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The Three Hares: The Jade Dragonball
Sara Livingstone's school trip to the Beijing Palace Museum takes a terrifying turn when an encounter with the ancient Qingming Scroll thrusts her a thousand years into China's past. With secrets in the shadows and danger around every corner, Sara relies on her wits and her Granny Tang's stories to survive. As dark forces gather, she must take her place in a cosmic battle and find the courage to face an unworldly ancient magic.
245 pages, Paperback
Published September 5, 2019
14 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
June 26, 2020
This book was amazing! I loved all the Chinese cultural references and even though I had a difficulty with confusing the names at times, I really enjoyed it!
I have many questions that need to be answered, but I guess it's a series and I need to wait for the next book in the series!
An amazing adventure and combination of present and past. History plays a big part on this book and it kept me on my toes wondering what's going to happen next and I couldn't guess the events that eventually took place in the book. Also the suspense was definitely real, especially when our heroine was sucked into the past and when she was on her vacations.
I'm very intrigued and I can't wait to see how it's going to move forward. Definitely recommend if you need a YA / MG fantasy that has its base on China and her history.
I have many questions that need to be answered, but I guess it's a series and I need to wait for the next book in the series!
An amazing adventure and combination of present and past. History plays a big part on this book and it kept me on my toes wondering what's going to happen next and I couldn't guess the events that eventually took place in the book. Also the suspense was definitely real, especially when our heroine was sucked into the past and when she was on her vacations.
I'm very intrigued and I can't wait to see how it's going to move forward. Definitely recommend if you need a YA / MG fantasy that has its base on China and her history.
June 28, 2020
Book tour with @mmbtours and @neemtreepress
🦄🦄🦄
‘Only by knowing temptation can we know ourselves. Only
by knowing weakness can we know strength. Only by knowing
nothing can we know everything.’
🦄🦄🦄
Sara Livingstone's school trip to the Beijing Palace Museum takes a terrifying turn when an encounter with the ancient Qingming Scroll thrusts her a thousand years into China's past. With secrets in the shadows and danger around every corner, Sara relies on her wits and her Granny Tang's stories to survive. As dark forces gather, she must take her place in a cosmic battle and find the courage to face an unworldly ancient magic.
🦄🦄🦄
The Three Hares: The Jade Dragonball is the first book in the series by Scott Lauder and David Ross.
This is a magical book alternating between two time periods with a boatload of references to China's culture.
The story itself is very well done with the authors vivid imagination of historical China penned down perfectly to transport us back in time.
This book was more focused on setting down the facts first but still has ample amount of Adventure.
I was impress by how the past and present came together because it's not the traditional way of aligning two stories to sync. (You'll understand when you read the book.)
There is also a vast difference between the writing styles between the last and the present and it makes the distinction between the tine periods even more prominent.
Sara as a character is still developing, her age makes her still young to completely understand what's going on, but she shows a lot of promise as she's eager to learn and understand more about China's history.
We're left on an abrupt cliffhanger which left me both disappointed (why would you do that?) and wanting to know what happens next.
Overall, a highly recommended fantasy novel.
🦄🦄🦄
Rated 9/10
Melina L.
🦄🦄🦄
‘Only by knowing temptation can we know ourselves. Only
by knowing weakness can we know strength. Only by knowing
nothing can we know everything.’
🦄🦄🦄
Sara Livingstone's school trip to the Beijing Palace Museum takes a terrifying turn when an encounter with the ancient Qingming Scroll thrusts her a thousand years into China's past. With secrets in the shadows and danger around every corner, Sara relies on her wits and her Granny Tang's stories to survive. As dark forces gather, she must take her place in a cosmic battle and find the courage to face an unworldly ancient magic.
🦄🦄🦄
The Three Hares: The Jade Dragonball is the first book in the series by Scott Lauder and David Ross.
This is a magical book alternating between two time periods with a boatload of references to China's culture.
The story itself is very well done with the authors vivid imagination of historical China penned down perfectly to transport us back in time.
This book was more focused on setting down the facts first but still has ample amount of Adventure.
I was impress by how the past and present came together because it's not the traditional way of aligning two stories to sync. (You'll understand when you read the book.)
There is also a vast difference between the writing styles between the last and the present and it makes the distinction between the tine periods even more prominent.
Sara as a character is still developing, her age makes her still young to completely understand what's going on, but she shows a lot of promise as she's eager to learn and understand more about China's history.
