This book was good but it wasn't quite right for me. The storyline was confusing and I had to keep re-reading parts to check if I had understood what I read, the parts I did understand had me intrigued and wanted to keep going. The main character was a bit love-hate for me,. I'm all for a character who is cunning and strong, but doing anything she can to get what she wants sometimes doesn't work for me, and I found that with this book. I do love Joan's writing and I think I will give the second book a shot. I can see why people would love this book, and I hoped it would.

“Coincidences are like deities: everyone wants to believe in them.”

Thrust into a world of warlords and strategy. We follow Zephyr as she follows her path from orphan to greatness. With ruthless precision she will make decisions that her leader and those around her wouldn’t. Because wining is oh so more important than morality. It is this that ties down Zephyrs bones, bleeding weakness as the army takes on refugees and villagers - all fleeing the mass of soldiers that follow. The status quo of the Xin Empires has been in place for years. The hero warlord now the pretender to the throne. With the little empress pleading for freedom, and Ren - Zephyrs leader, hears her call. In Zephyrs bones knows she is destined for greatness, for more. Not because of bloodline, gods, or magic. But because she has bled for each success and each loss. Each step forwards on the map. Rens army has been on the retreat north for days now. Miasma is catching up, but strategy is all she knows and she will see blood.

Jumping into this book is like jumping into a game of chess, but you arent quite certain of the rules or how the pieces move. But then halfway through it turns into a game of Poker. In some senses this book felt like book two in a series, things happen so fast, relationships are created and destroyed so quickly. This book is about battle tactics, political tactics and the bare practicalities of gureilla warfare far more than it is a chosen one story. I am so excited for the sequels release!

Big thanks to Joan He and @netgalley for this arc

4.5 stars
i liked this so much more than i thought i would. i really enjoyed following the politics and strategies and how the main character navigated the problems in her way, especially towards the end. i didn’t completely like the way the big twist was written, it just felt too fast and didn’t really allow the main character to have a proper reaction to anything. apart from that though it was great and i’m so annoyed i read this now because i need the sequel!!

This romance of the three kingdoms retelling was like a breath of fresh air! Filled with gorgeous world building, high stakes, epic twists and characters that will have you rooting for them to either win or lose!

And just look at the cover!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

i've been trying to read this for a while, and yet seem to lack any motivation to do so. i have gotten roughly 20% in and i'm not feeling particularly interested in the story. the writing style is a bit too on the nose for me, e.g. 'i did this. i thought this. then i did this' and the main characters own arrogance is hard to look past in order to want to root for her.

maybe i'll come around and pick this up again, give it another go. but for now, i'm just not really in immersed in this world, and i think that is something this book needs in order to understand and enjoy it.

I tried to read this book a month ago and I had to put it down and since then, I haven’t been able to put it back up and get it into it. To me this book was a little boring. It wasn’t at all what I thought it was going to be. It was and ok story it just wasn’t interesting enough for me to stay committed to finishing it. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

**I was provided with an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**

It breaks my heart to say this but I did not enjoy this book as much as I had hoped to :(
I absolutely loved both of Joan He’s previous books, I just felt like there was something missing for me in this one that I can’t entirely put my finger on.

Strike the Zither is a reimagining of the Chinese epic Three Kingdoms with the twist that the leading characters are predominantly female – it has such an noteworthy and unique premise but I just couldn’t click with the story.

Don’t get me wrong He’s writing and twisty storytelling is as brilliant as ever here and the characters were interesting and well established enough. However, the fast pacing with not much action was reminiscent of She Who Became the Sun and Daughter of the Moon Goddess, two other reads that I didn’t vibe with this year for similar reasons.
Everything was happening too fast for me, relationships and alliances included, and then the big plot twist didn’t shock me at all, I just skimmed over it and continued reading without much other thought.

Maybe being more familiar with the original story that this was inspired by would have given me a better understanding and appreciation for the nuances and links but unfortunately this wasn’t my cup of tea so I doubt I will be picking up the sequel.

