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The Dandelion Dynasty #4
Speaking Bones
The battle continues in this silkpunk fantasy as science and destiny collide against the will of the gods in this final installment in the epic Dandelion Dynasty series from the “genius” (Elizabeth Bear, Hugo Award–winning author of the Eternal Sky series) Hugo, Nebula, and World Fantasy Award–winning author Ken Liu.
The concluding book of The Dandelion Dynasty begins immediately after the events of The Veiled Throne , in the middle of two wars on two lands among three people separated by an ocean yet held together by the invisible strands of love.
Harried by Lyucu pursuers, Princess Théra and Pékyu Takval try to reestablish an ancestral dream even as their hearts grow in doubt. The people of Dara continue to struggle against the genocidal Lyucu as both nations vacillate between starkly contrasting visions for their futures. Even the gods cannot see through the Wall of Storms, for only mortal hearts can decide mortal fates.
Award-winning author Ken Liu fulfills the covenants first laid out a decade ago in a series delving deep into the connection between national myths and national constitutions in this “magnificent fantasy epic” (NPR).
The concluding book of The Dandelion Dynasty begins immediately after the events of The Veiled Throne , in the middle of two wars on two lands among three people separated by an ocean yet held together by the invisible strands of love.
Harried by Lyucu pursuers, Princess Théra and Pékyu Takval try to reestablish an ancestral dream even as their hearts grow in doubt. The people of Dara continue to struggle against the genocidal Lyucu as both nations vacillate between starkly contrasting visions for their futures. Even the gods cannot see through the Wall of Storms, for only mortal hearts can decide mortal fates.
Award-winning author Ken Liu fulfills the covenants first laid out a decade ago in a series delving deep into the connection between national myths and national constitutions in this “magnificent fantasy epic” (NPR).
1072 pages, Paperback
First published June 21, 2022
239 people are currently reading
18452 people want to read
About the author
Ken Liu
467 books22k followersKen Liu (http://kenliu.name) is an American author of speculative fiction. A winner of the Nebula, Hugo, and World Fantasy awards for his fiction, he has also won top genre honors abroad in Japan, Spain, and France.
Liu’s most characteristic work is the four-volume epic fantasy series, The Dandelion Dynasty, in which engineers, not wizards, are the heroes of a silkpunk world on the verge of modernity. His debut collection of short fiction, The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories, has been published in more than a dozen languages. A second collection, The Hidden Girl and Other Stories, followed. He also penned the Star Wars novel, The Legends of Luke Skywalker. His latest book is All That We See or Seem, a techno-thriller starring an AI-whispering hacker who saves the world.
He’s often involved in media adaptations of his work. Recent projects include “The Regular,” under development as a TV series; “Good Hunting,” adapted as an episode in season one of Netflix’s breakout adult animated series Love, Death + Robots; and AMC’s Pantheon, with Craig Silverstein as executive producer, adapted from an interconnected series of Liu’s short stories.
Prior to becoming a full-time writer, Liu worked as a software engineer, corporate lawyer, and litigation consultant. He frequently speaks at conferences and universities on a variety of topics, including futurism, machine-augmented creativity, history of technology, bookmaking, and the mathematics of origami.
In addition to his original fiction, Liu also occasionally publishes literary translations. His most recent work of translation is a new rendition of Laozi’s Dao De Jing.
Liu lives with his family near Boston, Massachusetts.
Liu’s most characteristic work is the four-volume epic fantasy series, The Dandelion Dynasty, in which engineers, not wizards, are the heroes of a silkpunk world on the verge of modernity. His debut collection of short fiction, The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories, has been published in more than a dozen languages. A second collection, The Hidden Girl and Other Stories, followed. He also penned the Star Wars novel, The Legends of Luke Skywalker. His latest book is All That We See or Seem, a techno-thriller starring an AI-whispering hacker who saves the world.
He’s often involved in media adaptations of his work. Recent projects include “The Regular,” under development as a TV series; “Good Hunting,” adapted as an episode in season one of Netflix’s breakout adult animated series Love, Death + Robots; and AMC’s Pantheon, with Craig Silverstein as executive producer, adapted from an interconnected series of Liu’s short stories.
Prior to becoming a full-time writer, Liu worked as a software engineer, corporate lawyer, and litigation consultant. He frequently speaks at conferences and universities on a variety of topics, including futurism, machine-augmented creativity, history of technology, bookmaking, and the mathematics of origami.
In addition to his original fiction, Liu also occasionally publishes literary translations. His most recent work of translation is a new rendition of Laozi’s Dao De Jing.
Liu lives with his family near Boston, Massachusetts.
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July 22, 2023
I am labeling Ken Liu as a genius. Speaking Bones has launched The Dandelion Dynasty to become the best series of 2022.
Since The Wall of Storms, I’ve mentioned the difficulty of reviewing each book in The Dandelion Dynasty, and that statement hasn’t changed here. It is even more prevalent. I’ve read and written more than 600 reviews now, and each volume in The Dandelion Dynasty, especially Speaking Bones, are some of the most difficult reviews to write for three main reasons. The first one is it is impossible and futile to try and tell the magnificence of the series through a few reviews; this series is an experience, and it is something you should start and complete for yourself. No reviews in the world will ever be able to capture the multitude of impactful depths Liu poured into this series. The second reason being each book in The Dandelion Dynasty packed a myriad of glorious content. Although The Dandelion Dynasty is technically a quartet, each book feels like I’ve read two or three epic fantasy worth of content. The third reason, I’ve never highlighted quotes from a book or series as much as I did for The Dandelion Dynasty. With 181 quotes, Speaking Bones alone is by far the most highlighted book I’ve ever read. This quantity is unprecedented. As I always say, I usually highlight about 10-40 quotes per book. But almost every paragraph and sentence in The Dandelion Dynasty demands to be highlighted, remembered, and re-remembered. All of these made reviewing Speaking Bones so challenging. The Dandelion Dynasty is a special series. And although I fully understand my review won't be able to do this book and series justice, I will still attempt it in the hope of convincing at least one or two people to give this series a read. Because through that, I will know I've succeeded in making the world a bit brighter.
The Veiled Throne functioned as the first half of the final book of The Dandelion Dynasty. But there’s always a second act. Always. And the second act to finally conclude the series is manifested in Speaking Bones. In part 1 of The Veiled Throne, we encountered a new important character from The Lands of Ukyu and Gonde: Goztan. This was done in a flashback format. But that is no longer the case here. The last chapters of The Veiled Throne were centered on our main characters in The Islands of Dara. We are not getting the continuation to this side of the story until we reach Part 2 of the novel. But believe me, the wait will be worth it. In Part 1 of Speaking Bones, Hail-Pummeled Flowers, the story focuses on our main characters in The Lands of Ukyu and Gonde. And without mentioning any spoilers, part 1 of the novel immediately showcased the main tone of the narrative that will be displayed even more powerfully in the rest of the novel. Incredibly emotional, thought-provoking, contemplative, and so intense.
This shouldn't come as a surprise. As I said, The Veiled Throne and Speaking Bones are two parts of one big novel. That means what we are reading in Speaking Bones is almost an entire consecutive climax sequence and conclusions. But with proper build-up and superb pacing. And this notion applies to all five parts of the novel, starting from Part One, where the final confrontation between the Agon and Lyucu storyline is executed. I have no shame in admitting that I couldn't predict where the story was going. I was just astounded by how well-written the big aerial battle was. But more importantly, I already LOVED the themes that Liu discussed in Part One. A FEW examples: the meaning of eternity, what defines good or evil, why the cycle of violence is recycled endlessly, how no one is a villain in their stories, and what is often used as justification for the act of killing. All of them were delivered with a freezing impact. And this is just from Part One! Everything that happened in Part One was harrowing, depressing, bittersweet, and memorable. And these work well in preparing readers for the upcoming chaos and drama in Part Two of Speaking Bones: Thunder-Awakened Forest.
One of the best things about The Dandelion Dynasty has always been how splendid Ken Liu incorporates the super engaging battle scenes and the various deep themes into the story. We, epic fantasy readers, tend to love reading scenes of bloodshed, violence, and massive war scenes, but I think an SFF author has to be careful about applying these to their books. These devastating scenes, without any emotional weight and proper setup, would end up being mere flashy scenes that hold no meaning to me. Fortunately, this negative situation and feelings of boredom never happened throughout my time reading The Dandelion Dynasty. The concept of power, its attainment, and the corruption from wielding it is one of MANY themes that Liu insert into The Dandelion Dynasty. We arrived at the final stage of its searing effect in Speaking Bones. Teeth on the board. One who wields power must understand the consequences of wielding it. Or it will end up wielding the supposed wielder instead. These themes and the perpetually superlative characterizations, background development, and motivation building for the myriad of characters throughout the series imbued insanely terrifying emotional weight and stakes in the battle scenes and crimson conflicts.
The destructive sunflower bloom of conflagrations and countless bloodshed poured in the big battles like the Battle of the Crescent Island felt palpable, vivid, immersive, and pivotal. Before you drown in my overwhelming praises for Speaking Bones, or The Dandelion Dynasty, I feel inclined as a reviewer to mention no war scenes in the series top over The Battle of Zathin Gulf in The Wall of Storms. This isn't to say The Battle of Crescent Island, or the Battle of Pan I'll talk about later, was ever uninteresting, but let's put it this way. If The Battle of Crescent Island and The Battle of Pan are 5 stars material, The Battle of Zathin Gulf is a 6 out of 5 stars material. I know, for one thing, that several readers won't like the structure Liu used to depict The Battle of Crescent Island. The Battle of Crescent Island is divided into three huge chapters. And every chapter ended with a cliffhanger immediately followed by a long chapter about the new specific invention crafted to be utilized in the battle. This can be slightly disruptive to the pacing. Those who don’t like reading a chapter ending in a cliffhanger might have an issue with this as they won’t be able to read the continuation of the cliffhanger chapters without reading a 30-40 pages chapter about the creation of a new invention first. But I loved it so much. Though it's true it did decrease the tension of the battle, the juxtaposition between battle scenes and technology crafting demonstrated Liu's spellbinding storytelling skill. Change is a constant, and everyone has to adapt.
Speaking of cliffhangers and technologies, the end of Part Two of Speaking Bones will require readers to be patient again. It can be a bit hard, especially after such a pulse-pounding, dramatic, and enthralling turn of events that ended Part Two satisfyingly. Part Two plunged readers immersed in Dara into sceneries of carnage in the land and the sky. Through engineering that changed the shape of the future, exceeding even the Silkmotic bolt's capability, the new arsenal of weapons created resulted in climactic duels and fiery detonations. But Part Three, in my opinion, was different and absolutely worth it. By the end of the series, Part Three of Speaking Bones became one of the most crucial sections in the novel. But above it all, excluding the importance of the chapters here, I think Part Three was exquisitely meditative and impressive.
