Ms. Hen Reviews The Grace of Kings
The Grace of Kings
Ken Liu
Saga Press
2015
Ms. Hen came to read this novel because she decided she wants to try to read more fantasy series. She shies away from reading series, because of the time necessary, but she read two collections of short stories by this author, and he translated The Three Body Problem, so she decided to read this, and was not disappointed.
This novel is a medieval fantasy based on Asian folklore, but is its own world. The kingdom of Dara is an island containing many countries. In the beginning of the novel the reader meets Mata when he is young, who is a prince who has lost his kingdom. He has two pupils and grows to be over eight feet tall. Kuni is a young man who likes to have fun, and gets into trouble, but is destined for much more.
The two become friends, and after that, rivals. Kuni marries Jia; she does so though he has no prospects, but he rises to great heights. Kuni and Mata are surround by people who help them. Mata plows through cities in the war, and is a fierce warrior, but Kuni is more peaceful, and benevolent. Both men are complex.
When Kuni and Jia first start dating, she teaches him about the herbs that grow around them, since she is an herbalist and healer. She tells him that her favorite flower is the dandelion because it is resilient, and can spread its seeds for miles, and grows where it is unexpected, and has many uses. She explains that a dandelion is a weed, but it’s pretty, and hardy, like people who are unexpectedly strong. This series is called The Dandelion Dynasty for that reason.
The worldbuilding in this novel is excellent. So many details appear, Ms. Hen thinks this book must have taken a lot of time to write. She read the author created the world with his wife, Lisa.
Even though this is a fantasy epic, and it’s mostly about war and men fighting, a lot of strong women characters appear. Jia and Risana, Kuni’s wives, Gin Mazotti, the marshal of Kuni’s army, and Princess Kikomi, the princess of Amu who sacrifices herself to save her country, are all well-drawn interesting women. In this culture, women are seen as not always fit for men’s work, but these characters prove that idea wrong over and over again.
Some chickens made an appearance in this novel, which Ms. Hen appreciated. Kuni is talking to Than, and he tells Kuni, “ ‘Of course. You look like a plucked chicken. You’d attract eagles and vultures from miles around.’ “. A nun says to a beggar who is actually a god, “ ‘Keep on hovering around Mata like a hen in disguise.’ “
Gods show up in this novel and decide the fates of the warriors and how the war will be fought. Ms. Hen thinks that the god’s conversations are charming, and adds to the novel.
Ms. Hen enjoyed this book. She thought it was a quicker read than she expected it to be. She wasn’t bogged down by science, and the characters were fascinating. She did become a little bored with talk of war, but most of the book is captivating and beautifully written. She will read the next novel in the series, when the time is right.