
I was recommended this book having read the author's Luckiest Lady in London (review to come at some point!) but also because the one recommending it to me knew I had a background in martial arts, to put it mildly.
Sherry Thomas has a writing style that I can only believe creates a sense of sheer wonder for readers, but partial envy for other authors who read her works. Truly, this is an author who can craft a story with such style and panache, that sometimes you have to take a step back from what one has read.
Although not a long book, I read and consumed The Hidden Blade over several days, and I'll admit the martial arts aspect of the tale was a huge draw for me. As part one of a duology, The Hidden Blade works wonderfully as a historical piece that is lighter on romance than one might expect from Miss Thomas. I do expect part two - My Beautiful Enemy to fulfil the wishes of any reader who wanted more romance in this book.
That is not to say the book lacks romance, far from it. Telling the story of young Chinese girl Ying-Ying who is taken under the considerable wing of her teacher Amah, there is a dual story running with a pace-perfect and a seamless narrative, as the story of upper class English gent Leighton goes through many jumps and hoops (not all of them pleasant).
For me, whilst the story of Ying-Ying and Leighton is engaging (but in the best tradition of tales like Brief Encounter, where there is an attraction but barely exploited....and Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon..with Shu Lien and Li Mu Bai definitely attracted to each other but restrained by age old customs and beliefs) - the romance is hinted at here, but I expect it will be more craftily developed in the follow-up.
What makes The Hidden Blade an exceptional book....well, where to start. Ying-Ying is cool, and whilst I can understand the nod to wuxia films like CTHD, it is but one of many that were made in China, it just so happens that particular film was made with a Western audience in mind. The martial arts scenes are brilliantly depicted - I especially loved a scene between Ying-Ying and her master where her Chi (Qi) was being developed.
Contrary to popular Western belief, it's really hard - nigh on impossible in fact, to find a martial arts master of repute in China. It took me seven years to find my current one. But for reasons that the story must move forward, Ying-Ying is introduced to her teacher early on in the story.
As Leighton makes his improbable but necessary journey to the East - no doubt to reckon with his destiny, I am wanting to know how the worlds of a Chinese girl and Western man will collide.
He seems bit down on his luck, unable to catch a break for large parts of the tale. You'll root for him, as I did. But you will also want Ying-Ying to outgrow her master one day, and in this regard, Amah teaches her student (brutally) well. It seems a mis-match to me, which makes it all the more intriguing.
I rarely have such high praise for a book, but it is so well done, if I could give it six stars, I would. Let''s see how the series wraps up with the intriguing title of My Beautiful Enemy.
Rating: Five Jade-coloured stars.
Sherry Thomas has a writing style that I can only believe creates a sense of sheer wonder for readers, but partial envy for other authors who read her works. Truly, this is an author who can craft a story with such style and panache, that sometimes you have to take a step back from what one has read.
Although not a long book, I read and consumed The Hidden Blade over several days, and I'll admit the martial arts aspect of the tale was a huge draw for me. As part one of a duology, The Hidden Blade works wonderfully as a historical piece that is lighter on romance than one might expect from Miss Thomas. I do expect part two - My Beautiful Enemy to fulfil the wishes of any reader who wanted more romance in this book.
That is not to say the book lacks romance, far from it. Telling the story of young Chinese girl Ying-Ying who is taken under the considerable wing of her teacher Amah, there is a dual story running with a pace-perfect and a seamless narrative, as the story of upper class English gent Leighton goes through many jumps and hoops (not all of them pleasant).
For me, whilst the story of Ying-Ying and Leighton is engaging (but in the best tradition of tales like Brief Encounter, where there is an attraction but barely exploited....and Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon..with Shu Lien and Li Mu Bai definitely attracted to each other but restrained by age old customs and beliefs) - the romance is hinted at here, but I expect it will be more craftily developed in the follow-up.
What makes The Hidden Blade an exceptional book....well, where to start. Ying-Ying is cool, and whilst I can understand the nod to wuxia films like CTHD, it is but one of many that were made in China, it just so happens that particular film was made with a Western audience in mind. The martial arts scenes are brilliantly depicted - I especially loved a scene between Ying-Ying and her master where her Chi (Qi) was being developed.
