Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Stormdancer (The Lotus War #1)

by Jay Kristoff (Goodreads Author)

3.92 of 5 stars 3.92 · rating details · 2,309 ratings · 795 reviews

Griffins are supposed to be extinct. So when Yukiko and her warrior father Masaru are sent to capture one for the Shogun, they fear that their lives are over. Everyone knows what happens to those who fail him, no matter how hopeless the task.

But the mission proves far less impossible, and far more deadly, than anyone expects – and soon Yukiko finds herself stranded: a youn...more

Paperback, 451 pages

Published September 1st 2012 by Tor UK

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

2012 Debut Authors (Young Adult & Middle Grade)

73rd out of 794 books — 4,497 voters

September 2012

6th out of 183 books — 261 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 3,000)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Jul 10, 2012 Jay Kristoff added it · (Review from the author) · review of another edition

Edit 10 July: You can read the first three chapters of STORMDANCER all typeset and logo'ed and whatnot here.

STORMDANCER is my book, so it should go without saying that I love it in the pants. I love it more than that moment at the end of Top Gun when Val Kilmer and Tom Cruise have just killed the bejeezus out of all those commies and Val is all like "You can ~~kiss me on the mouth~~ be my wingman anytime" and the music swells and some deckhand is just wailing on an electric guitar somewhere in the b...more

440 likes · like · see review

Oct 25, 2012 Wendy Darling rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012-publication, dystopian-post-apocalyptic-utopian, young-adult, smp, aussies, september, male-ya-author, steampunk, asian, supportive-author, 2012-favorites, read-2012, fantasy

Read our hilarious and informative interview with Buruu! THERE ARE MORE ARASHITORA. Ahem.

4.5 stars When a book arrives with a massive amount of fanfare, in the form of glowing advance praise and accompanied an agreebly affable author, it's necessary to take a step away from all the hype to ensure that a review isn't influenced by outside factors. Which I did--I avoided reviews, fled the country (okay, that wasn't just to read this book), and read it away from much of the joyful noise that surrou...more

159 likes · like · see review

Sep 05, 2012 Cyna rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

WARNING WARNING. UNPOPULAR OPINION INCOMING.

This book made me really fucking mad.

I'll admit, I was a little leery of Stormdancer from the start - Japanese steampunk sounds cool, but coming from a white western author, the chances of problematic weeaboo fuckery are high. Exoticization. Romanticization. Plain old appropriation. Yet for some reason, I didn't really peg Stormdancer as a weeaboo outing. I don't know why. There was no good reason, and yet, I expected Kristoff to be a scholar of some...more

207 likes · like · see review

Jan 14, 2013 Steph Sinclair rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Trick question? EVERYONE!

Recommended to Steph by: Myself because I'm awesome.

Shelves: young-adult, steampunk, dystopian, st-martins-press, 2012-release, 2-am-or-later, 2012-favs, 2014-release, 2012-reads, action-packed, ass-kickin-heroine, aussie, awesome, best-characters, didn-t-disappoint, deserves-every-one-of-those-stars, e-arc, ebook, girls-rule-and-boys-drool, high-fantasy, i-didn-t-see-that-coming, i-loved-it, i-need-the-next-book-like-yesterday, i-need-to-buy-this-book, netgalley, omg-that-ending, oh-yeah-baby, original-and-creative, pretty-covers, pure-win, smart-heroine, superb-world-building, strong-heroine, yeah-baby-5-stars, gave-away

The first thing that came to my mind after finishing Stormdancer was the very eloquent: WHOA! The second more composed chain of thought was something along the lines of: Why yes, that *was* just as badass as its cover suggested. Stormdancer had it all for me. Richly crafted world building, carefully placed humor, realistic characters, unpredictable storyline... I mean, I could go on and on here! This book was freakin' awesome! I went into Stormdancer expecting to fall in love with it because it...more

108 likes · like · see review

Nov 11, 2012 Nessa rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, review, not-my-cup-of-earl-grey-tea

Well, if there's one book that has had a hype machine going for it this year, it's Jay Kristoff's Stormdancer. No, not a hype machine. More like a hype combine harvester. I've seen this book being talked about so much over the past year, and naturally, I bought into the hype. It had to be good if so many people were talking about it, right?

