Nice blend of history, romance, and magical realism. I didn't think the characters were well fleshed out and some of the pacing was slow but I still enjoyed the story itself. Thanks very much for the copy of this book!

I was initally seduced by this book's exquisite cover art and was quicky drawn into an epic tale based upon historical fact. The book is beautifully written, drawing on the harsh realities of a China during World War II, yet, at the same time, incorporating a touch of magical realism. The 1,000+ mile walk to the western reaches of the empire built character, developed honor, loyalty as well as humility, and taught so much more than any classroom could deliver. The story incorporates a love of education, honor in protecting from destruction a cultural heritage, endurance, courage, compassion for others and an embracing love for humanity.

Author Janie Chang was inspired by the stories her father shared regarding his youth. He was one of the Nanking University students who walked all the way to Chongqing during the school's evacuation in 1937. Here she has honored her father and all those like him who managed to save themselves as well as a "seventy-thousand-volume encyclopedia of Chinese literature known as the "Siku Quanshu Wenlan Ge", from the machines of war in order to help rebuild their country upon the war's completion. She has written a beautiful and heartfelt story, full of love, loss, honor and pathos. I highly recommend this book.

I am grateful to author Janie Chang and Harper Collins publishers for having provided a complimentary advance reader's e-proof of this book. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.

This book is set during an intriguing time in China. The Japanese are attacking in 1937 and gaining ground. University students in Nanking walk historical writings, hundreds of them, into the interior of the country to be safely stored. These writings represent the knowledge, cultural and history of the country.

I thought this was a light and easy read. The characters were not that well or deeply developed. They acted within a fairly narrow range. A magical element felt simplistic and frankly awkward given the gravity of what was going on.

I would say the writing has a simple tone and was solid but not evocative or moving.

Not a fan of this one. Plot moved very slowly, so it was hard to keep reading. Much didn’t happen in the beginning and it seemed like everything kept dragging on and on.

This was the perfect book to get me out of a reading slump! I really enjoyed diving in to this mix of history, fantasy, and romance. I was thoroughly invested in the characters and their fates. However I found the pacing to be a bit off. I will definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in historical fantasy, though.

This story shed light on a historical event that I had no idea occurred in China.

The Library of Legends was a great historical fiction story and incorporates a layer of fantasy, too. I really enjoyed being immersed within the culture and history of China and the inclusion of folklore.

The cover is gorgeous too!

I liked this a lot. It's a nice blend of historical fiction and magical realism. I really was interested to learn about China's nomadic universities, as this wasn't something I was previously aware of. It's really fascinating though and I'm glad that Chang included some further reading in the back so that I can learn more about them.

The Library of Legends opens on a girl named Lian carrying a suitcase full of books. They are the only things she had taken with her when she decided to leave Minghua University to go and find her mother in Shanghai. A war is raging through China and there seems to be nowhere safe. When a bomb drops and destroys the train station, Lian has no choice to go back. That is when she meets Shao and Sparrow Chen, who are both not what they seem.

So begins an enthralling and eye-opening tale of the Minghua students and professors carrying the sacred Library of Legends across China, seeking shelter and safety not only for themselves, but also for the most important books in China’s history.

I was drawn in right from the beginning and hung on every word to the end. Janie Chang wove an intricate tale of history and myth, combining them into a story that was both heartbreaking and heartening. I was enchanted by Lian right away, and I felt sorry for Sparrow and her predicament. The plot moved somewhat slow, but there was enough going on to keep me interested. I can’t really think of anything bad to say about The Library of Legends except the occasional vulgar word was somewhat jarring. They were dropped so infrequently through the otherwise beautiful narrative that it made me uncomfortable. Otherwise, The Library of Legends was a fascinating and fun read, and it made me appreciate the Asian culture much more than I already do.

NOTE: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley for review purposes only. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

When the Japanese invasion of China begins in 1937, Hu Lian and her classmates from Minghua University must flee, walking a thousand miles to safety. As they walk, they carry the Library of Legends, a 500-year-old collection of myths and folklore.

While I found the concept of this novel fascinating, I felt that it lacked in execution. The plot became repetitive as we followed the students from one town to another.

I also didn’t feel much of a connection to any of the main characters, which I felt could’ve been expanded upon. They felt very one-dimensional at times, rather than being fully fleshed out characters.

I loved the mythical aspects; those were easily my favorite stories to read! The scenes were gorgeously written and made me want to know more.

Overall, I’d give it a 3/5. I enjoyed aspects, but it fell flat for me. Thank you for the gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.

When Japanese bombs start falling in Nanking in 1937, Hu Lian and her university classmates must walk 1,000 miles to safety in China's interior. The group is tasked with guarding The Library of Legends, an ancient collection of myths. Along the way, Lian begins to fall in love with a wealthy fellow student and realizes that one of the tales from the Library of Legends seems to be awakening the spirits of the story. Mixing historical fiction with some magic, The Library of Legends was a charming read touching on themes of destiny, fate, and choice.