Unlike Part One and Two of Speaking Bones, Part Three, Stone-Twisted Roots, was relatively calmer. At least for the one in The Islands of Dara. The way Liu implemented technologies and inventions into The Dandelion Dynasty is utterly clever. I have always mentioned this, I love epic fantasy series that dares to blend technology and science into their epic fantasy series while keeping it secure that it is still an epic fantasy series. The blending of genres is one of the things that Liu excelled in his storytelling. This is proven in ALL of his books. And that is once again re-established in Speaking Bones. Technologies and inventions often dictate how civilization advanced, and the intelligent practicality and importance of innovations and technology were not exclusively designed for war and obliteration. Most of Part Three centered around the dominant characters from the second half of The Veiled Throne, and here Liu also revealed the writing zither. I loved everything about it. Not only does Part Three enhance the quality of The Veiled Throne, but the philosophies and themes of healing, redemption, kindness, mercy, peace, war, life, and death embedded into Part Three constantly hit me like a brick. I will not spoil you with anything about this, and I will talk about this briefly. The origin story of Totoryoana (or Rufizo Mender) and the story of the three swords are some of the best origin or mythical stories I've ever read. Simple as that. Plus, it again exhibited Liu's wonderful talent for writing short stories. It is all SO GOOD.
Ken Liu saved the best of Speaking Bones in Part Four: The Fruits of Knowledge. It is, after all, the riveting denouement to the series. This is where everything came to an end. And I mean, really everything. One of my favorite things about reading The Dandelion Dynasty, or a well-structured epic fantasy series, is how we can look back and realize how much has been planned and prepared since the beginning of the series. This goes back to events in The Grace of Kings. The deadly long game that has been cultivated since The Grace of Kings and The Wall of Storms by one of the most spectacular and despicable characters I've ever read reached its final stage in this section as well. And although I ended up discovering the truth of her long game sooner than expected, seeing the full revelations still brought me relative satisfaction. I wanted a different fate for everything she has done, but what occurred is more fitting for the series. The Battle of Pan was absolutely compelling. Once again, The Battle of Pan was not as epic as The Battle of Zathin Gulf, but when it comes to emotional value, it was on par. All the unfolding vicious betrayals, heart-wrenching tragedy, merciless menace, ruthless violence, and tempestuous disputes ended in Part Four. And you know what? I couldn't be more satisfied by the breathtaking sequence of events than what is written here.
From my perspective and experience, the concluding chapters of Speaking Bones and the series were just too fitting to complain about. Calamity, cataclysm, war, and despair weren't the only key driving factors of the climax sequence or the book. If that was the case, the ending of The Dandelion Dynasty wouldn't be this special to me. As I said, portraying meticulously crafted balance in light, darkness, and the shade of grey between the two is one of the many talents Ken Liu accomplished marvelously. Hope, love, trust, friendship, peace, friendship, honor, art, and legacies, to mention a few, shine bright as well. Their beautiful existence, together with their dark counterparts, transformed the series and the ending of Speaking Bones into something irreplaceably special to me. And the finishing touch composed in Part V: Falling Leaves, the epilogue chapters of the novel, proceed to turn The Dandelion Dynasty into the best series of the year for me with even more gravitas than it already has.
Translation, languages, cultures, prejudice, ideals, engineering, legacies, mentorship, love, friendship, family, and more. There is too much. There is simply too much to capture in a review. I've written more or less ten thousand words (in total) of reviews for the series, and I still feel like I've captured only fragments of its brilliance. Speaking Bones is a masterpiece. A masterful culmination to The Dandelion Dynasty. Spanning generations of stories through hundreds of characters, I am in disbelief that I must say goodbye to the series now. For the past four months, I’ve been reading one book in the series per month, yet it feels like I’ve lived in Dara for half my lifetime. The Dandelion Dynasty is one of the very few series where each new volume I read improved the already exceptional (and beyond exceptional for The Wall of Storms) previous books. It is now proven that the reimagining of the Chu Han Contention in The Grace of Kings was successfully established as an ironclad basis for the rest of the series to explode with its meteoric impact and illuminating excellence.
Once again, no existing review in the world could encompass the multitude of depths, knowledge, and emotions contained in each volume of The Dandelion Dynasty. I absorbed tomes of knowledge, a torrent of philosophies, exciting adventures, and unforgettable experiences permanently put into my mind and soul. Ken Liu always says a book isn’t completed when an author has finished writing the book. That’s halfway. A book or a series is completed only when the reader has finished reading them. And now, I’ve completed The Dandelion Dynasty. I didn’t just read about Dara and Ukyu and Gonde. I have lived them. How could I not? Ken Liu isn’t merely a storyteller with an intricately deep knowledge of this world. I see him as someone who has truly lived these stories. And he’s imparting the stories inside The Dandelion Dynasty to readers through his evocative and lyrical prose inside these books. Through his telling, my reading, and my re-remembering, I, too, have lived in The Islands of Dara and the Lands of Ukyu and Gonde. I have witnessed the tales of Kuni Garu, Mata Zyndu, Jia Matiza, Gin Mazoti, Zomi Kidosu, the children of Dandelion, and all the inhabitants from the Islands of Dara and The Land of Ukyu-and Gonde. I have heard stories of their gods. I have undoubtedly enjoyed my remarkable time and experience with the series. And it is your turn. It is your turn to complete your version of The Dandelion Dynasty. And yes, you SHOULD read The Dandelion Dynasty, a series that has catapulted its way up to becoming one of my favorite series of all time. You have my total gratitude for this masterpiece of a series, Ken Liu. Teeth on the board. I will strive to serve Mutage.
Series Review:
The Grace of Kings: 5/5 stars
The Wall of Storms: 5/5 stars
The Veiled Throne: 4.5/5 stars
Speaking Bones: 5/5 stars
The Dandelion Dynasty: 19.5/20 stars
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“What did that goddess-like lady say? If you do not like the stories you’ve been told, fill your heart with new stories. If you do not like the script you’ve been given, design for yourself new roles.”
Since The Wall of Storms, I’ve mentioned the difficulty of reviewing each book in The Dandelion Dynasty, and that statement hasn’t changed here. It is even more prevalent. I’ve read and written more than 600 reviews now, and each volume in The Dandelion Dynasty, especially Speaking Bones, are some of the most difficult reviews to write for three main reasons. The first one is it is impossible and futile to try and tell the magnificence of the series through a few reviews; this series is an experience, and it is something you should start and complete for yourself. No reviews in the world will ever be able to capture the multitude of impactful depths Liu poured into this series. The second reason being each book in The Dandelion Dynasty packed a myriad of glorious content. Although The Dandelion Dynasty is technically a quartet, each book feels like I’ve read two or three epic fantasy worth of content. The third reason, I’ve never highlighted quotes from a book or series as much as I did for The Dandelion Dynasty. With 181 quotes, Speaking Bones alone is by far the most highlighted book I’ve ever read. This quantity is unprecedented. As I always say, I usually highlight about 10-40 quotes per book. But almost every paragraph and sentence in The Dandelion Dynasty demands to be highlighted, remembered, and re-remembered. All of these made reviewing Speaking Bones so challenging. The Dandelion Dynasty is a special series. And although I fully understand my review won't be able to do this book and series justice, I will still attempt it in the hope of convincing at least one or two people to give this series a read. Because through that, I will know I've succeeded in making the world a bit brighter.
“The world may not be fair, but we must strive to make it so. The world is a dark place, but we must strive to make it brighter.”
The Veiled Throne functioned as the first half of the final book of The Dandelion Dynasty. But there’s always a second act. Always. And the second act to finally conclude the series is manifested in Speaking Bones. In part 1 of The Veiled Throne, we encountered a new important character from The Lands of Ukyu and Gonde: Goztan. This was done in a flashback format. But that is no longer the case here. The last chapters of The Veiled Throne were centered on our main characters in The Islands of Dara. We are not getting the continuation to this side of the story until we reach Part 2 of the novel. But believe me, the wait will be worth it. In Part 1 of Speaking Bones, Hail-Pummeled Flowers, the story focuses on our main characters in The Lands of Ukyu and Gonde. And without mentioning any spoilers, part 1 of the novel immediately showcased the main tone of the narrative that will be displayed even more powerfully in the rest of the novel. Incredibly emotional, thought-provoking, contemplative, and so intense.
"We show our character not by the weapons we choose, but through the purpose for which we fight and manner in which we wield them.”
This shouldn't come as a surprise. As I said, The Veiled Throne and Speaking Bones are two parts of one big novel. That means what we are reading in Speaking Bones is almost an entire consecutive climax sequence and conclusions. But with proper build-up and superb pacing. And this notion applies to all five parts of the novel, starting from Part One, where the final confrontation between the Agon and Lyucu storyline is executed. I have no shame in admitting that I couldn't predict where the story was going. I was just astounded by how well-written the big aerial battle was. But more importantly, I already LOVED the themes that Liu discussed in Part One. A FEW examples: the meaning of eternity, what defines good or evil, why the cycle of violence is recycled endlessly, how no one is a villain in their stories, and what is often used as justification for the act of killing. All of them were delivered with a freezing impact. And this is just from Part One! Everything that happened in Part One was harrowing, depressing, bittersweet, and memorable. And these work well in preparing readers for the upcoming chaos and drama in Part Two of Speaking Bones: Thunder-Awakened Forest.
“In Dara, it is said that there is often little to divide the madness of tyrants from the grace of kings, and heroes and villains alike demand sacrifices of others. The difference, if there is one, lies in why the sacrifices are being sought: to satisfy the ambition of the few or to secure the freedom of the many.”
One of the best things about The Dandelion Dynasty has always been how splendid Ken Liu incorporates the super engaging battle scenes and the various deep themes into the story. We, epic fantasy readers, tend to love reading scenes of bloodshed, violence, and massive war scenes, but I think an SFF author has to be careful about applying these to their books. These devastating scenes, without any emotional weight and proper setup, would end up being mere flashy scenes that hold no meaning to me. Fortunately, this negative situation and feelings of boredom never happened throughout my time reading The Dandelion Dynasty. The concept of power, its attainment, and the corruption from wielding it is one of MANY themes that Liu insert into The Dandelion Dynasty. We arrived at the final stage of its searing effect in Speaking Bones. Teeth on the board. One who wields power must understand the consequences of wielding it. Or it will end up wielding the supposed wielder instead. These themes and the perpetually superlative characterizations, background development, and motivation building for the myriad of characters throughout the series imbued insanely terrifying emotional weight and stakes in the battle scenes and crimson conflicts.
“Never be so certain that you’re right that you can justify the killing of thousands without shivering from doubt.”
The destructive sunflower bloom of conflagrations and countless bloodshed poured in the big battles like the Battle of the Crescent Island felt palpable, vivid, immersive, and pivotal. Before you drown in my overwhelming praises for Speaking Bones, or The Dandelion Dynasty, I feel inclined as a reviewer to mention no war scenes in the series top over The Battle of Zathin Gulf in The Wall of Storms. This isn't to say The Battle of Crescent Island, or the Battle of Pan I'll talk about later, was ever uninteresting, but let's put it this way. If The Battle of Crescent Island and The Battle of Pan are 5 stars material, The Battle of Zathin Gulf is a 6 out of 5 stars material. I know, for one thing, that several readers won't like the structure Liu used to depict The Battle of Crescent Island. The Battle of Crescent Island is divided into three huge chapters. And every chapter ended with a cliffhanger immediately followed by a long chapter about the new specific invention crafted to be utilized in the battle. This can be slightly disruptive to the pacing. Those who don’t like reading a chapter ending in a cliffhanger might have an issue with this as they won’t be able to read the continuation of the cliffhanger chapters without reading a 30-40 pages chapter about the creation of a new invention first. But I loved it so much. Though it's true it did decrease the tension of the battle, the juxtaposition between battle scenes and technology crafting demonstrated Liu's spellbinding storytelling skill. Change is a constant, and everyone has to adapt.