Contrary to popular Western belief, it's really hard - nigh on impossible in fact, to find a martial arts master of repute in China. It took me seven years to find my current one. But for reasons that the story must move forward, Ying-Ying is introduced to her teacher early on in the story.
As Leighton makes his improbable but necessary journey to the East - no doubt to reckon with his destiny, I am wanting to know how the worlds of a Chinese girl and Western man will collide.
He seems bit down on his luck, unable to catch a break for large parts of the tale. You'll root for him, as I did. But you will also want Ying-Ying to outgrow her master one day, and in this regard, Amah teaches her student (brutally) well. It seems a mis-match to me, which makes it all the more intriguing.
I rarely have such high praise for a book, but it is so well done, if I could give it six stars, I would. Let''s see how the series wraps up with the intriguing title of My Beautiful Enemy.
Rating: Five Jade-coloured stars.
December 4, 2017
This book was obviously a prequel, but it had such lovely writing and so many feels that I loved it. Both were kids but surrounded by so much suffering. Some people skipped it but if you want to understand why they are like this in the next book, you need to read this. It had a lot of heartbreak but that's life for you..
Definitely recommend it if you're feeling like reading something different than the typical HR. Don't know anything about chinese culture and wuxia so don't know if Sherry Thomas did well or not. I just enjoyed the feels and mostly skipped the fighting scenes *sorry*
Definitely recommend it if you're feeling like reading something different than the typical HR. Don't know anything about chinese culture and wuxia so don't know if Sherry Thomas did well or not. I just enjoyed the feels and mostly skipped the fighting scenes *sorry*
June 7, 2015
Well. It's a mixed bag of good, mostly, I'd say.
That is, it feels like a mixed bag, with one part of the narrative as the young English guy on an adventure (which reminded me of AHorowitz's Alex Rider novels), and the other part as the young Chinese girl getting involved in a martial-arts-ish narrative.
The timescale is also grand; at times, the transition between paragraphs involves months or years, as well as tedious development occurring whenever a character's narration slips to the background.
It's exciting, mostly, but I think the story-teller abused some adventure formula of out-of-nowhere pitfalls and ladders. Maybe the adventure folk are used to that, though.
The Chinese martial-arts stuff is acceptably silly and fun, though.
The characters.. were much more interesting in the Chinese part of the story.
The English part involved a character who was a villainously villainous villain, source of all evil and oppression; that, paired with the heavy-handed "woe-to-be-oppressed-by-society, aren't-we-such-angels" characterisation of the "good" characters wasn't altogether so sophisticated.
The characters in the Chinese part had desires and motivations, background which developed character and such.
There's also quite the exciting climax to the narrative, (much more exciting than the book had been earlier?), but as is probably inevitable for books which are part of a greater narrative (like Fellowship of the Ring), probably not an ending which would satisfy so as to consider this book stand-alone-able.
Kinda wish stories would get past "murder lolz" as a conflict resolution, though.
That is, it feels like a mixed bag, with one part of the narrative as the young English guy on an adventure (which reminded me of AHorowitz's Alex Rider novels), and the other part as the young Chinese girl getting involved in a martial-arts-ish narrative.
The timescale is also grand; at times, the transition between paragraphs involves months or years, as well as tedious development occurring whenever a character's narration slips to the background.
It's exciting, mostly, but I think the story-teller abused some adventure formula of out-of-nowhere pitfalls and ladders. Maybe the adventure folk are used to that, though.
The Chinese martial-arts stuff is acceptably silly and fun, though.
The characters.. were much more interesting in the Chinese part of the story.
The English part involved a character who was a villainously villainous villain, source of all evil and oppression; that, paired with the heavy-handed "woe-to-be-oppressed-by-society, aren't-we-such-angels" characterisation of the "good" characters wasn't altogether so sophisticated.
The characters in the Chinese part had desires and motivations, background which developed character and such.
There's also quite the exciting climax to the narrative, (much more exciting than the book had been earlier?), but as is probably inevitable for books which are part of a greater narrative (like Fellowship of the Ring), probably not an ending which would satisfy so as to consider this book stand-alone-able.