If you’re a fan of historical c-dramas and Wuxia then I’d definitely recommend checking it out though!
Final Rating – 3.25/5 Stars

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I really enjoyed this book. According to the author, it's a female twist on a Chinese classic, and I think the female characters worked really well. The twists were fun and not predictable (for me at least), and I'm looking forward to seeing how the plot plays out in the next book. Joan He seems to write wonderfully unique stories exploring the relationships between humans and other entities, whether it be AI or gods.

Strike the Zither is an epic YA fantasy inspired by Three Kingdoms, one of the Four Classics of Chinese Literature. This book didn’t disappoint! Despite having no prior knowledge of Three Kingdom, I greatly enjoyed reading STZ, so don't be afraid to give it a go if that's what's holding you back. It was really well-written and easy to read, with a diverse array of characters, and a solid plot.

The first thing you notice about Zephr, our protagonist, is that she isn’t one to back down, and she knows her own worth. I loved having her as the protagonist because she was such a distinct narrator. It was entertaining to watch her crafty and witty schemes, and her attempt to sort through internal conflicts while carrying the lives of thoughsands.

But Zephr isn’t the only one to keep an eye on! All of the characters were entertaining and novel. I loved that women held leadership roles, served as generals, and served as strategists—some were witty, some were strong, but they all had their own strengths and weaknesses, and it was interesting to see how the characters perceived their own and others'. The interactions between Zephr, Ren, and her sword sisters were fascinating to read about. And of course, I can’t forget Crow. The rivalry and exchanges between Zephr and Crow left me invested as I wondered what he might be planning and whether or not he could be trusted.

I'll admit that the second half took me by surprise. I'm not sure how I feel about the sudden development in the story, which I can't really discuss without spoiling anything, but while I didn't get into it right away, it didn't take away from the story, and I'm still excited to read the sequel.

Overall, if you love found family, rivals, and an overly confident protagonist, I would highly recommend this book.

[Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sending me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!]

OMG this book is amazing!! It lived up to the hype and excitement of this book and I can’t wait for the rest of the world to read it! This definitely has the potential to become the next booktok book!

I actually liked this book more than I thought I would. Was too sure at the start as it is straight in with the action and first person perspective, but the first person makes sense later on.

I don't know the three kingdoms original story but really enjoyed this story the main character was interesting as she's not really just 1 character (it makes sense when you read it) Some of the names felt odd but they are actually nicknames so its fine and I got used to it.

I'm interested to see where this story goes in the next one. Want Zephyr and Crow to be together loved their story though I know its pretty much impossible but who knows. Guess we shall see in the next book.

I have yet to finish this book however I wanted to be able to review what I have read before it was archived.

So far this book is enchanting and full of intrigue. The setting of both time and inspiration of Chinese literature creates a beautiful. I think the characters are interesting and can't wait to be able to finish the book and see how the story unfolds.

There is something about Joan He’s writing that always has me absolutely hooked, and there’s always a nice little twist in there that I never see coming, and this is another fine example of that. I am absolutely addicted to her work and will continue to read everything she writes. The characters, the plot, all of it was so intriguing and enthralling and I just loved it so much

A stunning novel by a well-known author!

I haven't read her other books, but I just loved the sound of this. The art, writing and plot were mesmerising and immediately drew me in. The mystery element was fantastic and I loved how well executed the concept was! Highly recommend!

After over a month, I decided to pick this book back up and give it a second chance. First of all, Strike the Zither' has a beautifully illustrated cover - that's what drew me into reading this book - and the plot line is great. I also liked Zephyr's character and the fact that this book is based on Chinese culture with a touch of C-drama vibes. However, the writing style just isn't it. I felt like I was reading a script for a movie, rather than a book. Based on the cover, the author, the description, and the fact that I gave it a second chance, I really expected myself to enjoy this book more than I did.

My rating: 1.5/5 ⭐️

Thank you to the author, Joan He, and Text Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinions 💛

Thank You to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book was good, and I enjoyed reading it. The storyline itself was incredibly confusing to understand with all the characters. However, after my confusion, I was able to enjoy the story! Zephyr was an interesting character from the beginning, and I loved how cunning she was, and how she was willing to do anything to get what she wanted. One thing I loved in this story was the fact that all the main people in power were women, it made the story more interesting. I will say while the political system and magic were hard to understand, I definitely want to know what happens in the next book!!

strike the zither 🏹🗡 by joan he
ya high fantasy, ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

strike the zither is a marvellous fantasy novel that i thoroughly enjoyed. it’s a story of gods and strategists and warriors, of friends and loves and family. it’s a story of betrayal and what happens when immortals dance with fate.