“There are consequences for every change, most of which cannot be anticipated. The belief that all wrongs can be righted merely by the desire to do good is… worrisome. Even the wisest laws and the most dedicated ministers will produce injustice, so long as humans are frail and selfish.”
Speaking of cliffhangers and technologies, the end of Part Two of Speaking Bones will require readers to be patient again. It can be a bit hard, especially after such a pulse-pounding, dramatic, and enthralling turn of events that ended Part Two satisfyingly. Part Two plunged readers immersed in Dara into sceneries of carnage in the land and the sky. Through engineering that changed the shape of the future, exceeding even the Silkmotic bolt's capability, the new arsenal of weapons created resulted in climactic duels and fiery detonations. But Part Three, in my opinion, was different and absolutely worth it. By the end of the series, Part Three of Speaking Bones became one of the most crucial sections in the novel. But above it all, excluding the importance of the chapters here, I think Part Three was exquisitely meditative and impressive.
Unlike Part One and Two of Speaking Bones, Part Three, Stone-Twisted Roots, was relatively calmer. At least for the one in The Islands of Dara. The way Liu implemented technologies and inventions into The Dandelion Dynasty is utterly clever. I have always mentioned this, I love epic fantasy series that dares to blend technology and science into their epic fantasy series while keeping it secure that it is still an epic fantasy series. The blending of genres is one of the things that Liu excelled in his storytelling. This is proven in ALL of his books. And that is once again re-established in Speaking Bones. Technologies and inventions often dictate how civilization advanced, and the intelligent practicality and importance of innovations and technology were not exclusively designed for war and obliteration. Most of Part Three centered around the dominant characters from the second half of The Veiled Throne, and here Liu also revealed the writing zither. I loved everything about it. Not only does Part Three enhance the quality of The Veiled Throne, but the philosophies and themes of healing, redemption, kindness, mercy, peace, war, life, and death embedded into Part Three constantly hit me like a brick. I will not spoil you with anything about this, and I will talk about this briefly. The origin story of Totoryoana (or Rufizo Mender) and the story of the three swords are some of the best origin or mythical stories I've ever read. Simple as that. Plus, it again exhibited Liu's wonderful talent for writing short stories. It is all SO GOOD.
“There was nothing ordinary about being ordinary; to love and to be loved: That was the quintessence of the extraordinary. Only by being apart from her beloved did she finally love herself; only when she had learned to love herself did she truly begin to love.”
Ken Liu saved the best of Speaking Bones in Part Four: The Fruits of Knowledge. It is, after all, the riveting denouement to the series. This is where everything came to an end. And I mean, really everything. One of my favorite things about reading The Dandelion Dynasty, or a well-structured epic fantasy series, is how we can look back and realize how much has been planned and prepared since the beginning of the series. This goes back to events in The Grace of Kings. The deadly long game that has been cultivated since The Grace of Kings and The Wall of Storms by one of the most spectacular and despicable characters I've ever read reached its final stage in this section as well. And although I ended up discovering the truth of her long game sooner than expected, seeing the full revelations still brought me relative satisfaction. I wanted a different fate for everything she has done, but what occurred is more fitting for the series. The Battle of Pan was absolutely compelling. Once again, The Battle of Pan was not as epic as The Battle of Zathin Gulf, but when it comes to emotional value, it was on par. All the unfolding vicious betrayals, heart-wrenching tragedy, merciless menace, ruthless violence, and tempestuous disputes ended in Part Four. And you know what? I couldn't be more satisfied by the breathtaking sequence of events than what is written here.
“What Dara needs now is not the Doubt-Ender, but the emptiness of doubtful potential. When the heart has been cleansed by doubt, every hope becomes a possibility. I want to tell a story that the people don’t expect, a story of empathy that encompasses the world.”
From my perspective and experience, the concluding chapters of Speaking Bones and the series were just too fitting to complain about. Calamity, cataclysm, war, and despair weren't the only key driving factors of the climax sequence or the book. If that was the case, the ending of The Dandelion Dynasty wouldn't be this special to me. As I said, portraying meticulously crafted balance in light, darkness, and the shade of grey between the two is one of the many talents Ken Liu accomplished marvelously. Hope, love, trust, friendship, peace, friendship, honor, art, and legacies, to mention a few, shine bright as well. Their beautiful existence, together with their dark counterparts, transformed the series and the ending of Speaking Bones into something irreplaceably special to me. And the finishing touch composed in Part V: Falling Leaves, the epilogue chapters of the novel, proceed to turn The Dandelion Dynasty into the best series of the year for me with even more gravitas than it already has.
“Beauty and art can persuade through the heart even when grand speeches from learned philosophers fail to sway the mind.”
Translation, languages, cultures, prejudice, ideals, engineering, legacies, mentorship, love, friendship, family, and more. There is too much. There is simply too much to capture in a review. I've written more or less ten thousand words (in total) of reviews for the series, and I still feel like I've captured only fragments of its brilliance. Speaking Bones is a masterpiece. A masterful culmination to The Dandelion Dynasty. Spanning generations of stories through hundreds of characters, I am in disbelief that I must say goodbye to the series now. For the past four months, I’ve been reading one book in the series per month, yet it feels like I’ve lived in Dara for half my lifetime. The Dandelion Dynasty is one of the very few series where each new volume I read improved the already exceptional (and beyond exceptional for The Wall of Storms) previous books. It is now proven that the reimagining of the Chu Han Contention in The Grace of Kings was successfully established as an ironclad basis for the rest of the series to explode with its meteoric impact and illuminating excellence.
“Every generation must compose its own destiny. There is no shirking of this duty. Teeth on the board.”
Once again, no existing review in the world could encompass the multitude of depths, knowledge, and emotions contained in each volume of The Dandelion Dynasty. I absorbed tomes of knowledge, a torrent of philosophies, exciting adventures, and unforgettable experiences permanently put into my mind and soul. Ken Liu always says a book isn’t completed when an author has finished writing the book. That’s halfway. A book or a series is completed only when the reader has finished reading them. And now, I’ve completed The Dandelion Dynasty. I didn’t just read about Dara and Ukyu and Gonde. I have lived them. How could I not? Ken Liu isn’t merely a storyteller with an intricately deep knowledge of this world. I see him as someone who has truly lived these stories. And he’s imparting the stories inside The Dandelion Dynasty to readers through his evocative and lyrical prose inside these books. Through his telling, my reading, and my re-remembering, I, too, have lived in The Islands of Dara and the Lands of Ukyu and Gonde. I have witnessed the tales of Kuni Garu, Mata Zyndu, Jia Matiza, Gin Mazoti, Zomi Kidosu, the children of Dandelion, and all the inhabitants from the Islands of Dara and The Land of Ukyu-and Gonde. I have heard stories of their gods. I have undoubtedly enjoyed my remarkable time and experience with the series. And it is your turn. It is your turn to complete your version of The Dandelion Dynasty. And yes, you SHOULD read The Dandelion Dynasty, a series that has catapulted its way up to becoming one of my favorite series of all time. You have my total gratitude for this masterpiece of a series, Ken Liu. Teeth on the board. I will strive to serve Mutage.
Series Review:
The Grace of Kings: 5/5 stars
The Wall of Storms: 5/5 stars
The Veiled Throne: 4.5/5 stars
Speaking Bones: 5/5 stars
The Dandelion Dynasty: 19.5/20 stars
You can order this book from: Blackwells (Free International shipping)
You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions | I also have a Booktube channel
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September 22, 2023
Watch my video review by clicking here.
A beautiful ending to my 2nd favorite fantasy series of all-time.
A beautiful ending to my 2nd favorite fantasy series of all-time.
February 24, 2024
Wow...just wow. Ken Liu is the most underrated fantasy author I've come across.
I don't even know how to review a book or series like The Dandelion Dynasty since the scope of the plot is so immense and complicated. Consequently, the amount of themes explored and characters make it hard to describe what this series is.
The Dandelion Dynasty is about so many things, including the impact of technology, the corruption of power, pride, morality, corruption, the challenge of maintaining peace, culture, food (yes, food), love, families, social heritage, injustice, revenge - and I can keep on going.
The Dandelion Dynasty is a fantasy series but it is so much more than that. Reading this series will open up your mind and make you think, while simultaneously make you root and hate for all the amazing characters you'll meet on this journey.
Speaking Bones is a 1280 chunker, that could possibly have benefited from a being a bit shorter. That being said, the last 300 pages are near flawless. I had no idea how Liu would wrap up this series since it seems like an impossible task, but he nailed it. I could write a 5000 word essay on this series, but will make a video about it so look out for that.
I don't really re-read series due to my immense tbr, but The Dandelion Dynasty is one of those series I need to get back to.
The Grace of Kings 4.5/5
The Wall of Storms 5/5
The Veiled Throne 4/5
Speaking Bones 4.5/5
I don't even know how to review a book or series like The Dandelion Dynasty since the scope of the plot is so immense and complicated. Consequently, the amount of themes explored and characters make it hard to describe what this series is.
The Dandelion Dynasty is about so many things, including the impact of technology, the corruption of power, pride, morality, corruption, the challenge of maintaining peace, culture, food (yes, food), love, families, social heritage, injustice, revenge - and I can keep on going.
The Dandelion Dynasty is a fantasy series but it is so much more than that. Reading this series will open up your mind and make you think, while simultaneously make you root and hate for all the amazing characters you'll meet on this journey.
Speaking Bones is a 1280 chunker, that could possibly have benefited from a being a bit shorter. That being said, the last 300 pages are near flawless. I had no idea how Liu would wrap up this series since it seems like an impossible task, but he nailed it. I could write a 5000 word essay on this series, but will make a video about it so look out for that.
I don't really re-read series due to my immense tbr, but The Dandelion Dynasty is one of those series I need to get back to.
The Grace of Kings 4.5/5
The Wall of Storms 5/5
The Veiled Throne 4/5
Speaking Bones 4.5/5
December 30, 2022
My book of the year has basically been set in stone since February. Every other book was in the race for second. As December came to it's end, Speaking Bones made it so every other book was racing for third.
I can see why many prefer Wall of Storms to this, but I felt like this book was written for me. I think me and Ken Liu find the same things interesting. This will not be a pro and con review, this will be me talking about why I loved all of it(actually there was one thing I didn't love)
Let's get my one minor quibble out of the way. There is an antagonist in this book that I think was just so 2 dimensional that it hurt the story. It is not supposed to be a morally complicated antagonist, but someone straightforwardly terrible, but still. I think it should be impossible to describe a character with one paragraph. People are complicated, and while they have tendencies and natures, I believe they always act against their own tendencies sometimes. This character does not, and the same characteristics about them are basically shown in every single interaction.
