Descendant of the Crane

By: Joan He

Narrated by: Nancy Wu

Length: 12 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

Tyrants cut out hearts. Rulers sacrifice their own.

Princess Hesina of Yan has always been eager to shirk the responsibilities of the crown, but when her beloved father is murdered, she's thrust into power, suddenly the queen of an unstable kingdom. Determined to find her father's killer, Hesina does something desperate: she enlists the aid of a soothsayer - a treasonous act, punishable by death…because in Yan, magic was outlawed centuries ago.

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

In this shimmering Chinese-inspired fantasy, debut author Joan He introduces a determined and vulnerable young heroine struggling to do right in a world brimming with deception.

©2019 Dreamscape Media, LLC (P)2019 Dreamscape Media, LLC

Great work! I can’t wait for more Joan He

I read this for my book club podcast Dog Ears and Time Stamps and I absolutely loved it! So much fun to read and I cannot wait for more from Joan He

Sexy

Akira’s voice is the hottest thing I have ever heard in all my life. This whole story was enchanting, with suspense at every corner. However, it would not be what it is without Akira’s smoldering bad-boy merchant robber persona romancing Hasinna’s practical royal presence. Each of the characters are well written, with Li Lien’s comic relief shining in a tale full of plots, murders, and tragedies; Hasinna’s adept decision making and queenly restraint hailing as superior; and Akira’s witty and mysterious lone-wolf act crowning the whole with attractive charisma. I cannot tell you how each scene that Akira and Hasinna are inches apart, weakened and vulnerable to the other’s prying eyes or otherwise salaciously forbidden advances, renders me trembling and scorching hot to the bone every time. Also the plotting, scheming, and queenly decision-making/treason is great too. I love Nancy Wu and Joan He for this masterpiece of an art.

it’s good but…

It’s a really good story, but it feels a little rushed towards the end. It also jumps a bit here and there and I had to go back a minute or so to kinda try to understand what was happening. But overall a good story. Leaves an opening for part 2 maybe? Also Nancy Wu is the best narrator audible has!!!

Good Characters, frustrating ending

SPOILERS*****
I want to start by saying this story is well written with very fleshed out characters each with their own ideals and backgrounds. The way they interact is realistic and the world building is on point. However.

I found myself incredibly frustrated at the ending. While I love open endings, the way it ended left so many loose threads That will never lead to a second book. Hesina makes a plan to take back her throne that is genuinely intriguing, the twist with Caiyan's backstory-and his motivations- made sense but the sacrifice of Lillian felt cheap, especially after Mei.

I'm not upset with the author about not having a second story, but the ending needed cleaning up just a chapter more to avoid the immense frustration I was left with.

3.5 stars

Maybe I zoned out or have dyslexic hearing but I kept getting lot, the big plot twist is great though.

Wishing there was a sequel!

Surprising twists and turns, realistic heroine, interesting cultural settings and dress, narration was just right.