Stormdancer tells the story of Yukiko Kitsune, who joins her father on a hunt for a rare beast - an arashitora, which literally translates to 'thunder tiger'....more

98 likes · like · see review

Sep 17, 2012 Krystle rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

WARNING! EXCESSIVE LENGTH AND ONE ANGRY WOMAN!

I really have no idea how I’m going to do this review when everyone else expressed everything I wanted to say in such an eloquent and succinct manner, especially Cyna’s review.

You have no idea how badly, badly, I wanted this book to turn out brilliant and smashing and turn into one of those amazingly successful books that takes the publishing world by storm. Even more so when the absolutely gorgeous and fantastic covers that came out which weren’t wh...more

84 likes · like · see review

Aug 09, 2012 Kat Kennedy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: australian-writer, fun-fantasy, kat-s-book-reviews, leaves-awesomeness-behind, steampunk-supreme, to-ya-or-not-to-ya

I need to take a moment to do something before beginning this review.

applause

Stormdancer is a fantasy nerdgasm, written by a fantasy nerd, for the fantasy nerds – and if it sounds like I just pilfered some of the Gettysburg address then that’s because Abraham Lincoln riding a grizzly bear was just about the only damn thing missing from this book.

Lincoln riding a bear

Image by Rando

Subsequently my life is now complete.

Stormdancer is a world one step removed from our own. Imagined as a Japan with Steampun...more

159 likes · like · see review

Aug 16, 2012 Dan Schwent rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: freebies-for-reviewing, steampunk, young-adultery, 2012, books-by-authors-i-have-interviewed

When the Shogun demands someone bring him an arashitora (griffin), a group of adventurers gos on an airship voyage to capture the beast, long thought to be extinct. The airship goes down and a girl named Yukiko befriends the captured arashitora. Can the two of them be reunited with Yukiko's friends and overthrow the Shogun?

I received this ARC from the fine folks at St. Martin's. It's freeness does not diminish its awesomeness.

Not too long ago, I got an email asking if I wanted to give Stormdance...more When the Shogun demands someone bring him an arashitora (griffin), a group of adventurers gos on an airship voyage to capture the beast, long thought to be extinct. The airship goes down and a girl named Yukiko befriends the captured arashitora. Can the two of them be reunited with Yukiko's friends and overthrow the Shogun?

I received this ARC from the fine folks at St. Martin's. It's freeness does not diminish its awesomeness.

Not too long ago, I got an email asking if I wanted to give Stormdancer a try. Once I read the phrases "steampunk feudal Japan" and "free," I was sold.

Stormdancer takes place in a fantasy version of feudal Japan, one with an environment fouled by the blood lotus, a plant that blights the land but has many beneficial properties, like being smoked or turned into a super-fuel. Thus, the island nation of Shima has an impressive empire, ruled by mad and cruel Shogun.

Yukiko, the heroine, is the daughter of an aging hero Masaru, The Black Fox, and a yokai, one of the people touched by the spirits. The Yokai are relentlessly hunted by The Lotus Guild, armored machine-men who keep the Shima technology moving forward.

If I had one gripe about the book, it's that it takes a little while for the main plot to kick off. To be fair, though, there is a ton of worldbuilding that needs to be done before then. Anyway, once Yukiko meets the arashitora, the book grabs on tight and doesn't let go. I found myself getting really attached to the characters and probably would have went into seclusion if Buruu had died. The relationship between Buruu and Yukiko was my favorite part of the book.

You know how most steampunk seems to be Paranormal Romance with some gears and brass added on? Stormdancer is not one of those. This book is jam packed with interesting concepts, like the Iron Samurai, the Lotus Guild, ninja cells with agents hidden everywhere, yokai, the list goes on and on. Still skeptical? Two words: chainsaw katana.

The ending was poignant yet satisfying. If one were so inclined, one could read this book and not read the subsequent volumes and be satisfied. I'll be continuing, though. Stormdancer is the most original science fiction/fantasy novel I've read in a long time. Five easy stars.

Note: I did a blog interview with Jay Kristoff here. He's a hilarious guy so buy his book.