Kinda wish stories would get past "murder lolz" as a conflict resolution, though.
May 15, 2018
Wow. This is NOT a romance, but a full-length prequel to one. The heroine and hero never met. In spite of that I loved that this story was told.
I’ve always marveled at Sherry Thomas’s use of the English language and the fluidity by which she wielded it here in The Hidden Blade is nothing short of amazing. I was transported to China and England and India and wherever Leighton and Ying-ying went. She engaged all the senses - sight, sound, touch, taste, and yes, even smell.
Ms. Thomas writes with so much authority, I believed everything she wrote to be true - the Chinese customs and lifestyle, the differences between the cultures, the upbringing of children in both countries.
So, why for all its awesomeness did I not give this five stars? A couple of things: the preternatural maturity of the main characters and the suspension of disbelief over the speed of Leighton’s pursuers. Apart from these things, The Hidden Blade is a beautifully-written book in all its diversity and inclusiveness. A perfect read for the Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
Now, on to My Beautiful Enemy.
I’ve always marveled at Sherry Thomas’s use of the English language and the fluidity by which she wielded it here in The Hidden Blade is nothing short of amazing. I was transported to China and England and India and wherever Leighton and Ying-ying went. She engaged all the senses - sight, sound, touch, taste, and yes, even smell.
Ms. Thomas writes with so much authority, I believed everything she wrote to be true - the Chinese customs and lifestyle, the differences between the cultures, the upbringing of children in both countries.
So, why for all its awesomeness did I not give this five stars? A couple of things: the preternatural maturity of the main characters and the suspension of disbelief over the speed of Leighton’s pursuers. Apart from these things, The Hidden Blade is a beautifully-written book in all its diversity and inclusiveness. A perfect read for the Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
Now, on to My Beautiful Enemy.
January 1, 2015
This was a bit depressing, but lovely nonetheless.
August 20, 2014
Absolutely beautiful. Loved the characters, the side characters, the setting.
October 11, 2015
3.75 stars rounded up to 4
March 10, 2024
Very exciting, if dark, adventure story set in 19th century China and England with parallel storylines about two protagonists (children, then teens) who never meet. Beautiful writing as with anything by Sherry Thomas. She is a gift ❤️
March 11, 2015
I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Hidden Blade will take you on a journey from the exotic far east, Peking, to the lush countryside in England and lands in between. It is the odyssey of two young people in different countries with parallel lives of heart-ache, adversity, determination and desire for a better future.
Ying-ying learns the disturbing details of who her father was...not only is she illegitimate but the daughter of a foreign devil, an Englishman. What future can she have? An older woman agrees to take Ying-ying under her wing and teach her martial arts in secret. After the tragic death of his father, Leighton is forced to live with his cruel uncle. Leighton dreams and plans for his escape to meet his friend in China...far away from his uncle's tyrannical rule. Will martial arts be the escape Ying-ying needs? Will Leighton get away? Are these two young people destined to cross paths?
Sherry Thomas creates a vivid story with her exquisite attention to detail. She is able to draw the reader into the plight of both Ying-ying and Leighton. What courageous young people! They both perserved... unwilling to give up on a brighter future. I was sucked into this adventure...drawn to the cruel circumstances that surround Ying-ying and Leighton. My heart plummeted and soared as their story unfolded.
The Hidden Blade will take you on a journey from the exotic far east, Peking, to the lush countryside in England and lands in between. It is the odyssey of two young people in different countries with parallel lives of heart-ache, adversity, determination and desire for a better future.
Ying-ying learns the disturbing details of who her father was...not only is she illegitimate but the daughter of a foreign devil, an Englishman. What future can she have? An older woman agrees to take Ying-ying under her wing and teach her martial arts in secret. After the tragic death of his father, Leighton is forced to live with his cruel uncle. Leighton dreams and plans for his escape to meet his friend in China...far away from his uncle's tyrannical rule. Will martial arts be the escape Ying-ying needs? Will Leighton get away? Are these two young people destined to cross paths?
