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173rd out of 213 books
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Precious Dragon (Detective Inspector Chen #3)
by
Liz Williams
In this, the third Detective Inspector Chen novel, Chen and Zhu are given a major assignment to escort an emissary from heaven on a diplomatic mission to hell. Zhu tries to dodge his demonic family's overtures, but ends up embroiled in hell's political intrigues. At the same time, a young boy born to ghostly parents in Hell is sent to live with his grandmother in Singapore...more
Hardcover, 242 pages
Published
June 6th 2007
by Night Shade Books
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This is more like it.* (Also, I'd probably give this a 3.5 if I could.) Jhai is still annoying (And why did she do something that was distinctly counter to her best interests? Unless I read too fast and missed it, we never get an explanation or even a very good justification.), but Mrs Pa and Precious Dragon are the bees' knees.
There is beginning to be a distinct Singapore Three is the Center of the Universe vibe here, though. (Unlike in, say, Kim Harrison's Hollows series, whe...more
There is beginning to be a distinct Singapore Three is the Center of the Universe vibe here, though. (Unlike in, say, Kim Harrison's Hollows series, whe...more
In this third volume in the Inspector Chen series, Liz Williams continues the stories of the strangest and most interesting police partner duo in fantasy or straight fiction--Inspector Chen and Seneschal Zhu Irzh. The one is a devotee of the goddess Kuan Yin working as a "Snake Agent" for the Singapore Three police force. His partner is a liaison from the Chinese Hells, and is, in fact, yes, a demon. Together they fight crime!
That may sound flippant, but by this third nove...more
That may sound flippant, but by this third nove...more
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While this was still not as focused on the characters that I found most interesting in the first novel as I would have liked, I'm delighted that this one was more on track with the first one and had a page-turning, engaging story. THESE new characters were actually endearing - Mrs. Pa and Precious Dragon: really, really loved them. However, I still dislike Jhai, and, honestly, WHAT was the point of the Pin narrative? I find this take on the different afterlives to be fascinating. However, when w...more
Julie Davis
rated it
#24 - 2010.
Williams almost has too many characters doing too much in too many situations here. However, she pulls it off. I love Mrs. Pa's character and enjoyed the discovery of what lies at the bottom level of Hell, although I found the sudden craziness of the Emperor of Heaven rather too much. I still enjoyed it overall though.
Rereading this I rediscovered that she suddenly develops a linguistic twitch partway into the book. Or perhaps that is simply where it forced its...more
Williams almost has too many characters doing too much in too many situations here. However, she pulls it off. I love Mrs. Pa's character and enjoyed the discovery of what lies at the bottom level of Hell, although I found the sudden craziness of the Emperor of Heaven rather too much. I still enjoyed it overall though.
Rereading this I rediscovered that she suddenly develops a linguistic twitch partway into the book. Or perhaps that is simply where it forced its...more
I think we're reading in a good time to be a fan of F&SF. When I go to the bookstore or library, I'm literally blinded by the choices, but unfortunately most of it is crap. If I get another time travel or Narnia ripoff story, or a small band against impossible odds Star Wars/LotR imitation, I think I'm going to vomit until I die.
Then Liz Williams comes along. (AND Daniel Abraham AND Karl Schroeder, I <3 you all). This is the third Detector Inspector Chen novel. DI Chen is a c...more
Then Liz Williams comes along. (AND Daniel Abraham AND Karl Schroeder, I <3 you all). This is the third Detector Inspector Chen novel. DI Chen is a c...more
EXCELLENT. Totally excellent.
I adore this series (this is the third book therein), and so does my husband, who is not much of a reader.
The plot is complex and brings all sorts of seemingly disparate elements into play before it resolves. I totally adore the linkages between Earth, Hell, and Heaven, and the way the relationships between these work- as a Westerner the whole basis is strange to me, but it's consistent, builds with every book, and is fascinating.
I...more
I adore this series (this is the third book therein), and so does my husband, who is not much of a reader.
The plot is complex and brings all sorts of seemingly disparate elements into play before it resolves. I totally adore the linkages between Earth, Hell, and Heaven, and the way the relationships between these work- as a Westerner the whole basis is strange to me, but it's consistent, builds with every book, and is fascinating.
I...more
Book three in this series pretty much fixes whatever problems were in book 2. Tight story, great character fun. Accurate (within reason) depictions of alternate universe Chinese mythologies.
I still don't like the relationship Irzh has with his paramour, however, all interactions between him and Chen are excellent and had me squealing happily. Inari gets to come out and actively do something!
While book one was explosive and tight for a story in the human realm, Book thre...more
I still don't like the relationship Irzh has with his paramour, however, all interactions between him and Chen are excellent and had me squealing happily. Inari gets to come out and actively do something!
While book one was explosive and tight for a story in the human realm, Book thre...more
Another great entry in this series by Liz Williams.
This novel was so good! I picked it up from the library because it had an interesting cover. And I'm so glad I did!
The storyline and characters were quite unlike anything I've read before. They were original and interesting. This is part of a series I have never read before but I will be sure to read the others.
If you like mystery and fantasy and a good story, you need to try this one!
The storyline and characters were quite unlike anything I've read before. They were original and interesting. This is part of a series I have never read before but I will be sure to read the others.
If you like mystery and fantasy and a good story, you need to try this one!
"Just for once, Chen thought, I'd like to be taken aback by proof of someone's innocence."
Ahh, Inspector Chen. He so crazy.
Liz Williams' Inspector Chen novels are beautiful, awesome and excellently told tales and if you don't like them I can only assume that you are just no fun and hate everything that is good in the world. Obviously, the terrorists have already won.
Ahh, Inspector Chen. He so crazy.
Liz Williams' Inspector Chen novels are beautiful, awesome and excellently told tales and if you don't like them I can only assume that you are just no fun and hate everything that is good in the world. Obviously, the terrorists have already won.
REALLY liked this one! More page-time for Inari, Badger, and Zhu Irzh and Chen interacting (as they do so well). Loved the storyline, and some nice surprises there at the end. Also, Precious Dragon would be kind of an awesome thing to name a kid. Just sayin'.
And here the series has been written into a corner. While there's obviously room for the characters to move on, there were some pretty big events in this book which would make thinking of a suitable (future) plot fairly difficult, IMO.
Once again Inspector Chen descends to hell. This he is an honored guest escorting and angel from heaven. Of course, this doesn't stop trouble from following and another ministry is at stake not to mention fate of all three realms.
Better than the last one I think. The plotlines and the ending were really ridiculous but the concepts are so entertaining that I try not to notice the faults. Chen himself has such great one-liners.
i love this universe -- Heaven, Hell and a futuristic or perhaps just AU Asia, with people/demons/celestials travelling back and forth. add in a mystery plus a deadpan sense of humor, and I'm sold!
another good addition to the inspector Chen novels.
fantasy/mystery set in an alternate universe China.
Saifa Rashid
is currently reading it
Jared Vincent Lacaran
marked it as to-read
Nixy Snow
marked it as to-read
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Liz Williams is a British science fiction writer. Her first novel, The Ghost Sister was published in 2001. Both this novel and her next, Empire of Bones (2002) were nominated for the Philip K. Dick Award.[1] She is also the author of the Inspector Chen series.
She is the daughter of a stage musician and a Gothic novelist. She holds a PhD in Philosophy of Science from Cambridge. She has ...more
More about Liz Williams...
She is the daughter of a stage musician and a Gothic novelist. She holds a PhD in Philosophy of Science from Cambridge. She has ...more
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