Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor (December 2023) Buddy Read Discussion - Bopeep & Edith

[mina, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

Welcome to the Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor Buddy Read Discussion thread! This thread officially opens on December 1st and anyone can join at any time. Please keep in mind that spoilers are allowed in this thread but only up to the group's current reading place. Do not spoil the book if you've read further than the group. Any extra days can be used to catch up!

Each day we will be reading by chapters or page numbers. Page numbers are an approximation based on the hardcover or paperback that is the default on Goodreads. The suggested Buddy Read discussion schedule is as follows:

Week of 12/01
December 1st: Chapters 1-3
December 2nd: Chapters 4-7
December 3rd: Chapters 8-10

Week of 12/04
December 4th: Chapters 11-13
December 5th: Chapters 14-17
December 6th: Chapters 18-22
December 7th: Chapters 23-25


PARTICIPANTS
~ Bopeep
~ Edith

[Bopeep]

~Provisional schedule~

December 1st: Chapters 1-3
December 2nd: Chapters 4-7
December 3rd: Chapters 8-10
December 4th: Chapters 11-13
December 5th: Chapters 14-17
December 6th: Chapters 18-22
December 7th: Chapters 23-25

[Jen K]

When the title was spelled out, I realized Dragons were involved and now I would like to join too please. I was able to get the audio from the library. It looks fun.

[Edith, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

@Jen, yes! That’s how I felt about it too lol.

My hold came through, just need to pick it up tomorrow and we’ll be good! Excited for this one! :)

[Bopeep]

I've read the first 3 chapters~

This is chaotic for now lol Just as most middle grades involving mythology (somehow) and I just love it.
And I love how Zhao always finds a way to make a story more sci-fi.

There was a moment of oooh when an emperor was introduced... Li Shimin, same name as the character on Iron Widow. I'm glad it's been a while since I've read that so I can't confuse them lol

[Edith, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

I know right! I've only read chapter one so far and just that chapter made me dislike Aiden sssooooo much. (view spoiler)[ especially when they said that it was okay to make a racist joke because they were "friends" with Zach. ugh. (hide spoiler)]

[Jen K]

Also only finished chapter one so far. I so feel for Zachary! Aiden is awful and no justification for being racist.

Interested to see how the VR game mixes with history.

[Jen K]

Finished chapter 3. Kind of confused on how the real people become the game villains and the implications in real life but will roll with it. Kind of clever way to sneak in Chinese history/ mythology and culture.

[Edith, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

Chapters 4-7: (view spoiler)[ Feel bad for Zack. He's not at fault for not being able to be tied down to China as much as Qin Huang would've hoped. I'm interested to see if he finally makes it to that museum to touch the vessel to make him stronger. The story has a lot of parallels to Percy Jackson in my opinion too, with the exception of the whole scifi aspect. Glad to see Wu Zetian is back in another one of Zhao's books because I got a little excited when she was introduced hahaha. Anyway, I'm enjoying the story so much more now. the first chapter seemed like it kind of dragged? to me, but doing great now. (hide spoiler)]

[Jen K]

Also finished through Chapter 7. I'm doing the audiobook so I don't exactly know how to spell names correctly. I didn't realize that this was the same author as Iron Flame until I saw the mentions here. While I feel bad for Zack, it is also helpful to learn the history. I had no idea that the terracotta army wasn't such a big deal at the time. I'm looking forward to the heist.

[Bopeep]

Yep! I love these middle grade books because they are filled with adventure and that's one of my favorite genres! Also I usually cry more with this ones that YA ones haha.

I'm really liking the story so far, and the bickering between Zack's emperor and Simon's lol It's nice to see Wu Zetian again, with a host that's same as her!

I love how Zack is depicted, a minority from China, which little of us even think about :( (I loved chapter 8 when he commented about the irony of having a minority exposition when the Government just cancels and imprisons them)

By the way, who do you think is really the bad guy, the yellow emperor or the three emperors? 🤔 I don't think any of them really have honorable goals...

[Jen K]

Yes Bopeep! I was logging in to say the same that I love the attention to minority Chinese. I admit that I never really considered a Muslim minority in China before which is just so thoughtless. There are so many people in China and just as diverse as anywhere.

Also so questioning who the real bad guys actually are. It seems pretty suspect all around.

[Edith, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

I agree with you Jen! I think that the three emperors are evil one second and everyone else is right the next second. I love how far Zach has come though-from the meek little boy, to finally gaining confidence in himself all the way up to chapter 16.

I love the connection Simon, Melissa, and Zach have. Am wondering how a final goodbye will be between the three of them, or even if there will be a goodbye.

[Jen K]

I was in the car and accidently read through Chapter 20. The book got a bit more exciting for me and took and interesting turn though I admit that I did guess the twist.


@Edith, agree, I appreciate how much Zach is learning and changing!

[Edith, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

Whoa. I think I just got to the twist. Though unlike you Jen, it caught me completely by surprise lol!

[Jen K]

Edith wrote: "Whoa. I think I just got to the twist. Though unlike you Jen, it caught me completely by surprise lol!"

Ha! That's a good thing!

[Edith, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

Finished! Will wait to see what y'all think but am excited to share some thoughts :)

[Jen K]

You finished so fast!! Will try to catch up. I'm super excited to see how it all ends.

[Edith, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

Ahhh I just got excited about where everything was leading up to! I want to see what everyone thinks of the ending though!!!

Great job Bopeep for picking a good book! :D

[Jen K]

That ending! I didn't realize that this was the start of a series. I'm not sure what to make of it.

[Bopeep]

I don't know when I will finish because I've had busy days and I'm on chapter 14 still, but you can comment about the book before you forget about it ^^

I love seeing Zack impersonating Qin, and how his thoughts are way different of what he says lol

If you like books like this I have some recommendations, most of them from Riordan Presents, but I will be glad to say which ones are my favorites!

[Bopeep]

I didn't really expected the emperor's taking zacks mother soul O.o but after Jason Xuan I did expect him to trick Zack. I was super frustrated when he didn't think that anything bad would happen to him... And I was all flustered when Zack couldn't control his own body asdfasdff

[Dia]

When I saw this in the list of BRs this month, I thought what a weird title and I looked it up and saw that Xiran wrote it. I guess I never looked up any of their other writings. So I just started this and only up to Chp 2. I feel for Zachary having to struggle with trying to fit in, something I take for granted growing up in a multi-cultural country.

yes wow Aiden is such a brat and i forget how mean kids can be. but i'm intrigued by what just happened, did they just get sucked in the game?