Dragon Springs Road by Janie Chang
Publisher: January 10th 2017 by HarperAvenue (an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.)
Page Length: 400 pages
I received Dragon Springs Road through HarperCollins HCC First Look program and I was so excited to read it! The story sounded very intriguing from the synopsis with a lot of different elements at play. I feel so lucky to have been a recipient of this Advanced Reader’s Copy and to be able to promote it now. I felt this novel was such a treasure and I have so much to say about it that I hope I do it justice! Dragon Springs Road is a bit of historical fiction, folklore, romance and mystery all wrapped into one!
*Check out what the Harper Collins HCC First Look program is all about here!
{Synopsis from Goodreads}
From the author of Three Souls comes a vividly imagined and haunting new novel set in early 20th century Shanghai—a story of friendship, heartbreak, and history that follows a young Eurasian orphan’s search for her long-lost mother.
That night I dreamed that I had wandered out to Dragon Springs Road all on my own, when a dreadful knowledge seized me that my mother had gone away never to return . . .
In 1908, Jialing is only seven years old when she is abandoned in the courtyard of a once-lavish estate outside Shanghai. Jialing is zazhong—Eurasian—and faces a lifetime of contempt from both Chinese and Europeans. Until now she’s led a secluded life behind courtyard walls, but without her mother’s protection, she can survive only if the estate’s new owners, the Yang family, agree to take her in.
Jialing finds allies in Anjuin, the eldest Yang daughter, and Fox, an animal spirit who has lived in the courtyard for centuries. But Jialing’s life as the Yangs’ bondservant changes unexpectedly when she befriends a young English girl who then mysteriously vanishes.
Murder, political intrigue, jealousy, forbidden love … Jialing confronts them all as she grows into womanhood during the tumultuous early years of the Chinese republic, always hopeful of finding her long-lost mother. Through every turn she is guided, both by Fox and by her own strength of spirit, away from the shadows of her past toward a very different fate, if she has the courage to accept it.
*****
Initial Thoughts
I love that Janie Chang explored an area of history of China that I haven’t come across before. I had no idea of the discrimination that Eurasian children and adults faced through the earlier 20th century. Jialing led a hard life with a lot of contempt from others who did not understand that she was still just a person trying to find her way as best as she could.
The ever-changing dynamics
I loved reading about the family dynamics, I found it very interesting. After losing her mother, Jialing is taken in by the Yang’s to be their bondservant, introducing a new way of life but a very common one for Jialing’s status in the 20th century. The head of the household is always the senior father of the house and then the first born son. The family was very fascinating as this was still a time that it was culturally acceptable for a husband to have multiple wives. There are two wives present in this household. You read a lot about the interactions between the family and Jialing alongside what is continually happening with Chinese government and regime as the times begin their early modern transition. So you get this really interesting dynamic of learning about the changes of the family as the different laws and views come into play with every growing year.
The most darling friendship
Jialing takes refuge with Anjuin, the eldest Yang daughter, a couple years older than her. Jialing and Anjuin develop a very kind friendship considering Jialing’s position in the Yang family but I think this speaks volumes to what kind of person Anjuin is, considering the time period and her family’s status. Anjuin is a very special person in this book, more than what she’s given credit for, I believe.
Favourite character?
Fox is definitely my favourite character. Janie Chang explores the novel with some folklore. It reminds me of Mulan and Mushu. Mushu was sent by the gods to help Mulan be the person she was meant to be. Well, I think Fox is the same. She is very sassy though and I love it!
While we’re on the subject of characters; Jialing is the main character and the story is told from her point of view. I like that Chang did not make Jialing a perfect character, she has flaws just like everybody and she can’t help but succumb to a wrong decision every once and awhile. This is what makes the story more believable, likable and relatable.
Writing Style
The writing is very lovely. Chang does an excellent job of making you feel as though you are right there alongside Jialing as she grows up and experiences everything. You go through the emotions with her; sadness, desperation, frustration and joy to name a few.
More about the Author
Janie Chang lives in Vancouver, Canada. She is a graduate of The Writer’s Studio at Simon Fraser University. Janie’s first novel, Three Souls, was a finalist for the 2014 BC Book Prizes Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize. She likes to go back to her family’s roots with her stories as she grew up listening to stories of her ancestors encountering magical beings, ghosts, and folklore characters as well as life in a small Chinese town before the Second World War. Dragon Springs Road is her second novel. You can follow her @ her website here!
Rating Time! 1(low) – 10(high)
Drama: 9
Fantasy: 4
Historical: 9
Mystery: 5
Romance: 6
Overall Rating: ****/5
Recommend?
YES! I would definitely recommend to anyone who likes reading about different time periods and learning about how other cultures went about their daily lives. As I said before, I feel Chang has brought this era under a new light with her novel as you discover Jialing’s possibilities in the early 20th century China. I would rate this novel as PG- 13. There are no harsh words or sexually explicit content. It was a very nice read that flowed well and kept me up way past my bedtime so I could finish it. I was pleasantly surprised overall by the story and the characters Chang has crafted and I hope that many other readers find their way to this endearing novel.
Dragon Spring Roads will be on sale January 10th, 2017! Will you get a copy? Let me know in the comments below!
Happy Reading!
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