Book Review: ‘The Dragon Warrior” (The Dragon Warrior #1) by Katie Zhao

‘The Dragon Warrior” by Katie Zhao (2019)

Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Fiction

Page Length: 352 pages (hardcover edition)

Synopsis:

As a member of the Jade Society, twelve-year-old Faryn Liu dreams of honoring her family and the gods by becoming a warrior. But the Society has shunned Faryn and her brother Alex ever since their father disappeared years ago, forcing them to train in secret.

Then, during an errand into San Francisco, Faryn stumbles into a battle with a demon–and helps defeat it. She just might be the fabled Heaven Breaker, a powerful warrior meant to work for the all-mighty deity, the Jade Emperor, by commanding an army of dragons to defeat the demons. That is, if she can prove her worth and find the island of the immortals before the Lunar New Year.

With Alex and other unlikely allies at her side, Faryn sets off on a daring quest across Chinatowns. But becoming the Heaven Breaker will require more sacrifices than she first realized . . . What will Faryn be willing to give up to claim her destiny? (description from Goodreads)

Review:

Set in San Francisco, The Dragon Warrior, follows the story of Faryn who is a part of the Jade Society. The society was created to make a group of warriors to take down demons. However, Faryn and her family are treated like outcasts due to her father’s disappearance which is a total mystery. She has her Grandpa and brother close by her side, but longs for her mother (who passed away) and her father (to come home). She struggles with the uncertainty of it all and wonders if she truly belongs in the Jade Society. Things change for Faryn when she is revealed to be a Heaven Breaker. Will she be able to take on her new position?

Faryn is a confident young girl with a heavy weight on her shoulders. But she proves to herself and the readers that time and time again she can hold her own in battle. She can sometimes be a bit quick-tempered, but has a good heart. She stands firm in what she believes in and stands up for others. The traits make her a character you can root for and connect with on a deeper level. We watch her struggle with her mixed heritage and insecurities on her journey as she learns to love herself.

This is a novel about family, growing up, self-love, and finding your voice. Each of the characters goes on their own self-growth journey throughout the big adventure. Facing their greatest obstacles in the missions they’ve been given by the Gods and Deities helps them to break their own boundaries.

I loved that this book was full of such rich Chinese culture and how it explored the Diaspora through folklore. In addition, the folklore aspects gave the book very magical qualities. There were so many action packed scenes full of battles, dragons soaring through the skies, and so much more! I couldn’t wait to see what would happen next and I was constantly entertained by what would happen next.

This novel was a very exciting read and I look forward to reading the next installment in the series.

TW: Some Violence, Death

Final Verdict: