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The Last Dragon of the East
Inspired by Chinese myths of ancient dragon gods and threads of fate, Katrina Kwan’s dazzling fantasy debut is a propulsive adventure perfect for fans of Sue Lynn Tan and Hannah Whitten.
At the spry young age of twenty-five, Sai has led a quiet life, keeping the family teahouse up and running—even if that means ignoring the past-due notices—and taking care of his ailing mother. But he has a not-so-secret gift that he’s parlayed into a side he was born with the ability to see the red threads of fate between soulmates, which lends itself nicely to matchmaking. Sai has thus far been content not to follow his own thread, the only one he’s ever seen that’s gray and fraying.
But Sai’s ordinary existence is about to be turned upside-down by a pair of shining dragon scales. When his mother’s doctor sells them to him, claiming them as a miracle cure, Sai is pretty sure he’s being scammed. When the medicine actually works—and the terrifying, ruthless emperor catches wind—Sai is thrust into the search for a dragon long thought extinct that will lead him into the throes of a brewing war and deep into foreign lands, facing down challenges both magical and mortal on an unexpected adventure. And for the very first time, as his own thread of fate begins to move, he may be able to solve the mystery of his Fated One at the other end of the line.
At the spry young age of twenty-five, Sai has led a quiet life, keeping the family teahouse up and running—even if that means ignoring the past-due notices—and taking care of his ailing mother. But he has a not-so-secret gift that he’s parlayed into a side he was born with the ability to see the red threads of fate between soulmates, which lends itself nicely to matchmaking. Sai has thus far been content not to follow his own thread, the only one he’s ever seen that’s gray and fraying.
But Sai’s ordinary existence is about to be turned upside-down by a pair of shining dragon scales. When his mother’s doctor sells them to him, claiming them as a miracle cure, Sai is pretty sure he’s being scammed. When the medicine actually works—and the terrifying, ruthless emperor catches wind—Sai is thrust into the search for a dragon long thought extinct that will lead him into the throes of a brewing war and deep into foreign lands, facing down challenges both magical and mortal on an unexpected adventure. And for the very first time, as his own thread of fate begins to move, he may be able to solve the mystery of his Fated One at the other end of the line.
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First published October 8, 2024
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September 28, 2024
This went by faster than I thought and was less memorable than I'd hoped. And I think the main problem is that it aspired to be more than it could be.
At its core, The Last Dragon of the East is a fairy tale. About 40% of it, practically the first half, is written like a fairy tale. It's fast-paced, the character moves from one point to another very quickly, without wasting time on explaining the world or the culture or the in-world history, and seems headed for a very straightforward storyline about a sweet young man, an evil emperor, a brash huntress, and a dragon who's the last of its kind. It doesn't have any more complicated aspirations, it doesn't want to do much but tell a good story that reads like an old tale.
And it's fine. Not every retelling and myth-inspired Fantasy needs to have some complex worldbuilding, lush prose (ha!), bravura storytelling (haha!), layered characters, and an unputdownable (hahaha!) plotline. Many of us only want a nice little story sometimes. Many of us only want a little fairy tale sometimes.
What to do, then, when the nice little fairy tale has a sudden identity crisis midway through and tries to transition into being more than it has the potential for?
That, my friends, is my issue with The Last Dragon of the East. The last 60% is basically just it wanting to be a savoury main course dish with the dessert ingredients it started with, and the result is a mess. Its destiny seemed to be a cozy little Romantasy following the Fated Mates and Grumpy/Sunshine tropes . . . and suddenly it tries to borrow the violent glory of "Game of Thrones."
To be clear, I am not squeamish and I do not avoid violence and gore in my fiction. Not at all. But I'm deeply perplexed at why this book had this change of heart, for a lack of a better word. Was it horrifically incompetent marketing? Was it the author not knowing what to do with half of the plot? Was it lack of a competent editor steering this back into the right course it started on? I don't know. All I know is this was headed for being like "Chung Jo and the Sea Dragon," a nice Chinese-inspired Fantasy apt for most audiences, and it turned into Stephen King losing a bet on trying to write cozy romance.
Thing is, violence has to be justified. It has to come organically from the plot itself, and this demands worldbuilding and characterisation this story simply doesn't have. Fairy tales can get away with context-free violence and gore because by their very nature they use "shorthand," and symbolism, and retellings that go the fairy tale style route can too. So, if this had stayed in its original lane, it'd not have been so bad.
But the change of tune wrecked the plotline; stuff like limb-chopping and beheading don't carry symbolism when a story is not a fairy tale or fairy tale-like. Because there's simply no worldbuilding here, and the characterisation is theatrical: characters come in and go out on a whim, and move to the plot's demands, and the dynamic between the two main characters is bipolar rather than Grumpy/Sunshine. In a fairy tale story, a Fated Mates works well, you have the characters falling for each other because plot; it's a kind of shorthand, but in another style, you have to write them having chemistry and building a relationship. Sai and the dragon don't. They're together because Fate, and the backstory with the reincarnation plot was so poorly done.
Sometimes, you get the impression that the violence and gore are used to pad up the worldbuilding and characterisation deficiencies. Why is the dragon so bipolar and mood-swingy? Insert a string of violent reasons. What happened to the emperor's fated mate? Insert a string of violent reasons. How will Sai regain his true form and escape the evil emperor? Insert a string of violent reasons. And so on and so forth.
For goodness' sake, there's even a cannibalism scene here! And before you think of accusing me of squeamishness, I read Hannibal Lecter's story and rated it highly, thank you very much.
In sum, it's this incongruence that ruined this for me halfway in and made this ultimately a forgettable read for me. If you want to write a cozy little romance, at least have the sense to keep the style and plot consistency to the end. If you want to be a GOT wannabe in Chinese dress, at least have the courage to market it as such. And fire the marketing department, if the mistake was theirs, because that 40% is enough to convince me the author herself isn't that bad a writer. Unguided, maybe, but not that bad. Sai was a good character and fairly unique, but he didn't have a companion as well-crafted, and the author still has to learn to write banter better, too.
I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.<>
At its core, The Last Dragon of the East is a fairy tale. About 40% of it, practically the first half, is written like a fairy tale. It's fast-paced, the character moves from one point to another very quickly, without wasting time on explaining the world or the culture or the in-world history, and seems headed for a very straightforward storyline about a sweet young man, an evil emperor, a brash huntress, and a dragon who's the last of its kind. It doesn't have any more complicated aspirations, it doesn't want to do much but tell a good story that reads like an old tale.
And it's fine. Not every retelling and myth-inspired Fantasy needs to have some complex worldbuilding, lush prose (ha!), bravura storytelling (haha!), layered characters, and an unputdownable (hahaha!) plotline. Many of us only want a nice little story sometimes. Many of us only want a little fairy tale sometimes.
What to do, then, when the nice little fairy tale has a sudden identity crisis midway through and tries to transition into being more than it has the potential for?
That, my friends, is my issue with The Last Dragon of the East. The last 60% is basically just it wanting to be a savoury main course dish with the dessert ingredients it started with, and the result is a mess. Its destiny seemed to be a cozy little Romantasy following the Fated Mates and Grumpy/Sunshine tropes . . . and suddenly it tries to borrow the violent glory of "Game of Thrones."
To be clear, I am not squeamish and I do not avoid violence and gore in my fiction. Not at all. But I'm deeply perplexed at why this book had this change of heart, for a lack of a better word. Was it horrifically incompetent marketing? Was it the author not knowing what to do with half of the plot? Was it lack of a competent editor steering this back into the right course it started on? I don't know. All I know is this was headed for being like "Chung Jo and the Sea Dragon," a nice Chinese-inspired Fantasy apt for most audiences, and it turned into Stephen King losing a bet on trying to write cozy romance.
