A "superb fantasy saga" (Helene Wecker) of martial arts and magic,
about what happens when a prophesied hero is not the chosen one after
all--but has to work with a band of unlikely allies to save the kingdom
anyway, from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Lives
of Tao
"An ambitious and touching exploration of disillusionment in faith,
tradition, and family--a glorious reinvention of fantasy and wuxia
tropes."--Naomi Novik, New York Times bestselling author of A Deadly
Education
ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: Gizmodo, Kirkus Reviews, The
Quill to Live
So many stories begin the same way: With a prophecy. A chosen one. And
the inevitable quest to slay a villain, save the kingdom, and fulfill a
grand destiny.
But this is not that kind of story.
It does begin with a prophecy: A child will rise to defeat the Eternal
Khan, a cruel immortal god-king, and save the kingdom.
And that prophecy did anoint a hero, Jian, raised since birth in luxury
and splendor, and celebrated before he has won a single battle.
But that's when the story hits its first twist: The prophecy is wrong.
What follows is a story more wondrous than any prophecy could foresee,
and with many unexpected heroes: Taishi, an older woman who is the
greatest grandmaster of magical martial arts in the kingdom but who
thought her adventuring days were all behind her; Sali, a straitlaced
warrior who learns the rules may no longer apply when the leader to whom
she pledged her life is gone; and Qisami, a chaotic assassin who takes a
little too much pleasure in the kill.
And Jian himself, who has to find a way to become what he no longer
believes he can be--a hero after all.