(less)

73 likes · like · see review

Sep 03, 2012 Maja rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: amazing-writing, 2012-favorites, made-me-cry, all-the-right-choices, arc-2012, are-you-kidding-me, debut-author, fantasy, favorites, pan-macmillan, own-a-dtb, review-copy, steampunk, wonders-from-down-under, ya, reviewed-in-2012

4.5 stars
When I first felt myself being pulled into this story, I glanced down and saw the number 156 written at the bottom of the page. 156 pages of barely understandable, agonizingly slow and almost painfully dense prose - that’s what it took for me to start enjoying Stormdancer. But here’s the thing: now that I fully understand this book, I understand the necessity of such a beginning.
This is how the rain becomes a flood. One drop at a time.

There’s something mesmerizing and magical about a...more 4.5 stars
When I first felt myself being pulled into this story, I glanced down and saw the number 156 written at the bottom of the page. 156 pages of barely understandable, agonizingly slow and almost painfully dense prose - that’s what it took for me to start enjoying Stormdancer. But here’s the thing: now that I fully understand this book, I understand the necessity of such a beginning.
This is how the rain becomes a flood. One drop at a time.

There’s something mesmerizing and magical about a world well-built, and Kristoff’s is more detailed than most. As hard as it is to understand it at first, once you become a part of it, it is unlikely to ever let you go. It is a grim, filthy world, poisoned by blood lotus, a plant that kills the land it grows from and is used for everything from fuel to drugs. It is a world of stark contrasts – excessive wealth and excessive poverty, mythical creatures and technology. Not much in it can be described as beautiful, and yet, the beauty of it in its entirety is undeniable. It is reminiscent of the most intricate filigree work. Even if it doesn’t appeal to your personal taste, you must appreciate the skill that was necessary to create it.

And yet, in many ways, this stunning, complex world quickly becomes overshadowed by the characters. Each of them was created just like the world was – slowly, with much attention to details, in a million layers, some more important than others. Yukiko herself cannot be reduced to a one-sentence description, but what truly surprises me is that none of the characters can either. They are all so many things at once, their histories interconnected, their stories all somehow related. Hatred doesn’t sprout from nothing in Kristoff’s world. Everything has an explanation, everyone carries some trauma and hurt, and every single character has hidden motives.

Among them, the thunder tiger stands out as the most fascinating by far. I must confess I’d never given much thought to mythological creatures such as griffins, but seeing Buruu through Kristoff’s eyes made me realize how blind I’d been. He is truly a magnificent creature, powerful and fiercely intelligent, yet tender and caring toward Yukiko, his Stormdancer. The telepathic connection they share is one of the most interesting things I’ve ever read about. Spending time in each other’s minds changes them both ever so subtly. The arashitora’s understanding of the human world increases, and she becomes slightly more explosive in nature. They call each other brother and sister because that’s what they truly are, and that’s how protective they are of each other.

The hindquarters of a white tiger, rippling muscle bound tight beneath the snow-white fur, slashed with thick bands of ebony. The broad wings, forelegs and head of a white eagle, proud and fierce; lightning reflected in amber irises and pupils of darkest black. It roared again, shaking the ship, cutting through the air like a katana in a swordsaint’s hands.

All good things come at a price and with Stormdancer, that price is your patience. Understanding the initial chapters or even caring about the characters won’t be easy at first, but if you persist, you will be heavily rewarded.

(less)

52 likes · like · see review

Aug 14, 2012 Braiden rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: aussie-ya, aussie-ya-2012

Dying is easy. Anyone can throw themselves onto the pyre and rest a happy martyr. Enduring the suffering that comes with sacrifice is the real test.

Stormdancer is a richly detailed Japanese-inspired, steampunk fantasy, with splendidly real characters and a gripping plot that will keep you in its claws until the very last page. Jay Kristoff has written a debut like no other; I’m craving to return and venture across his wonderfully imagined Shima Isles and uncover more about The Lotus War with Yu...more

27 likes · like · see review

Jul 27, 2012 fяσzєη rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: amazing-authors, covergasm, 2012-faves, all-time-faves, badass-heroines, books-i-want-to-marry, creatively-original, faves, masterpiece, heroines-i-adore

This review is also available over at my blog.

_________________________

I probably shouldn't be posting the full review now, but oh, it's almost August anyway. Also, there will be a lot of spoilers. I'm sorry, but asking me to do a spoiler-free review of this book is like asking me to grow another head.

Like everyone else, I was definitely excited to read this. But beneath all that excitement, I was worried, because most of you already know that this genre of YA is pretty much waaaay out of my com...more

37 likes · like · see review

Jul 26, 2012 Archer rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: amazing, books-i-own, books-that-bleed-awesome, fantasy, fiction, kick-ass-heroine, loved-it, young-adult, steampunk, absolute-flail, bookgasm

Hi there fellow bookworms.

I’m at a loss for words. Honestly I am. I’m utterly flabbergasted. How can we live in a world when pulled to publish fan fiction and middle-aged mum wet dreams can be on international best seller lists and books like… this. This gem. This pure and perfect example of exactly what steampunk could and fucking should be, are only just being picked up. It does not compute. I literally cannot comprehend it.

I just want to say one thing before I get into the meat of this revie...more

59 likes · like · see review

Jul 30, 2012 oliviasbooks rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult-fiction, steampunk, japan, fantasy, author-from-down-under, e-version, in-love-with-the-cover, high-expectations, other-creatures, debut, love-triangle, not-afraid-of-sex-in-ya, paranormal-humans, read-2012, yabc-quarterly-challenge-6, sequel-no-thank-you

"Yamaguchi Hiroyuki, who rested agura-style in front of a too warm kotatsu, enjoyed a cup of fragrant genmaicha with a plate of fresh kusamochi from a wagashiya at Higashi-Bashi and took a secret sip of shirozake in between, while reading the less shocking parts of the shimbun to his wataire-clad okusan Miyuki, who was supposed to fold the last Hinamatsuri origami, but nervously fingered a fertility omamori from the neighborhood jinja instead. If she did not conceive this very month there was no...more

26 likes · like · see review

Sep 15, 2012 Nafiza rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: debut-authors-12, 2012, net-galley

You wouldn’t believe how excited I was for this novel. The synopsis reads like someone looked into my head and took what I wanted to read and then wrote it.

Wait. Let me get my bearings because this “review” is going to be epic and rambling. Have a cupcake and some tea while you’re reading it. Ready? Okay.

Sometimes you come across books that you like absolutely and sometimes you come across books that you loathe absolutely. And if you are unlucky, you come across books that made you scream in utt...more

33 likes · like · see review

Nov 26, 2012 Ceridwen rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: first-reads, young-adult, dragons, steampunk, reviewed, japan

I "won" my copy from the Firstreads program.

First off, I'm going to put in my Nice White Lady disclaimer, which is that, as a middle-class white lady, I have shaky standing to speak to how cultural appropriations read to members of the cultures appropriated. While I may be aware that I am the recipient of enormous cultural privilege, by virtue of that very privilege, I am inevitably going to be blind to certain things. Just take a look at the clusterfuck that is Racefail - and actually, other r...more

39 likes · like · see review

Aug 16, 2012 Keertana rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: aussie, debut-author-2012, arc-galley-and-first-reads, kick-ass-heroines, teary-eyed-reads

“… I wanted to write a book with heart; a book about a friendship that bloomed despite all obstacles. A bond that would grow to become a thing of legend in this nation on the edge of ruin—a friendship that challenged the might of an empire." ~Jay Kristoff

In my opinion, to be a writer is not only one of the toughest tasks in the world, it is also the most courageous; for to be an author is to take on the challenge, not only of pouring yourself into a novel, but in reaching an audience and maki...more

30 likes · like · see review

Jul 13, 2012 Emily (Book Jems) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, cover-love, arc, fantasy, dystopian, science-fiction, won-in-giveaway, action, adventure, obsessed, third-person-pov, all-time-favorites, angst, bring-tissues, favorite-authors, romance, whert-the-hell, best-books-ever, kindle, hype, run-out-and-buy-it, released, ongoing-series, macmillan, review-on-blog

When I first got the book:
description

When I finished this book:
description

ETA: There will be a proper review. I'm just getting words and thoughts and things.

ETA 2: ALSO - STORMDANCER IS ON NETGALLEY. Bloggers, Librarians, Reviewers - GO AT IT, NAO.

ETA 3: Oh look, an actual review.

As seen on Ed and Em's Reviews!

Random fact that no one cares about:
Stormdancer and Cinder by Marissa Meyer were two of my most favoritist books of 2012. This is extra cool to me because Marissa loved Stormdancer, too. (Her praise is in the o...more

15 likes · like · see review

Sep 12, 2012 Alexis Lee rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

[Made some major edits - Oh, and read the end of the review, please. :)]
Arggghhhhhh.

I read the words:
"Japanese steampunk"
and lost my mind. I knew I had to read this book like, NowOMGholyshiznits. So I did. And now I'm torn, because the words "Japanese Steampunk" deserve five stars for even existing, but the book...not so much.

The blurb sounded fantastic - all the elements I could ever want in a steampunk story (Or even any genre kind of story). I went through lots and lots of rave enthusiastic r...more

42 likes · like · see review

May 18, 2012 Skyla marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: book-boner, nerdgasm, i-want-it-and-i-want-it-now, covergasm

This sounds awesome and the author is Australian...do I honestly have to say more about this?

I dont know which I like better, this:

Or this:

15 likes · like · see review

Nov 30, 2012 Cait rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: amazing-ending, badass-girl, emotional-rollercoaster, epic-fight-scenes, i-am-in-love, i-cannot-get-enough-of-this-book, never-saw-that-coming

Actual rating is 4.5, but, fuck it, I rounded up.
Okay, as my first real review back since I basically dropped off the face of the earth (college plus job plus trying to just have a normal life is incredibly more difficult than I thought it would be. Surprise, surprise), I decided I would start off with a review of a book that I really, really enjoyed.

Just let me tell you something: I truly enjoy books in two very different ways. One way is that I literally sit there and read a book until its c...more

16 likes · like · see review

Jan 02, 2013 Zuleeza added it

EDIT 19/5

US Cover revealed! Not once in my life did I feel like I want to buy two copies of the same friggin' book. Screw that! I want to buy a glass cabinet and stuff that with the paperback, hardback, large print, or perhaps useless (at least for someone with ADD like me) audiobooks of BOTH US and UK version of this book.

I once believed that once you reach max level, you stop leveling...

I once thought that the UK cover IS the max level...

Boy, I was dead wrong.

EDIT 28/3:

Well, the author made it...more

12 likes · like · see review

Aug 28, 2012 Blythe rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: judge-a-book-by-the-cover, netgalley-edelweiss-arc, take-your-insta-love-and-leave, 2012-reads, deserves-the-hype, didn-t-see-that-coming, exceeded-my-expectations, gimme-the-next-book, hand-me-some-tissues, i-totally-saw-that-coming, read-reviewed, love-triangle

“Dying is easy. Anyone can throw themselves onto the pyre and rest a happy martyr. Enduring the suffering that comes with sacrifice is the real test.”

Actual Rating: 3.5 stars

If you're a regular user of Goodreads, and you read young adult, odds are you've heard of the book that's been having people all over the book blogging - and young adult reading - community raving, and waiting in agony of its release. That book, of course, being Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff. I'm not going to lie: despite the...more

16 likes · like · see review

Aug 04, 2012 Ashleigh Paige rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, arc-via-amazon-vine, brb-gotta-go-sob-in-a-corner, the-great-shelf-of-awesome

Also appears on The YA Kitten!

3.5 stars.

Japanese steampunk? Yes please. Steampunk is a genre I have a few hits but mostly misses in, but anything with Asian influences and/or subject matter interests me. This and how cool the author is (how an author behaves toward reviewers and other people really makes a difference to me) made me want to read this book so badly that when I saw I was getting a copy, I started jumping up and down and screaming. No joke, I really did. It was a little more excitem...more

20 likes · like · see review

Oct 25, 2012 sanshow rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Those who're not familiar enough with Japanese culture to want to facepalm at the culture abuse.

Shelves: dystopia, orient, ya, draggy, mech, author-knows-best-not

++::(MINOR) SPOILERS AHEAD::++
Lengthy not-exactly-a-review parody.
======================================

Snowchild & Blue*: Telepathic Conversations
*a.k.a. the ones (in my imagination) roped in to act out the roles of Yukiko and Buruu respectively in Stormdancer.

::SESSION ONE:: Blue on Buruu, hai.