Thing is, violence has to be justified. It has to come organically from the plot itself, and this demands worldbuilding and characterisation this story simply doesn't have. Fairy tales can get away with context-free violence and gore because by their very nature they use "shorthand," and symbolism, and retellings that go the fairy tale style route can too. So, if this had stayed in its original lane, it'd not have been so bad.
But the change of tune wrecked the plotline; stuff like limb-chopping and beheading don't carry symbolism when a story is not a fairy tale or fairy tale-like. Because there's simply no worldbuilding here, and the characterisation is theatrical: characters come in and go out on a whim, and move to the plot's demands, and the dynamic between the two main characters is bipolar rather than Grumpy/Sunshine. In a fairy tale story, a Fated Mates works well, you have the characters falling for each other because plot; it's a kind of shorthand, but in another style, you have to write them having chemistry and building a relationship. Sai and the dragon don't. They're together because Fate, and the backstory with the reincarnation plot was so poorly done.
Sometimes, you get the impression that the violence and gore are used to pad up the worldbuilding and characterisation deficiencies. Why is the dragon so bipolar and mood-swingy? Insert a string of violent reasons. What happened to the emperor's fated mate? Insert a string of violent reasons. How will Sai regain his true form and escape the evil emperor? Insert a string of violent reasons. And so on and so forth.
For goodness' sake, there's even a cannibalism scene here! And before you think of accusing me of squeamishness, I read Hannibal Lecter's story and rated it highly, thank you very much.
In sum, it's this incongruence that ruined this for me halfway in and made this ultimately a forgettable read for me. If you want to write a cozy little romance, at least have the sense to keep the style and plot consistency to the end. If you want to be a GOT wannabe in Chinese dress, at least have the courage to market it as such. And fire the marketing department, if the mistake was theirs, because that 40% is enough to convince me the author herself isn't that bad a writer. Unguided, maybe, but not that bad. Sai was a good character and fairly unique, but he didn't have a companion as well-crafted, and the author still has to learn to write banter better, too.
I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.<>
December 18, 2024
➸ 5 stars
𓍢⊹ ࣪ thank you to netgalley, saga press, and katrina kwan for the arc and happy release day! i loved this book so much i immediately ordered a physical copy that i now have in my hands!! <3
“I have my Fated One and she has me, and in this moment, that’s all we need.”
i loved this book so much and i don’t think my words will ever be able to describe the feeling that this book gave me. this book has one of the most beautiful love stories i’ve ever read and brought tears to my eyes countless times. when i finished it i wanted more, yet… it was perfect, i was content and full and i wouldn’t change a single thing about it. i had the biggest smile of my face while reading this book and felt a happiness that made me feel whole. i utterly fell in love with this story and these characters and i would do anything to read this book for the first time again.
“It has become abundantly clear that I’m no fighter, nor am I a healer. I may not be strong like a dragon, but I can try to be as brave as one.”
➺ sai - i absolutely LOVED sai as the main character!! i adored him. he is the sunshine character and i just loved him so much!! he was hilarious and had me laughing many times. he’s chatty, he’s enthusiastic, a conversationalist; you’ll catch yourself with a big goofy smile on your face where he’s involved, i sure did!
“I think you’re my Fated One.”
“I know I am. Now leave me the fuck alone.”
➺ jyn - and here’s the grumpy character! ugh i loved this girl so much and wish to give her the longest hug ever!! she’s the strongest girl ever and all she endured had me in tears!! she’s flawed, scared, her walls are sky high but she’s such a raw and loyal character i love her so much.
“She’s beautiful.
Concussed as I may be, I know she’s the most stunning woman I have ever laid eyes on.”
“Her presence is the salve to my wounds, a fire on a cold winters night. The very air around her seems to vibrate, a tangible
force that ghosts across my skin. The blinding pain radiating through my broken body is nothing compared to the comfort she brings.”
these were sai’s first thoughts upon meeting jyn. the way he describes her and thinks about her just brought tears to my eyes because he’s the sweetest guy ever and holds so much love for her. the writing in this book was just so beautiful and i’ve never felt a way about a book the way i feel about this one.
“My Fated One is so spellbinding that I can hardly find any words.”
“I won't do her the injustice of comparing her beauty to the stars, for she is far more radiant than anything in the Heavens, the earth, and the spaces between.”
i’m tearing up reading these quotes back! i want to be loved like sai loves jyn. i want to be thought of like sai thinks of jyn. i want to be described like sai describes jyn and i will forever yearn for this type of love.
“Her agony is my agony. Her sorrow my sorrow.”
the plot in this book was pretty predictable yet i still flipped through this book like i couldn’t ever get enough of it. the amount of yearning had me in tears. the grief broke my heart and when all answers were revealed it felt like my heart was shattered into a million pieces. towards the end i was so flooded in my own tears and gasping for air because i felt these characters hurting deep inside me and i was hurting with them. this story is so beautiful and i’ll never get over it.
“Words cannot do her beauty justice. There’s an otherworldly quality to her, something that balances on the cusp of the ethereal.”
“She’s divinity incarnate, her beauty unmatched.”
otherworldly. ethereal. divinity incarnate. i cannot do this right now THE WAY HE DESCRIBES HER IM SICKKKKKK SO SICK someone pick me up off the floor
“Jyn regards me with a barely perceptible smile. The sight of it nearly sends me flying. Oh, how I yearn for more.”
CRYINGGGGG i love the grumpy sunshine trope so much and their growth throughout this book was a beautiful sight to see
“Anyone who doesn’t admire a strong woman is, in my humble opinion, a fool.”
sai i love you so much please marry me
“The glow of the water makes her look otherworldly, caught between twilight and this mortal plane.”
GAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
“She smiles.
It’s unlike anything I have ever seen before: a real, wide, joyous, carefree smile that makes her eyes glimmer like the stars. The first, I hope, or a countless many.”
“I can’t bring myself to look away. I don’t want to. I’d gladly admire Jyn until the end of time.”
i’ve forgotten to mention sai’s lovely nicknames for our jyn. he calls her my lady ALL THE TIME and it’s the cutest most wholesome thing EVER and had me giggling every single time! he also calls her mooncake, my dragon, my heart, my love. YEAH. i love this man so much it’s crazy
“All the stress and tension I’ve been holding melt away when my lips find hers, a lock and it’s key. No words need to be exchanged to understand that she is mine, and I am hers.
I will protect Jyn with every fragment of my soul. no matter what it costs me.”
“There’s no telling what the future has in store for us, but I am as determined as I’ll ever be to keep Jyn safe. I may not be able to move Heaven and Earth, but that won’t stop me from trying where my Fated One is concerned.”
they are each others fated ones. destined souls. the other half of their beings. there is no other soulmates ill love more than i love sai and jyn. their love story will forever hold a special place in my heart and i will forever hold this book so closely to my being.
“I think you’re my Fated one.”
“I know I am.”
had to add this parallel really quickly because AGHHH this book is a masterpiece in my eyes
“I love you, Sai. I have loved you in every life, and I will love you in every one hereafter.”
“I love you, too. Always.”
and i love this book. i hope my love is shown through my words.
𓍢⊹ ࣪
“We fit perfectly, made for each other in every way. Two halves of one fated whole.”
𓍢⊹ ࣪ thank you to netgalley, saga press, and katrina kwan for the arc and happy release day! i loved this book so much i immediately ordered a physical copy that i now have in my hands!! <3
⛰️ chinese mythology
🐉 dragons
☁️ red strings of fate/soulmates
🎋 reverse grumpy sunshine
“I have my Fated One and she has me, and in this moment, that’s all we need.”
i loved this book so much and i don’t think my words will ever be able to describe the feeling that this book gave me. this book has one of the most beautiful love stories i’ve ever read and brought tears to my eyes countless times. when i finished it i wanted more, yet… it was perfect, i was content and full and i wouldn’t change a single thing about it. i had the biggest smile of my face while reading this book and felt a happiness that made me feel whole. i utterly fell in love with this story and these characters and i would do anything to read this book for the first time again.
“It has become abundantly clear that I’m no fighter, nor am I a healer. I may not be strong like a dragon, but I can try to be as brave as one.”
➺ sai - i absolutely LOVED sai as the main character!! i adored him. he is the sunshine character and i just loved him so much!! he was hilarious and had me laughing many times. he’s chatty, he’s enthusiastic, a conversationalist; you’ll catch yourself with a big goofy smile on your face where he’s involved, i sure did!
“I think you’re my Fated One.”
“I know I am. Now leave me the fuck alone.”
➺ jyn - and here’s the grumpy character! ugh i loved this girl so much and wish to give her the longest hug ever!! she’s the strongest girl ever and all she endured had me in tears!! she’s flawed, scared, her walls are sky high but she’s such a raw and loyal character i love her so much.
“She’s beautiful.
Concussed as I may be, I know she’s the most stunning woman I have ever laid eyes on.”
“Her presence is the salve to my wounds, a fire on a cold winters night. The very air around her seems to vibrate, a tangible
force that ghosts across my skin. The blinding pain radiating through my broken body is nothing compared to the comfort she brings.”
these were sai’s first thoughts upon meeting jyn. the way he describes her and thinks about her just brought tears to my eyes because he’s the sweetest guy ever and holds so much love for her. the writing in this book was just so beautiful and i’ve never felt a way about a book the way i feel about this one.
“My Fated One is so spellbinding that I can hardly find any words.”
“I won't do her the injustice of comparing her beauty to the stars, for she is far more radiant than anything in the Heavens, the earth, and the spaces between.”
i’m tearing up reading these quotes back! i want to be loved like sai loves jyn. i want to be thought of like sai thinks of jyn. i want to be described like sai describes jyn and i will forever yearn for this type of love.
“Her agony is my agony. Her sorrow my sorrow.”
the plot in this book was pretty predictable yet i still flipped through this book like i couldn’t ever get enough of it. the amount of yearning had me in tears. the grief broke my heart and when all answers were revealed it felt like my heart was shattered into a million pieces. towards the end i was so flooded in my own tears and gasping for air because i felt these characters hurting deep inside me and i was hurting with them. this story is so beautiful and i’ll never get over it.
“Words cannot do her beauty justice. There’s an otherworldly quality to her, something that balances on the cusp of the ethereal.”
“She’s divinity incarnate, her beauty unmatched.”
otherworldly. ethereal. divinity incarnate. i cannot do this right now THE WAY HE DESCRIBES HER IM SICKKKKKK SO SICK someone pick me up off the floor
“Jyn regards me with a barely perceptible smile. The sight of it nearly sends me flying. Oh, how I yearn for more.”
CRYINGGGGG i love the grumpy sunshine trope so much and their growth throughout this book was a beautiful sight to see
“Anyone who doesn’t admire a strong woman is, in my humble opinion, a fool.”
sai i love you so much please marry me
“The glow of the water makes her look otherworldly, caught between twilight and this mortal plane.”
GAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
“She smiles.
It’s unlike anything I have ever seen before: a real, wide, joyous, carefree smile that makes her eyes glimmer like the stars. The first, I hope, or a countless many.”
“I can’t bring myself to look away. I don’t want to. I’d gladly admire Jyn until the end of time.”
i’ve forgotten to mention sai’s lovely nicknames for our jyn. he calls her my lady ALL THE TIME and it’s the cutest most wholesome thing EVER and had me giggling every single time! he also calls her mooncake, my dragon, my heart, my love. YEAH. i love this man so much it’s crazy
“All the stress and tension I’ve been holding melt away when my lips find hers, a lock and it’s key. No words need to be exchanged to understand that she is mine, and I am hers.
I will protect Jyn with every fragment of my soul. no matter what it costs me.”
“There’s no telling what the future has in store for us, but I am as determined as I’ll ever be to keep Jyn safe. I may not be able to move Heaven and Earth, but that won’t stop me from trying where my Fated One is concerned.”
they are each others fated ones. destined souls. the other half of their beings. there is no other soulmates ill love more than i love sai and jyn. their love story will forever hold a special place in my heart and i will forever hold this book so closely to my being.
“I think you’re my Fated one.”
“I know I am.”
had to add this parallel really quickly because AGHHH this book is a masterpiece in my eyes
“I love you, Sai. I have loved you in every life, and I will love you in every one hereafter.”
“I love you, too. Always.”
and i love this book. i hope my love is shown through my words.
𓍢⊹ ࣪
October 5, 2024
The Last Dragon of the East is a sweeping love story spread across many lifetimes, rich in Chinese mythology and a heavy focus on the threads of fate. Sai has spent his years kept quiet and to himself, helping his ailing mother run their family tea shop. Sai has the rare ability to see the red strings of fate which reveal a person’s life mate and he yearns to find his own despite his own string being dormant with a dull grey color instead of red. when the emperor finds out about Sai’s ability he’s sent on a quest to find an ancient green dragon in order to retrieve the scales for their mystical properties.
for some reason i kept forgetting this was actually adult, so i found myself surprised by some of the events that occurred on Sai’s journey, especially once some of his and Jyn’s past is revealed. i’ll admit that i wasn’t fully convinced of their connection at first but with the more i read, i couldn’t help but feel empathy for them and all they have been through throughout their numerous timelines and eventually grew fond of both characters. there were many heart wrenching obstacles of the magical and mortal kind alike and i just wanted these two to finally be able to exist peacefully and share their love with one another without having to be forcefully ripped apart over and over. i loved the way this book wrapped up and it seems that i will always be a sucker for this kind of story, what a beautifully raw book.
➛ many thanks to NetGalley, the author and Saga Press for the arc, all opinions are my own.
for some reason i kept forgetting this was actually adult, so i found myself surprised by some of the events that occurred on Sai’s journey, especially once some of his and Jyn’s past is revealed. i’ll admit that i wasn’t fully convinced of their connection at first but with the more i read, i couldn’t help but feel empathy for them and all they have been through throughout their numerous timelines and eventually grew fond of both characters. there were many heart wrenching obstacles of the magical and mortal kind alike and i just wanted these two to finally be able to exist peacefully and share their love with one another without having to be forcefully ripped apart over and over. i loved the way this book wrapped up and it seems that i will always be a sucker for this kind of story, what a beautifully raw book.
➛ many thanks to NetGalley, the author and Saga Press for the arc, all opinions are my own.
July 26, 2024
♾️✨
🐉 DRAGONS
🐉 Chinese mythology
🐉 Reverse grumpy/sunshine (He is sunshine and she is grumpy)
🐉 MC’s magic makes him see soulmates through threads
🐉 >25yo characters
🐉 Fated mates
🐉 Beautiful romance
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc!
I was completely blown away by this story. I love Chinese mythology more than any other mythologies out there and combined with this author’s writing? Pure perfection. This started as a 4✨ but quickly turned into a 5✨ read.
The characters, the world building, the enchanting tale, the prose… the last time I felt this passionately about a book was back in February.
The soulmates threads was such a beautiful thing to read about. The romance was to die for. I cried a few times. This was an incredibly well written tale and I highly recommend it. I’m jealous of everyone who gets to read this for the first time 🥺
I have a feeling TikTok will go crazy about this book and it’ll be rightfully so. This book has made its way to my favourite ever reads.
I will definitely buy this beautiful book when it comes out and hope Owlcrate picks it up for special edition 🥹
🐉 DRAGONS
🐉 Chinese mythology
🐉 Reverse grumpy/sunshine (He is sunshine and she is grumpy)
🐉 MC’s magic makes him see soulmates through threads
🐉 >25yo characters
🐉 Fated mates
🐉 Beautiful romance
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc!
I was completely blown away by this story. I love Chinese mythology more than any other mythologies out there and combined with this author’s writing? Pure perfection. This started as a 4✨ but quickly turned into a 5✨ read.
The characters, the world building, the enchanting tale, the prose… the last time I felt this passionately about a book was back in February.
The soulmates threads was such a beautiful thing to read about. The romance was to die for. I cried a few times. This was an incredibly well written tale and I highly recommend it. I’m jealous of everyone who gets to read this for the first time 🥺
I have a feeling TikTok will go crazy about this book and it’ll be rightfully so. This book has made its way to my favourite ever reads.
I will definitely buy this beautiful book when it comes out and hope Owlcrate picks it up for special edition 🥹
December 18, 2024
review:
DNF @47% — i really wanted to love this but personally the characters and word choice just were not for me. also not the way it took me almost 2 months to read 50% of this book…
@ preread!
— start date: 24th of october, 2024
locking in to finish all the arcs and buddy reads i have planned. scary task to say the least
DNF @47% — i really wanted to love this but personally the characters and word choice just were not for me. also not the way it took me almost 2 months to read 50% of this book…
@ preread!
— start date: 24th of october, 2024
locking in to finish all the arcs and buddy reads i have planned. scary task to say the least
paused
August 17, 2024𖥻 pre review.
start. ꗃ 08 | 15 | 24
an asian fantasy novel that's centred around the red string of fate + dragons + the author is canadian ?? spectacular, give me 14 of them right now.
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc
start. ꗃ 08 | 15 | 24
an asian fantasy novel that's centred around the red string of fate + dragons + the author is canadian ?? spectacular, give me 14 of them right now.
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc
September 15, 2024
4⭐️ | TikTok |
This was an absolutely phenomenal time up to about the 50% mark then it became just a decent time. Overall it was a good time.
What I loved…
- vivid atmosphere and descriptions
- an unexpected bit of gore, just a touch
- “fated mates” - via the Red Strings of Fate
- a bit of mystery and intrigue
- really cool variety of monsters/creatures
- shapeshifting dragons
- QUEST! I love quests!
- he’s the sunshine and she’s the grump
- 25+ MCs
What I didn’t love…
- lost the plot for a bit around the 50% mark - I was left wondering when we were going to get back to our quest…
- While at first I loved the emotions being conveyed and the desired related to the red strings of fate, it seemed to morph into a whole lotta lust after a while and felt disingenuous.
- while the atmosphere was great the world building overall was lacking. There was so much about the world/empire that we didn’t know or understand and it felt hard to connect.
Thank you NetGalley and Saga Press for sending this book (eARC) for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
This was an absolutely phenomenal time up to about the 50% mark then it became just a decent time. Overall it was a good time.
What I loved…
- vivid atmosphere and descriptions
- an unexpected bit of gore, just a touch
- “fated mates” - via the Red Strings of Fate
- a bit of mystery and intrigue
- really cool variety of monsters/creatures
- shapeshifting dragons
- QUEST! I love quests!
- he’s the sunshine and she’s the grump
- 25+ MCs
What I didn’t love…
- lost the plot for a bit around the 50% mark - I was left wondering when we were going to get back to our quest…
- While at first I loved the emotions being conveyed and the desired related to the red strings of fate, it seemed to morph into a whole lotta lust after a while and felt disingenuous.
- while the atmosphere was great the world building overall was lacking. There was so much about the world/empire that we didn’t know or understand and it felt hard to connect.
Thank you NetGalley and Saga Press for sending this book (eARC) for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
December 31, 2024
By now I think it is impossible for me to rate a book lower than 4 stars if it contains the Red Thread of Fate or any other kind of thread magic, really. I just love to read about that! (If you do too, here are some books I would recommend: Threads That Bind by Kika Hatzopoulou, Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel and The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh. Please let me know if you can think of any other books, I will read them!) And what can I say about The Last Dragon of the East? It had the Red Thread of Fate and dragons and was like a walk through Chinese mythology, of course I liked it. Don't get fooled by the pretty cover though, it was quite violent at times. I will definitely pick up The Legend of the Nine-Tailed Fox by the same author when it comes out and I pray that it also gets a cover by Kuri Huang because I love love love her art!
May 5, 2025
2,75
bardzo spodobał mi się pomysł na tę książkę, ale jak dla mnie zdecydowanie za krótka. Brakuje mi tu opisów, większej możliwości poznania krainy, magii, bohaterów.
Też nie wiem dlaczego jest u nas oznaczona jako Spicy, bo absolutnie nic mnie nie ma. Jedyne z czym możecie się spotkać to bardzo duża ilość brutalnych scen
bardzo spodobał mi się pomysł na tę książkę, ale jak dla mnie zdecydowanie za krótka. Brakuje mi tu opisów, większej możliwości poznania krainy, magii, bohaterów.
Też nie wiem dlaczego jest u nas oznaczona jako Spicy, bo absolutnie nic mnie nie ma. Jedyne z czym możecie się spotkać to bardzo duża ilość brutalnych scen
January 30, 2025
A beautiful love story, filled with wondrous mini tales that build a legacy of dragons and their fated ones. Sadly however, it was never truly seen in my mind. The story, plot, and characters are good enough; but it all remains too superficial. With a lack of descriptions, the missing subtlety of what a room, clothing, or setting looks like, I found myself grasping at straws to conceptualize in my head what I was reading. I never felt truly immersed in the world Katrina Kwan presents to us. Where were the descriptions of the dragon scales sparkling as the sun hit them over the baby blue of a mountain lake tucked in a valley? Where was the vividness of the red blood splattering across the dark mountain cave seemingly glowing with the life of the dragon it came from? Why do we never learn what the feel and colour of the silk of an exquisitely adorned robe looks like? Or even what that adornment is? This failure to describe is tragic given the endless opportunities to truly immerse the reader in the world and story of the last dragon of the East. Seriously I’ve likely put more descriptive words in the above lines than are found in this whole book.
During this tale we witness torture, ruthless anger, evil, and (of course) death; yet I never truly felt like I was experiencing it the way I should have been. The read itself is good enough, but with the extra effort of setting the scene, especially determining the tone of the story, it could have been so much more. I can tolerate some lacking plot, moderate character development, or diminished magical building in a fantasy story; but to be missing the depth of sights and sounds of the world, to lack the descriptions of glorious landscapes, tight dungeons, or even what the scales of a dragon feel like was too much to ignore. There was just was too little to keep my attention as I kept wondering where our characters were and what they were truly experiencing with their senses. Be it taste, sound, touch, or smell, The Last Dragon of the East is a void of darkness leaving the reader to grasp at any descriptions of where we truly are and what our characters are experiencing.
