Reimagining Three Kingdom Saga: Fate, Gods, and Women

I reviewed the previous book in this series on my old blog, the link can be found here. This reimagining by Joan He casts the actors of the Three Kingdom Saga as women and plays with some of the elements of the narrative to make it more to her liking. While one could call this a work of fan-fiction I say it in the most loving way and can’t wait to look more at the original piece.

Qilin finds herself in more trouble in this sequel to Strike the Zither. Though she has survived her death as Zephyr by virtue of her being a god, a fact that was new information to her until Zephyr’s death her troubles helping her lordess, Xin Ren aren’t over.

First she is sent back in the body of one of Ren’s generals and swornsisters Lotus. The two couldn’t have been more different in life and Qilin is having trouble adapting to being Lotus especially enough that Ren doesn’t suspect something is amiss.

Throughout her various dealings and schemes she not only manages to lose her life again but she ends up managing to kill an old frienemy and come back in their body.

But even with her god like powers can Qilin truly control the ways of fate and humans or is that beyond even that of the gods.

Review

The previous book in the series, Strike the Zither was one of my favorites of 2023. I love Chinese history and mythology so much that this was a sure five stars for me when I heard of it. And I wasn’t wrong, the writing was incredibly tight just like in Strike the Zither, you could tell that characters like Zephyr and the other strategists were thinking several steps ahead.

Another element I also liked is the question the book presents as to whether or not fate can be changed. Qilin is presented as a god but even with her powers, which fade through the book. It seems that things don’t ever go the way she was intending, fate has ways of creeping back in even when you think things are done.

Another highlight was the relationship between the characters and how they stayed true to the previous writing. I enjoyed seeing three competent women facing off against each other, each with their own flaws and desires.

This book definitely met my expectations of 5 stars.