We're left on an abrupt cliffhanger which left me both disappointed (why would you do that?) and wanting to know what happens next.
Overall, a highly recommended fantasy novel.
🦄🦄🦄
Rated 9/10
Melina L.
November 11, 2019
Sara is 14 years old, living in Beijing and attends the International School. Her Granny Tang lives in an apartment nearby, so she visits regularly but as a 14 year old, she’s a little bored of her stories……but will the knowledge in these tales be useful ?
Sara starts to see things, are they daydreams? Or can she see a world beyond?
This is a marvellous adventure tale, yes it’s young adult fiction, but it’s so well written and will appeal to any age. There’s Chinese history, art, culture and even a mention of Harry Potter. A little reminder too, that our elders have a lot to offer and deserve our respect. I love the two timelines and how they link……will the first hare get her answers? Charming, twisty and very engaging…..
Thank you to Anne Cater and Random Things Tours for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour, for the promotional materials and a free copy of the book. This is my honest, unbiased review
Sara starts to see things, are they daydreams? Or can she see a world beyond?
This is a marvellous adventure tale, yes it’s young adult fiction, but it’s so well written and will appeal to any age. There’s Chinese history, art, culture and even a mention of Harry Potter. A little reminder too, that our elders have a lot to offer and deserve our respect. I love the two timelines and how they link……will the first hare get her answers? Charming, twisty and very engaging…..
Thank you to Anne Cater and Random Things Tours for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour, for the promotional materials and a free copy of the book. This is my honest, unbiased review
September 21, 2019
"For the rest of the journey, Sara sat silently watching the road as the bus chewed through the traffic and swallowed the miles."
This book beautifully blends fantasy, various points of view and different times in history. Fast paced, and well written, this is the kind of adventure that compels you to turn just one more page. Sara is an authentic and complex main character, and her physical and emotional journey progresses in a satisfying yet suspenseful combination of events. And of course the cliff hanger at the end of the book leaves so many questions that I'll have to read the next book...
This book beautifully blends fantasy, various points of view and different times in history. Fast paced, and well written, this is the kind of adventure that compels you to turn just one more page. Sara is an authentic and complex main character, and her physical and emotional journey progresses in a satisfying yet suspenseful combination of events. And of course the cliff hanger at the end of the book leaves so many questions that I'll have to read the next book...
August 27, 2019
Such a fun read - for middle school, young adults, adults, everyone! The plot blends Chinese history, stuff about the Silk Road, and art. It shifts around a bit - from now to the past and back again - so I had to concentrate. But it's worth it. It's an adventure full of twists and turns. It's informative and it's a real page turner! Can't wait to get my hands on the second book. There is a second book, right? Please say there is!
August 21, 2019
A great read! Love the way history and fantasy are blended together.
July 9, 2020
I’m BACK! While I hate when I get blocked on instagram it’s also kind of nice to be forced to take a break every now and then. I get to catch up on all of my reading, play some games, and just all around be a sloth. But I’m super excited to share this book with you today. Because first of all it’s gorgeous and I love the aesthetic of the cover. And second of all it’s just a really amazing book!
I have been a really big fan of asian period pieces for a long time, especially when there are fantasy elements in them, so you can imagine my excitement when I saw this book! And sometimes when I get overly excited like this I’m let down, but this book does not disappoint! It’s such a unique and amazing story and I really enjoyed the contrast between the past and the present. I loved how much of the culture and history was interwoven into this story. That’s just automatically a way to grab my attention.
Finally, all I can say is that I cannot wait to read the next book! I am so excited to see where this story leads and what might come next. And while the characters are a bit younger, they’re still really interesting to read about and this story will appeal to a wide range of people.
You can view my full review on my blog! I also post about a lot of different types of books!
Reader | Bookstagrammer | Blogger | Reviewer
@ya.its.lit - https://www.instagram.com/ya.its.lit/
Blog - https://yaitslitblog.wordpress.com/
I have been a really big fan of asian period pieces for a long time, especially when there are fantasy elements in them, so you can imagine my excitement when I saw this book! And sometimes when I get overly excited like this I’m let down, but this book does not disappoint! It’s such a unique and amazing story and I really enjoyed the contrast between the past and the present. I loved how much of the culture and history was interwoven into this story. That’s just automatically a way to grab my attention.
Finally, all I can say is that I cannot wait to read the next book! I am so excited to see where this story leads and what might come next. And while the characters are a bit younger, they’re still really interesting to read about and this story will appeal to a wide range of people.
