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Son of Venice

(Daughter of Xanadu #2)

Dori Jones Yang (Goodreads Author)

3.97 · Rating details · 30 ratings · 8 reviews

Sequel to Daughter of Xanadu, this novel continues the story of Marco Polo and Emmajin, granddaughter of Khubilai Khan, after the Great Khan sends her on a voyage to the West.

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Paperback, 434 pages

Published June 12th 2012 by East West Insights (first published May 29th 2012)

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· 30 ratings · 8 reviews

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Jun 11, 2012 Norelle Done rated it really liked it

Son of Venice picks up a few months after Daughter of Xanadu (it's prequel) ended. Marco Polo and Emmajin are preparing to head west toward Venice with the Khan’s army, when Marco hears an ominous foretelling of their journey from a local shaman. Where Daughter of Xanadu was told in Emmajin’s voice, Son of Venice alternates between her and Marco Polo as narrators, creating an interesting dynamic.

Plot: Son of Venice really is a sequel book. The plot could totally stand alone, but readers wouldn’t Son of Venice picks up a few months after Daughter of Xanadu (it's prequel) ended. Marco Polo and Emmajin are preparing to head west toward Venice with the Khan’s army, when Marco hears an ominous foretelling of their journey from a local shaman. Where Daughter of Xanadu was told in Emmajin’s voice, Son of Venice alternates between her and Marco Polo as narrators, creating an interesting dynamic.

Plot: Son of Venice really is a sequel book. The plot could totally stand alone, but readers wouldn’t have a good grasp on Emmajin and Marco’s relationship without having read Daughter of Xanadu. That being said, I loved the plot in Son of Venice. Actions and twists seemed natural, but not predictable. It is an exciting and interesting story.

Characters: I really enjoyed getting to know and understand Marco Polo in this book. It was interesting to alternate perspectives between him and Emmajin, because her point of view was definitely necessary too. Yang’s portrayal of Marco Polo brings his character and personality to life, and it really feels like that’s how Polo could have been in reality. I also liked the subtle side-romance between Emmajin’s cousin and her servant, but I felt like that should have had more depth to really allow the reader to relate to those characters and what happens to them. Although it works just fine for being a young adult novel, I have to admit that I was a little disappointed in the lack of much development into the villains of the book. I would have liked to learn more about Ai-Jaruk and Prince Shirki.

Setting: At some points, you can almost smell the fermented mare’s milk, the felt huts, and the sweat Yang depicts as the common scents of nomadic Mongolian life, but at most times, I just felt like I was floating above the places Emmajin and Marco were traveling though. I didn’t really feel drawn into the setting with this book, but at the same time, there were some critical moments where I could close my eyes and feel like I was right with the characters.

Originality: I’ve never read another book like it, except, of course Daughter of Xanadu. Dori does a great job of spinning a skin and muscle onto the long ago tales of Marco Polo, and getting into the complication of a cross-cultural romance in those early times.

Style: Even though it was an ARC/proof copy, I didn’t notice any glaring spelling or grammatical errors.

Having read both Daughter of Xanadu (the prequel) and this one, I felt like there was more meat and action in Son of Venice. I was drawn into the story and found myself anxious for both characters as they struggled through the book, controlling their forbidden love for one another, dealing with family politics and betrayals, and navigating the cross-cultural and social differences they each face.

I would definitely recommend it as an exciting and interesting read for young adults and just plain adults, alike! ...more

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Mar 14, 2014 Jillian rated it it was ok

Shelves: historical, endless-waffling, predicable-pregnancies, hilariously-tragic, kindle, exotic-asia

**Minor spoilers**
I generally save one star for books I abandon entirely, without finishing them. I almost quit reading at about 25%, but I pushed through, then skimmed that last couple chapters.

Given what transpired in this book, the ending, and where it is going, I have absolutely no desire to continue this series. I don't care what happens to either Marco or Emmajin.

