Heaven to Wudang: Journey to Wudang: Book Three by Kylie Chan (Nov 27, 2012)
Next to be Released a Novella – “Small Shen” Prequel - release date Dec 1st 2012
.
In this third novel, the
conclusion to this second trilogy, but presumably not the series
because of the cliffhanger ending, John is now back but most certainly not at full
strength. Emma is suffering from a
disease that was a most unexpected twist in the plot for me; and she finally
finds out just what she is. Leo still wants to die, loved ones are kidnapped
and broken, and there is total chaos. This was an exciting book in this series
but it was also a letdown to say the least.
Kitty Kwok is back and even
more evil than when the series started, We had thought that most of the demons have
been defeated,; but have they? Traps
have been laid for John, Simone and
Emma, with Emma usually (always) taking the worst of it; always rushing in to
lead the cavalry. Except during one important
fight where she just sits back and watches while things go horribly wrong.
There is so much going on in the
book that I wouldn’t even know where to begin.
There are so many characters that it becomes mind-boggling and one
nearly needs a score card to keep who is who and what they are doing and when
they are doing it, straight.
There is so much emo stuff
going on, that at times I wanted to scream that enough was enough. Ms Chan
uses her knowledge of myth and religion to perfection, but the subtleties of
writing the full story seems to have escaped Ms Chan with this novel. Everything
that is happening seems a bit to over the top.
Yes, it is a fantasy novel, but when fantasy turns into a melodramatic
mish-mash that would play better as a late night TV serial, then I have to
wonder. I think she was trying to clear up too many plot points before this
book ran into two volumes and did a
slap-dash job of it.
One of the main problems for me
was at the end when we have the chance to find out just what Emma is and this
was treated almost as an insignificant aside to the story. And, when even bigger issues with Emma’s
inner self are brought up, those issues seem written only with the idea of yet
another trilogy in mind, not to truly clarify things. I suppose that is because another group of
these books will be written.
I’m afraid that anything else I
say will be a spoiler, so I will simply conclude with this -- this is an important book for fans, but a
terribly frustrating, and at time overly long-winded read all the same. All the hallmarks of Ms
Chan’s usual work is here but it didn’t seem as if her heart was in it.
For readers who have never read anything by
this author - DO NOT START HERE! You
must start with the first trilogy and work your way to this one of you will be
horribly lost and very disappointed.
*ARC SUPPLIED BY PUBLISHER*
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