Ok, that is all I got for cons, now to talk about how ridiculously good this was.
After Grace of Kings I would not have believed you if you told me the cast of characters was this good. There is a character in this book(whose name I will not say) who is going to be really high if I make a top 10 favorite characters ever list. Like...they won't be my favorite character ever, and they won't be second, but I really might put them third. I have never read anyone at all like them, and everyone who reads this series seems to have a different opinion on them. They are truly tragic, while being inspiring and hateable, and they have one of the best characters arcs I have ever seen. Every single one of their PoVs was a 10/10, and they are the reason why I said ch50 is one of the best chapters I have ever read, and that ch54 might even be better.
The rest of the cast of characters is not carried by one person. The cast for this series is sprawling, and by this book it is truly fantastic. Multiple times it made me get to a new chapter, and I was angry that it wasn't a continuation of the story I was reading, only for me to then read the next chapter and then just want to read more about this new person. The cast is so diverse in terms of how they see the world, and how they think, and I can say I have strong opinions on almost all of them. The people I dislike, I loathe, the people I like, I adore. Not only that, each and every character came to what I consider a satisfyingly resolution. Some happy, some sad, some bitter sweet, but all so....fitting.
Next up is theme. The thematic exploration in this series is so well done, I don't even know how to describe it. I think Ken Liu does such a masterful job at exploring topics from every angle, while (usually) seamlessly tying those topics into the narrative, and letting you come to conclusions. Also, it helps that I think Ken Liu likely has a pretty similar view of humanity as me, so it worked out. Just like most of my favorite series, this does not shy away from the absolute worst humanity has to offer, but is ultimately hopeful, and not nihilistic about our ability to change the world, and to improve. The themes are so tied to the various characters, and story in this book, that I feel I cannot separate them, and talk about them on their own. But I will just say if deep thematic exploration is something you really want in a fantasy series, look no further than The Dandelion Dynasty. Also, every time someone talks about mutagé it just kinda hits differently for some reason. Yay for words I don't know.
Finally plot, and this is where this book is probably the hardest to judge. Ken Liu likes to hop around, in both space and time. There will be chapters that go out of order, you will hop to another continent, and there will be scenes where it is not clear why this was here. But, I will say, that I loved basically all of it, and I was able to predict something relatively early, and it ended up being one of my favorite plotlines in any book. And also authors, learn from Ken Liu not to just subvert expectations, He foreshadowed this beautifully, and it made it just incredibly satisfying, and poignant. In a non spoiler way all I have to say is this. BERRIES.
Next up the world. All I can say is that in terms of depth, size, and creativity I think this world can stand up against basically any world in fantasy. It might not exceed all other series at this, but I believe it is at least competitive with all of them.
And finally I just want to mention, Ken Liu's prose has consistently improved in my opinion. In Grace of Kings I thought it was very good, in Wall of Storms excellent, in this book I would say it is spectacular, and the great thing is that it manages this without being overly dense.
Overall Speaking Bones is a triumph of fantasy writing, and is one of the best conclusions, and one of the best novels that I have read.
9.7/10
I can see why many prefer Wall of Storms to this, but I felt like this book was written for me. I think me and Ken Liu find the same things interesting. This will not be a pro and con review, this will be me talking about why I loved all of it(actually there was one thing I didn't love)
Let's get my one minor quibble out of the way. There is an antagonist in this book that I think was just so 2 dimensional that it hurt the story. It is not supposed to be a morally complicated antagonist, but someone straightforwardly terrible, but still. I think it should be impossible to describe a character with one paragraph. People are complicated, and while they have tendencies and natures, I believe they always act against their own tendencies sometimes. This character does not, and the same characteristics about them are basically shown in every single interaction.
Ok, that is all I got for cons, now to talk about how ridiculously good this was.
After Grace of Kings I would not have believed you if you told me the cast of characters was this good. There is a character in this book(whose name I will not say) who is going to be really high if I make a top 10 favorite characters ever list. Like...they won't be my favorite character ever, and they won't be second, but I really might put them third. I have never read anyone at all like them, and everyone who reads this series seems to have a different opinion on them. They are truly tragic, while being inspiring and hateable, and they have one of the best characters arcs I have ever seen. Every single one of their PoVs was a 10/10, and they are the reason why I said ch50 is one of the best chapters I have ever read, and that ch54 might even be better.
The rest of the cast of characters is not carried by one person. The cast for this series is sprawling, and by this book it is truly fantastic. Multiple times it made me get to a new chapter, and I was angry that it wasn't a continuation of the story I was reading, only for me to then read the next chapter and then just want to read more about this new person. The cast is so diverse in terms of how they see the world, and how they think, and I can say I have strong opinions on almost all of them. The people I dislike, I loathe, the people I like, I adore. Not only that, each and every character came to what I consider a satisfyingly resolution. Some happy, some sad, some bitter sweet, but all so....fitting.
Next up is theme. The thematic exploration in this series is so well done, I don't even know how to describe it. I think Ken Liu does such a masterful job at exploring topics from every angle, while (usually) seamlessly tying those topics into the narrative, and letting you come to conclusions. Also, it helps that I think Ken Liu likely has a pretty similar view of humanity as me, so it worked out. Just like most of my favorite series, this does not shy away from the absolute worst humanity has to offer, but is ultimately hopeful, and not nihilistic about our ability to change the world, and to improve. The themes are so tied to the various characters, and story in this book, that I feel I cannot separate them, and talk about them on their own. But I will just say if deep thematic exploration is something you really want in a fantasy series, look no further than The Dandelion Dynasty. Also, every time someone talks about mutagé it just kinda hits differently for some reason. Yay for words I don't know.
Finally plot, and this is where this book is probably the hardest to judge. Ken Liu likes to hop around, in both space and time. There will be chapters that go out of order, you will hop to another continent, and there will be scenes where it is not clear why this was here. But, I will say, that I loved basically all of it, and I was able to predict something relatively early, and it ended up being one of my favorite plotlines in any book. And also authors, learn from Ken Liu not to just subvert expectations, He foreshadowed this beautifully, and it made it just incredibly satisfying, and poignant. In a non spoiler way all I have to say is this. BERRIES.
Next up the world. All I can say is that in terms of depth, size, and creativity I think this world can stand up against basically any world in fantasy. It might not exceed all other series at this, but I believe it is at least competitive with all of them.
And finally I just want to mention, Ken Liu's prose has consistently improved in my opinion. In Grace of Kings I thought it was very good, in Wall of Storms excellent, in this book I would say it is spectacular, and the great thing is that it manages this without being overly dense.
Overall Speaking Bones is a triumph of fantasy writing, and is one of the best conclusions, and one of the best novels that I have read.
9.7/10
June 22, 2022
"He lived up to the story he wanted others to tell about him, instead of a story that was true to his soul."
I've never read a book like this. I've never read a series like this. 75% into this book I was pretty confident it was going to barely make it into the four star territory. But I underestimated Ken Liu, I forced my own expectations onto this work of art. I will have a full review incoming, I am overfilled with thoughts, but The Dandelion Dynasty is one of the most ambitious, incredible series I've read. I will miss Dara, and it is safe to say that the characters in this series will continue to inspire and challenge me for a long time.
Speaking Bones is the final book in the Dandelion Dynasty, and what an ending. This book made me feel every emotion. I was angry, I was happy, I laughed, I cried, I thought. This series makes me consider so many things about life, about the world, memory, identity, culture, civilization, the human experience... Ken Liu is able to convey so much with his prose. I am constantly awed by the story he's telling and I will be considering the events, conclusions and dialogues of this series for years.
So much made me very angry. A lot of bad things happen. There was a point where I couldn't go to sleep after reading it because my chest was tight with pure rage. This book was emotionally exhausting to a point that I've maybe never experienced. It challenged me. Not the difficulty of the ideas, but the level of empathy I developed for these characters and how much I felt their journeys. Liu writes amazing characters. The ending of the book does bring catharsis, though. There is meaning, and the series is ultimately hopeful. The tears I cried were (mostly) not tears of sadness, but tears of joy.
I do think Speaking Bones could have been edited down. But most of the deviations help contribute to the overall narrative and picture of Dara that Ken is painting. I can honestly say that at the end of this series, I will miss Dara and its inhabitants. That's an incredible achievement.
Speaking Bones is definitely one of my favorite endings to a series ever, and DD is one of my all time favorite series. Please read it!
"That a story is too neat doesn't mean it's also not true. If there is anything to be learned from this tale, its the power of desire for a good story."
"It's both a curse and a manifestation of grace that children must make their own path, independent of their forebearers. Those who plant saplings will not live to enjoy the shade of the full-grown tree; those who build the city-ship will not get to steer it into the unknown storm. I'm asking you to trust that the wisdom of the people will be wielded by the people you saw as your duty to defend."
"History has no plot, and kings do not follow characters arcs."
I've never read a book like this. I've never read a series like this. 75% into this book I was pretty confident it was going to barely make it into the four star territory. But I underestimated Ken Liu, I forced my own expectations onto this work of art. I will have a full review incoming, I am overfilled with thoughts, but The Dandelion Dynasty is one of the most ambitious, incredible series I've read. I will miss Dara, and it is safe to say that the characters in this series will continue to inspire and challenge me for a long time.
Speaking Bones is the final book in the Dandelion Dynasty, and what an ending. This book made me feel every emotion. I was angry, I was happy, I laughed, I cried, I thought. This series makes me consider so many things about life, about the world, memory, identity, culture, civilization, the human experience... Ken Liu is able to convey so much with his prose. I am constantly awed by the story he's telling and I will be considering the events, conclusions and dialogues of this series for years.
So much made me very angry. A lot of bad things happen. There was a point where I couldn't go to sleep after reading it because my chest was tight with pure rage. This book was emotionally exhausting to a point that I've maybe never experienced. It challenged me. Not the difficulty of the ideas, but the level of empathy I developed for these characters and how much I felt their journeys. Liu writes amazing characters. The ending of the book does bring catharsis, though. There is meaning, and the series is ultimately hopeful. The tears I cried were (mostly) not tears of sadness, but tears of joy.
I do think Speaking Bones could have been edited down. But most of the deviations help contribute to the overall narrative and picture of Dara that Ken is painting. I can honestly say that at the end of this series, I will miss Dara and its inhabitants. That's an incredible achievement.
Speaking Bones is definitely one of my favorite endings to a series ever, and DD is one of my all time favorite series. Please read it!
"That a story is too neat doesn't mean it's also not true. If there is anything to be learned from this tale, its the power of desire for a good story."
"It's both a curse and a manifestation of grace that children must make their own path, independent of their forebearers. Those who plant saplings will not live to enjoy the shade of the full-grown tree; those who build the city-ship will not get to steer it into the unknown storm. I'm asking you to trust that the wisdom of the people will be wielded by the people you saw as your duty to defend."
"History has no plot, and kings do not follow characters arcs."