Sherry Thomas creates a vivid story with her exquisite attention to detail. She is able to draw the reader into the plight of both Ying-ying and Leighton. What courageous young people! They both perserved... unwilling to give up on a brighter future. I was sucked into this adventure...drawn to the cruel circumstances that surround Ying-ying and Leighton. My heart plummeted and soared as their story unfolded.
July 9, 2015
This book had so many great reviews on amazon I decided to give it a try since I love Sherry Thomas historical romances. This book was the longest prequel without a plot I have ever read. It should have been reduced to a novella to introduce the backgrounds on the characters which was the sole purpose of the book. I usually devour books. I love binge reading but I had to force myself to keep coming back to this book day after day until I finished it. The only reason I continued to read was so that I could start 'My beautiful enemy' with all the information possible. But once I started the sequel to this book I realized how unnecessary this full length prequel was. I am confident even if I searched thoroughly I would not find another book with such a desparate need for a plot. I was disappointed...the 3 stars is for Thomas' unparalleled writing skills.
May 10, 2016
Ahhhhhh! AHHHHHHH!
THE HYPE IS REAL
More coherent review later, it's 12:30 AM and I've just read the entire story in one sitting.
THE HYPE IS REAL
More coherent review later, it's 12:30 AM and I've just read the entire story in one sitting.
December 30, 2021
I’m not embarrassed I read this (or that I also very quickly read the sequel). You’re embarrassed. Ok, I’m a little embarrassed. But I’m also very publicly owning my love. I was blown away by this book. It had the seeds of some very romance-genre specific elements but it was better for it. The book captured my attention, my heart, and my excitement. I rarely like characters as much as I liked ying-ying and Leighton. Both characters barely met but I loved how Thomas highlighted the historical elements. AHHH. The Chinese historical elements too were really rich and I have to credit the author’s childhood in China for how detailed it was. You don’t realize how great world building or cultural references impact a novel until you find one that seamlessly anchors a fantastical plot in a realistic historical setting and is stronger for it. Thomas made me realize the inadequacy of the super watered down “Asian “””inspired””””” YA fantasy settings I’ve been reading.
Notes:
it is SO HARD to find an Asian romance writer. I scoured so many Reddit posts to find Thomas.
I’m not sure how one can read the sequel without reading this book. READ THIS ONE FIRST. they depend on each other.
I’m a sucker for #OwnVoices. It’s my most favorite thing. This book’s publication predates that trend but it fits the category nonetheless. AND IT DOESN’T PATRONIZE.
Edit: I slept on it and came up with another reason why I like it. The male protagonist is a yt man BUT when they meet, they literally think the other is a different person. Spoilers for book 2 but he thinks she’s a Chinese Uyger and she thinks he’s Persian. They go into the romance without really knowing who the other person is and therefor escape a lot of assumptions. It was nice to read a novel without being acutely aware of racist narratives. She’s not an oppressed Chinese woman being liberated by a well meaning yt man. He’s not a missionary or random guy on foreign exchange. It was nice.
Notes:
it is SO HARD to find an Asian romance writer. I scoured so many Reddit posts to find Thomas.
I’m not sure how one can read the sequel without reading this book. READ THIS ONE FIRST. they depend on each other.
I’m a sucker for #OwnVoices. It’s my most favorite thing. This book’s publication predates that trend but it fits the category nonetheless. AND IT DOESN’T PATRONIZE.
Edit: I slept on it and came up with another reason why I like it. The male protagonist is a yt man BUT when they meet, they literally think the other is a different person. Spoilers for book 2 but he thinks she’s a Chinese Uyger and she thinks he’s Persian. They go into the romance without really knowing who the other person is and therefor escape a lot of assumptions. It was nice to read a novel without being acutely aware of racist narratives. She’s not an oppressed Chinese woman being liberated by a well meaning yt man. He’s not a missionary or random guy on foreign exchange. It was nice.
February 15, 2020
This was a bookclub selection and I don't know if it was a good pick or not, considering the HEA doesn't happen in the first book. It also will rip your heart into pieces.
But you can also count on Sherry Thomas for some top notch writing.
But you can also count on Sherry Thomas for some top notch writing.
July 9, 2022
I don't know why I didn't read these in order: for some reason I thought this prequel was published second, rather than a month ahead of the sequel. I will have to look for more wuxhi.