What a lovely book! An epic piece of historical fiction, there is love, loss, war, heartache, and folklore with a twist of magical realism. It's the kind of book that really stays with you after you have finished it. I learned so much about Chinese history and culture and previously knew very little about this time period in China's history. I definitely would recommend this if you enjoy historical fiction and are looking for something new or different.

While I was interested in the concept of this novel I just couldn’t get into it. I got to around 30% in and I felt as if it was too slow. I really enjoyed the historical and fantasy aspect of ancient Chinese tales being part of their journey away from their university, but this one wasn’t for me. It’s a bit out of my genre of choice so this could be why I wasn’t a huge fan.
Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Collins Publishing and William Morrow Paperbacks for the e-book!

Title: The Library of Legends
Author: Janie Chang
Genre: Historical fiction
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

China, 1937. When Japanese bombs begin falling on the city of Nanking, nineteen-year-old Hu Lian and her classmates at Minghua University are ordered to flee. Lian and a convoy of students, faculty and staff must walk 1,000 miles to the safety of China’s western provinces, a journey marred by the constant threat of aerial attack. And it is not just the refugees who are at risk; Lian and her classmates have been entrusted with a priceless treasure: a 500-year-old collection of myths and folklore known as the Library of Legends.

The students’ common duty to safeguard the Library of Legends creates unexpected bonds. Lian becomes friends and forms a cautious romance with the handsome and wealthy Liu Shaoming. But after one classmate is arrested and another one is murdered, Lian realizes she must escape before a family secret puts her in danger too. Accompanied by Shao and his enigmatic maidservant, Sparrow, Lian makes her way to Shanghai in the hopes of reuniting with her mother.

During the journey, Lian learns of the connection between her two companions and a tale from the Library of Legends, The Willow Star and the Prince. This revelation comes with profound consequences, for as the ancient books travel across China, they awaken immortals and guardian spirits who embark on an exodus of their own, one that will change the country’s fate forever.

From the very beginning, I was drawn into this story. I know zilch about this period of Chinese history, but I think it’s fascinating the Chinese government prized students so much in the midst of war. There are a lot of layers in this novel, all of them blended together seamlessly into an entrancing narrative sprinkled with magic in the midst of war.

Janie Change was born in Taiwan and now lives in Canada. The Library of Legends is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of HarperCollins/William Morrow in exchange for an honest review.)

Thank you to Netgalley for a copy to read and review! This is not my typical genre but I was glad to branch out. The author creates a colorful picture of a part of history that I didn’t know much about. It was interesting to learn more while getting sucked into the world of Lian and her classmates.

Fascinating historical fiction based on a true story. 1937 Japan is invading China bombing Nanking and the students must flee the University. Not only must they travel over 1000 miles on foot to the western provinces with threats of cold , hunger and areal bombings. The convoy is entrusted with a 500 year old collection of myths and folklore to be taken to safety but this priceless treasure puts the convoy at even greater risk. This is a fascinating look into a China few know much about. The writer creates her story with exquisite grace and care and blends the historical and the folklore beautifully.

The Library of Legends is a beautifully written story about the evacuation of students from Minghua University in Nanking in 1937 China with the threat of Japanese invasion on the horizon. This book combines stories of myth and folklore with the harsh reality of living in an era of potential war and uncertainty.

I have some mixed feelings around this book overall. It has a really great concept overall and I liked all of the different elements that Chang combined, from the fascinating collection of Library of Legends books to the incredible journey the students take to flee to safety. However, I also found myself struggling to connect with any of the four main POVs that we follow, and I felt that this book dragged quite a bit in different places.

Starting with the characters, we get POV chapters from Lian, Shao, Sparrow, and Professor Kang. Lian seems to be the overall main protagonist, though Shao and Sparrow also have particularly prominent roles. Lian is not only part of the evacuation of students from Minghua, but she is also anxiously awaiting the time when she will be able to try to find and meet up with her mother in Shanghai. I found Lian to be a very thoughtful character who handles the uncertainties around her with a maturity that is admirable, and I felt similarly about Shao as he also navigated this new journey. My main issue with Lian and Shao is that I never really felt that connected to either one and therefore I was never overly invested in her journey. Neither one had an overly strong sense of personality or character, which is what I struggled with the most, and which is what made their character growth feel fairly nonexistent. Professor Kang was actually slightly more compelling to me and although we get a decent bit of time with him, I almost wish we had more time following him on this journey and maybe learn more about him and his life. Lastly is Sparrow who is probably the most interesting character overall and seemed to have the most personality.

The pacing of The Library of Legends is slow, and I didn't really find myself invested in the story until I was probably about halfway through, with the exception of a few select moments. It was sort of stop and go for me, because there were scenes and moments where I was connecting well with the story, and then something would happen to the pacing and I would lost interest for a while. The pacing never really speeds up, so if you like slow paced stories then you'll probably enjoy this one, though the slowness does occasionally (not too often, though!) turn into a dragging situation.

If you're coming into this book for the historical fiction aspect, then there aren't any problems, but if you are hoping for some great fantasy elements, you'll probably be disappointed. The fantasy aspects are largely contained within the folklore elements and although I can't really tell you exactly how they are incorporated, it really isn't overly prominent. I actually found that aspect of the book didn't mesh as well with the rest of the plot as it could have. I can see how they were supposed to fit and related with the entire Library of Legends, but the two storylines just felt a bit too separate at times.