June 22, 2022
4.5
A fitting conclusion. Will review on my YouTube channel!
A fitting conclusion. Will review on my YouTube channel!
September 9, 2022
NOBODY TOUCH ME IM NOT OKAY 😭😭😭😭
How to find the words to describe how much this series means to me and how incredible it truly is? This book has solidified The Dandelion Dynasty as my favourite series - Ken Liu absolutely sticks the landing here. I always struggle to recommend this one despite loving it so much though, and I will say that even after finishing it, I still feel the same way, and it's largely because Ken Liu writes in a way that is so difficult to categorize. This series is epic fantasy, but it's also so much more than that, and while I personally love it because of how many genres it manages to blend together, I can also understand why it's not going to be for everyone, simply because it is so unlike anything we're used to.
This series is a masterclass in worldbuilding, and honestly, just in writing in general. Ken Liu's prose, as always, is excellent. His ability to tell a story is unmatched. The characters are incredibly nuanced and complex, and they continue to grow and surprise me in ways that I didn't expect them to, despite being over thousands of pages into a series. The world is incredibly diverse and well-developed - it has its own set of rules, technology, and cultures, but at the same time, there are parallels drawn to our own world and society in North America that are undeniable. Ken Liu's writing to me has always felt very theme-forward - the messages and the themes have always driven the narrative of his stories, and The Dandelion Dynasty is no different.
This book was the perfect conclusion to an incredible series. I won't say it's been perfect throughout - there are flaws, for sure, and even in Speaking Bones it felt like at times, the world had grown so far I had no idea how Ken Liu was going to reign it in. But in the end, it's incredibly satisfying and cathartic, and not every character has a happy ending, but it really does feel like the right ending for everyone.
I understand that the page count is a lot to ask of readers, but I really do think that this series is a masterpiece that needs to be completed in order to fully recognize the sheer scope of what it is trying to do. It's a multi-generational saga that fundamentally asks the question, what does it take to found a nation? It's your classic, awe-inspiring, epic fantasy filled with grand battles, gods, and mystical creatures. It's a slow-burn political drama, with chess pieces being placed down without you even knowing and taking years to come to fruition. It's historical fiction, told in the style of classic epics. It's science fiction, with a deep exploration of science and technology, but also a study on the arts and faith, and how these all inform the social and cultural landscape of a nation. At times, it's a philosophy textbook, and at others, a deep look into language and translation. It's an anthropological study of the fictional nation of Dara, and a deep dive into the rise and fall of different powers, and the constantly shifting socioeconomic and political landscape of this land. It's all of these things, and more, and I think that if you are willing to put the time into this series, you will get so much more than you expected out of it.
How to find the words to describe how much this series means to me and how incredible it truly is? This book has solidified The Dandelion Dynasty as my favourite series - Ken Liu absolutely sticks the landing here. I always struggle to recommend this one despite loving it so much though, and I will say that even after finishing it, I still feel the same way, and it's largely because Ken Liu writes in a way that is so difficult to categorize. This series is epic fantasy, but it's also so much more than that, and while I personally love it because of how many genres it manages to blend together, I can also understand why it's not going to be for everyone, simply because it is so unlike anything we're used to.
This series is a masterclass in worldbuilding, and honestly, just in writing in general. Ken Liu's prose, as always, is excellent. His ability to tell a story is unmatched. The characters are incredibly nuanced and complex, and they continue to grow and surprise me in ways that I didn't expect them to, despite being over thousands of pages into a series. The world is incredibly diverse and well-developed - it has its own set of rules, technology, and cultures, but at the same time, there are parallels drawn to our own world and society in North America that are undeniable. Ken Liu's writing to me has always felt very theme-forward - the messages and the themes have always driven the narrative of his stories, and The Dandelion Dynasty is no different.
This book was the perfect conclusion to an incredible series. I won't say it's been perfect throughout - there are flaws, for sure, and even in Speaking Bones it felt like at times, the world had grown so far I had no idea how Ken Liu was going to reign it in. But in the end, it's incredibly satisfying and cathartic, and not every character has a happy ending, but it really does feel like the right ending for everyone.
I understand that the page count is a lot to ask of readers, but I really do think that this series is a masterpiece that needs to be completed in order to fully recognize the sheer scope of what it is trying to do. It's a multi-generational saga that fundamentally asks the question, what does it take to found a nation? It's your classic, awe-inspiring, epic fantasy filled with grand battles, gods, and mystical creatures. It's a slow-burn political drama, with chess pieces being placed down without you even knowing and taking years to come to fruition. It's historical fiction, told in the style of classic epics. It's science fiction, with a deep exploration of science and technology, but also a study on the arts and faith, and how these all inform the social and cultural landscape of a nation. At times, it's a philosophy textbook, and at others, a deep look into language and translation. It's an anthropological study of the fictional nation of Dara, and a deep dive into the rise and fall of different powers, and the constantly shifting socioeconomic and political landscape of this land. It's all of these things, and more, and I think that if you are willing to put the time into this series, you will get so much more than you expected out of it.
June 20, 2023
What a ride! When I started the Dandelion Dynasty so many years ago I was amazed at its complexity, the wide cast of characters, and plots within plots. The final book in this series sticks the landing, and lives up to the fantastic vision of its creator. An absolute masterpiece and easily one the best book I’ve read this year.
April 3, 2024
9.9/10
There is simply no way I can say everything I want to say about this book and this series. Firstly, I'll just get out of the way that this is the best finished series I've ever read. And what's interesting is that every single book is pretty different. They're not simply continuations of the story, but are often times told in completely different ways (this is especially evident in the difference between Grace of Kings (more of a fast-paced distant third-person history of the world) and Wall of Storms (more traditionally laid-out and told fantasy epic)).
Zooming into this book, it just does everything so well and wraps up every plotline / character in a satisfying way (even ones that weren't that major to the story).
Plot: It's felt like, from the beginning, Liu has known exactly where he's taking this story and has a firm grasp on the story he wants to tell. Even though these books are 1000+ pages plus, there's not much wasted storytelling going on. And to be able to keep track and control such a wide array of plot lines and characters in such a satisfying way shows true mastery of the art.
Characters: This book has it all. The cast of characters is diverse, well-realized, realistic, flawed, and so far, the best complete cast of characters I've read in a series. To top it off, I think my new favorite character (or at the least tied for my favorite fantasy character with Glotka from First Law) is in this series. Won't say names, because, you know, spoilers.
Prose: Liu is a master, nothing else to say here.
Intrigue / Conflict: This book is jam packed with action. More so than any other book of the series (except maybe Grace of Kings?). So much happens with all of our sprawling plotlines, and the story advances.... a lot, even despite the massive size of this book.
So why "only" a 9.9/10? There is one complaint that I have with this book keeping it from perfection. Disclaimer: I know some people have an issue with the non-linear storytelling too often interrupting some very tense action / scenes. That didn't really bother me too much, but what I didn't really love was the in-depth engineering explanation of every invention in this book (of which there were a lot). I get Liu is an engineer, and those that love hard magic systems I sure appreciate the details, but it got a bit too in the weeds for me at times. And sometimes, it felt like there was a bit too much convenience around the "discoveries" of these inventions.
However, that being said, this was the only thing that knocked it from perfection - and it was pretty minor. Otherwise, there's nothing more you can really want from the final book in a fantasy epic, and I'm not sure I'll read another one that so cleanly and satisfyingly wraps up such a massive world and cast of characters.
Hats off to Liu, I'll come back again someday.
There is simply no way I can say everything I want to say about this book and this series. Firstly, I'll just get out of the way that this is the best finished series I've ever read. And what's interesting is that every single book is pretty different. They're not simply continuations of the story, but are often times told in completely different ways (this is especially evident in the difference between Grace of Kings (more of a fast-paced distant third-person history of the world) and Wall of Storms (more traditionally laid-out and told fantasy epic)).
Zooming into this book, it just does everything so well and wraps up every plotline / character in a satisfying way (even ones that weren't that major to the story).
Plot: It's felt like, from the beginning, Liu has known exactly where he's taking this story and has a firm grasp on the story he wants to tell. Even though these books are 1000+ pages plus, there's not much wasted storytelling going on. And to be able to keep track and control such a wide array of plot lines and characters in such a satisfying way shows true mastery of the art.
Characters: This book has it all. The cast of characters is diverse, well-realized, realistic, flawed, and so far, the best complete cast of characters I've read in a series. To top it off, I think my new favorite character (or at the least tied for my favorite fantasy character with Glotka from First Law) is in this series. Won't say names, because, you know, spoilers.
Prose: Liu is a master, nothing else to say here.
Intrigue / Conflict: This book is jam packed with action. More so than any other book of the series (except maybe Grace of Kings?). So much happens with all of our sprawling plotlines, and the story advances.... a lot, even despite the massive size of this book.
So why "only" a 9.9/10? There is one complaint that I have with this book keeping it from perfection. Disclaimer: I know some people have an issue with the non-linear storytelling too often interrupting some very tense action / scenes. That didn't really bother me too much, but what I didn't really love was the in-depth engineering explanation of every invention in this book (of which there were a lot). I get Liu is an engineer, and those that love hard magic systems I sure appreciate the details, but it got a bit too in the weeds for me at times. And sometimes, it felt like there was a bit too much convenience around the "discoveries" of these inventions.
However, that being said, this was the only thing that knocked it from perfection - and it was pretty minor. Otherwise, there's nothing more you can really want from the final book in a fantasy epic, and I'm not sure I'll read another one that so cleanly and satisfyingly wraps up such a massive world and cast of characters.
Hats off to Liu, I'll come back again someday.
October 12, 2025
I would survive Book 3 1000 times if it means having to read this again for the first time.
January 30, 2024
Nothing I write is going to do justice to this series. I loved this series so much. The author is a genius, I have no idea how he completed this masterpiece but needs way more attention than it is getting. The themes are insanely complex. There are themes of justice, war, peace, cultures, discrimination, faith, and methods of rule. This series causes you to experience so many different emotions; anger, grief, hope, excitement, anticipation, and desperation. Be prepared for a roller coaster. This author is not scared to kill characters and write the most heinous of crimes.
Book 4 should really be reviewed in conjunction with book 3 since they could be one book. I personally enjoyed book 3 more than book 4. I was starting to find book 4 to be getting a little tedious. There were a few areas that could have been trimmed down. I started skimming some spots since I found myself reading but not absorbing the words. I felt like this for the engineering explanations and some of the interlude stories. I started getting frustrated when the story kept stopping in the middle because another story needed to be told or explained first. Sometimes I did not mind this distraction but after a while, I started to get frustrated by its frequency and when it was cutting into the middle of an intense main storyline. This is seriously my only complaint.
I take that back; my other complaint is also a compliment to the author. I hate (love) how this author can write the most evil characters/storylines. I love how this author can make you feel the most intense form of rage towards a character. This author does not write just one form of evil character, no.. he writes so many different forms of evil and gets you inside their head to where you know how/why they think the way they do. No matter their form of evil, they have a reason to justify it and the author takes you through their thought process. This rationale makes you concerned about whether what is right is going to prevail and it is terrifying.
