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The Geomancer's Apprentice #1
The Geomancer's Apprentice
Who knew feng shui would be this dangerous?
Junie Soong reaches a new low in her life when she’s fired from Starbucks. Her brother is brilliant, her parents are stars in their professions while she … trails behind in everything. Things start looking up when Joe Tham, a struggling geomancer and feng shui master based in Washington, D.C.,’s Chinatown, takes her on as his apprentice.
Junie finds out monsters are real while she and Joe investigate an eerie sinkhole in their client’s cellar. She also discovers she may be the last of a line of warriors who can channel qi, the essential life force underpinning the universe.
She now must race against time to learn how to wield her powers while fending off shape-shifting, malevolent creatures from the depths of Diyu, the Chinese version of Hell. Not only that, she and Joe must deal with the ghosts that are suddenly manifesting in the cellar.
The Geomancer's Apprentice is the first book in an urban fantasy series featuring Asian mysticism and magic, and terrifying monsters from Asian folklore.
Praise for The Geomancer's Apprentice
"Junie Soong’s journey from young coffeeshop-employee reject to unconventional hero in Yin Leong’s The Geomancer’s Apprentice is a rousing joyride! The pairing of Junie with on-the-brink-of-retirement geomancer Joe Tham as they rush to discover dragons and crush monsters is both humorous and inspired."While other books set in Washington, D.C., dwell on Capitol Hill and probe politics, this refreshing tale gives us a fascinating glimpse into the otherworldly orbit that might just exist in the shadow of the fabled Chinatown Gate. Quite simply, I couldn’t put it down and read it in one sitting. I loved it."—Ellen Byerrum, author of the Crime of Fashion Mysteries
Junie Soong reaches a new low in her life when she’s fired from Starbucks. Her brother is brilliant, her parents are stars in their professions while she … trails behind in everything. Things start looking up when Joe Tham, a struggling geomancer and feng shui master based in Washington, D.C.,’s Chinatown, takes her on as his apprentice.
Junie finds out monsters are real while she and Joe investigate an eerie sinkhole in their client’s cellar. She also discovers she may be the last of a line of warriors who can channel qi, the essential life force underpinning the universe.
She now must race against time to learn how to wield her powers while fending off shape-shifting, malevolent creatures from the depths of Diyu, the Chinese version of Hell. Not only that, she and Joe must deal with the ghosts that are suddenly manifesting in the cellar.
The Geomancer's Apprentice is the first book in an urban fantasy series featuring Asian mysticism and magic, and terrifying monsters from Asian folklore.
Praise for The Geomancer's Apprentice
"Junie Soong’s journey from young coffeeshop-employee reject to unconventional hero in Yin Leong’s The Geomancer’s Apprentice is a rousing joyride! The pairing of Junie with on-the-brink-of-retirement geomancer Joe Tham as they rush to discover dragons and crush monsters is both humorous and inspired."While other books set in Washington, D.C., dwell on Capitol Hill and probe politics, this refreshing tale gives us a fascinating glimpse into the otherworldly orbit that might just exist in the shadow of the fabled Chinatown Gate. Quite simply, I couldn’t put it down and read it in one sitting. I loved it."—Ellen Byerrum, author of the Crime of Fashion Mysteries
253 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 3, 2021
57 people are currently reading
120 people want to read
About the author
Yin Leong
8 books41 followersYin Leong was a journalist and editor in Washington, D.C., covering regulatory news. She grew up in Singapore listening to her mother’s ghost stories. She knew since she was five years old that she wanted to write.
She now writes fiction full-time. She lives in Virginia with her husband and dog. When she’s not writing, she watches horror and superhero movies, and reads all kinds of fiction. Her favorite authors include H.G. Wells, Stephen King and Ben Tripp. She thinks 'Salem’s Lot is one of the scariest books of all time.
She is the author of The Geomancer’s Apprentice series. Book 2 in the series, The Forgotten Guardian, is now available on Amazon and other ebook platforms.
She also wrote Joss Paper, a collection of short horror stories.
She now writes fiction full-time. She lives in Virginia with her husband and dog. When she’s not writing, she watches horror and superhero movies, and reads all kinds of fiction. Her favorite authors include H.G. Wells, Stephen King and Ben Tripp. She thinks 'Salem’s Lot is one of the scariest books of all time.
She is the author of The Geomancer’s Apprentice series. Book 2 in the series, The Forgotten Guardian, is now available on Amazon and other ebook platforms.
She also wrote Joss Paper, a collection of short horror stories.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
April 6, 2022
This was a really enjoyable book - I think my real rating is closer to 4.5 stars than 4. It's about a purposeless young woman who starts working for a talentless geomancer, doing feng shui appraisals and house blessings, but they soon become embroiled in a supernatural plot when they discover something malevolent haunting one of their clients' houses. It's a very pacey story, with plenty of spooky moments and the characters grow nicely through the story. It is quite a simple story - by which I mean it felt more like a novella than a novel, focusing on one main event - and I did find the characters a little bland (particularly Junie, our hero), but it was an exciting supernatural thriller and since it is the start of a series, there is plenty of room to grow. It was definitely one of those books that I wanted to keep reading once I started, annoyed whenever I had to go do something else, and I finished it in a couple of days, so that's always a good sign. Recommended to fans of The Shining.
March 20, 2021
I really liked this book. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is b/c I save that for books I would read again, and this book was keeping me awake at night, in a good way. Few things about it:
- The characters were developed very well and I want to learn more about them (in the next book).