Snowchild (S): Greetings, Blue-san.
Blue (B): Hello again. What a book that had been.
--

S: You don't say, sama.
B: Just stop with that sama/-hai?/hai, sama blasphemy already.
--

S: Apologies, Blue-sa...more

19 likes · like · see review

Jan 19, 2013 Megan (Book Brats) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Find this review and more at BOOK BRATS!

STORMDANCER is a tale of epic adventure, loyalty, and action, mixed with a smidge of romance and a ton of excitement. All of that made it one of my most anticipated books of 2012. And let me just say – my anticipation in this book was well worth it. Where other books this summer have failed me, STORMDANCER took the reins and held onto me tightly. I sat down in my bath, sipping wine while enjoying the bubbles, and expected maybe half an hour of reading. Two...more Find this review and more at BOOK BRATS!

STORMDANCER is a tale of epic adventure, loyalty, and action, mixed with a smidge of romance and a ton of excitement. All of that made it one of my most anticipated books of 2012. And let me just say – my anticipation in this book was well worth it. Where other books this summer have failed me, STORMDANCER took the reins and held onto me tightly. I sat down in my bath, sipping wine while enjoying the bubbles, and expected maybe half an hour of reading. Two hours later, the water frigid and the wine long gone, I finally roused myself from the water and said one thing.

“Wow.”

I lived in Japan for four months while studying abroad, tucked away in a suburb between three urban metropolises in western Japan with a rather religious host family. I was exposed to all the folk tales, taken to temples and shrines, thrown headfirst into ceremony and tradition. Maybe that is why this book resonated so much with me. Also, it helped that I speak Japanese (to an extent) and was able to keep up with the onslaught of Japanese terms and names. I fell with ease into Yukiko’s world and savored the descriptions, the characters, and the story. Well, as much as you can savor a story given the fact that I read the majority of it in one sitting.

I loved Yukiko. I’ll admit it – I am a sucker for an authentically strong heroine. In YA sometimes, we are presented these girls that are described as strong when in reality they are just stubborn. Yukiko had a fierceness to her that was unmistakable, and her drive to succeed and save herself and her father was amazing. And Buruu! Where can I get a Buruu of my own? For a “thunder tiger”, he sure does seem like an awesome person that I’d want to befriend. Now I’m sad that I can’t chat with my dog.

Kristoff’s way with words is amazing, especially when you remember that this is his debut book. The description is vivid. The world building is spot on. The characters come to life. And the pacing. THE PACING. Kristoff has totally nailed it.

BALL BALL BALL PLAY PLAY PLAY SLEEP EAT PEE!

Okay, maybe not a great idea.

When I finished STORMDANCER, I knew immediately that I needed more of this story. And to know that it’ll be an entire YEAR before I get book two makes me sad. This story has quickly vaulted from my most anticipated list to my complete favorites list – definitely top 10 if not the top 5. This should be the book that you run out to the store on release day and buy immediately. You will not regret it.

VERDICT: One of the most imaginative novels of 2012, STORMDANCER blends historical fiction, steampunk, drama, and a kick butt heroine to be a completely remarkable debut. BUY THIS BOOK.(less)

15 likes · like · see review

Oct 11, 2012 Vernieda rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: characters-of-color, steampunk, young-adult, asian-fantasy

I am judging every single person who has blurbed and recced this book.

Leaving aside the criticisms of cultural appropriation (and there are many criticisms to be made, believe me), this book has some serious gender issues and proves why many female readers do not trust male authors who claim to have written a "strong female character." Mostly because that strong female character will be written in a creepy, sexualized, (straight) male gaze-y fashion.

And even putting that aside, the story is jus...more

37 likes · like · see review

Sep 19, 2012 Sarah rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: on-the-lookout-for-this, wishlist, most-excited-for, favorites

This review is originally posted at Smitten over Books.

Let me take a moment to wipe my tears.

Stormdancer has all the merit, the grace, the freaking epicness. I AM IN AWE. I AM STUNNED. I AM AMAZED. My jaw is somewhere in the floor of my dormitory struggling to close itself and to recover from the awesomeness of it all. There are no words to express how much Stormdancer touched me. There are no words. No words.

Oh come on guys. Do I really need to spell it all out why Stormdancer rock so hard, i...more

12 likes · like · see review

Aug 17, 2012 Barbara, aka VampAngel rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: netgalley, reviewed

I received an e ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.

