I started reading this novel years ago, but had to stop because it wasn't completely translated. So now it was such a joy to be able to read it in one go, it's one of my favorite novels by Priest, and at this point, it's become quite obvious that they're one of my favorite writers nowadays, so that means a lot. The reason might be because I love wuxia as a genre, not sure why, I just really adore it, I think ever since I was a tiny blurb of a human I've felt pretty close to its ideals, the whole struggle for justice and sacrifice all for what you believe just really sticks to me, honor, righteousness, it's such a common place, but truly resonates with me, and the lifestyle, so free in conventional terms, but so strict in term of your own values, it's just truly captivating.
And Priest is amazing, they can write anything and make it work, modern dark fantasy, crime, sci fi, wuxia, steampunk dystopias, theology with zero romance, it's all just so damn good, beautifully written, with deep well thought plots and so much intrigue yet also poetry and brains, perfect.
Even in this novel, which is a real wuxia example with all its usual tropes and twists, the mystery is fascinating and I really didn't see it coming until its revelation, even if I had read part of the novel before and I think I also saw the drama adaptation some years back, still, had no idea until the end.
Legend of Fei follows the adventures of heroine Zhou Fei after she leaves her secluded home in the mountain in which 48 sects live and train together, she has an important legacy behind, as her grandfather was a legendary martial artist and she follows on his steps somehow, perfecting his technique with the saber along with the style of some old masters that cross her way and impart their teachings to her one way or another. As a backdrop to her martial progress (and it's a novel heavily focused on that subject) there's a mystery from the old dynasty that involves legendary martial masters, sects and the court, while the north and southern reigns fight to conquer and unify the land and she and her friends get involved in all the drama as she fights to remain loyal to her values, her predecessors and protect those she love as she discovers her own path.
I love all characters in this novel, all generations, the goodies and also those that walk a darker less orthodox path, well, not those from the royal families, but everyone else.
This reading was an enchanting journey and I'm just really sad to see it end, but I took my sweet time and, as often happens to me with Priest works, I'm sure I'll reread it again someday.
Obviously, this novel is perfect for fans of Chinese novels, wuxia and Priest, but as I said before, it focuses heavily on martial arts, so if you're not into that it might not be for you.