Scott Lauder

This was quite the adventure, but it was also very much a first installment.
On this journey, we encounter China in both past and present times, and the story unfolds within BOTH timelines (and somewhere in between, but that's getting ahead of ourselves), eventually weaving together...but only just. I admit, until the stories began to comingle, I was much more invested in the PAST versus present.

Story wise...I loved how the authors made sure to separate the past and present sections to allow the reader to fully immerse themselves in the story without battling the "when am I" question along the way. I adored the rich history and lore that was shared, as well as how it was brought to life between the pages. They made you feel for every character, delving into the WHY behind their actions, even allowing you to feel sorrow for the predicaments they land themselves in, be they a GOOD person or one of the shall we say "misguided". I hate to say it, but things really started to get interesting around the time we had to call it quits...but, it does make the anticipation of the next one that much sweeter!


**copy received for review; opinions are my own… (meer)