Library copy
Library copy
March 21, 2023
Loved this! Reminded me of historical novels set in Asia by Pearl S. Buck I read as a teenager.
September 9, 2014
So this was a little slow but it was good. As others have said it did have an epic feel to it. It spanned over years revolving around the main characters from the second book as children with all the tragedies that obviously changed their course in life. All of these events leads to a connection that was this amazing twist of fate. And that connection,
Ying-Ying's story focused on her secret training in martial arts while living a sheltered life within closed walls. I liked her. She was bright and witty, definitely headstrong which made her a little trying at times. Her relationship with her amah really helped discipline Ying-Ying though, forcing her to grow up more. Also as a sidenote, it was interesting learning about her culture and just being in that atmosphere.
Leighton's journey was far more interesting to me. Talk about tragic, heartbreaking circumstances. And he was so young and had to, for the most part, get things done on his own. I loved his personality. He's this smart, kind, caring kid. And it sucked what he had to go through and that really took him to a low point. When he built up some hope again, it really highlighted his tenacity and resilience. I loved seeing I was a little curious about what happened to
The ending was exactly what I expected. I thought there's be more of a cliffhanger but no. Anyway, overall this was a great setup to the events in the next book.
Ying-Ying's story focused on her secret training in martial arts while living a sheltered life within closed walls. I liked her. She was bright and witty, definitely headstrong which made her a little trying at times. Her relationship with her amah really helped discipline Ying-Ying though, forcing her to grow up more. Also as a sidenote, it was interesting learning about her culture and just being in that atmosphere.
Leighton's journey was far more interesting to me. Talk about tragic, heartbreaking circumstances. And he was so young and had to, for the most part, get things done on his own. I loved his personality. He's this smart, kind, caring kid. And it sucked what he had to go through and that really took him to a low point. When he built up some hope again, it really highlighted his tenacity and resilience. I loved seeing I was a little curious about what happened to
The ending was exactly what I expected. I thought there's be more of a cliffhanger but no. Anyway, overall this was a great setup to the events in the next book.
March 17, 2015
*SLIGHT SPOILERS*
For those of you who have been a fan of Sherry Thomas's historical romances and for those of you who love her for her YA fantasy this is the best of both worlds.
The Hidden Blade is a YA historical adventure spread across England and China, and it's gorgeous! On one side there is a quiet British boy, Leighton Atwood, whose dad commits suicide shamed and blackmailed for his love of another man, Herb. Leighton is suddenly taken away from a loving, carefree family and put into care of his unbending, fanatical, sadistic, horrid uncle and he has to struggle for every ounce of freedom until finally he runs away in search of Herb.
On another side of the world there is Ying-Ying, a young girl who grows up in the shadow of her beautiful mother, - a long-standing, beloved concubine of Da-ren, a powerful government official of China. Ying-Ying is a half-breed, and doesn't feel like she belongs, so when her mom dies, she is taken into care of her Amah (nanny) and discovers that the woman is not who she seems. Amah is a part of ancient military order, and Ying-Ying becomes her new recruit.
Ironically the only thing that connects Leighton and Ying-Ying - two such different characters, is Herb. Among all the heartbreak and adventure, he is the one Leighton seeks, and the one who ends up teaching Ying-Ying English. Read for yourself about their dramatic journeys in between...
This was a fantastic, absorbing, heartbreaking read, and I wholly recommend it. My Beautiful Enemy finishes Leighton and Ying-Ying's story years later, and I recommend you to grab it and read it straight away after The Hidden Blade.
For those of you who have been a fan of Sherry Thomas's historical romances and for those of you who love her for her YA fantasy this is the best of both worlds.
The Hidden Blade is a YA historical adventure spread across England and China, and it's gorgeous! On one side there is a quiet British boy, Leighton Atwood, whose dad commits suicide shamed and blackmailed for his love of another man, Herb. Leighton is suddenly taken away from a loving, carefree family and put into care of his unbending, fanatical, sadistic, horrid uncle and he has to struggle for every ounce of freedom until finally he runs away in search of Herb.