I know what this book was trying to do, particularly because the author kept comparing the story to Tristan and Isolde and other **Minor spoilers**
I generally save one star for books I abandon entirely, without finishing them. I almost quit reading at about 25%, but I pushed through, then skimmed that last couple chapters.

Given what transpired in this book, the ending, and where it is going, I have absolutely no desire to continue this series. I don't care what happens to either Marco or Emmajin.

I know what this book was trying to do, particularly because the author kept comparing the story to Tristan and Isolde and other famous lovers. This series fails to evoke in me any feelings of those timeless love stories. Mostly what it evoked in me was endless feelings of annoyance and gagging. Emmajin and Marco will never be what this author wants them to be, no matter how many times she insists they are.

I don't know why I thought that Emmajin finally made a decision about Marco when she had "carnal relations" with him at the end of the first book. Clearly, I should have known better! Because one of the first things she talks about is how undecided she is about him still. ARE YOU SERIOUS. So, a "great" start to the book. It was even better when Emmajin said something about how she's not even sure they really HAD carnal relations. I just... What?? Was the author trying to say Emmajin knew they had carnal relations but it was so much more than that with their ever-twining souls yadayadayada or is the author trying to imply that Emmajin is somehow so naive about man/woman things that she didn't realize what Marco was actually doing to her and if so HOW COULD YOU NOT and, further, HOW IS THAT OKAY??

I am not above admitting that, at one point (maybe several points...), I had been rooting for Marco to get beheaded just so their ludicrous romance would be brought to an end. This would have better suited everyone, especially anyone tragically caught in the net of this disastrous, pointless love story (more on that later). I would rather Marco had died and Emmajin had married her first cousin Temur because that would have made more sense to me than Emmajin fawning over Marco.

This book has the same two problems as the first one, but times ten. I just cannot get over the pathetic, ever-changing, awkward nature of their "romance" and Emmajin's complete inability to make a decision about anything, which is particularly laughable when Marco at one point says something like, "I know from dealing with Emmajin not to try to change the mind of a strong woman once she's made a decision." I laughed out loud when I read that line because it only proved my point about how much they DON'T know about each other. Their "love" has no basis, no point, no sense. It can't even be said that their love and all the pain it causes everyone else will at least unite Christendom and the Khan because THEY NEVER EVEN MADE IT TO ITALY.

Marco and Emmajin are tiresome, personality-less, flawed beyond reason, misguided, annoying, indecisive, and just plain boring. Marco, in particular, is entirely unattractive as a male figure. Eventually he sounds like a super-hairy, red ape with oddly colored eyes, no muscle strength, no skills in combat or survival, and an arguable ability to sway people with words. I couldn't even argue that his one redeeming quality is that he is a great lover because Emmajin wasn't even sure that they had done anything together when he seduces her in the ocean. Oh, yeah. Sign me up for some of that. (Not.) If I am reading a book and cannot envision myself being attracted to the male lead, then that is even more unfortunate for the book. All the things that Emmajin says are great about Marco, like how he makes her feel free, aren't even true. He hasn't made her feel free--in fact, I think she felt nothing but trapped since meeting him. Marco can only talk about how beautiful Emmajin is and, like with her, all the things he thinks are great about her as a person (like her "ability to make decisions") are not true. I just. I cannot get over how unattractive and confusing these characters are.

I think the moment I lost all respect for them was when poor Bartan was beheaded for telling the truth about seeing them after their little romp in the ocean. Bartan really should have known better than to spread rumors about a granddaughter of the Great Khan, regardless of whether they were true, because that could never end well. But, REALLY? There are loves that are timeless and full of enough wonder that they would be worth seeing a poor guy like Bartan get executed to protect the couple. But, Marco and Emmajin? NO. NONONO. And, somehow Marco can always save Emmajin with his "silver tongue," but neither of them could muster the ability and cleverness to save Bartan?