In most books you know it is going to end well, but with this series, I seriously had no idea how it was going to end. It was terrifying. I felt like the ‘good’ characters were constantly dwindling in this series but there are a few faithful few that restore your hope in humanity.
Book 4 is divided into 5 parts. Most of the time this book feels like it is taking place in Pan and there is a lot going on with Jia. Phyro is in this story more and Timu gets some scenes as well. Fara and Kinri sit on the back burner. Thera gets some really epic scenes and of course, you get a lot of terrifying scenes with the Lycuu on Rui/Dasu.
I do not want to get into any spoilers but I am still not sure how I feel about the ending. The ending was fitting to the story and it left me content. I just cannot believe this epic masterpiece is over. I already feel like I need to reread this series. If you haven’t given this series a try, I 100% recommend it. The writing style may feel different and you may not connect to it right away, but give it time. The story will unfold before your eyes and you will be glad you gave this the chance it deserves.
Book 4 should really be reviewed in conjunction with book 3 since they could be one book. I personally enjoyed book 3 more than book 4. I was starting to find book 4 to be getting a little tedious. There were a few areas that could have been trimmed down. I started skimming some spots since I found myself reading but not absorbing the words. I felt like this for the engineering explanations and some of the interlude stories. I started getting frustrated when the story kept stopping in the middle because another story needed to be told or explained first. Sometimes I did not mind this distraction but after a while, I started to get frustrated by its frequency and when it was cutting into the middle of an intense main storyline. This is seriously my only complaint.
I take that back; my other complaint is also a compliment to the author. I hate (love) how this author can write the most evil characters/storylines. I love how this author can make you feel the most intense form of rage towards a character. This author does not write just one form of evil character, no.. he writes so many different forms of evil and gets you inside their head to where you know how/why they think the way they do. No matter their form of evil, they have a reason to justify it and the author takes you through their thought process. This rationale makes you concerned about whether what is right is going to prevail and it is terrifying.
In most books you know it is going to end well, but with this series, I seriously had no idea how it was going to end. It was terrifying. I felt like the ‘good’ characters were constantly dwindling in this series but there are a few faithful few that restore your hope in humanity.
Book 4 is divided into 5 parts. Most of the time this book feels like it is taking place in Pan and there is a lot going on with Jia. Phyro is in this story more and Timu gets some scenes as well. Fara and Kinri sit on the back burner. Thera gets some really epic scenes and of course, you get a lot of terrifying scenes with the Lycuu on Rui/Dasu.
I do not want to get into any spoilers but I am still not sure how I feel about the ending. The ending was fitting to the story and it left me content. I just cannot believe this epic masterpiece is over. I already feel like I need to reread this series. If you haven’t given this series a try, I 100% recommend it. The writing style may feel different and you may not connect to it right away, but give it time. The story will unfold before your eyes and you will be glad you gave this the chance it deserves.
July 2, 2024
The ending of this one definitely got me in the feels. Speaking Bones is pretty easily my favorite entry in the series, and while there were still some moments and characters I didn't connect with, it had me gripped to the point that I could finish a thousand-plus page chunker in less than a week.
There were immense payoffs here on the action and political plots, bringing to fruition Liu's expansive thematic vision in a very satisfying way. The Dandelion Dynasty is an extraordinarily creative parable of modernity, setting forth an inspiring vision for how people from different backgrounds and cultures might move past tribalism and cycles of violence to forge a harmonious multicultural world.
It's definitely doing something unique in modern fantasy, and I will miss the vivacity and energy of many of the characters and even of the omniscient narrator who was just so filled with enthusiasm for anyone and anything no matter how seemingly small in the grand scheme.
There were immense payoffs here on the action and political plots, bringing to fruition Liu's expansive thematic vision in a very satisfying way. The Dandelion Dynasty is an extraordinarily creative parable of modernity, setting forth an inspiring vision for how people from different backgrounds and cultures might move past tribalism and cycles of violence to forge a harmonious multicultural world.
It's definitely doing something unique in modern fantasy, and I will miss the vivacity and energy of many of the characters and even of the omniscient narrator who was just so filled with enthusiasm for anyone and anything no matter how seemingly small in the grand scheme.
July 15, 2022
3.5 Stars
After loving the earlier volumes in the Dandelion Dynasty, I am saddened how underwhelmed I am by this final book. The prose continues to be strong, but I feel like the story lost its way. The things I loved about the first book weren't present in this book. I feel like the story has become too unwieldy
After loving the earlier volumes in the Dandelion Dynasty, I am saddened how underwhelmed I am by this final book. The prose continues to be strong, but I feel like the story lost its way. The things I loved about the first book weren't present in this book. I feel like the story has become too unwieldy
December 16, 2022
This series is incredible. One of the best concluding volumes I've ever read.
December 5, 2022
This series is one of the most bittersweet for me to finish as right from book 1 I knew I was in for a treat and I fell in love with the world Liu created. This story is exceptional in many ways, not only is it massively long and draws a lot of influence from Eastern cultures (far more than it does Western) but it’s also emotionally hard-hitting in both the best and worst ways.
Originally, this was a trilogy, but then it became a quartet when the final book got split into The Veiled Throne and Speaking Bones. With each of these final tomes clocking over 1000+ pages, they were mammoths, and this one took me a long time to get through due to life in general being busy, but, I still felt absorbed and loved the journey.
This book, and the whole series, is more of a series of stories told to unlock reason, rhyme, thought, culture, war, peace and life and its meanings. Truly Liu has created not one work of art but hundreds of stories within stories, lives within the one cover, layered on top of cultures, inventions, backdrops and drama. This series conclusion is epic in every sense with brutal slaughter through to tender love, from world-shattering realisations through to tiny moments of fun, friendship, love and learning. This isn’t a tale which is ‘nice’ in any sense, instead it’s a rollercoaster of emotional hurdles, triumphs, challenges and battles. The characters from both sides are complex and their histories are fleshed out for us as the reader so we cannot root for just one person or culture. This shows the war and the battle from all sides and the understanding we gain through the stories we are shown means nothing is black and white.
Some of the magic of this world not only comes from the stories but also from the inventions of both the mysterious and magical. I truly felt like I could envision the giant creatures who roam the world, the small invented machines which play vital roles in battles and warfare, and the wonder and terror of those encountering them. I also enjoyed the commentary from the Gods.
Politics is rife in this series and trying to decide who to back and believe in is hard because human nature is not infallible and the leaders often make mistakes even when they believe they are doing the right thing. Truly this world has no ‘right’ leader or side and everyone has their flaws on show by the end of the story, but also many have moments of redemption, or at least understanding.
The characters in this world are many and varied from the most proud, true and devoted leaders through to the scheming tyrants. We see bloodthirsty killings and death across the land thanks to some of the characters, and we also see friendships and kinship in some of the most unlikely places from some of the most unlikely friends and lovers. All levels of class and society are shown along with varied lovers, people and their preferences. There is no end to the barriers being created and burned, and also the bridges being created at the same time as those being destroyed. There’s harmony in the discord and there’s moments which revitalise even as others make you lose all hope. The characters do feel so real and raw and they come to life from the pages and words and their actions.
Truly what I’m trying to say is that Liu has brought this world fully to life in ways I can’t even fathom. It’s not a ‘nice’ read but it’s an overwhelmingly real one and a tumultuous one and a beautiful one. I had some moments of horror and some of true joy and I would highly, highly recommend this series to everyone who likes epic fantasies. It’s a masterpiece in every sense of the word and whilst I can see why some may find it sprawling and long, for me the stories were some of the best bits and taking my time with the tales of woe and wonder meant I really enjoyed the experience. 5*s and Ken Liu remains a firm favourite for me and I can’t wait to see what he publishes next!
Originally, this was a trilogy, but then it became a quartet when the final book got split into The Veiled Throne and Speaking Bones. With each of these final tomes clocking over 1000+ pages, they were mammoths, and this one took me a long time to get through due to life in general being busy, but, I still felt absorbed and loved the journey.
This book, and the whole series, is more of a series of stories told to unlock reason, rhyme, thought, culture, war, peace and life and its meanings. Truly Liu has created not one work of art but hundreds of stories within stories, lives within the one cover, layered on top of cultures, inventions, backdrops and drama. This series conclusion is epic in every sense with brutal slaughter through to tender love, from world-shattering realisations through to tiny moments of fun, friendship, love and learning. This isn’t a tale which is ‘nice’ in any sense, instead it’s a rollercoaster of emotional hurdles, triumphs, challenges and battles. The characters from both sides are complex and their histories are fleshed out for us as the reader so we cannot root for just one person or culture. This shows the war and the battle from all sides and the understanding we gain through the stories we are shown means nothing is black and white.
Some of the magic of this world not only comes from the stories but also from the inventions of both the mysterious and magical. I truly felt like I could envision the giant creatures who roam the world, the small invented machines which play vital roles in battles and warfare, and the wonder and terror of those encountering them. I also enjoyed the commentary from the Gods.
Politics is rife in this series and trying to decide who to back and believe in is hard because human nature is not infallible and the leaders often make mistakes even when they believe they are doing the right thing. Truly this world has no ‘right’ leader or side and everyone has their flaws on show by the end of the story, but also many have moments of redemption, or at least understanding.
The characters in this world are many and varied from the most proud, true and devoted leaders through to the scheming tyrants. We see bloodthirsty killings and death across the land thanks to some of the characters, and we also see friendships and kinship in some of the most unlikely places from some of the most unlikely friends and lovers. All levels of class and society are shown along with varied lovers, people and their preferences. There is no end to the barriers being created and burned, and also the bridges being created at the same time as those being destroyed. There’s harmony in the discord and there’s moments which revitalise even as others make you lose all hope. The characters do feel so real and raw and they come to life from the pages and words and their actions.
Truly what I’m trying to say is that Liu has brought this world fully to life in ways I can’t even fathom. It’s not a ‘nice’ read but it’s an overwhelmingly real one and a tumultuous one and a beautiful one. I had some moments of horror and some of true joy and I would highly, highly recommend this series to everyone who likes epic fantasies. It’s a masterpiece in every sense of the word and whilst I can see why some may find it sprawling and long, for me the stories were some of the best bits and taking my time with the tales of woe and wonder meant I really enjoyed the experience. 5*s and Ken Liu remains a firm favourite for me and I can’t wait to see what he publishes next!
July 6, 2025
The question everyone wants to know - does this hold up as my favourite series on reread?
Yes!
I am very glad to say that my gushing and praise for this book held up on reread.
The finale was my least favourite of the quartet (which is a very unpopular opinion), but I found it slower and filled with too much technical explanations for my liking.
It provided a satisfying arc, but it didn’t pack as many emotional packs as the previous three for me.
Original 2022 Review:
”In Dara, it is said that there is often little to divide the madness of tyrants from the grace of kings, and heroes and villains alike demand sacrifices of others. The difference, if there is one, lies in why the sacrifices are being sought: to satisfy the ambition of the few or to secure the freedom of the many."
Whilst this is my lowest rating of any book in this series, and it pains me, I did find it slightly slower and the jumps in perspective more sporadic which weakened the telling.