- I like the story centering on Junie and her fung shui talents. Fung shui is new to me and I'm excited to hear about how she develops her skills.
- It's set in the DC/Northern VA area and paints a great picture of the area. I could see the settings as I was reading.
- This was my first 'urban fantasy' read. It's just enough reality to make you believe the story is happening, but then some very unreal things happen, always keeping you wondering what will happen next.
For those in the DC area, it's a must read :)
- The characters were developed very well and I want to learn more about them (in the next book).
- I like the story centering on Junie and her fung shui talents. Fung shui is new to me and I'm excited to hear about how she develops her skills.
- It's set in the DC/Northern VA area and paints a great picture of the area. I could see the settings as I was reading.
- This was my first 'urban fantasy' read. It's just enough reality to make you believe the story is happening, but then some very unreal things happen, always keeping you wondering what will happen next.
For those in the DC area, it's a must read :)
December 8, 2022
A roller coast ride of a novel behind any imagination!
Deep breath!! Oh my, a classic modern day thriller seeping with plots beyond any novel I have read since "ghost story" The author draws beautifully from her Asian heritage to create suspense filled classic designs to keep you glued to your seat! A true must read!!!
Deep breath!! Oh my, a classic modern day thriller seeping with plots beyond any novel I have read since "ghost story" The author draws beautifully from her Asian heritage to create suspense filled classic designs to keep you glued to your seat! A true must read!!!
October 22, 2021
Junie, the family failure, finally finds something interesting that she can do. Unknown to herself, she is a Dragon Warrior. I enjoyed this story, it was well written and interesting. I didn't know that Feng Shui was so dangerous! Recommended reading for all fantasy fans.
July 4, 2022
This beautifully-written story of ghosts, supernatural monsters, and Chinese mysticism drew me in from the beginning because of Junie, the engaging heroine. Junie is searching to find her identity. She lacks self-confidence, is socially awkward, and has not made her parents proud – yet. She is surprised to discover that her family is related to Joe Tham, a Geomancer, who scrounges out a living as a Feng Shui master. Joe performs “blessings” on homes and businesses, and assists his mostly Chinese clients in balancing the flow of energy in their homes. Junie’s mother convinces Joe to hire Junie as his apprentice – just so she has a job. The whole Feng Shui thing seems like mumbo-jumbo superstition until actual spirits and malevolent monsters start rising up from an energy vortex in the cellar of a Washington D.C. home where Joe and Junie go to improve the house’s negative energy flow.
Although Joe is the son of a Feng Shui master known as the Golden Dragon, he lacks any knack for the real magic behind the rituals and is something of a dud in his own family. Junie, however, discovers that she has the innate ability to wield the Geomancer’s energy sword and activate the mystical compass that charts energy flow. Junie is the heir apparent to be the next Dragon. But she needs training and experience. Unfortunately for her and Joe, her training will be on-the-job as there are monsters that need immediate extermination or else a house full of people may die – including Junie’s parents.
The set-up here is terrific, and the action sequences are gripping as Junie and Joe bravely set out on their quest to stem the flow of monsters through the vortex portal before the worst of the worst can come through into our realm. As a horror/ghost/adventure story, it’s great reading. There is a side story involving a budding romance for Junie that never gets off the ground and a side story about Junie’s family relationships that is part of her personality, but doesn’t go anywhere either. There is also a peripheral story involving the owner of the house and the tragic death of her four-year-old son years earlier. This substory carries on after the end of the main climax for several additional chapters and doesn’t need to be there. It doesn’t advance the main story or Junie’s character and leaves the ending of the book with an anticlimactic feel. Despite these blemishes on Ms. Leong’s first novel, the main story and the main action are captivating and well worth the read.
The writing is clean and well-crafted. Ms. Leong, a journalist, knows how to structure paragraphs and a story line. With almost no copy editing issues, the reader can focus on the story and the characters, which are lovingly created and nurtured. There is plenty of room for additional installments of Junie and Joe’s adventures, including their inevitable confrontation (when Junie is more experienced and learns to hang onto her magic sword) with the dreaded Mogui. This first book is a terrific introduction to some exceptional characters and a very interesting universe that certainly has much more to give. Totally recommended for any fans of urban horror or supernatural adventure stories. (Note, although the language is PG-rated, the scenes of peril and monsters are likely not suitable for smaller children. Although Junie is an early-twenties heroine and this may be seen as YA material, be careful about giving younger children nightmares.)
Although Joe is the son of a Feng Shui master known as the Golden Dragon, he lacks any knack for the real magic behind the rituals and is something of a dud in his own family. Junie, however, discovers that she has the innate ability to wield the Geomancer’s energy sword and activate the mystical compass that charts energy flow. Junie is the heir apparent to be the next Dragon. But she needs training and experience. Unfortunately for her and Joe, her training will be on-the-job as there are monsters that need immediate extermination or else a house full of people may die – including Junie’s parents.
The set-up here is terrific, and the action sequences are gripping as Junie and Joe bravely set out on their quest to stem the flow of monsters through the vortex portal before the worst of the worst can come through into our realm. As a horror/ghost/adventure story, it’s great reading. There is a side story involving a budding romance for Junie that never gets off the ground and a side story about Junie’s family relationships that is part of her personality, but doesn’t go anywhere either. There is also a peripheral story involving the owner of the house and the tragic death of her four-year-old son years earlier. This substory carries on after the end of the main climax for several additional chapters and doesn’t need to be there. It doesn’t advance the main story or Junie’s character and leaves the ending of the book with an anticlimactic feel. Despite these blemishes on Ms. Leong’s first novel, the main story and the main action are captivating and well worth the read.
The writing is clean and well-crafted. Ms. Leong, a journalist, knows how to structure paragraphs and a story line. With almost no copy editing issues, the reader can focus on the story and the characters, which are lovingly created and nurtured. There is plenty of room for additional installments of Junie and Joe’s adventures, including their inevitable confrontation (when Junie is more experienced and learns to hang onto her magic sword) with the dreaded Mogui. This first book is a terrific introduction to some exceptional characters and a very interesting universe that certainly has much more to give. Totally recommended for any fans of urban horror or supernatural adventure stories. (Note, although the language is PG-rated, the scenes of peril and monsters are likely not suitable for smaller children. Although Junie is an early-twenties heroine and this may be seen as YA material, be careful about giving younger children nightmares.)
November 29, 2022
A great read for lovers of suspense, thrillers, and action! I knew a little about Feng Shui going into this book, but the story makes it so much more believable and I learned much more without feeling like I read a boring textbook.
I'm looking forward to seeing where book 2 takes Junie and Joe!
I'm looking forward to seeing where book 2 takes Junie and Joe!
August 15, 2022
If you are a horror fan, The Geomancer's Apprentice is a perfect read for you. It's a well-written novel that includes graphic fight scenes against a horrible shape-shifting creature called a Yaoguai. Yet the book also has well-developed characters in relationships that are thoroughly explored. There's a middle-aged man who always thought he didn't live up to his father's expectations and a young romance that's beginning to take shape.
The book covered subjects I wasn't familiar with in an interesting way. These are feng shui and geomancy. I had heard of feng shui (a system of laws considered to govern spatial arrangement and orientation in relation to the flow of energy) but I did not know the related term geomancy (the art of placing or arranging buildings or other sites auspiciously). It was fun to learn a little about these topics.
The story begins when a young woman, Junie, approaches her uncle. His profession is to bless houses and offer advice about furniture arrangement and color choices. Junie's mother has convinced him to hire Junie, provisionally. Once Junie discovers what the job entails, she finds it interesting, researches the subject, and comes to her uncle with some basic knowledge. As time goes on they find she is a good fit to work with him.
Then they get a job at a house with more problems than they expected. Millie, the woman who owns the house, has had a frightening experience with something in her cellar, something she cannot explain. What happens after that is an adventure worth reading.
The book covered subjects I wasn't familiar with in an interesting way. These are feng shui and geomancy. I had heard of feng shui (a system of laws considered to govern spatial arrangement and orientation in relation to the flow of energy) but I did not know the related term geomancy (the art of placing or arranging buildings or other sites auspiciously). It was fun to learn a little about these topics.
The story begins when a young woman, Junie, approaches her uncle. His profession is to bless houses and offer advice about furniture arrangement and color choices. Junie's mother has convinced him to hire Junie, provisionally. Once Junie discovers what the job entails, she finds it interesting, researches the subject, and comes to her uncle with some basic knowledge. As time goes on they find she is a good fit to work with him.
Then they get a job at a house with more problems than they expected. Millie, the woman who owns the house, has had a frightening experience with something in her cellar, something she cannot explain. What happens after that is an adventure worth reading.
March 24, 2022
What a fantastic story! This held be gripped throughout the whole things, and I hated to have to put it down. I love the fact that I was unable to predict anything that happened throughout the book. I'm moving on to part two immediately.
May 19, 2021
Feng Shui meets a female Jackie Chan
Junie Soong is a young woman searching for a future and stumbles into the area of Feng Shui. She quickly learns there is far more to Feng Shui then bringing harmony into a home or business by moving furniture and painting rooms. At the core is using positive energy to fight Chinese demons that have found their home in the nation’s capital. Who knew Washington DC could be a hot bed for negative energy attracting all sorts of demons? Junie uses all that she has learned from various action movies from Star Wars to Jackie Chan films to wield her ancient weapon as she confronts the demons to save the people in her life. The Geomancer's Apprentice, is a lough out loud book taking on life in Washington DC at the same time maintaining a steady stream of action and thrills making this book at its heart total fun. I look forward to reading Ms Leong’s next book.
Junie Soong is a young woman searching for a future and stumbles into the area of Feng Shui. She quickly learns there is far more to Feng Shui then bringing harmony into a home or business by moving furniture and painting rooms. At the core is using positive energy to fight Chinese demons that have found their home in the nation’s capital. Who knew Washington DC could be a hot bed for negative energy attracting all sorts of demons? Junie uses all that she has learned from various action movies from Star Wars to Jackie Chan films to wield her ancient weapon as she confronts the demons to save the people in her life. The Geomancer's Apprentice, is a lough out loud book taking on life in Washington DC at the same time maintaining a steady stream of action and thrills making this book at its heart total fun. I look forward to reading Ms Leong’s next book.
January 2, 2022
Such a well-written and very enjoyable read. It had just enough creepiness without the gory horror aspect.
The character dynamics are well thought out and executed. I thought Junie and Joe’s relationship was a fun dynamic. I was totally expecting him to be an all-powerful ghost busting badass and to see that he was just some guy trying to get by was a surprise.
Junie had to learn much of what was needed on her own as opposed to having that all-knowing powerful mentor. He had much of the intellectual knowledge but lacked the physical abilities needed. There was a ton of action throughout as you learned about the characters pasts. The only negative for me was I felt that the story dragged on at the end but I can understand the need to tie up those story threads.
I always love a good ley line plot. Let me tell you, if I were Millie, I would have abandoned ship! No thank you to that creepy crap going on I the cellar!
The character dynamics are well thought out and executed. I thought Junie and Joe’s relationship was a fun dynamic. I was totally expecting him to be an all-powerful ghost busting badass and to see that he was just some guy trying to get by was a surprise.
Junie had to learn much of what was needed on her own as opposed to having that all-knowing powerful mentor. He had much of the intellectual knowledge but lacked the physical abilities needed. There was a ton of action throughout as you learned about the characters pasts. The only negative for me was I felt that the story dragged on at the end but I can understand the need to tie up those story threads.
I always love a good ley line plot. Let me tell you, if I were Millie, I would have abandoned ship! No thank you to that creepy crap going on I the cellar!
July 19, 2021
What a delightful, thrilling read, and an awesome debut novel! The Geomancer's Apprentice by Yin Leong will captivate you as you delve into the fascinating world of feng shui. Believe me there's more than meets the eye when it comes to the redoubtable protagonist Junie, and her charming boss, Joe the Geomancer. What's a Geomancer you ask? You're gonna have to read to find out! Prepare to expect the unexpected in this wild ride of a tale, that will have you rooting for the underdogs as they battle an ancient unseen evil that is reawakening, and threatening to destroy our world! Big props to Ms. Leong for setting the story in Washington D.C., and really pulling out all the stops to incorporate its unique urban cultural flavors. (Full disclosure, I've lived in the D.C. area for 40 years!) I hope there's a sequel coming for these memorable characters. They will stick with you! Bravo!
February 20, 2022
The Geomancer’s Apprentice
Loved the book, it is well written and has non stop action, that will leave your heart racing. You get invested in the characters, especially Junie and Joe and their safety as they confront the monstrous evil. The character of Junie is very unaware of the inner strength she possesses. She feels like a failure, over shadowed by her successful brother and her parents all who clearly love her but don’t see who she really is.
Loved also that it all took place in DC, which is somewhat close to home for me.
Interesting introduction to ancient Chinese practice of Feng Shui and you will learn the practice is far deeper than how it’s portrayed here in the Western world. If you like stories of monsters and ghosts and lots of heart stopping action you will enjoy this book.
Loved the book, it is well written and has non stop action, that will leave your heart racing. You get invested in the characters, especially Junie and Joe and their safety as they confront the monstrous evil. The character of Junie is very unaware of the inner strength she possesses. She feels like a failure, over shadowed by her successful brother and her parents all who clearly love her but don’t see who she really is.
Loved also that it all took place in DC, which is somewhat close to home for me.
Interesting introduction to ancient Chinese practice of Feng Shui and you will learn the practice is far deeper than how it’s portrayed here in the Western world. If you like stories of monsters and ghosts and lots of heart stopping action you will enjoy this book.
January 14, 2022
For those looking to escape into a new world, filled with monsters, and the human experience, this one has it all and then some. Set in today’s world, our protagonist must come to terms with self-discovery. The world isn’t quite as it seems, and neither is she.
After losing her job as a barista at Starbucks, she becomes an apprentice for a local master of the mystic arts. Unlike Mickey Mouse in Fantasia, Junie Soong must learn to deal with real monsters, while managing the challenges of having a close-knit, and sometimes controlling, family.
I highly recommend this first in, I hope, a long series centered on a wonderfully complex, yet realistic protagonist, Junie Soong. 5 out of 5 Stars!
After losing her job as a barista at Starbucks, she becomes an apprentice for a local master of the mystic arts. Unlike Mickey Mouse in Fantasia, Junie Soong must learn to deal with real monsters, while managing the challenges of having a close-knit, and sometimes controlling, family.
I highly recommend this first in, I hope, a long series centered on a wonderfully complex, yet realistic protagonist, Junie Soong. 5 out of 5 Stars!
August 29, 2023
Rating: 3.5/5
Firstly, I really enjoyed the concepts in this. I have a soft spot for shapeshifting lore and I'm not too familiar with Chinese mythology (I've studied Roman, Aztec, and Mayan religions/cultures/lore) so this was a unique read that I got pretty invested in. The only problem is I'm not a huge Urban Fantasy fan, still gave it a shot and enjoyed, but I've watched/read so many that the genre seems to have so many overlapping tropes that it can get a little stale. Still, like said, very enjoyable read, and I liked getting to know the characters and seeing them develop over the story.
Firstly, I really enjoyed the concepts in this. I have a soft spot for shapeshifting lore and I'm not too familiar with Chinese mythology (I've studied Roman, Aztec, and Mayan religions/cultures/lore) so this was a unique read that I got pretty invested in. The only problem is I'm not a huge Urban Fantasy fan, still gave it a shot and enjoyed, but I've watched/read so many that the genre seems to have so many overlapping tropes that it can get a little stale. Still, like said, very enjoyable read, and I liked getting to know the characters and seeing them develop over the story.
September 26, 2021
True paranormal. This isn't some "paranormal" where there are sexy vampires/werewolves wooing for the heroine's attention. It's a basement full of ghosts and demonic entities, and rather than calling in the Catholics to perform exorcisms, it's feng shui practitioners cleaning up the spooks. Asian mysticism and paranormal done well.
October 17, 2021
I really enjoyed this book! It had good pacing, the characters became fleshed out over the course of the story, the story had a natural beginning, middle and end, and there is plenty more to look forward to if there are more books.
I received a free copy from Voracious Readers Only for an honest review.
I received a free copy from Voracious Readers Only for an honest review.
December 27, 2022
A fun story
I very much enjoyed this story. The plot was very fast-paced and the action was tense and exciting. I liked following the character arcs as Joe and Junie moved from incompetence and doubt to confidence and (some) skill. I'm looking forward to reading more of this series.
I very much enjoyed this story. The plot was very fast-paced and the action was tense and exciting. I liked following the character arcs as Joe and Junie moved from incompetence and doubt to confidence and (some) skill. I'm looking forward to reading more of this series.
December 31, 2022
Good
This was very different to the type of book I usually read. Junie goes to work as an apprentice to Joe. Joe's dad and grandfather were Dragons by rights Joe should be the next Golden Dragon but it turns out that it's Junie. They tackle ghosts and monsters. I can't wait to read the next book.
This was very different to the type of book I usually read. Junie goes to work as an apprentice to Joe. Joe's dad and grandfather were Dragons by rights Joe should be the next Golden Dragon but it turns out that it's Junie. They tackle ghosts and monsters. I can't wait to read the next book.
March 13, 2022
awesome!
I was hooked by chapter 2. Junie and Joe are endearing characters and are down to earth. Great mystery with luscious terrifying bits. Read this to go demon hunting in DC as Junie learns to be the dragon she didn’t know was inside her. Empowering, fun, and excellently written. I can’t wait to read the next book!
I was hooked by chapter 2. Junie and Joe are endearing characters and are down to earth. Great mystery with luscious terrifying bits. Read this to go demon hunting in DC as Junie learns to be the dragon she didn’t know was inside her. Empowering, fun, and excellently written. I can’t wait to read the next book!
September 3, 2022
This is Yin Leong’s first novel. She was a journalist where she refined her writing skills, but journalistic writing and novel writing require different skills. Leong managed to avoid nearly all the tropes that plague new authors. I’m a retired submarine officer (read Realist) who writes submarine technothrillers and hard SciFi. When I picked up this book, I wasn’t even sure what Feng Shui meant, let alone Geomancer. After several pages, I suspended my disbelief and went along for the delightful joyride Author Yin Leong gives us in The Geomancer’s Apprentice.
Junie Soong is a twenty-something girl without a life plan. All her young life, she has just gone where life’s currents took her until she landed a job with Joe Tham—at her successful real estate mother’s urging. Joe is a tired Geomancer—someone who practices Feng Shui and changes a living environment to allow the life force qi to flow more smoothly. (Remember, I said I suspended my disbelief, and so will you to get the most out of this story.) Joe’s father was the genuine thing (Geomancer, that is), but Joe may or may not have inherited even some of his father’s abilities. In her own words, Junie is an agnostic.
Through the efforts of Junie’s mother, Joe suddenly gets a swath of contracts. Junie goes with him where she discovers that she is good at arranging an environment for optimum qi flow. She learns more and more about what Joe should be doing, and finds herself drawn into the craft as she never imagined. When they get a particularly large and complicated contract for a 6,000 sqft ultra-modern house constructed on a 200-year-old foundation, Junie quickly learns that there is more to Feng Shui than optimizing qi flow, much more.
A portal opens in the ancient basement of the ultra-modern house, and (here it comes again, disbelief suspension!) deadly Chinese monsters out of ancient Chinese lore transit the portal into Junie’s world. Being just an apprentice under a master who may or may not know what he is doing, Junie joins combat with these other-worldly hordes. You will have to read the book to discover what happens and whether she survives the onslaught. (Hint—this is the first book in a series.)
No first effort is perfect, and this one has several flaws. I would have liked to see the budding romance between Junie and Noah go somewhere, but perhaps Leong is saving this for the rest of the series. There were a couple of other things that don’t really matter, but one that does. Leong falls into the trap so many first novelists trip over. She head-hops even though she set up a structure that should have prevented wandering points-of-view. This was sufficiently distracting for me to downgrade a 5-star story to 4.5. But then, because the story was so well executed, I rounded it back up to 5.
Junie Soong is a twenty-something girl without a life plan. All her young life, she has just gone where life’s currents took her until she landed a job with Joe Tham—at her successful real estate mother’s urging. Joe is a tired Geomancer—someone who practices Feng Shui and changes a living environment to allow the life force qi to flow more smoothly. (Remember, I said I suspended my disbelief, and so will you to get the most out of this story.) Joe’s father was the genuine thing (Geomancer, that is), but Joe may or may not have inherited even some of his father’s abilities. In her own words, Junie is an agnostic.
Through the efforts of Junie’s mother, Joe suddenly gets a swath of contracts. Junie goes with him where she discovers that she is good at arranging an environment for optimum qi flow. She learns more and more about what Joe should be doing, and finds herself drawn into the craft as she never imagined. When they get a particularly large and complicated contract for a 6,000 sqft ultra-modern house constructed on a 200-year-old foundation, Junie quickly learns that there is more to Feng Shui than optimizing qi flow, much more.
A portal opens in the ancient basement of the ultra-modern house, and (here it comes again, disbelief suspension!) deadly Chinese monsters out of ancient Chinese lore transit the portal into Junie’s world. Being just an apprentice under a master who may or may not know what he is doing, Junie joins combat with these other-worldly hordes. You will have to read the book to discover what happens and whether she survives the onslaught. (Hint—this is the first book in a series.)
No first effort is perfect, and this one has several flaws. I would have liked to see the budding romance between Junie and Noah go somewhere, but perhaps Leong is saving this for the rest of the series. There were a couple of other things that don’t really matter, but one that does. Leong falls into the trap so many first novelists trip over. She head-hops even though she set up a structure that should have prevented wandering points-of-view. This was sufficiently distracting for me to downgrade a 5-star story to 4.5. But then, because the story was so well executed, I rounded it back up to 5.
December 12, 2021
Really enjoyed it but there were some issues
I really enjoyed this book!
Great characters, interesting magical concepts and light hearted scenes to break up the serious scary bits. I got very involved with the characters and am keen to read their next adventures.
However I did have a few issues:
The plot felt … disjointed. Like there wasn’t a clear arc and you were getting yanked around from the main drama to some personal plot drama to hilarious family drama.
I understand that having the main character accidentally drop their ULTIMATE WEAPON OF COSMIC POWER can increase tension. But when they do it ten times in one action scene you start rolling your eyes.
Also, during fast paced action scenes you get hit by weird chunks of explanatory text or emotional noodling about how much they never connected with their mother. Leading to me yelling at the book “stop noodling and just smash the bad dude! No … not like that. Did you just drop your weapon again?!”
Lastly, the cover.
I know authors don’t always have a lot of say in the covers but I almost didn’t buy this book because the cover looked so … photochopped. I mean this is a book about Feng Shui! There are so many cool images that relate to Feng Shui, dragons! Demons! Celestial beings! Argh!
I really enjoyed this book!
Great characters, interesting magical concepts and light hearted scenes to break up the serious scary bits. I got very involved with the characters and am keen to read their next adventures.
However I did have a few issues:
The plot felt … disjointed. Like there wasn’t a clear arc and you were getting yanked around from the main drama to some personal plot drama to hilarious family drama.
I understand that having the main character accidentally drop their ULTIMATE WEAPON OF COSMIC POWER can increase tension. But when they do it ten times in one action scene you start rolling your eyes.
Also, during fast paced action scenes you get hit by weird chunks of explanatory text or emotional noodling about how much they never connected with their mother. Leading to me yelling at the book “stop noodling and just smash the bad dude! No … not like that. Did you just drop your weapon again?!”
Lastly, the cover.
I know authors don’t always have a lot of say in the covers but I almost didn’t buy this book because the cover looked so … photochopped. I mean this is a book about Feng Shui! There are so many cool images that relate to Feng Shui, dragons! Demons! Celestial beings! Argh!
July 29, 2022
I love this book. One of my favorite indie reads. It's well-written and edited, and tells a good story.
I also love the characters, and it's very accessible to me that knows nothing about geomancy (something my partner reads books about all the time, but I could never figure out what's going on. This is the first geomancing book that I understood).
I'm rating five stars even though I couldn't finish it because the reason I couldn't finish it is laughable stupid on my part.
Partway through, whether intentional or not, the book sort of insinuates that Hitler was just a normal dude who got possessed by an evil Chinese spirit, and that evil Chinese spirit is now in some lady's basement. Every time I picked the book up after that point, I was caught wondering what I feared more: Basement Hitler coming up again, or Basement Hitler never coming up again.
I also love the characters, and it's very accessible to me that knows nothing about geomancy (something my partner reads books about all the time, but I could never figure out what's going on. This is the first geomancing book that I understood).
I'm rating five stars even though I couldn't finish it because the reason I couldn't finish it is laughable stupid on my part.
Partway through, whether intentional or not, the book sort of insinuates that Hitler was just a normal dude who got possessed by an evil Chinese spirit, and that evil Chinese spirit is now in some lady's basement. Every time I picked the book up after that point, I was caught wondering what I feared more: Basement Hitler coming up again, or Basement Hitler never coming up again.
October 17, 2022
Something different
I read a lot of fantasy, and this is a wonderful story with a different perspective and magical world. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I read a lot of fantasy, and this is a wonderful story with a different perspective and magical world. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
October 29, 2023
While I was familiar with feng shui, I didn’t know what a geomancer was. Learning more about this aspect was interesting, and I love how Leong included Chinese culture and lore throughout the book.
I love the relationship between Junie and Joe and how they balance one another. While both seem to be going through the motions of life without any real direction, they are each talented in their own way and bring strength to the table that the other does not possess. Joe has a wealth of information gleaned from his father, the Golden Dragon, and his experience as the Red Dragon. He understands how the tools work and what should theoretically happen, but he does not have Junie's natural raw talent. While Junie lacks formal training, she has an instant connection with the paranormal in her ability to see, hear, and feel the entities around her. With Joe as her guide, she can only grow stronger, and this gives Joe a new sense of purpose in life.
The Geomancer’s Apprentice is well-written, which one might expect given Leong’s professional background as an editor. This allows the reader to focus on the character development and storyline without structural distractions. As the book neared the end, I wanted to know what adventure might be waiting for Junie and Joe. Creating a desire to continue the journey by reading the next book in the series is an accomplishment for any author.
While I enjoy fantasy with metaphysical and paranormal aspects, I was worried that the book might fall more into the horror category due to the inclusion of spirits, monsters, and supernatural violence. I almost set the book aside at the first mention of a Chupacabra. What can I say? I’m easily scared! I was pleasantly surprised to find that Leong is skilled at breaking up the scary bits to make them more manageable for people like me. By interspersing the lighter parts of the story, such as a blossoming romance for Junie, it offers respite from the darker side. While Leong neatly wraps up multiple storylines by the end of the book, the relationship between Junie and Noah feels unfinished, as if it simply faded into the background.
If you are looking for a new paranormal series to start, then The Geomancer’s Apprentice and the three novels that follow it may be just the thing! Leong keeps the reader engaged with her characters and their plight from beginning to end while offering insight into the world of ghosts and creatures from the underworld. Her characters are likable, and the story is just chilling enough to make me think twice about reading it at night!