You can view my full review on my blog! I also post about a lot of different types of books!
Reader | Bookstagrammer | Blogger | Reviewer
@ya.its.lit - https://www.instagram.com/ya.its.lit/
Blog - https://yaitslitblog.wordpress.com/
November 14, 2019
I read this book for a blog tour and in exchange for an honest review. The synopsis immediately interested me, I dont really read Chinese or Asian fictions and I was intrigued about trying something new. Straight away, this book felt very different to what I usually read but not in a bad way, it really interested me and drew me in. I read it relatively fast and even though it wasnt a very long or complex book, I found that it was really descriptive and that I was able to really grasp the surroundings and the various characters.
This book follows 2 perspectives, one of them is from a young girl called Sara in present day and the second is from a young boy called Shan Mu/Wu in about 1000 CE. I thought that the two different view points helped the story along nicely and it set up the "intrigue" of the middle of the book when Sara gets sucked into an ancient Chinese scroll.
I identified easily to Sara even though I dont usually read such young characters but it was a nice change and I have to admit that it was also a nice change to read a Chinese setting and an original plot!
I actually really enjoyed reading this book, I'm very intrigued as to what each character's role is going to be in the future (I suppose there are going to be more books based on how this one ended) and I'm really intrigued to find out how and why she went into the scroll and what it means for her to be the First Hare!
This book follows 2 perspectives, one of them is from a young girl called Sara in present day and the second is from a young boy called Shan Mu/Wu in about 1000 CE. I thought that the two different view points helped the story along nicely and it set up the "intrigue" of the middle of the book when Sara gets sucked into an ancient Chinese scroll.
I identified easily to Sara even though I dont usually read such young characters but it was a nice change and I have to admit that it was also a nice change to read a Chinese setting and an original plot!
I actually really enjoyed reading this book, I'm very intrigued as to what each character's role is going to be in the future (I suppose there are going to be more books based on how this one ended) and I'm really intrigued to find out how and why she went into the scroll and what it means for her to be the First Hare!
November 21, 2019
Sara is a student in present-day China. Shan Mu is a kid in 996CE China, during the Northern Song Dynasty. When Sara starts to have strange, mystical experiences she does not know what to do. At the same time, Shan Mu's journey just beginning, as well. The Three Hares: The Jade Dragonball follows the two of them, and details what happens when their stories intersect.
This was an interesting story with lots of Chinese culture. The reader experiences that through Shan Mu's storyline in 996CE, as well as Sara's storyline that takes place in present day and through her time jump scenarios. While Sara's story is told in a more contemporary fashion, Shan Mu's is more in line with a Chinese fable. To me, this really kept the story going because, as a reader, I always wanted to know what was happening next.
This book does fall into the trap most books this short experience: not enough depth. In my opinion, this book could benefit from more character and plot development. There were times when the writing felt a little clunky. I mostly noticed at the ends of chapters, where the story felt abruptly cut off. These faults were not enough to take me out of the story often.
The Three Hares: The Jade Dragonball is a unique story full of Chinese culture, magic, and adventure. I recommend it for Fantasy readers.
This was an interesting story with lots of Chinese culture. The reader experiences that through Shan Mu's storyline in 996CE, as well as Sara's storyline that takes place in present day and through her time jump scenarios. While Sara's story is told in a more contemporary fashion, Shan Mu's is more in line with a Chinese fable. To me, this really kept the story going because, as a reader, I always wanted to know what was happening next.
This book does fall into the trap most books this short experience: not enough depth. In my opinion, this book could benefit from more character and plot development. There were times when the writing felt a little clunky. I mostly noticed at the ends of chapters, where the story felt abruptly cut off. These faults were not enough to take me out of the story often.
The Three Hares: The Jade Dragonball is a unique story full of Chinese culture, magic, and adventure. I recommend it for Fantasy readers.
September 13, 2019
This was quite the adventure, but it was also very much a first installment.
On this journey, we encounter China in both past and present times, and the story unfolds within BOTH timelines (and somewhere in between, but that's getting ahead of ourselves), eventually weaving together...but only just. I admit, until the stories began to comingle, I was much more invested in the PAST versus present.
