Skip to main content

Sound the Gong by Joan He

I bought "Sound the Gong" by Joan He as it was the sequel to "Strike the Zither" which I have read before and loved.  Though it is a sequel, it is meant to be read right after "Strike the Zither" and should probably be considered one book broken up into two parts and read together.  I would not read "Sound the Gong" as a stand alone.  The series is roughly based off the story of the Three Kingdoms, but with a mainly female cast.  "Sound the Gong" starts off right after Zephyr makes the betrayal realization at the end of "Strike the Zither."  It follows Zephyr's journey as she must decide what she is willing to sacrifice to get a chance to change fate and meet her goals to lead Xin Ren to victory.  Without giving too much away, it is a story of betrayal, forgiveness, hope, despair, and so much more in an emotional rollercoaster.  Will Zephyr ultimately get what she wants or will she have lost everything just for the chance?  Will she be able to create a better or longer future for the people who have become important to her?  You'll have to read it yourself to find out the conclusion.  I highly recommend the series if you enjoy fantasy and/or war stories.

I was lucky enough to pre-order the book and get a beautiful metal bookmark and the bonus story epilogue in physical form.  This epilogue should be read after finishing "Sound the Gong" and, without adding spoilers, it provides a little extra something for Crow's ever after.

As a teacher, I like this book because it showcases many flawed characters who don't always succeed.  It doesn't have your traditional happy ending where everything is solved and tied up nicely with a bow.  This is very reflective of real life and emphasizes how life goes on whether you succeed or not, but you have to keep moving forward regardless.

As a cosplayer, most of the outfits are gorgeous and the story comes with some lovely photo art for inspiration.  If you like more tradional Chinese clothing styles, or female warriors, this series has a lot to offer you.  Prop makers would have a lot of fun making the signature weapons of each of the characters as well.  It is a gorgeous story with gorgeous art.

#joanhe #soundthegong #threekingdoms #bookreview 



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Ancord Bluetooth Speaker from FREEWISE Review

Hey all! I love this mini Bluetooth stereo from FREEWISE. It is great for us cosplayers who like to make videos of us in character or sing our favorite songs from the series. Also, pay attention to this review because I may be GIVING AWAY one of these great speakers soon! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01GR46AVU/ About the Seller: The seller was very prompt in sending the package and it arrived on time. I did not need to contact the seller and everything was packaged well. Video Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-42QM_6W0o About the Product: I chose to review the blue Ancord Bluetooth Speaker from FREEWISE but it actually comes in three colors: blue, rose gold, and silver. The speaker comes with a connector so you can hang it off your phone, a charging cord (though it can be any mini USB cord as my phone charger works perfectly with it), and directions. It is pretty easy to set up even without the directions (I should know as I accidentally left the direction...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Scarlet Alchemist by Kylie Lee Baker

  I received an ARC of this book.  I originally noticed it because of it's beautiful cover, which led me to read the description and request the ARC. When Dreams Aren't What You Expect Them To Be The Scarlet Alchemist is a fantasy that is set in a China like world when alchemy is real.  You get a taste of Chinese culture in a fantasy setting.  Zilan dreams of becoming a royal alchemist to help her family beat poverty.  She fights her way up to achieve her dream, only supported by her cousins and a powerless prince, as everyone one else tries to continuously tear her down. Only for reality to come crashing down on her hard.  Without spoiling the story, it's a page turner where you simultanously root for Zilan, want her to save the world, while totally understanding both the good and bad choices she makes to survive.  It's an interesting fantasy that really plays on the readers' emotions as Zilan faces many moral choices that determine who she becomes. I...
Post a Comment
Read more

Brown Wig with Colored Tips from TinyUnicorn Review

Hey all! I love this brown wig with colored tips from TinyUnicorn. It is great for us cosplayers who like to do a variety of original characters or just want a fun wig for day to day wear. https://www.amazon.com/TINYUNICORN/ About the Seller: Awesome seller. Have worked with them before and items always arrive quickly and is of good quality. About the Product: One of the nice things about this wig from TinyUnicorn is the fact that it is mostly a natural color. If you are like me and have brown hair, it is a lot easier to hide your natural hair under the wig without worrying about those stay hairs or edges that will often show especially if you are like me and struggle to secure the wig (I often have help with wigs but when I don't they will slide a little), your hair is not very noticeable when the wig slides. I tested the wig with a hair straightener and it is heat resistant. The dark blues and greens add a nice touch on the tips of the wig. When I wore the wig out, qu...
Post a Comment
Read more