Lastly, I want to give a quick note on Chang's prose, which is simply that it's beautiful. Chang has a very quiet and simple yet meaningful way of telling this story, and because of this I will absolutely be checking out some of Chang's backlist titles, which I've been meaning to for a while--though now I'm even more motivated to do so.

Overall, I've given The Library of Legends 3.75 stars, but rounded up to a four on places like Goodreads/Amazon/NetGalley. I would definitely recommend this one if the premise sounds interesting and you enjoy historical fiction and/or folklore elements! It's very much a slow paced story, though, so keep that in mind if that's not your really your thing.

This book is heavy. It follows the students and faculty of a Chinese university as they flee the bombings and occupations of the Second Sino-Japanese War. While they make this mind-boggling journey of over a thousand miles, they have a sworn duty to safely transport a national treasure – an encyclopedia-like collection of folklore known as the eponymous Library of Legends.

Our protagonists are Hu Lian, a scholarship student with a checkered family history, and Liu Shaoming, the wealthy third son of a Shanghai businessman. I found Shao difficult to like at times, but quite deliberately so; his relationship with Sparrow, the Willow Star carries the more fantastical elements of the plot. After a doomed romance in a past life – and the Star’s poorly worded deal with the Queen Mother of Heaven – Shao’s many reincarnations have left him rudderless and complacent.

Lian, I really feel for. She’s perhaps understated for a fantasy heroine, but the Library of Legends is overall going for a more realistic tone. I admire her bravery and devotion, especially in the later portions of the book.

While I can happily say that the Library of Legends ends on an overall hopeful note for the main characters, it is an emotional read. The scenes with young children, especially Duckling, break my heart.

I recommend this book if you want an empathetic view of these schools in exile. While the characters of the Library of Legends are fictional, the author shares in her notes the real inspirations for this story.

The Library of Legends by Janie Chang.
I enjoyed this book! I initially asked to review this book based on two things, the blurb on Netgalley and the cover. I am so glad I requested it! This is a historical fiction novel based in historical fact. This book is based in China in 1937 when Japan has invaded. A group of university students have left their school to try and get to safety. But they aren't just saving themselves, they are saving The Library of Legends. This book has a little bit of everything... Intrigue, spies, friendship, heartache, love and redemption. It was a little predictable here and there, but I don't believe it hurt the story in any way. 3.5⭐
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Thank you to Netgalley, Harper Collins Publishing, William Morrow Paperbacks and Janie Chang for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. ⭐

Beautiful Historical Fiction that transport you through time and get a different perspective of wartime was like in Japan. Great read and times with everything that is happening today with Coronavirus. Great writing style, and the first time reading this author Friendships develop, romance develops, and legend Chinese cultural stories are learned.

“The exodus of Chinese universities and middle schools began in 1937, the official start of the Second Sino-Japanese War.” The purpose of schools relocating to China’s interior was about “safeguarding the nation’s intellectual legacy, so necessary for building the future.”

China, 1937. Nineteen-year-old Hu Lian has been studying at Minghua University in Nanking. She comes from a humble family. She is one of only three students awarded scholarship. Now, due to Japanese bombing the city, the students are ordered to flee. Since most of China is illiterate, the university students are valued highly. Men are not allowed to enlist as soldiers. The students are evacuating to a wartime campus in Changtu. A journey which takes 1,000 miles is marked by constant aerial attack. They are also assigned to transport the Library of Legends – valued books of Chinese myths and folklore. Each student carries one book and they are assigned to read the stories as they travel. Even during the war, they continue their lessons, which is very inspiring and I was looking forward to that aspect.

With the myths and folklore, the Gods and fairies come out of the pages of the books the students are reading. I didn’t expect a fantasy aspect in this story, which is brief and I was glad for that as I’m not a fantasy reader. There is one immortal who takes part in the story from the beginning to the end, but she is a guardian spirit. And this actually gives the story a nice touch.

On this long journey, there is plenty of time to get to know other fellow students. Lian recognizes Shao, who comes from a wealthy family and at school was very popular for his good-looks. She develops feelings for him and looks “for signs that might reveal his feelings.” At the same time, she tries to remind herself that they come from very different backgrounds.

I enjoyed both characters, but I wanted to get to know them even better.

When they have longer resting stays for a few days or weeks at one place, they have classes. I was looking forward to those classes exploring their assigned reads. At first, there is just a mention of those classes and later there is more to it. But again, I wished there was even more to those classes, to come through more vividly, adding more texture to this story.

During their journey, they suffer hardship, cold and hunger. But this is more related in words than in action. This is something that I wanted to feel, but didn’t.

The setting of this book during the conflict between China and Japan doesn’t bring the details of that conflict. It’s more a general setting during a war time.

4.5 stars. Overall, it is an enjoyable read with smooth writing. However, vividness could be explored more to create a deeper connection with the characters and what they go through.