Story wise...I loved how the authors made sure to separate the past and present sections to allow the reader to fully immerse themselves in the story without battling the "when am I" question along the way. I adored the rich history and lore that was shared, as well as how it was brought to life between the pages. They made you feel for every character, delving into the WHY behind their actions, even allowing you to feel sorrow for the predicaments they land themselves in, be they a GOOD person or one of the shall we say "misguided". I hate to say it, but things really started to get interesting around the time we had to call it quits...but, it does make the anticipation of the next one that much sweeter!
**copy received for review; opinions are my own
On this journey, we encounter China in both past and present times, and the story unfolds within BOTH timelines (and somewhere in between, but that's getting ahead of ourselves), eventually weaving together...but only just. I admit, until the stories began to comingle, I was much more invested in the PAST versus present.
Story wise...I loved how the authors made sure to separate the past and present sections to allow the reader to fully immerse themselves in the story without battling the "when am I" question along the way. I adored the rich history and lore that was shared, as well as how it was brought to life between the pages. They made you feel for every character, delving into the WHY behind their actions, even allowing you to feel sorrow for the predicaments they land themselves in, be they a GOOD person or one of the shall we say "misguided". I hate to say it, but things really started to get interesting around the time we had to call it quits...but, it does make the anticipation of the next one that much sweeter!
**copy received for review; opinions are my own
June 24, 2020
I thought this this a fun, middle grade fantasy that transported me through two different timelines in China. I got to experience so much Chinese history (specifically the Northern Song Dynasty), which I was unaware of.
I loved our two MCs (Sara and Shan Mu). Both of them brought life and adventure to this story. While I was hopeful that their two timelines would merge, I completely understand why they didn’t and loved them both.
I will be honest and say that this isn’t an own voices story, so please make sure to include those stories for middle grade and young readers to account for cultural accuracy.
Thank you to Neem Tree Press for my review copy. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.
I loved our two MCs (Sara and Shan Mu). Both of them brought life and adventure to this story. While I was hopeful that their two timelines would merge, I completely understand why they didn’t and loved them both.
I will be honest and say that this isn’t an own voices story, so please make sure to include those stories for middle grade and young readers to account for cultural accuracy.
Thank you to Neem Tree Press for my review copy. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.
July 5, 2020
This middle grade fantasy was an incredibly fun and magical adventure through ancient and present day China! I can't wait to see what happens in the next installment!
August 12, 2020
The Three Hares is a middle grade fantasy based in China! Sara Livingston is put on a quest and is suddenly thrown into a world that she has no idea about, apart from her Granny's stories.
I honestly read this so fast! At times I did feel like the thoughts that came across her mind wasn't what your average teen would think but I loved how unique this was with its setting and ancient magic.
I'm not sure how accurate things might be considering it's not written by an own voices author, but I'm hoping other own voices reviewers might be able to vouch for that! It's definitely fast paced and at times I was a lil confused with the POV switching, so overall I'd give this 3.5 stars :)
I honestly read this so fast! At times I did feel like the thoughts that came across her mind wasn't what your average teen would think but I loved how unique this was with its setting and ancient magic.
I'm not sure how accurate things might be considering it's not written by an own voices author, but I'm hoping other own voices reviewers might be able to vouch for that! It's definitely fast paced and at times I was a lil confused with the POV switching, so overall I'd give this 3.5 stars :)
November 10, 2022
Summary
Sarah Livingstone is just an ordinary girl trying to get through school while spending time with her friends and avoiding the kids who tease her, but fate has a different idea. It starts with seeing a news story about a young entrepreneur that sparks a vision of a strange boy in a dark void, and then later, on a field trip to the Bejing Palace Museum, she is thrown centuries into the past and learns The Eight Immortals have plans for her. She is left with more questions than answers as she returns to the present. Sarah goes on a summer vacation to the mountains of Scotland, where an entity, Shan Wu, puts her in danger. This experience solidifies that what Sarah had experienced was no trick of her mind and that there is a sure and real force trying to cause her harm. She resolves to overcome this evil for herself and what it means to the world. When she returns home to China, she tries to share this secret with her closest friend but learns that she has to rely on herself until the help the Immortals promised her is found. Sarah’s tale ends, for now, when the promise of connecting with another servant of the Immortals appears.