Read the full review at The Redhead Notes!
I love the relationship between Junie and Joe and how they balance one another. While both seem to be going through the motions of life without any real direction, they are each talented in their own way and bring strength to the table that the other does not possess. Joe has a wealth of information gleaned from his father, the Golden Dragon, and his experience as the Red Dragon. He understands how the tools work and what should theoretically happen, but he does not have Junie's natural raw talent. While Junie lacks formal training, she has an instant connection with the paranormal in her ability to see, hear, and feel the entities around her. With Joe as her guide, she can only grow stronger, and this gives Joe a new sense of purpose in life.
The Geomancer’s Apprentice is well-written, which one might expect given Leong’s professional background as an editor. This allows the reader to focus on the character development and storyline without structural distractions. As the book neared the end, I wanted to know what adventure might be waiting for Junie and Joe. Creating a desire to continue the journey by reading the next book in the series is an accomplishment for any author.
While I enjoy fantasy with metaphysical and paranormal aspects, I was worried that the book might fall more into the horror category due to the inclusion of spirits, monsters, and supernatural violence. I almost set the book aside at the first mention of a Chupacabra. What can I say? I’m easily scared! I was pleasantly surprised to find that Leong is skilled at breaking up the scary bits to make them more manageable for people like me. By interspersing the lighter parts of the story, such as a blossoming romance for Junie, it offers respite from the darker side. While Leong neatly wraps up multiple storylines by the end of the book, the relationship between Junie and Noah feels unfinished, as if it simply faded into the background.
If you are looking for a new paranormal series to start, then The Geomancer’s Apprentice and the three novels that follow it may be just the thing! Leong keeps the reader engaged with her characters and their plight from beginning to end while offering insight into the world of ghosts and creatures from the underworld. Her characters are likable, and the story is just chilling enough to make me think twice about reading it at night!
Read the full review at The Redhead Notes!
September 15, 2024
Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.
The Geomancer's Apprentice is the first book in an entertaining urban fantasy series (and a debut novel) by Yin Leong. Released 3rd Feb 2021, it's 253 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. The other books in the series are also currently available on KU.
This is an action driven, very well written and engaging classic urban fantasy with a hapless but doesn't-know-her-own-strengths female protagonist in a "chosen one" role. She manages to be funny, sarcastic, kickass and vulnerable at the same time and is exactly the kind of person you'd want backing you up in a tight spot or grabbing a chai latte at the local espresso house. Her sidekick/mentor/boss is an appealing "everyman" and adds a lot to the story.
The creepy and violent elements are present but not overpowering to the plot and there's not a lot of blood and gore directly described in the text (though there's a fair bit of description included of past "echoes" of light horror, body horror, demonic possession, etc. Readers who are extremely squeamish probably won't have any trouble reading the level of description included; it definitely won't be problematic for people who enjoy light horror/dark fantasy.
The fantasy elements and mythology are SE Asian tinged and the author has included a fascinating array of info about Chinese demons, feng shui, and some warmly recounted realities of parental "meddling" and the Chinese mom grapevine in action.
It's not at all derivative, but fans of Patricia Briggs, Kim Harrison, and Kelley Armstrong will likely enjoy this one. There are 5 books in the series at this point and it would be a great choice for a long binge/buddy read.
Four and a half stars. It's a very promising series opener, especially since it's a debut novel. The series hit the ground running.
The Geomancer's Apprentice is the first book in an entertaining urban fantasy series (and a debut novel) by Yin Leong. Released 3rd Feb 2021, it's 253 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. The other books in the series are also currently available on KU.
This is an action driven, very well written and engaging classic urban fantasy with a hapless but doesn't-know-her-own-strengths female protagonist in a "chosen one" role. She manages to be funny, sarcastic, kickass and vulnerable at the same time and is exactly the kind of person you'd want backing you up in a tight spot or grabbing a chai latte at the local espresso house. Her sidekick/mentor/boss is an appealing "everyman" and adds a lot to the story.
The creepy and violent elements are present but not overpowering to the plot and there's not a lot of blood and gore directly described in the text (though there's a fair bit of description included of past "echoes" of light horror, body horror, demonic possession, etc. Readers who are extremely squeamish probably won't have any trouble reading the level of description included; it definitely won't be problematic for people who enjoy light horror/dark fantasy.
The fantasy elements and mythology are SE Asian tinged and the author has included a fascinating array of info about Chinese demons, feng shui, and some warmly recounted realities of parental "meddling" and the Chinese mom grapevine in action.
It's not at all derivative, but fans of Patricia Briggs, Kim Harrison, and Kelley Armstrong will likely enjoy this one. There are 5 books in the series at this point and it would be a great choice for a long binge/buddy read.
Four and a half stars. It's a very promising series opener, especially since it's a debut novel. The series hit the ground running.
July 6, 2024
Junie Song hasn’t been very successful at adulting. With an uninspired degree behind her and a few lackluster jobs, she has no choice but to take a seemingly dead-end job as an office assistant to a distant cousin who happens to be a feng shui master. Her new boss Joe, is on the verge of closing the business down until Junie joins the team. Her energy and hidden skills soon unlock hidden potentials in both of them.
I really enjoyed learning about feng shui and geomancy right alongside Junie. It turns out that she just needed to find her “thing,” and fighting monsters seems to be it. There was some action-packed monster-slaying here, along with a sweet ghost story. Junie’s character was totally believable as a neophyte geomancer. She doesn’t have all the answers or all the skills yet, but she’s got determination in spades. I found myself cheering for her.
This is an all-slaying, no laying kind of story (which I prefer), but there are a couple of budding romances hinted at.
I read this with Kindle Unlimited.
I really enjoyed learning about feng shui and geomancy right alongside Junie. It turns out that she just needed to find her “thing,” and fighting monsters seems to be it. There was some action-packed monster-slaying here, along with a sweet ghost story. Junie’s character was totally believable as a neophyte geomancer. She doesn’t have all the answers or all the skills yet, but she’s got determination in spades. I found myself cheering for her.
This is an all-slaying, no laying kind of story (which I prefer), but there are a couple of budding romances hinted at.
I read this with Kindle Unlimited.
June 23, 2025
Good
Junie is the family disappointment. Her mother is a well respected Real Estate agent, her father a doctor, and her younger brother is following in his footsteps; Junie herself meanwhile, can’t even keep a job at Starbucks!
When her mother gets her a job with a distantly related cousin, Joe, who practises Feng Shui, she doesn’t expect to show a talent for the job, or to come face to face with monsters!
Set within the Asian community of Washington DC, this book features Chinese legends and beliefs, as well as Feng Shui lore. With a Chinese-American heroine and her relative and mentor, it’s an engaging introduction to a Taoist themed urban fantasy series, that is a little different from most fantasy stories I’ve read before.
Told from a third person perspective, and with alternating focus on Junie and Joe, it’s an enjoyable story, with interesting characters, and a fascinating setting.
Recommended for Urban Fantasy lovers, especially those intrigued by an Asian slant to the tale.
Junie is the family disappointment. Her mother is a well respected Real Estate agent, her father a doctor, and her younger brother is following in his footsteps; Junie herself meanwhile, can’t even keep a job at Starbucks!
When her mother gets her a job with a distantly related cousin, Joe, who practises Feng Shui, she doesn’t expect to show a talent for the job, or to come face to face with monsters!
Set within the Asian community of Washington DC, this book features Chinese legends and beliefs, as well as Feng Shui lore. With a Chinese-American heroine and her relative and mentor, it’s an engaging introduction to a Taoist themed urban fantasy series, that is a little different from most fantasy stories I’ve read before.
Told from a third person perspective, and with alternating focus on Junie and Joe, it’s an enjoyable story, with interesting characters, and a fascinating setting.
Recommended for Urban Fantasy lovers, especially those intrigued by an Asian slant to the tale.
December 15, 2023
I really like the overall story of this book! I think it's the author's first? And it's a really compelling tale. I really enjoyed the mythology, and there's something to be said about a book you can't put down. The story alone wins me over on this book, although there are a couple issues. (And I want to make it clear--issues or no, the story is great and I only took off one star for all the issues total, so... yeah, read this book)
First, all the characters speak with the same voice. No one has vocal quirks or utilizes slang/shorthand. Which leads to the second issue: Most of the dialogue is awkward. It gets the point across well, but it sometimes seemed very forced. I think all authors would benefit from reading their story out loud to hear if things sound stilted or natural.
In any case, yeah. That's this book's white whale. Once this author tackles these issues with dialogue, she'll be unstoppable. Watch out, world.
First, all the characters speak with the same voice. No one has vocal quirks or utilizes slang/shorthand. Which leads to the second issue: Most of the dialogue is awkward. It gets the point across well, but it sometimes seemed very forced. I think all authors would benefit from reading their story out loud to hear if things sound stilted or natural.
In any case, yeah. That's this book's white whale. Once this author tackles these issues with dialogue, she'll be unstoppable. Watch out, world.
September 6, 2023
Loved It
I loved everything about this book. The characters were wonderful, well developed, and fit well with each other. There were a wide range of characters besides the two main characters, A young woman apprentice to a feng shui practitioner, and her new boss, A middle aged man with a bit of an inferiority complex. They are both awesome and work very well together. Then there are a large cast of players from both their parent(s) to customers to construction contractors to potential romantic interests, etc. Even monsters and ghosts had personalities. And the storyline was fantastic! Great back story on the mysticism and lots of action. Loved this book. Bought the next 3 in the series.
I loved everything about this book. The characters were wonderful, well developed, and fit well with each other. There were a wide range of characters besides the two main characters, A young woman apprentice to a feng shui practitioner, and her new boss, A middle aged man with a bit of an inferiority complex. They are both awesome and work very well together. Then there are a large cast of players from both their parent(s) to customers to construction contractors to potential romantic interests, etc. Even monsters and ghosts had personalities. And the storyline was fantastic! Great back story on the mysticism and lots of action. Loved this book. Bought the next 3 in the series.
December 20, 2024
3.5 stars. I quite liked the premise - a little bit urban fantasy, a little bit thriller, a little bit ghost story, a little bit coming of age - and it definitely fills a very obscure niche (kinda feng shui monster hunter), so definitely worth a try if you want something a little different than your typical urban fantasy. The story itself is also pretty engrossing.
The writing style is a little juvenile, though, and it didn't quite suck me in enough to rate a re-read, hence the 3.5 star rating. But since I am not sure if English is the author's first language (though i could definitely be wrong - their bio only mentions that they grew up in Singapore), it is actually a very impressive feat.
The writing style is a little juvenile, though, and it didn't quite suck me in enough to rate a re-read, hence the 3.5 star rating. But since I am not sure if English is the author's first language (though i could definitely be wrong - their bio only mentions that they grew up in Singapore), it is actually a very impressive feat.
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