Marco is NOT WORTH the pain and suffering that Emmajin has caused around her, whether they were strangers (like poor Bartan), acquaintances (like Nasreem, or Marco's poor uncle and father), or family (her cousin, her grandmother, everyone). Their love is not ever-lasting. They don't feel like soulmates. It is all forced and awkward and has done nothing except endanger and punish other people. So much tragedy for absolutely NO reason.

Finally, a note about courtly love. The point of courtly love is that you HAVE urges toward each other, but you are wise enough to NEVER ACT ON THEM because it would simply do more harm than good. You flirt, you know how the other feels, you support each other, you might be the closest of friends and even bond along the lines of being soulmates, but to act on these things is simply unthinkable.

What Marco and Emmajin have is not an example of courtly love, but an example of selfish love.

If you want a truly timeless story about courtly love, go and read "Queen of Camelot" by Nancy McKenzie. One of the best books ever written in general, but particularly about courtly love, by an underrated, spellbinding author. ...more

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Mar 26, 2017 Ag rated it it was amazing

Shelves: owned-paper-books

Онцгүй л дууслаа. Үүний дараа өөр боть гарахаар л шинжтэй.

Төмөр минь овоо доо...

Насрин л урвах юм шиг, эцсийн мөчид хорлох юм шиг санагдаад бсан. Гэртээ үлдэхгүй, дүүтэйгээ буцахгүй Марког дагаад явахад нь л нэг юм итгэлээ. Марког дагуулахгүй чанга, ухаалаг байсан даа. Яаж монголчуудад хамагаа алдчихаад монгол эзэнд үнэнч зүтгэж, монгол залууд дурлаж, түүний төлөө амиа золин явж чадаж байна аа.

Ай-Жариук ёстой ойлгомжгүй ээ... Ямартаа ч огт таалагдсангүй... Гүэ нээрээ эр хүн шиг... Бараг тэр дээр ...more

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May 03, 2012 Cass - Words on Paper marked it as top-wishlist

Shelves: 2012-release, historical-ya, sequels-series, author-love

OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!

I feel like Daughter of Xanadu was like this really rare gem, and I've been giddy about the prospect of a sequel since Dori first announced it. And now there's a cover, a title, and a release date!

My only question now is HOW CAN I GET A COPY?

http://www.eastwestinsights.com/index...

WHYYYYYYY AMAZON ONLY? :'( I WILL find a way to obtain this. I must! ...more

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May 31, 2012 Joan rated it it was amazing

Shelves: historical-fiction, young-adult

Son of Venice, the sequel to Daughter of Xanadu, takes the reader on a fascinating trek west along the Silk Road with Emmajin (the fictional granddaughter of Khubilai Khan) and Marco Polo. I thoroughly enjoyed this creative tale of a forbidden cross-cultural romance. Having the chapters alternate between Marco’s and Emmajin’s perspectives added an interesting element to the story. The exciting and believable plot transports the reader into the Mongolian culture of the thirteenth century. I highl ...more

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Jun 17, 2012 Dori rated it it was amazing · (Review from the author)

Hope you love this sequel to Daughter of Xanadu! Every other chapter is told in the point of view of the romantic young Marco Polo and Emmajin, fictional granddaughter of Khubilai Khan.

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Aug 05, 2015 Mohamad Titi rated it really liked it

Well written, the mix between reality and fiction in this book is amazing. I loved the story, style and the historical facts mixed in this book.

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Jan 13, 2016 Ulziikhishig Davaasuren rated it liked it

Бид амьдарна. Бид бас арга олно.

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About Dori Jones Yang

Dori Jones Yang

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Author of eight books, including a memoir, When the Red Gates Opened: A Memoir of China's Reawakening, about her personal experiences as a reporter covering China.
Also author of Daughter of Xanadu, a historical novel set in China in the time of Marco Polo, and The Secret Voice of Gina Zhang, about a Chinese immigrant girl in Seattle.
A former Business Week correspondent in Hong Kong, Dori co-auth ...more