Review
This story engages from beginning to end, with good pacing and an excellent description of the setting to ground the characters' actions within their world. The writing is easily digestible to reach younger and older audiences but is not overly simplistic. The book is written from a dual point of view in the 3rd person. Most of the chapters focus on Sarah, and some focus on Shan Mu. Sarah’s chapters happen in the present-day other than her foray into the past through the Qingming scroll. The time hop is easy to understand and happens between chapters, so the split in time is apparent. Shan Mu’s chapters are all set in the far past and help to clarify the experiences Sarah is having in the present. Sarah is a relatable main character that believably takes on the unique challenges she faces. It is easy for the reader to root for her success because they are just as interested in finding the answers Sarah seeks. Additionally, the cast is somewhat diverse, with Sarah being half-Chinese, and Shan Mu being Chinese, Sarah’s friends are of different races, and so are the other side characters because Sarah attends an international school.
There are some untied ends in the plot that may be resolved later in the series, but this made the conclusion of this book less satisfying. Where The authors outlined the antagonist’s motivations, the descent to darkness was a steep journey, making it feel like their path was almost forced. They made one wrong choice and then had no chance to turn around until they became the ball of hate that fuels the reason for Sarah to become a servant to the Immortals as one of the three hares.
Overall, the book is well-crafted and worthy of recommendation. For older readers, The Three Hares The Jade Dragonball is a cozy light read of fantasy and suspense. It is a great introduction to fantasy and suspense for younger readers because there is enough realism to ground the story.
Trigger/Content Warnings
Starvation, death of a parent, abuse, social isolation, injury, classism, manipulation, call of the void moment - all of these were brief, lasting less than a scene.
There is no graphic content, language, violence, or sex.
Sarah Livingstone is just an ordinary girl trying to get through school while spending time with her friends and avoiding the kids who tease her, but fate has a different idea. It starts with seeing a news story about a young entrepreneur that sparks a vision of a strange boy in a dark void, and then later, on a field trip to the Bejing Palace Museum, she is thrown centuries into the past and learns The Eight Immortals have plans for her. She is left with more questions than answers as she returns to the present. Sarah goes on a summer vacation to the mountains of Scotland, where an entity, Shan Wu, puts her in danger. This experience solidifies that what Sarah had experienced was no trick of her mind and that there is a sure and real force trying to cause her harm. She resolves to overcome this evil for herself and what it means to the world. When she returns home to China, she tries to share this secret with her closest friend but learns that she has to rely on herself until the help the Immortals promised her is found. Sarah’s tale ends, for now, when the promise of connecting with another servant of the Immortals appears.
Review
This story engages from beginning to end, with good pacing and an excellent description of the setting to ground the characters' actions within their world. The writing is easily digestible to reach younger and older audiences but is not overly simplistic. The book is written from a dual point of view in the 3rd person. Most of the chapters focus on Sarah, and some focus on Shan Mu. Sarah’s chapters happen in the present-day other than her foray into the past through the Qingming scroll. The time hop is easy to understand and happens between chapters, so the split in time is apparent. Shan Mu’s chapters are all set in the far past and help to clarify the experiences Sarah is having in the present. Sarah is a relatable main character that believably takes on the unique challenges she faces. It is easy for the reader to root for her success because they are just as interested in finding the answers Sarah seeks. Additionally, the cast is somewhat diverse, with Sarah being half-Chinese, and Shan Mu being Chinese, Sarah’s friends are of different races, and so are the other side characters because Sarah attends an international school.
There are some untied ends in the plot that may be resolved later in the series, but this made the conclusion of this book less satisfying. Where The authors outlined the antagonist’s motivations, the descent to darkness was a steep journey, making it feel like their path was almost forced. They made one wrong choice and then had no chance to turn around until they became the ball of hate that fuels the reason for Sarah to become a servant to the Immortals as one of the three hares.
Overall, the book is well-crafted and worthy of recommendation. For older readers, The Three Hares The Jade Dragonball is a cozy light read of fantasy and suspense. It is a great introduction to fantasy and suspense for younger readers because there is enough realism to ground the story.
Trigger/Content Warnings
Starvation, death of a parent, abuse, social isolation, injury, classism, manipulation, call of the void moment - all of these were brief, lasting less than a scene.
There is no graphic content, language, violence, or sex.
March 11, 2023
My daughter enjoyed this book. This is her review.
In this book a girl goes thousand years back in time into China’s past. A simple museum trip turns into a terrifying adventure for Sara.
This book helps you to learn more about Chinese history. It has lot of action and adventure. It travels through time which makes it very engaging. This book was very enjoyable and kept me on the edge as it was very dramatic. Its main characters don’t know each other; one is evil and the other just wants to go home. I loved how it ended on a cliffhanger. It is first book of a trilogy.