Furthermore, there was a lot of twists that I sometimes felt were unnecessary and merely added length to the story rather than depth.
Most disappointingly for me, Liu’s writing wasn’t quite as on-par as his previous books. Don’t get me wrong - it was still stunning and evocative, but I felt less moved by his writing than previous books.
The most important theme of this series is the people. How the grace of kings must serve the people and last for generations, rather than be reliant on one person who can have changing loyalties, whims, priorities, and desires. A leader can quickly become a tyrant.
The people have been told that a good king is all they can hope for. But it isn't enough. Even the best king eventually dies.
My feelings for Jia remains complicated. As her plot over the series is unveiled, you can’t help but despise her as well as pity and admire her. Liu is a masterful writer in invoking such conflicting feelings of repulsion and passion.
History has no plot, and kings do not follow character arcs.
I think this is my most highlighted series, and I’m not the type of person who highlights. Ken Liu’s writing is that magnificent.
It is historically inspired high, epic fantasy and carries wisdom through the ages.
”We are embedded in strands of love and hatred, a web that glows in the sunlight of history, bedecked in pearls of blood and fragments of bone. How can we truly see each other the way we deserve to be seen without acknowledging the truth?"
This series is a must for everyone - beautiful, evocative writing, incredible characters, genius creations… WOW.
There was nothing ordinary about being ordinary; to love and to be loved: That was the quintessence of the extraordinary.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
Yes!
I am very glad to say that my gushing and praise for this book held up on reread.
The finale was my least favourite of the quartet (which is a very unpopular opinion), but I found it slower and filled with too much technical explanations for my liking.
It provided a satisfying arc, but it didn’t pack as many emotional packs as the previous three for me.
Original 2022 Review:
”In Dara, it is said that there is often little to divide the madness of tyrants from the grace of kings, and heroes and villains alike demand sacrifices of others. The difference, if there is one, lies in why the sacrifices are being sought: to satisfy the ambition of the few or to secure the freedom of the many."
Whilst this is my lowest rating of any book in this series, and it pains me, I did find it slightly slower and the jumps in perspective more sporadic which weakened the telling.
Furthermore, there was a lot of twists that I sometimes felt were unnecessary and merely added length to the story rather than depth.
Most disappointingly for me, Liu’s writing wasn’t quite as on-par as his previous books. Don’t get me wrong - it was still stunning and evocative, but I felt less moved by his writing than previous books.
The most important theme of this series is the people. How the grace of kings must serve the people and last for generations, rather than be reliant on one person who can have changing loyalties, whims, priorities, and desires. A leader can quickly become a tyrant.
The people have been told that a good king is all they can hope for. But it isn't enough. Even the best king eventually dies.
My feelings for Jia remains complicated. As her plot over the series is unveiled, you can’t help but despise her as well as pity and admire her. Liu is a masterful writer in invoking such conflicting feelings of repulsion and passion.
History has no plot, and kings do not follow character arcs.
I think this is my most highlighted series, and I’m not the type of person who highlights. Ken Liu’s writing is that magnificent.
It is historically inspired high, epic fantasy and carries wisdom through the ages.
”We are embedded in strands of love and hatred, a web that glows in the sunlight of history, bedecked in pearls of blood and fragments of bone. How can we truly see each other the way we deserve to be seen without acknowledging the truth?"
This series is a must for everyone - beautiful, evocative writing, incredible characters, genius creations… WOW.
There was nothing ordinary about being ordinary; to love and to be loved: That was the quintessence of the extraordinary.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
June 6, 2022
This book is a masterpiece. To have me on the edge of my seat for over a thousand pages is a feat I’m sure will never occur again. Beautiful, hopeful, thought-provoking and deeply emotional. To pigeonhole this as just fantasy feels confining. A story of love, of what makes a ruler good, of innovation, how history remembers us, of nation-hood, of staying true to one’s nature while finding a path forward through change. Complex characters with different motivations. Ken Liu is a master of the craft. I implore anybody reading this: READ THIS SERIES!!
August 15, 2022
An incredibly compelling conclusion to a magnificent epic that is easily an all time favorite for me. I will miss Dara and am already looking forward to rereading this series (probably multiple times) in the future.
March 7, 2024
*unintelligible thoughts* that was incredible
April 14, 2024
Goddamn that was a hell of a ride!
There isn't much more I can say about this series that I haven't already. I adored the incredible, albeit fantastical, science and engineering. I was impressed with the intricate political plots, twists, and turns. I was continually awed by the wisdom and depth of the philosophical musings throughout the series. The characters, mostly, felt real, human and, barring a few exceptions, weren't one dimensional caricatures or too obviously archetypal. It manages to get pretty damn dark and fucked up at times, but always leaves you feeling stubbornly hopeful and inspired.
There is an underlying and nuanced philosophy within the series that is, I think is captured in the following quotes: “The world may not be fair, but we must strive to make it so. The world is a dark place, but we must strive to make it brighter.” We must, "Insist on seeing, even when all around us is darkness." But also, "Where doubt ends, evil begins." I don't know how Liu managed to balance all of these things in such a beautiful and satisfying way, but he did. It seems contradictory to say that we must never stop fighting for what we think is right, but at the same time espouse that one should never be too sure that they are in fact 'right'. Not being afraid of change and progressively forging new paths, but also not flippantly and needlessly abandon the institutions and structures that make stability and prosperity possible in the first place. It's complicated but true, I think. A nuanced and balanced type of thinking, which is disappointingly uncommon. Hopefully this series, and books/series like it, will inspire more of that in the world.
Overall, the Dandelion Dynasty was pretty fuckin awesome and I see why people keep freaking the fuck out about it. They're some long ass books but they are definitely worth it.
There isn't much more I can say about this series that I haven't already. I adored the incredible, albeit fantastical, science and engineering. I was impressed with the intricate political plots, twists, and turns. I was continually awed by the wisdom and depth of the philosophical musings throughout the series. The characters, mostly, felt real, human and, barring a few exceptions, weren't one dimensional caricatures or too obviously archetypal. It manages to get pretty damn dark and fucked up at times, but always leaves you feeling stubbornly hopeful and inspired.
There is an underlying and nuanced philosophy within the series that is, I think is captured in the following quotes: “The world may not be fair, but we must strive to make it so. The world is a dark place, but we must strive to make it brighter.” We must, "Insist on seeing, even when all around us is darkness." But also, "Where doubt ends, evil begins." I don't know how Liu managed to balance all of these things in such a beautiful and satisfying way, but he did. It seems contradictory to say that we must never stop fighting for what we think is right, but at the same time espouse that one should never be too sure that they are in fact 'right'. Not being afraid of change and progressively forging new paths, but also not flippantly and needlessly abandon the institutions and structures that make stability and prosperity possible in the first place. It's complicated but true, I think. A nuanced and balanced type of thinking, which is disappointingly uncommon. Hopefully this series, and books/series like it, will inspire more of that in the world.
Overall, the Dandelion Dynasty was pretty fuckin awesome and I see why people keep freaking the fuck out about it. They're some long ass books but they are definitely worth it.
May 14, 2023
Speaking Bones should be read as one arc with The Veiled Throne, and as such, the rating reflects the collective narrative of both.
All I can say was - what an incredible series! The Dandelion Dynasty reads unlike any other fantasy series out there right now. The only way I could describe it is that it's an epic generational fantasy saga with obvious historical influences in its storytelling. Ken Liu is truly masterful in his prose, as well as his ability to draw out the best and the worse of humanity through the most memorable of characters. The innovative creation of silkpunk machinery given the technology in this world was just simply ingenious.
This is one series that needs to reread for one to truly appreciate the sheer scope of its brilliance.
All I can say was - what an incredible series! The Dandelion Dynasty reads unlike any other fantasy series out there right now. The only way I could describe it is that it's an epic generational fantasy saga with obvious historical influences in its storytelling. Ken Liu is truly masterful in his prose, as well as his ability to draw out the best and the worse of humanity through the most memorable of characters. The innovative creation of silkpunk machinery given the technology in this world was just simply ingenious.
This is one series that needs to reread for one to truly appreciate the sheer scope of its brilliance.
April 3, 2025
What an amazing series that is more than likely the best I’ve ever read. I didn’t think anything could top Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn by Tad Williams but I think this did it.
I think what Ken Liu accomplished with this series is what George RR Martin has been trying to do with his but he just can’t seem to finish it.
There isn’t a single character in this series who is safe from being killed off which can be very infuriating sometimes, because of courseeee the characters who must die are the ones who keep living. Don’t get attached in this book!
The only part I didn’t like about this book was how long he took to end the damn thing. I don’t want to read over 100 pages after the big climax. I think books should always wrap things up within a few chapters.
I don’t feel like regurgitating more about what I’ve already posted with the previous books but just know this series is phenomenal and you must try it.
I think what Ken Liu accomplished with this series is what George RR Martin has been trying to do with his but he just can’t seem to finish it.
There isn’t a single character in this series who is safe from being killed off which can be very infuriating sometimes, because of courseeee the characters who must die are the ones who keep living. Don’t get attached in this book!
The only part I didn’t like about this book was how long he took to end the damn thing. I don’t want to read over 100 pages after the big climax. I think books should always wrap things up within a few chapters.
I don’t feel like regurgitating more about what I’ve already posted with the previous books but just know this series is phenomenal and you must try it.
March 10, 2024
Link to my YouTube Review of SPEAKING BONES by Ken Liu on @thedrownedkingdomsaga7847
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZES_2...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZES_2...
December 30, 2024
There are not enough stars this was truly incredible 😭🥹
January 8, 2024
More of a series review than a book review but…
After finishing the series, the Dandelion Dynasty has top 5 potential (my own subjective list that I spend way too much time thinking about).
3 reasons why:
Characterization: Ken Liu’s ability to write tragically flawed and nuanced characters reminds me of the living legend Robin Hobb. The writing style is quite different, but the tone and attention to detail is similar in my opinion. This entire series feels like a rejection of character archetypes. I could really stop there, but I’ll add that even though his characters do dumb shit that upsets you, he has a knack for making you emphasize with them after a brief bit of beautifully written exposition (he loves flashbacks and incorporates them expertly). It’s difficult to be mad at so many characters because you end up understanding how they reached that point. So instead of being simply frustrated, you’re heartbroken when they make an awful mistake, which is why Hobb was mentioned to being with. However, Liu isn’t quite as mean to his characters as her she is lol
Book 1 may feel quite male driven early on, but if you stick with it you will be (hopefully) pleased with how well Liu addresses many unfortunately common misogynistic ideals. This series easily has some of the most developed female characters without relying on tropes.
Also, characters in this world are highly intelligent and solve many problems through science and engineering. It’s unique to the genre and always adds depth to the characters and worldbuilding. The battles are huge and epic, but Liu also takes the time to show you how the characters devised a strategy and/or creative invention to help them overcome their foes.