‘my mind is my light, my candle. the shadow flees me, not the other way around.’

the first thing that draws your eye when you open the novel is the stunning character art, but the world illustrated by the author is even more detailed and wonderful to explore. while i do think having so many settings slightly detracted from the flow of the plot, i really loved the world building and the vivid imagery built by the author.

another element i think was really effective was the fast-paced nature of the plot. whilst i really enjoy books that creep along with you as you explore characters and scenes and moments, i think for the audience that this book is aimed at this pacing is a great approach and will keep young teens gripped until the last page. this book has the potential to be the ya version of the poppy war, one of my all time favourite fantasies.

i loved that each character had a sort of code name and i think it was done really effectively as over time you grow to understand just how well these names suit the characters. i especially loved giggling every time the horse, rice cake, was mentioned, i think he’ll be a fan favourite :)

overall i would really recommend this to readers aged 12-14 looking for their next favourite fantasy! i’m excited to see what else this author writes in the future.

Zephyr is a strategist under the leadership of Xin Ren. Their goal is to take down the puppet empress on the throne and restore order to the realm which was broken into three factions when Miasma seized power. But with opposition on every side, will Zephyr be willing to sacrifice everything she has for the good of her people?

I knew next to nothing about this book going in but I kept hearing about it and the cover is stunning so thank you Netgalley for providing me with a copy! For anyone who hasn't read this book but wants to, the first half is... rough. I don't know how else to explain it. The plot was intriguing enough but then I started to get bored and I couldn't see how the author could possibly fill another 200 pages worth of this book. However. Once we hit the 60% marker, my mind was blown!

It was possibly one of the best turnarounds I've ever read as my opinions of this book did a full 180. Suddenly everything made sense and I came to love and respect Zephyr as a character so much! I can't say yet how I feel about Crow. I didn't really enjoy the snippet of romance we got between him and Zephyr as I felt like the book was good enough to stand on it's own without needing a love interest but I think we're promised more in book 2 so maybe my opinions will change! Overall, when everything came together I could not get enough of this book! I'm just sad now that I'll have to wait so long for a sequel 😢 Happy Reading :)

"Death may have spared me then, but I know it's there, a lingering shadow. Some people have the physical abilities to outrun it. I don't bother. My mind is my light, my candle. The shadow flees me, not the other way around."

Strike the Zither was a richly imaginative retelling of the Three Kingdoms. I loved the characters and Zephyr's whole personality. I will admit that I was very confused at the start and often got the characters mixed up but I still could not put the book down.
I loved all of the themes and tropes that the author stuffed into this books! It was the perfect mix of action, found family and war politics. I loved reading about the strategies Zephyr came up with and the dynamic between her and all the other side characters. Found family and infiltrating enemy camps are my two all time favourite tropes and I love how they were incorporated into this story. There were also some bad-ass female characters, who were also very real at the same time.
And the plot twists!! I saw one of the big ones but that ending!! I did not see that coming and I don't think I am going to be able wait for the next book!

Overall I just loved the intricate plot, beautiful writing and cultural aspects. While Zephyr was my favourite character I loved all of the side characters and the plans that Zephyr concocted. It was a great fast paced read that I could never put down.
Also special mention to the character illustrations in the front, while they got messed up in my ebook I still loved them so much!

Thanks to netgalley and Text publishing for the eARC! All thoughts are my own this did not impact my review.

Strike the Zither was a disappointing read. When I started the book, I thought Joan He had a killer voice. But sadly, that's all she had.
The characters are forced together to serve the plot with no visible development from one scene to another. Zephyr's actions are supposed to be smart but the lack of any real character arcs at all made her decisions seem foolish. As a fan of the Epic of The Three Kingdoms, I was extremely disappointed. Not recommended.