This book can be a bit hard to understand for younger readers because of the way it switches from one character to another. More experienced readers will enjoy it.
In this book a girl goes thousand years back in time into China’s past. A simple museum trip turns into a terrifying adventure for Sara.
This book helps you to learn more about Chinese history. It has lot of action and adventure. It travels through time which makes it very engaging. This book was very enjoyable and kept me on the edge as it was very dramatic. Its main characters don’t know each other; one is evil and the other just wants to go home. I loved how it ended on a cliffhanger. It is first book of a trilogy.
This book can be a bit hard to understand for younger readers because of the way it switches from one character to another. More experienced readers will enjoy it.
July 7, 2023
I almost pushed myself to finish this one, I read more than 65% of it, but I had been bored for a long while, so I decided to drop it.
The most interesting part of it was the setting for the real world part of the plot: A school for foreign students (kids of ambassadors) in China.
The fantasy part of the plot was a modern day student pulled into ancient China. That should have really, really worked for me: Learning about real world things I don't know much about while reading is such a great bonus to the story! But the plot was so slow moving, it didn't hold my interest.
The most interesting part of it was the setting for the real world part of the plot: A school for foreign students (kids of ambassadors) in China.
The fantasy part of the plot was a modern day student pulled into ancient China. That should have really, really worked for me: Learning about real world things I don't know much about while reading is such a great bonus to the story! But the plot was so slow moving, it didn't hold my interest.
January 20, 2020
I’m a bit confused by this book. I like that it shows two points of view, alternating them in large chunks of the book. I kept waiting for the two to merge in some way, but they didn’t. Both characters were interesting, even easy to identify with. I loved the intrigue that telling both stories side by side created.
The plot was a bit disappointing to me, though. I felt like it sort of restarted a few times through the book. We meet Sara and she has a quest. But then she has a new quest. And then a new, new quest. But I didn’t feel like there was really a clear resolution. A lot gets left hanging on the last page.
It also felt like things sort of came out of nowhere a few times. Suddenly Sara’s going to Ireland. Now she’s applying for a job. Why? What? Where did that come from? Why was it critical to her quest and the story that’s being told here? I didn’t see the connections.
Sometimes that sort of last-page hook really works– doesn’t it seem like every series now has a big hook at the end? (A CURSE SO DARK AND LONELY, I’m giving you the side-eye here…) So that’s not necessarily a bad thing. I guess I just expected from the title and the quest set-up that Sara’s journey would be to find the three hares and confront a bad guy of some sort. But that isn’t really the story that THE THREE HARES: THE JADE DRAGONBALL tells.
I really liked the message about respect for ritual and for elders. When Sara is thrust back to ancient China, she faces lots of situations where she must rely on tradition and myth to guide her, and I found that to be a really intriguing theme. It reminded me a bit of THE DRAGON WARRIOR by Katie Zhao.
All in all, THE THREE HARES had some intriguing elements, but I felt it needed a more organized plot to make it a book I’d want to read again. Readers interested in a Chinese setting and mythology will find interesting characters and setting, though.
The plot was a bit disappointing to me, though. I felt like it sort of restarted a few times through the book. We meet Sara and she has a quest. But then she has a new quest. And then a new, new quest. But I didn’t feel like there was really a clear resolution. A lot gets left hanging on the last page.
It also felt like things sort of came out of nowhere a few times. Suddenly Sara’s going to Ireland. Now she’s applying for a job. Why? What? Where did that come from? Why was it critical to her quest and the story that’s being told here? I didn’t see the connections.
Sometimes that sort of last-page hook really works– doesn’t it seem like every series now has a big hook at the end? (A CURSE SO DARK AND LONELY, I’m giving you the side-eye here…) So that’s not necessarily a bad thing. I guess I just expected from the title and the quest set-up that Sara’s journey would be to find the three hares and confront a bad guy of some sort. But that isn’t really the story that THE THREE HARES: THE JADE DRAGONBALL tells.
I really liked the message about respect for ritual and for elders. When Sara is thrust back to ancient China, she faces lots of situations where she must rely on tradition and myth to guide her, and I found that to be a really intriguing theme. It reminded me a bit of THE DRAGON WARRIOR by Katie Zhao.
All in all, THE THREE HARES had some intriguing elements, but I felt it needed a more organized plot to make it a book I’d want to read again. Readers interested in a Chinese setting and mythology will find interesting characters and setting, though.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews