Cindy Pon

This book is currently a finalist for the Norton Award, and I read it as part of my Nebula voting packet.

Want is a fascinating book, in large part because of its vivid setting of Taipei. It spins a very realistic-feeling future setting where pollution is wretched and often fatal. The rich survive in fancy suits that provide them fresh air, regulated temperatures, and an overall decontaminated environment. Jason Zhou is part of a group of young people who wants to take down Jin Corp, the show more maker of the suits, a company that is invested in the stratification of society and polluted environment.

It says a great deal about Pon's writing that Jason remains a sympathetic, appealing character, even though he commits a horrific act at the very start of the book: he kidnaps a wealthy young woman for ransom money to finance his planned terrorism campaign. The concept alone would likely prevent me from even trying a book. But Pon makes the scheme work, and makes Jason Zhou a strong, conflicted character.

Some of the plot twists are pretty transparent; you know the young woman he kidnaps will be someone important, and that they will fall for each other later on. Even so, I was hooked, and there were still other developments that surprised me and compelled me to read on. The environmental responsibility issues presented by the book never felt preachy, but their importance to the plot--and the warning about what may happen in the real world--is undeniable. show less

Let's see -- a story about a Chinese handmaiden named Skybright who serves a brat named Zhen Ni. I'm going to be honest, I was already involved. I seldom see diversity in horror books and I love it when I can read about other cultures -- especially when it comes to mythology and horror -- bring it on! Now back to the review. I love Cindy Pon's crisp style (kudos).

This book is the case of still waters run deep (or the least likely person will have demon blood). The whole turning into a demon show more aspect was well thought out and executed. Also in particular, I loved reading how Zhen Ni embraced her forbidden love and thus found her humanity. After all, true love CAN turn the brattiest of brats into a human being. My only real regret with this book was that it ended. I wanted more...ah, there's a part two. show less

Pros: great setting, real people, great extrapolation

Cons: slow at times

Jason Zhou has been living on the streets of Taipei since his mother died when he was thirteen.The haves (yous) and have nots (meis) are at odds in the city, a situation exacerbated by the terrible pollution covering the city in perpetual smog and acid rain, pollution the yous never experience, all but living in suits fitted with filtered oxygen and temperature controls. Zhou’s closest friends have come up with a plan show more to stop the creator of the suits, a man who’s also bribing and threatening - even murdering - politicians to prevent any environmental clean-up. That plan begins with him kidnapping a you girl for ransom. Because bringing down the man is an expensive business.

I loved that the book was set in Taipei. It’s cool inhabiting another city, even if it’s one in an unpleasant extrapolated future. Given the way global warming is being treated, I have no problem believing that the future will be covered in smog and that life expectancy will drop because of it. I also have no problem believing that the rich will isolate themselves from the problems of the world so long as those problems aren’t seen as directly impacting them.

Zhou and his friends all have different strengths, making them fascinating to watch as they work on their plan. I loved that they complemented each other’s skills and that though they didn’t always agree, they worked things out. Daiyu was also great, a mixture of determined, smart, courageous, and feminine. The characters all felt like fully fleshed out people.

The story was interesting, though I found it was slow at times. I never really worried characters wouldn’t pull through, even though there were some tense moments.

This is a great book. show less

This thrilling sequel to Pon's Serpentine (2015) begins soon after the Great Battle between mortals and demons, as Skybright and her compatriots struggle with the fallout and face the looming threat of a new breach to the underworld.

Vivid sensory descriptions make the Chinese-inflected fantasy kingdom of Xia an immersive world. The mortal realm, the heavens, and the underworld are at once enchanting and terrifying, and at the story’s core are dynamic characters who resist confinement to show more archetypes. Torn away from her mortal life, Skybright grows to accept her nature as a serpent demon without rejecting her love for her friends. Zhen Ni, meanwhile, displays extraordinary cunning as she navigates her new duties as a wife while uncovering her husband’s dark plans. Kai Sen’s fierce determination to save Skybright and break the covenant makes him shed his dreamer personality to hone his magic. Stone, immortal intermediary to the gods, learns to respect and admire the mortals as he witnesses the strength of their will. The narration unfolds through their four points of view, shifting perspectives at key scenes rather than chapter by chapter. The resulting dramatic irony tests the characters’ integrity and their faith in one another. Still, they are impressively wise and compassionate, acting, when pressed, out of loyalty rather than bitterness.

A brilliant second act that can be read alone. (Fantasy. 15 & up)

-Kirkus Review show less