You might want to argue that my imagination could fill in the holes, but it honestly never adequately did. I continually felt at a loss. Too many questions kept popping into my mind about the scenery and surroundings to truly enjoy the rest of the prose given over to the love story. It’s a tragedy really that such a powerful story of love, resilience, and dedication between two creatures cannot flourish in the world they are set. If even 10% as much effort had gone into prose describing elements as went into the lore and history between our dragons then this could have been a solid stand alone fantasy novel.
I’ve wanted to round up to four stars, because it may be that others will not be bothered by the same lackings I am, but I just couldn’t bring myself to. Perhaps some readers will only care about the story of our couple and their ups and (extreme) downs in truly finding one another. If you are able to do so then I commend you and encourage you to relish in the romance presented in The Last Dragon of the East. For me I couldn’t follow the thread of fate far enough before losing all sight of it and spending most of my time fumbling to find not only its depth, but also its substance.
Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.
During this tale we witness torture, ruthless anger, evil, and (of course) death; yet I never truly felt like I was experiencing it the way I should have been. The read itself is good enough, but with the extra effort of setting the scene, especially determining the tone of the story, it could have been so much more. I can tolerate some lacking plot, moderate character development, or diminished magical building in a fantasy story; but to be missing the depth of sights and sounds of the world, to lack the descriptions of glorious landscapes, tight dungeons, or even what the scales of a dragon feel like was too much to ignore. There was just was too little to keep my attention as I kept wondering where our characters were and what they were truly experiencing with their senses. Be it taste, sound, touch, or smell, The Last Dragon of the East is a void of darkness leaving the reader to grasp at any descriptions of where we truly are and what our characters are experiencing.
You might want to argue that my imagination could fill in the holes, but it honestly never adequately did. I continually felt at a loss. Too many questions kept popping into my mind about the scenery and surroundings to truly enjoy the rest of the prose given over to the love story. It’s a tragedy really that such a powerful story of love, resilience, and dedication between two creatures cannot flourish in the world they are set. If even 10% as much effort had gone into prose describing elements as went into the lore and history between our dragons then this could have been a solid stand alone fantasy novel.
I’ve wanted to round up to four stars, because it may be that others will not be bothered by the same lackings I am, but I just couldn’t bring myself to. Perhaps some readers will only care about the story of our couple and their ups and (extreme) downs in truly finding one another. If you are able to do so then I commend you and encourage you to relish in the romance presented in The Last Dragon of the East. For me I couldn’t follow the thread of fate far enough before losing all sight of it and spending most of my time fumbling to find not only its depth, but also its substance.
Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.
May 11, 2024
This sweeping romantic fantasy has it all: epic journeys, characters to root for, and a romance that spans the ages. Packed full of mythology and gorgeously lush prose, the banter between the ever-upbeat Sai and the surly, secretive Jyn is top-notch. The twists kept me turning pages until I reached the incredibly satisfying, heartwarming conclusion. An absolutely swoony, thrilling adventure!
September 14, 2024
2024 reads: 255/250
i received an advanced review copy from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. this did not affect my rating.
buddy read with ellie!
sai has led a quiet life by keeping the family teahouse up and running and taking care of his mother. he also has a side hustle of matchmaking, as he’s been given the special gift of seeing the red threads of fate that run between soulmates. so far, he’s been content to not follow his own thread, the only one he’s ever seen that’s grey and fraying. but soon, his life is turned upside down, leading to him running from the ruthless emperor and into the arms of a mysterious dragon.
i LOVE books with a fated soulmates aspect and with inspirations from east asian mythology, so i was very excited to dive into this one! i ended up really enjoying this book. i thought it was interesting that the lead was a male, because i honestly don’t read that many male-led books. i really loved this because sai was so down-bad for jyn and we got to witness that firsthand.
overall, this was a lovely book that i’d recommend to fantasy romance fans. i will be adding katrina kwan’s other books to my tbr!
i received an advanced review copy from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. this did not affect my rating.
buddy read with ellie!
sai has led a quiet life by keeping the family teahouse up and running and taking care of his mother. he also has a side hustle of matchmaking, as he’s been given the special gift of seeing the red threads of fate that run between soulmates. so far, he’s been content to not follow his own thread, the only one he’s ever seen that’s grey and fraying. but soon, his life is turned upside down, leading to him running from the ruthless emperor and into the arms of a mysterious dragon.
i LOVE books with a fated soulmates aspect and with inspirations from east asian mythology, so i was very excited to dive into this one! i ended up really enjoying this book. i thought it was interesting that the lead was a male, because i honestly don’t read that many male-led books. i really loved this because sai was so down-bad for jyn and we got to witness that firsthand.
overall, this was a lovely book that i’d recommend to fantasy romance fans. i will be adding katrina kwan’s other books to my tbr!
October 7, 2024
Thank you NetGalley and Saga Press for this arc in exchange for an honest review!
DNF 38%
There's nothing I love more than reading a fated soulmate story. Throw in dragons!? Super exciting premise, but this was not doing it for me.
My main issue was the MMC. For me, he just did not have main character vibes at all. I wasn't connecting with him at all, wasn't invested in his story or his thread of fate. The story started to get more interesting once his fated one shows up, but the characteristics I wasn't feeling really started to stand out. His vibe was feeling really forced and it was just meh.
This might also be my current reading mood. I've been reading most romantasies this past month, and so this main character was falling short.
DNF 38%
There's nothing I love more than reading a fated soulmate story. Throw in dragons!? Super exciting premise, but this was not doing it for me.
My main issue was the MMC. For me, he just did not have main character vibes at all. I wasn't connecting with him at all, wasn't invested in his story or his thread of fate. The story started to get more interesting once his fated one shows up, but the characteristics I wasn't feeling really started to stand out. His vibe was feeling really forced and it was just meh.
This might also be my current reading mood. I've been reading most romantasies this past month, and so this main character was falling short.
November 4, 2024
Adorbs 🥺
June 10, 2024
The cover, the writing, everything about this book was beautiful. The way Katrina writes this tale of Sai and his ability to see the red threads of fate had me captivated from the very start. Her writing is so easy to get addicted to, because she makes her characters likable, and it's so easy to form an attachment to them. And her worldbuilding amazed me. I need more of this story although I know it is over I just need so much more of this world.
I loved Sai’s development throughout the story and him searching for the dragon as well as following his own red thread of fate. You may think this is a lighthearted story, but at times this story was dark, especially when you’re given glimpses into the past. I loved how important family was to Sai also, and how no matter what he wanted to help his ailing mother.
There were some plot twists in this book that had me tearing up a little, and at one point I was full on sobbing. I was expecting some of what happened, but when it did happen the way it was written was more then I could possibly imagine.
Thank you to Netgalley and Saga Press for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
I loved Sai’s development throughout the story and him searching for the dragon as well as following his own red thread of fate. You may think this is a lighthearted story, but at times this story was dark, especially when you’re given glimpses into the past. I loved how important family was to Sai also, and how no matter what he wanted to help his ailing mother.
There were some plot twists in this book that had me tearing up a little, and at one point I was full on sobbing. I was expecting some of what happened, but when it did happen the way it was written was more then I could possibly imagine.
Thank you to Netgalley and Saga Press for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
November 7, 2024
4⭐️
Consider my heart WARMED 😭😭😭😭😭
Sai is one of the cutest and sweetest mmc’s I’ve ever encountered omg. Him and Jyn were everything, and their characters + relationship carried this book for me. It was so tender and heart wrenchingly sweet MY HEART!!!
While the pacing was a little clunky, and I feel like our villain could have used some more development, I utterly adored this. The writing was lovely, and I cannot wait for more from this author. I do wish we could some more closure on A-Qian though 🥲
If you’re a sucker for a red thread of fate storyline and you’re also looking for a romance that’ll sort of break your heart and slowly piece it back together, look no further than the last dragon of the east! Plus, dragons!! 🐉🐉🐉
Consider my heart WARMED 😭😭😭😭😭
Sai is one of the cutest and sweetest mmc’s I’ve ever encountered omg. Him and Jyn were everything, and their characters + relationship carried this book for me. It was so tender and heart wrenchingly sweet MY HEART!!!
While the pacing was a little clunky, and I feel like our villain could have used some more development, I utterly adored this. The writing was lovely, and I cannot wait for more from this author. I do wish we could some more closure on A-Qian though 🥲
If you’re a sucker for a red thread of fate storyline and you’re also looking for a romance that’ll sort of break your heart and slowly piece it back together, look no further than the last dragon of the east! Plus, dragons!! 🐉🐉🐉
October 1, 2024
There's not really much to say about this. It's a cute romantasy with some life and death (ish) situations to make things slightly more exciting than your usual low stakes cozy romantasy.
Ultimately, this definitely wasn't for me. I'm not into reading about finding "The One" when it comes to romance, or anything hardcore heteronormative, so I was put off by those themes.
But readers looking for something quick and easy to read might like this. The plot isn't highly complicated and there are only a handful of characters to keep track of. It reads very YA too, if you're into adult books that read like YA.
Thank you to S&S/Saga Press and NetGalley for this arc.
Ultimately, this definitely wasn't for me. I'm not into reading about finding "The One" when it comes to romance, or anything hardcore heteronormative, so I was put off by those themes.
But readers looking for something quick and easy to read might like this. The plot isn't highly complicated and there are only a handful of characters to keep track of. It reads very YA too, if you're into adult books that read like YA.
Thank you to S&S/Saga Press and NetGalley for this arc.
December 30, 2024
3.5 stars 🌟
RTC!
RTC!
dnf
July 6, 2025DNF @ 66%
I'm finding this really forgettable. Not buying into the romance at all.
I'm finding this really forgettable. Not buying into the romance at all.
September 2, 2024
4.5 (rounded up)
The Last Dragon of the East is an evocative and lush adult romantasy following Sai, who has been able see the red threads of fate all his life, suddenly finds himself forced to go on a journey in order to save his ailing mother from the hands of The Emperor and finally solves the mystery of his Fated One along the way. Full of Chinese mythology, witty banter and prose that will captivate you from start to finish, Kwan weaves together an emotional story about fate, destiny and love through multiple lifetimes.
I absolutely adored Sai’s humour and his character right from the start, and I loved the way his character arc played out. Further, I adored the use of the red threads of fate mythology and how it was incorporated throughout the story. While I don’t tend to be a huge romantasy reader, I found myself enjoying this one from start to finish. Kwan’s prose is particularly captivating and the emotions of both Sai and Jyn are wonderfully captured on the page. The only thing I will say is that the pacing in the last third of the book felt a bit rushed compared to the rest of the book, which made it feel a little imbalanced but not a noticeable detractor from the story.
All in all, I laughed, I cried, and I found myself immersed in Sai and Jyn’s story and I’m so excited to see what the author comes up with next!
Thank you to Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for providing this eArc in exchange for an honest review. All opinions in this review are my own.
The Last Dragon of the East is an evocative and lush adult romantasy following Sai, who has been able see the red threads of fate all his life, suddenly finds himself forced to go on a journey in order to save his ailing mother from the hands of The Emperor and finally solves the mystery of his Fated One along the way. Full of Chinese mythology, witty banter and prose that will captivate you from start to finish, Kwan weaves together an emotional story about fate, destiny and love through multiple lifetimes.
I absolutely adored Sai’s humour and his character right from the start, and I loved the way his character arc played out. Further, I adored the use of the red threads of fate mythology and how it was incorporated throughout the story. While I don’t tend to be a huge romantasy reader, I found myself enjoying this one from start to finish. Kwan’s prose is particularly captivating and the emotions of both Sai and Jyn are wonderfully captured on the page. The only thing I will say is that the pacing in the last third of the book felt a bit rushed compared to the rest of the book, which made it feel a little imbalanced but not a noticeable detractor from the story.
All in all, I laughed, I cried, and I found myself immersed in Sai and Jyn’s story and I’m so excited to see what the author comes up with next!
Thank you to Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for providing this eArc in exchange for an honest review. All opinions in this review are my own.
August 27, 2025
4 stars
so it wasn’t just a cute little red string story but it is also traumatic yess
read the last 100 pages with my mouth open. It was so much better than i expected from this book!!i. just loved it
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the red string theory trope will always be my favorite
so it wasn’t just a cute little red string story but it is also traumatic yess
read the last 100 pages with my mouth open. It was so much better than i expected from this book!!i. just loved it
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the red string theory trope will always be my favorite
July 12, 2025
2.5 ⭐️
I wanted to love this book, so much. I went into it with high hopes, but honestly, it didn’t work for me the way I wanted it to. The overall vibe was my biggest struggle. Fantasy can be heavy and intense, or it can be cozy and lighthearted, and both are great! But The Last Dragon of the East tried to do both at the same time, and it didn’t quite work. One minute there’s sarcasm and light banter, and then—BOOM—someone’s head gets chopped off and blood is flying everywhere. The characters also felt all over the place. One was supposed to be this supreme, all-powerful evil, and for a minute, it seemed like that was true… until he felt like just a regular dude. Another character was described as completely useless in combat, but somehow kept diving headfirst into fights and surviving against trained warriors. I just didn’t understand what the book wanted me to believe about them. And then there’s the language. I know this is a personal gripe, but when a story feels ancient or set in another era, I really don’t love it when the characters use modern curse words. It takes me right out of the world.
That being said, there were things I loved. Sai’s ability to see the strings of fate was such a cool concept, and I loved how it tied into his journey. The dragon legends and how they connected to the story were beautiful and emotional. I think what it comes down to is that I wanted something more consistent. There were areas that were strong, but the uneven tone, characters, and worldbuilding made it hard for me to stay engaged. I wish I could say I loved it, but this one just wasn’t for me.
Thank you NetGalley and SagaPress for providing me with an e-arc & and physical copy! All opinions shared are mine and mine alone.
I wanted to love this book, so much. I went into it with high hopes, but honestly, it didn’t work for me the way I wanted it to. The overall vibe was my biggest struggle. Fantasy can be heavy and intense, or it can be cozy and lighthearted, and both are great! But The Last Dragon of the East tried to do both at the same time, and it didn’t quite work. One minute there’s sarcasm and light banter, and then—BOOM—someone’s head gets chopped off and blood is flying everywhere. The characters also felt all over the place. One was supposed to be this supreme, all-powerful evil, and for a minute, it seemed like that was true… until he felt like just a regular dude. Another character was described as completely useless in combat, but somehow kept diving headfirst into fights and surviving against trained warriors. I just didn’t understand what the book wanted me to believe about them. And then there’s the language. I know this is a personal gripe, but when a story feels ancient or set in another era, I really don’t love it when the characters use modern curse words. It takes me right out of the world.
That being said, there were things I loved. Sai’s ability to see the strings of fate was such a cool concept, and I loved how it tied into his journey. The dragon legends and how they connected to the story were beautiful and emotional. I think what it comes down to is that I wanted something more consistent. There were areas that were strong, but the uneven tone, characters, and worldbuilding made it hard for me to stay engaged. I wish I could say I loved it, but this one just wasn’t for me.