I LOVED THIS BOOK! 4.5 stars.

I loved it so much I offered to exchange my soul for an ARC, and IT WAS WORTH IT.

This novel is an epic tale of good versus evil, the oppressed fighting the oppressor. In its core it's story about friendship between two different species and how the bonds of friendship can elevate you to new heights of courage and passion. It's about love, maybe not romantic love, but a love that's so str...more

10 likes · like · see review

Sep 24, 2012 Amy or "Ames" rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: i-heart-the-cover-art, 1st-in-series, male-authors, sci-fi, young-adult, eastern-asiatic, netgalley, arc, dragons, did-not-finish, read-in-2012, wendy-said, series-abandoned, interracial-multicultural

Damn this seductively beautiful book cover. *sigh*

Confused and worried about the yo-yo ratings given this by my friends, I was hoping my experience would fall closer to the positive end of the scale and since I decided to participate in a read-along with THT I gave it my best effort. And a challenging read it was. I dragged myself, kicking and screaming to page 80 whereupon I began the process of DNFing when I realised the griffin, much-loved by many reviewers, had entered the picture. One last...more

13 likes · like · see review

Dec 03, 2012 MonsterReader is currently reading it · review of another edition

Shelves: need-it-more-than-air, need-this-baby, have-high-hopes, hooked-by-summary, best-authors, books-i-need-to-buy, e-book, gimme-gimme, pretty-cover

Wow. I am speechless. Kristoff, the cover is killing me. How can you except me to wait for months for this book?

The cover screams...

I need this book! I can't wait!

Excited Dance .gif Pictures, Images and Photos

excited jumping Pictures, Images and Photos

Excited Buddy Pictures, Images and Photos

9 likes · like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 99 100 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

topics	posts	views	last activity
The Challenge Fac...: Gabriela and Barbara•Stormdancer	17	16	Feb 16, 2013 05:31am
Now arrived in Brazil	2	16	Dec 19, 2012 01:06pm
Connecticut Groov...: Stormdancer	1	5	Dec 18, 2012 03:35pm
The Lotus War War...: Chat Zone SPOILERS	1	7	Oct 25, 2012 11:54pm
Vaginal Fantasy H...: Great book trailer, or greatest book trailer?	3	79	Oct 10, 2012 11:36am
The Filipino Group: [Promotions] Stormdancer Giveaway!	1	42	Sep 26, 2012 12:51am

combine
Other Editions (8)

More editions...

Genres

Fantasy

461 users

Science Fiction > Steampunk

387 users

Young Adult

241 users

Science Fiction > Dystopia

99 users

Fantasy > Mythology

63 users

Science Fiction

59 users

Adventure

34 users

Cultural > Japan

32 users

Fantasy > Magic

23 users

Romance

14 users

See top shelves...

Readers also enjoyed similar books

Vessel
by Sarah Beth Durst
The Assassin's Curse
by Cassandra Rose Clarke
Cybernetic
by Laura Riken
The Lost Girl
by Sangu Mandanna
Falling Kingdoms
by Morgan Rhodes

About Jay Kristoff

Jay Kristoff is the author of of THE LOTUS WAR trilogy, a Japanese-inspired steampunk fantasy published by Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martin’s Press & Tor UK. The first installment, STORMDANCER, is out now. Part 2, entitled KINSLAYER, will be released in September 2013.

Jay is 6’7 and has approximately 13870 days to live. He abides in Melbourne with his secret agent kung-fu assassin wife, and the w...more

More about Jay Kristoff...

Books by Jay Kristoff

The Little Stormdancer (The Lotus War, #1.5)

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About Stormdancer

1 quiz

More quizzes & trivia...

Quotes from Stormdancer

“It's easy to lose yourself in the idea of a person and be blinded to their reality.” — 86 people liked it

“Dying is easy. Anyone can throw themselves onto the pyre and rest a happy martyr. Enduring the suffering that comes with sacrifice is the real test.” — 72 people liked it

More quotes…

title link	preview: Stormdancer
avg rating	preview: Stormdancer Goodreads rating: 3.92 (2309 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10852343-stormdancer?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1337359560l/10852343.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10852343-stormdancer?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff[/url]

Stormdancer (The Lotus War #1)

Friend Reviews

Community Reviews

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website