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Descendant of the Crane by Joan He

Young adult

Descendant of the Crane

Debut

We love supporting debut authors. Congrats, Joan He, on your first book!

by Joan He

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Volume 0
Volume 0

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Yes, she’s embroidered.

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Quick take

A determined queen seeks justice for her deceased father in this Chinese fantasy story with serious Game of Thrones vibes.

Good to know

  • Illustrated icon, 400

    400+ pages

  • Illustrated icon, Feminist

    Feminist

  • Illustrated icon, Family_Drama

    Family drama

  • Illustrated icon, Whodunit

    Whodunit

Synopsis

Princess Hesina of Yan has always been eager to shirk the responsibilities of the crown, dreaming of an unremarkable life. But when her beloved father is found dead, she’s thrust into power, suddenly the queen of a surprisingly unstable kingdom. What’s more, Hesina believes that her father was murdered—and that the killer is someone close to her.

Hesina’s court is packed full of dissemblers and deceivers eager to use the king’s death for political gain, each as plausibly guilty as the next. Her advisers would like her to blame the neighboring kingdom of Kendi’a, whose ruler has been mustering for war. Determined to find her father’s actual killer, Hesina does something desperate: she enlists the aid of a soothsayer—a treasonous act, punishable by death, since magic was outlawed centuries ago.

Using the information provided by the sooth, and uncertain if she can trust her family, Hesina turns to Akira—a brilliant investigator who’s also a convicted criminal with secrets of his own. With the future of Yan at stake, can Hesina find justice for her father? Or will the cost be too high?

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Check out a preview of Descendant of the Crane.

Descendant of the Crane

One

No night was perfect for treason, but this one came close. The three-day mourning ritual had ended; most had gone home to break the fast. Those who lingered in the city streets kept their eyes trained on the Eastern Gate, where the queen would be making her annual return.

Then came the mist. It rolled down the neighboring Shanlong Mountains and embalmed the limestone boulevards. When it descended into the bowels of the palace, so did the girl and her brother.

They emerged from the secret passageways the girl knew well—too well, perhaps, given her identity—and darted between courtyard compounds and walled wards, venturing toward the market sectors. When they arrived at the red-light district’s peeling archway, an ember sparked in the girl’s stomach. Some came to the seediest business quarter of the imperial city to buy warmth. But she?

She had come to buy justice.

Her brother held her back before she could cross. “Milady—”

If he called her “milady” out here, he might as well call her Princess Hesina. “Yes, Caiyan?”

“We can still go back.”

Hesina’s fingers closed around the glass vial dangling from her silk broad-belt. They could. She could let her resolve fade like the wisp of poison bottled in the vial. That would be easy. Figuring out how to live with herself afterward…not so much.

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Why I love it

A young queen-to-be must navigate the high-stakes world of political intrigue, treachery, and murder in this magical debut that is the complex, smart YA fantasy novel I have been dreaming of. A heroine who thinks for herself! Flawed characters! Exciting plot twists! Not to mention exciting courtroom drama in a fantasy book. And it’s a stand-alone novel, which means no waiting to find out what happens next.

When the King of Yan dies, his daughter Princess Hesina discovers evidence that shows it was murder, not natural causes, like the court physician claims. But with no one backing her accusation except her siblings, Hesina must pay a visit to a soothsayer (secret, because the sooth are banned in Yan, and Hesina could lose her life just for seeking their help). But Hesina is so desperate to avenge her father and find his killer, she’ll do anything.

Get ready for hair-tingling twists and turns! In a kingdom where the king has already been murdered, can Hesina really trust anyone—including her own family? Spoiler: Probably not. This book thrilled me, it entertained me, and it moved me, which is everything I could ask of a book. I know you’ll love it too! (Pro tip: For another amazing YA novel that has to do with cranes, be sure to add The Astonishing Color of After to your box!)

Member ratings (511)

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Young adult
View all
The Wild Huntress
Ruthless Vows
As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow
Dragonfruit
The Thirteenth Child
The Reappearance of Rachel Price
Gwen & Art Are Not in Love
Check & Mate
Divine Rivals
Foul Lady Fortune
Anna K Away
I Must Betray You
A Wilderness of Stars
Warrior Girl Unearthed
Bloodmarked
Instructions for Dancing
The Boy in the Red Dress
Color Me In
Not So Pure and Simple
Throw Like a Girl
Frankly in Love
Wayward Son
The Stars and the Blackness Between Them
Anna K
Patron Saints of Nothing
The Kingdom of Back
Yes No Maybe So
Permanent Record
Full Disclosure
Oasis
Where the World Ends
I Have No Secrets
When the Stars Lead to You
All the Bright Places
Saving Zoë
Symptoms of a Heartbreak
All of Us with Wings
The Boy and Girl Who Broke the World
Past Perfect Life
There's Something About Sweetie
Again, But Better
Sky Without Stars
How (Not) to Ask a Boy to Prom
Night Music
Shout
The Deceivers
Top Ten
A Million Junes
And We're Off
Salt to the Sea