On another side of the world there is Ying-Ying, a young girl who grows up in the shadow of her beautiful mother, - a long-standing, beloved concubine of Da-ren, a powerful government official of China. Ying-Ying is a half-breed, and doesn't feel like she belongs, so when her mom dies, she is taken into care of her Amah (nanny) and discovers that the woman is not who she seems. Amah is a part of ancient military order, and Ying-Ying becomes her new recruit.
Ironically the only thing that connects Leighton and Ying-Ying - two such different characters, is Herb. Among all the heartbreak and adventure, he is the one Leighton seeks, and the one who ends up teaching Ying-Ying English. Read for yourself about their dramatic journeys in between...
This was a fantastic, absorbing, heartbreaking read, and I wholly recommend it. My Beautiful Enemy finishes Leighton and Ying-Ying's story years later, and I recommend you to grab it and read it straight away after The Hidden Blade.
June 29, 2015
The beginning of this book was tough to get through. The book is divided between Ying-Ying who lives in China and Leighton who lives in England. Both are children in this book, which is a prequel to a Regency romance where they meet as adults. After the 25% mark, it got better and easier to read.
Slight spoilers ahead.
The ending was a bit too "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" for me. Not bad, but I flipped past all of it. Also, what's up with the dumb white guy who doesn't know when to stay inside and when to shoot and KEEP SHOOTING the bad guy until he's STOPPED, not shoot once, wing the bad guy and then try to patch him up! I can't stand TSTL characters. At least he got what he deserved.
All in all, not bad. It got better after the 25% mark and Leighton's story picked up, which was lagging in the beginning. I wish we saw more of Ying-Ying's training, that was pretty cool, I really enjoyed the parts that took place in China. The culture that was shown was the best part. The characters were good, though the "big bad" was a bit one dimension. He was just bad to be bad it seems. The other characters were a bit more multi-dimension and I really liked Ying-Ying. She grew up admirably. And her Amah ROCKED. I will be picking up other books by this author and recommend her to others. Since the main characters were children, no romance in this book. It will be interesting to see how they grow into adulthood and how they interact with each other. A solid 3.5 star book.
My thanks to NetGalley and NLA Digital LLC for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.
Slight spoilers ahead.
The ending was a bit too "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" for me. Not bad, but I flipped past all of it. Also, what's up with the dumb white guy who doesn't know when to stay inside and when to shoot and KEEP SHOOTING the bad guy until he's STOPPED, not shoot once, wing the bad guy and then try to patch him up! I can't stand TSTL characters. At least he got what he deserved.
All in all, not bad. It got better after the 25% mark and Leighton's story picked up, which was lagging in the beginning. I wish we saw more of Ying-Ying's training, that was pretty cool, I really enjoyed the parts that took place in China. The culture that was shown was the best part. The characters were good, though the "big bad" was a bit one dimension. He was just bad to be bad it seems. The other characters were a bit more multi-dimension and I really liked Ying-Ying. She grew up admirably. And her Amah ROCKED. I will be picking up other books by this author and recommend her to others. Since the main characters were children, no romance in this book. It will be interesting to see how they grow into adulthood and how they interact with each other. A solid 3.5 star book.
My thanks to NetGalley and NLA Digital LLC for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.
November 27, 2015
I was reluctant to read it, not sure if what I enjoyed about Sherry Thomas's historical romances would translate well into another genre. And yet, it was fun in a very different way. This novel is odd on a certain level (perhaps in part because I kept expecting certain things to happen in this book, and nope, that's the sequel, I'd been misled by blurbs!), but none more so than because much like the author combines some elements of YA and romance here (it is a prequel to the romance, right?), she also combines wuxia elements with a straightforward, semi-realist Little-Princess-y storyline about childhood oppression that reminded me of all my favourite reads from when I was about nine. The all-too-ideal, too-perfect-for-words male protagonist (seriously, he is a little angel straight out of Burnett) would usually be too much to handle, but somehow Thomas manages to make him fun because of how it calls back to those novels while simultaneously having a different perspective.
To my utter surprise, the male character's storyline was much more compelling for me at first, but later it was Ying-ying's story that gripped me.
To my utter surprise, the male character's storyline was much more compelling for me at first, but later it was Ying-ying's story that gripped me.
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