Worldbuilding: because science is prevalent in the series, it makes sense that nature is as well. Every part of the world in this series feels alive and has a purpose. There is a scope, texture and attention to detail in the world that reminds me of Malazan and Realm of the Elderlings. The series doesn’t have much magic besides a pantheon of bickering gods, but there are creatures unlike anything I’ve read in fantasy. They’re not there just for show either; they have thoughts and feelings and an important role to play in each book.
Perhaps my favorite part of Liu’s worldbuilding is how he writes culture and politics. The history of Dara feels both detailed with facts and muddled with uncertain truths. Every myth has another story sprouting from different perspective found somewhere else across the enormous world he’s built within these 4 books. The palace intrigue and all of its subtleties and shifts is some of the best I’ve read.
Themes: Ken Liu’s deep appreciation for academia permeates almost every chapter in some way. With much care, he utilizes his huge cast of characters to explore some of the most complex topics revolving around identity, nature vs. nurture, progress vs. adhering to classical lessons, and much more. The philosophical debates and their subsequent conclusions (or lack there of) within these pages are some of the most thought provoking and well realized I’ve ever read. I can safely say that finishing this series has added to my self as a human, or as he would put it, it enlarged my soul.
Prose: ok, I have to sneak in one more because the writing throughout the entire series is beautiful. The emotions are palpable and the imagery is vivid. Every other page seemed to have a wonderfully written passage worthy of sinking your teeth into. His writing stayed with me even when I wasn’t reading. Despite each entry in the series feeling unique due to the changing lens offered by his wide cast of characters, Liu is able to maintain a tone that feels refreshing within the genre.
After finishing the series, the Dandelion Dynasty has top 5 potential (my own subjective list that I spend way too much time thinking about).
3 reasons why:
Characterization: Ken Liu’s ability to write tragically flawed and nuanced characters reminds me of the living legend Robin Hobb. The writing style is quite different, but the tone and attention to detail is similar in my opinion. This entire series feels like a rejection of character archetypes. I could really stop there, but I’ll add that even though his characters do dumb shit that upsets you, he has a knack for making you emphasize with them after a brief bit of beautifully written exposition (he loves flashbacks and incorporates them expertly). It’s difficult to be mad at so many characters because you end up understanding how they reached that point. So instead of being simply frustrated, you’re heartbroken when they make an awful mistake, which is why Hobb was mentioned to being with. However, Liu isn’t quite as mean to his characters as her she is lol
Book 1 may feel quite male driven early on, but if you stick with it you will be (hopefully) pleased with how well Liu addresses many unfortunately common misogynistic ideals. This series easily has some of the most developed female characters without relying on tropes.
Also, characters in this world are highly intelligent and solve many problems through science and engineering. It’s unique to the genre and always adds depth to the characters and worldbuilding. The battles are huge and epic, but Liu also takes the time to show you how the characters devised a strategy and/or creative invention to help them overcome their foes.
Worldbuilding: because science is prevalent in the series, it makes sense that nature is as well. Every part of the world in this series feels alive and has a purpose. There is a scope, texture and attention to detail in the world that reminds me of Malazan and Realm of the Elderlings. The series doesn’t have much magic besides a pantheon of bickering gods, but there are creatures unlike anything I’ve read in fantasy. They’re not there just for show either; they have thoughts and feelings and an important role to play in each book.
Perhaps my favorite part of Liu’s worldbuilding is how he writes culture and politics. The history of Dara feels both detailed with facts and muddled with uncertain truths. Every myth has another story sprouting from different perspective found somewhere else across the enormous world he’s built within these 4 books. The palace intrigue and all of its subtleties and shifts is some of the best I’ve read.
Themes: Ken Liu’s deep appreciation for academia permeates almost every chapter in some way. With much care, he utilizes his huge cast of characters to explore some of the most complex topics revolving around identity, nature vs. nurture, progress vs. adhering to classical lessons, and much more. The philosophical debates and their subsequent conclusions (or lack there of) within these pages are some of the most thought provoking and well realized I’ve ever read. I can safely say that finishing this series has added to my self as a human, or as he would put it, it enlarged my soul.
Prose: ok, I have to sneak in one more because the writing throughout the entire series is beautiful. The emotions are palpable and the imagery is vivid. Every other page seemed to have a wonderfully written passage worthy of sinking your teeth into. His writing stayed with me even when I wasn’t reading. Despite each entry in the series feeling unique due to the changing lens offered by his wide cast of characters, Liu is able to maintain a tone that feels refreshing within the genre.
August 2, 2022
4.75 stars
the political and philosophical themes in this series are IMMACULATE
(also Fara <333333333)
the political and philosophical themes in this series are IMMACULATE
(also Fara <333333333)
February 5, 2023
One of my favorite books of all time.
One of my favorite series of all time
RTC
One of my favorite series of all time
RTC
July 22, 2024
what an ending. what a series
November 20, 2025
A beautiful finale of an amazing series! This fantasy series is unlike anything else I've read, and it was truly magical and special. So worthwhile!
August 6, 2022
4.5 stars
Normally I finish a book and pretty much immediately know how I feel about it and what I want to rate it… but that’s not the case with this one, there’s simply so much to process.
I honestly think that this entire series just completely defies the star rating system… it’s so ambitious and so unlike anything I’ve ever read that it almost feels wrong to slap a numerical value onto it.
But still, here we are. Please bear with me while I try to assemble my thoughts and write a somewhat decent review.
So, let’s just address the most important thing first: Did this finale stick the landing?
In my humble opinion, it absolutely did. No, this wasn’t a perfect book, but there’s no doubt in my mind that this was the perfect conclusion to this series.
Because book 3 and 4 were originally one book, this entire book is essentially the fall-out of everything we’d been building up to in The Veiled Throne. And damn, was it a heavy journey. I honestly can’t say that I had a pleasant reading experience for the majority of this book, not because the story wasn’t good, but simply because it was so mentally draining to read. At some point I was really not sure how this was ever going to wrap up in a satisfying way, because all I could see was sacrifice, loss and despair. But I should have just trusted Ken Liu, because the final 100 pages or so were absolute perfection. This wasn’t an ‘and now they live happily ever after’ ending, but it was a beautifully cathartic ending that perfectly fitted this series… I wouldn’t have wanted it to end any other way.
Now, despite all this praise, I do have to admit that I struggled my way through this one. I already mentioned that it was one of the most emotionally exhausting reading experiences ever, but I actually really liked that. The fact that I was so impacted by all these events shows how effective Liu’s character work and storytelling is.
However, this book is massive and there were definitely some moments that I personally feel could have been cut. Don’t get me wrong, I love the world building in this series, but the pages upon pages of engineering really didn’t do it for me. And there were some moments of backstory that I could’ve done without. But then, I am not the author and I think Ken Liu told this story exactly as he wanted to, which I can only respect.
Also, while this book contained some of the most emotional moments of the entire series, I was personally having a really hard time getting emotionally invested. I’m almost wondering if it was some sort of unconscious defence mechanism of my brain that was just like: Nope, this is too intense, we are not getting invested only to have your heart ripped out and stamped over time and time again.
BUT, by the end, I was reading the final scenes with tears in my eyes. We have spent decades with most of these characters and finally seeing their stories come to an end was just so incredibly impactful, it hit me right in the feels.
These characters will live on in my mind for a long, long time. This is a story about life, identity, memory, philosophy, progress, culture, and most of all, about the human experience. And I think that is part of why this series is so deeply impactful. It doesn’t feel like a story, it feels like a real, raw and human experience. These characters are SO flawed and complex that they honestly feel like real people. And that is also why it feels so difficult to leave them behind.
I am honestly blown away by this series. From the prose, to the characters, to the world building, to the theme work…. Ken Liu just nailed it all.
I think this series as a whole is better than the sum of its parts, and that is saying A LOT, because each individual instalment is already a masterpiece on its own.
If you are even slightly intrigued by anything about this series, I highly recommend you just take the leap and trust Ken Liu to take you on an incredible journey.
This was probably one of the most challenging, but simultaneously one of the most rewarding reading experiences I’ve ever had. I am so glad I gave this series a shot, because it is now without a doubt one of my all-time favourites.
Normally I finish a book and pretty much immediately know how I feel about it and what I want to rate it… but that’s not the case with this one, there’s simply so much to process.
I honestly think that this entire series just completely defies the star rating system… it’s so ambitious and so unlike anything I’ve ever read that it almost feels wrong to slap a numerical value onto it.
But still, here we are. Please bear with me while I try to assemble my thoughts and write a somewhat decent review.
So, let’s just address the most important thing first: Did this finale stick the landing?
In my humble opinion, it absolutely did. No, this wasn’t a perfect book, but there’s no doubt in my mind that this was the perfect conclusion to this series.
Because book 3 and 4 were originally one book, this entire book is essentially the fall-out of everything we’d been building up to in The Veiled Throne. And damn, was it a heavy journey. I honestly can’t say that I had a pleasant reading experience for the majority of this book, not because the story wasn’t good, but simply because it was so mentally draining to read. At some point I was really not sure how this was ever going to wrap up in a satisfying way, because all I could see was sacrifice, loss and despair. But I should have just trusted Ken Liu, because the final 100 pages or so were absolute perfection. This wasn’t an ‘and now they live happily ever after’ ending, but it was a beautifully cathartic ending that perfectly fitted this series… I wouldn’t have wanted it to end any other way.
Now, despite all this praise, I do have to admit that I struggled my way through this one. I already mentioned that it was one of the most emotionally exhausting reading experiences ever, but I actually really liked that. The fact that I was so impacted by all these events shows how effective Liu’s character work and storytelling is.
However, this book is massive and there were definitely some moments that I personally feel could have been cut. Don’t get me wrong, I love the world building in this series, but the pages upon pages of engineering really didn’t do it for me. And there were some moments of backstory that I could’ve done without. But then, I am not the author and I think Ken Liu told this story exactly as he wanted to, which I can only respect.
Also, while this book contained some of the most emotional moments of the entire series, I was personally having a really hard time getting emotionally invested. I’m almost wondering if it was some sort of unconscious defence mechanism of my brain that was just like: Nope, this is too intense, we are not getting invested only to have your heart ripped out and stamped over time and time again.
BUT, by the end, I was reading the final scenes with tears in my eyes. We have spent decades with most of these characters and finally seeing their stories come to an end was just so incredibly impactful, it hit me right in the feels.
These characters will live on in my mind for a long, long time. This is a story about life, identity, memory, philosophy, progress, culture, and most of all, about the human experience. And I think that is part of why this series is so deeply impactful. It doesn’t feel like a story, it feels like a real, raw and human experience. These characters are SO flawed and complex that they honestly feel like real people. And that is also why it feels so difficult to leave them behind.
I am honestly blown away by this series. From the prose, to the characters, to the world building, to the theme work…. Ken Liu just nailed it all.
I think this series as a whole is better than the sum of its parts, and that is saying A LOT, because each individual instalment is already a masterpiece on its own.
If you are even slightly intrigued by anything about this series, I highly recommend you just take the leap and trust Ken Liu to take you on an incredible journey.
This was probably one of the most challenging, but simultaneously one of the most rewarding reading experiences I’ve ever had. I am so glad I gave this series a shot, because it is now without a doubt one of my all-time favourites.
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