Thank you NetGalley and SagaPress for providing me with an e-arc & and physical copy! All opinions shared are mine and mine alone.
October 12, 2024
“My love for this dragon transcends lifetimes, transcends corporeal forms. I would choose her for all eternity over a seat in Heaven.”
My thanks to Saga Press for sending me a review copy in exchange for my honest review! I still can’t believe I secured an ARC. This doesn’t affect my thoughts about the book in any way.
🐉 chinese mythology-inspired romantasy
⚔️ charming, chatty teahouse owner x a grumpy dragon who just wants him to shut up
🧵 fated soulmates
🤍 a love that transcends the course of lifetimes
The Last Dragon of the East is out on October 8th!
Buddy read with sea!
This dazzling adult romantasy debut from Katrina Kwan is woven from the tales of Chinese folklore and mythology, and features the fated soulmates trope between a grumpy dragon and a charismatic teahouse owner. I was captivated by the storytelling, with the perfect thrill of adventure and romance between the two characters. I absolutely loved Sai’s softhearted and courageous persona because he wasn’t a typical MC who wields a sword from the very beginning into battle. Sai is clumsy and impulsive, and gets into a lot of trouble throughout this book (the man is literally on death’s doorstep that’s how unlucky he is). However, it never diminished how loveable and appealing he is to me because of his devotion and loyalty (the man is literally down bad). Reading this book from Sai’s perspective was sweet and funny. To avoid spoilers, I will simply say that this book is a tragic and hopeful story of love and loss. Perfect for fans of Daughter of the Moon Goddess and Legend of The White Snake.
My thanks to Saga Press for sending me a review copy in exchange for my honest review! I still can’t believe I secured an ARC. This doesn’t affect my thoughts about the book in any way.
🐉 chinese mythology-inspired romantasy
⚔️ charming, chatty teahouse owner x a grumpy dragon who just wants him to shut up
🧵 fated soulmates
🤍 a love that transcends the course of lifetimes
The Last Dragon of the East is out on October 8th!
Buddy read with sea!
This dazzling adult romantasy debut from Katrina Kwan is woven from the tales of Chinese folklore and mythology, and features the fated soulmates trope between a grumpy dragon and a charismatic teahouse owner. I was captivated by the storytelling, with the perfect thrill of adventure and romance between the two characters. I absolutely loved Sai’s softhearted and courageous persona because he wasn’t a typical MC who wields a sword from the very beginning into battle. Sai is clumsy and impulsive, and gets into a lot of trouble throughout this book (the man is literally on death’s doorstep that’s how unlucky he is). However, it never diminished how loveable and appealing he is to me because of his devotion and loyalty (the man is literally down bad). Reading this book from Sai’s perspective was sweet and funny. To avoid spoilers, I will simply say that this book is a tragic and hopeful story of love and loss. Perfect for fans of Daughter of the Moon Goddess and Legend of The White Snake.
August 11, 2025
“I love you, Sai. I have loved you in every life, and I will love you in every one hereafter.”
This was so sweet! I’ve seen a lot of mixed reviews for this one, but I was surprised I enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would.
I love the sense of wonder this novel brought out involving the red string of fate trope. I’ve read several novels with this trope, but I found this one especially unique whereby our MMC can visually see who his thread connects to as well as other people’s. In particular, I was really intrigued by Sai’s thread and why it was gray instead of red, which was a unique twist on the trope, so it kept me wanting to continue reading to uncover the mystery between Sai and his fated one.
I see that a lot of the critiques for this one was because of the romance, and I can see why. Sai is already very smitten with Jyn, but I feel like I’m more lenient with insta-love when it’s tied to the red string of fate trope, so I didn’t mind it as much here since the way it came together was really well written and sweet, and the reverse grumpy x sunshine dynamic surprisingly worked so well. I do believe that when you meet your soulmate, you feel a spiritual connection to them where you just know they are the right one for you, so I could get Sai on that aspect. In fact, I actually found the insta-love so funny since it was one-sided where Jyn did not want anything to do with Sai LMFAO. I don’t know if Katrina Kwan intended to make the novel so funny, but I was belly laughing throughout the novel. Did I cringe? Yes. But did I also laugh like a whale? Also yes. I was thoroughly entertained. The book was just so silly but so good at the same time. I still cringe at the nicknames Sai has for Jyn, but the novel is endearing in its own way and I didn’t expect to get so attached to their story.
The novel was surprisingly well thought out too and I was engrossed in the plot the whole way. This novel is marketed for fans of Sue Lynn Tan and it did not disappoint. I found myself engrossed in learning about the world Kwan crafted, which felt very vivid and magical. It’s clear in Kwan’s writing that she has a thorough understanding of Asian folklore and mythology, and it was interesting how she incorporated them into the story. The novel can get very silly, but there’s genuine thought and heart put into the storytelling and I was ultimately moved by the love story between Sai and Jyn even if their romance could have been executed better. The novel only focuses on a few characters yet they are all integral to the story. The way it all tied together was surprisingly well written and easy to follow and I cannot wait to read Kwan’s upcoming novel!
This was so sweet! I’ve seen a lot of mixed reviews for this one, but I was surprised I enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would.
I love the sense of wonder this novel brought out involving the red string of fate trope. I’ve read several novels with this trope, but I found this one especially unique whereby our MMC can visually see who his thread connects to as well as other people’s. In particular, I was really intrigued by Sai’s thread and why it was gray instead of red, which was a unique twist on the trope, so it kept me wanting to continue reading to uncover the mystery between Sai and his fated one.
I see that a lot of the critiques for this one was because of the romance, and I can see why. Sai is already very smitten with Jyn, but I feel like I’m more lenient with insta-love when it’s tied to the red string of fate trope, so I didn’t mind it as much here since the way it came together was really well written and sweet, and the reverse grumpy x sunshine dynamic surprisingly worked so well. I do believe that when you meet your soulmate, you feel a spiritual connection to them where you just know they are the right one for you, so I could get Sai on that aspect. In fact, I actually found the insta-love so funny since it was one-sided where Jyn did not want anything to do with Sai LMFAO. I don’t know if Katrina Kwan intended to make the novel so funny, but I was belly laughing throughout the novel. Did I cringe? Yes. But did I also laugh like a whale? Also yes. I was thoroughly entertained. The book was just so silly but so good at the same time. I still cringe at the nicknames Sai has for Jyn, but the novel is endearing in its own way and I didn’t expect to get so attached to their story.
The novel was surprisingly well thought out too and I was engrossed in the plot the whole way. This novel is marketed for fans of Sue Lynn Tan and it did not disappoint. I found myself engrossed in learning about the world Kwan crafted, which felt very vivid and magical. It’s clear in Kwan’s writing that she has a thorough understanding of Asian folklore and mythology, and it was interesting how she incorporated them into the story. The novel can get very silly, but there’s genuine thought and heart put into the storytelling and I was ultimately moved by the love story between Sai and Jyn even if their romance could have been executed better. The novel only focuses on a few characters yet they are all integral to the story. The way it all tied together was surprisingly well written and easy to follow and I cannot wait to read Kwan’s upcoming novel!
October 9, 2024
Its hard for me to enjoy a fantasy standalone but The Last Dragon of the East really packed a punch in a short amount of pages. Kwan really has a great immersive writing style that not only fully fleshes out the characters but makes you feel the sting of battle and soaring of dragons wings.
