Book description
China, 1826. The sun is setting on the golden age of piracy, and the legendary Red Banner Fleet, the scourge of the South China Sea, is no more.
Sheltered her whole life, Xiang desperately wants to set sail and explore like her late father. Her only memento of him is…
Why read it?
1 author picked A Clash of Steel as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?
I’m a huge fan of queer re-tellings (as you can probably sense from this list) as well as lush, detailed historical fiction, and C.B. Lee delivers both in this vivid, adrenaline-spiking adventure. My favorite thing about this story is how Lee takes the bones of Treasure Island and reanimates them, bringing a new perspective to a classic by shifting the focus from traditional Western pirate narratives. Riding the waves with Xiang as she discovers her own identity and family history is an absolute delight, and seeing her relationship with Anh grow is a beautiful thrill.
From A.E.'s list on queer swashbuckling.
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