Sai has lived a quiet life in a teashop and has the ability to connect others with their soulmates because he can see the red threads of fate that bind people to one another. I loved that he was a soft hearted, sweet character. Now before we get too far into this review....this is not a cozy fantasy romance. Sai definitely gets out of his element quickly and is thrust into the fields of battle and other dangers where he has to fight for his life....albeit rather inadequately. The intensity and violence might not be for the faint of heart.
It's a vicious story about two people fighting for their lives against a greater evil while on a quest. If you love themes of fated mates, reincarnated lifetimes, a touch of mystery, and loyalty through loss -- this might be a good fit for you! And yes there are DRAGONS. If you liked The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea but wanted something more in the adult category, this is what I would recommend. And you can't beat a fantasy standalone if you are low on commitment.
**The romance elements was nicely done but definitely fits into the adult open door category but I wouldn't call it overly descriptive/explicit.
Sai has lived a quiet life in a teashop and has the ability to connect others with their soulmates because he can see the red threads of fate that bind people to one another. I loved that he was a soft hearted, sweet character. Now before we get too far into this review....this is not a cozy fantasy romance. Sai definitely gets out of his element quickly and is thrust into the fields of battle and other dangers where he has to fight for his life....albeit rather inadequately. The intensity and violence might not be for the faint of heart.
It's a vicious story about two people fighting for their lives against a greater evil while on a quest. If you love themes of fated mates, reincarnated lifetimes, a touch of mystery, and loyalty through loss -- this might be a good fit for you! And yes there are DRAGONS. If you liked The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea but wanted something more in the adult category, this is what I would recommend. And you can't beat a fantasy standalone if you are low on commitment.
**The romance elements was nicely done but definitely fits into the adult open door category but I wouldn't call it overly descriptive/explicit.
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December 26, 2024
3.5 stars, rounded up
A fun romp!
I really liked Sai's voice, although his entire being changes toward the end, not toward the better IMO (there's an explanation for the change, though).
The book is fun, Jyn and Sai's star-crossed love is a delight, and the big bad is enough of a twist to warrant an "oh shit"...at least from me lol.
I received an ARC from NetGalley
A fun romp!
I really liked Sai's voice, although his entire being changes toward the end, not toward the better IMO (there's an explanation for the change, though).
The book is fun, Jyn and Sai's star-crossed love is a delight, and the big bad is enough of a twist to warrant an "oh shit"...at least from me lol.
I received an ARC from NetGalley
dnf
September 11, 2025dnf 17%
main character pmo
main character pmo
August 22, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc!
This was a really fun fantasy debut! I loved the relationship between Jyn and Sai and was very pleased with the ending. Jyn's character could have been a bit more developed, but overall, both Sai and Jyn were compelling characters, and I really enjoyed the plot. The book was extremely fast-paced and kept me entertained throughout the entire story. I also loved the theme of reincarnation and the folk tale/mythology aspect of the story! Overall, I can't wait to read what Katrina Kwan writes next, and I thought this was a pretty solid fantasy/romantasy debut!
This was a really fun fantasy debut! I loved the relationship between Jyn and Sai and was very pleased with the ending. Jyn's character could have been a bit more developed, but overall, both Sai and Jyn were compelling characters, and I really enjoyed the plot. The book was extremely fast-paced and kept me entertained throughout the entire story. I also loved the theme of reincarnation and the folk tale/mythology aspect of the story! Overall, I can't wait to read what Katrina Kwan writes next, and I thought this was a pretty solid fantasy/romantasy debut!
Want to read
August 6, 2024never heard of this author but she is canadian and theres dragon in the title 😛
September 11, 2024
*Thank you to the publisher via Netgalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review*
Before I get into the review, I will say that the vibe the cover gives off absolutely does not match how intense the book can get inside. But more fool me for judging a book by its cover.
Now, the positives: I think the initial concept (seeing the red strings of fate that tie people together) is very fun. The prose, too, really shined at times, especially when it came to describing the environments. There were some really lovely descriptions that added to the atmosphere of the book.
Unfortunately, that was really all I liked about this. This book is listed at 320 pages on Goodreads and it needed more for what it was trying to do, doubly so because of the shortness of the book, the pacing of the plot felt very, very uneven. The story is divided into 1 POV--Sai's--and brief interludes detailing the story of the 3 dragons. If the story had stuck firmly to Sai and the dragons rather than delving into a romance, I think the page count could have worked as a sort of folk tale/retelling-type of story. However, with the romance and single POV, this was way too short. Especially since the Fated Mates trope has an element of insta-love, it would've been way better and more interesting to see that from Sai's POV and Jyn's.
Speaking of Jyn, she was another problem I had. She feels very, very half-baked as a character. (Diversity win! The brooding, grumpy, cardboard cut-out of a love interest is a woman!) Actually, that's being a bit unfair, it's not that she's a cardboard cut-out per se, she's simply not fully actualized. Especially because from Sai's POV, she comes across as someone with an inconsistent character. Even when, later, we learn her reasons why, it still doesn't fully flesh her out. This is largely due to the fact that the bulk of the emotional work for a good portion of the book is done via Sai feeling her emotions through their bond. It took the hard work out of building up their relationship organically. I really think this book and story would have benefitted from chapters in Jyn's POV, possibly instead of the short folktale-like chapters in between Sai's POVs.
Lastly, and this is two points in one, the villain felt very generic in a way that didn't really add anything to the story. And my god did I hate the ending. I won't spoil anything, but a choice the author made really sat uncomfortably in my gut. In fact, there was another instance a little earlier in the story that also made me a little queasy, but the ending definitely didn't work for me at all.
Overall, while there were some beautiful writing moments, the uneven pacing and characters didn't work for me.
Before I get into the review, I will say that the vibe the cover gives off absolutely does not match how intense the book can get inside. But more fool me for judging a book by its cover.
Now, the positives: I think the initial concept (seeing the red strings of fate that tie people together) is very fun. The prose, too, really shined at times, especially when it came to describing the environments. There were some really lovely descriptions that added to the atmosphere of the book.
Unfortunately, that was really all I liked about this. This book is listed at 320 pages on Goodreads and it needed more for what it was trying to do, doubly so because of the shortness of the book, the pacing of the plot felt very, very uneven. The story is divided into 1 POV--Sai's--and brief interludes detailing the story of the 3 dragons. If the story had stuck firmly to Sai and the dragons rather than delving into a romance, I think the page count could have worked as a sort of folk tale/retelling-type of story. However, with the romance and single POV, this was way too short. Especially since the Fated Mates trope has an element of insta-love, it would've been way better and more interesting to see that from Sai's POV and Jyn's.
Speaking of Jyn, she was another problem I had. She feels very, very half-baked as a character. (Diversity win! The brooding, grumpy, cardboard cut-out of a love interest is a woman!) Actually, that's being a bit unfair, it's not that she's a cardboard cut-out per se, she's simply not fully actualized. Especially because from Sai's POV, she comes across as someone with an inconsistent character. Even when, later, we learn her reasons why, it still doesn't fully flesh her out. This is largely due to the fact that the bulk of the emotional work for a good portion of the book is done via Sai feeling her emotions through their bond. It took the hard work out of building up their relationship organically. I really think this book and story would have benefitted from chapters in Jyn's POV, possibly instead of the short folktale-like chapters in between Sai's POVs.
Lastly, and this is two points in one, the villain felt very generic in a way that didn't really add anything to the story. And my god did I hate the ending. I won't spoil anything, but a choice the author made really sat uncomfortably in my gut. In fact, there was another instance a little earlier in the story that also made me a little queasy, but the ending definitely didn't work for me at all.
Overall, while there were some beautiful writing moments, the uneven pacing and characters didn't work for me.
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