Thank you to Netgalley and Bloomsbury Children’s Books for giving me the opportunity to read an eARC of The Fallen Hero in exchange for an honest review.

First, if you’re wondering about my thoughts on the first book in The Dragon Warrior series, check out my review here. I’m very happy to say that this sequel did not disappoint. Just as a warning, this review will include spoilers for The Dragon Warrior.

The Fallen Hero picks up a few months after the events of The Dragon Warrior. Faryn and Ren are living among the New Order in New York after the devastating betrayal of Faryn’s younger brother Alex and the gods they were meant to help and worship. Faryn and Ren aren’t exactly feeling a warm welcome for the New Order, but that’s to be expected after they barged into their lives and brought with them trouble on top of loss. The most shocking piece of joining the New Order though has to be the discovery that Faryn’s long lost father is here and he’s suffering from amnesia. He has no idea who Faryn is and it’s like losing him all over again. When the gods show up with yet another quest that they expect Faryn to embark on, the last thing she wants to do is appease them. But what if this is the only way for her to get both her brother and her father back? Faryn may not be the Heaven Breaker anymore, but it’s very clear she still has a world to save, whether she wants to or not.

The plot of The Fallen Hero is pretty easy to follow. Who doesn’t love a middle grade rooted in an epic quest and mythology? I think the pacing of the story is great and there’s never a moment where you’re just ready for things to be over with. Though this is Faryn’s second quest, it’s definitely not the same as the first. This time around she’s stuck with not one, but two people who aren’t exactly her biggest fan, the failure of losing her brother, and the pressure of trying to return her father’s memory bearing over her. Before, she had her brother there when she needed him and Ren. This time, Ren has his own demons to fight and lessons to learn and Faryn is left trying to prove herself worthy again to a whole other set of companions. Faryn is dealing with grief, uncertainty and insecurity all in one swoop and while this isn’t new territory, it has a different face. There’s also immense pressure for her in terms of filling the shoes of the fallen warrior who saved her life months ago during the battle in New York.

The other dynamic that was interesting to see showed up in the form of Ashley and Jordan. Ashley and Jordan are siblings in the New Order who have a secret that makes everyone wary of them. Ashley certainly isn’t Faryn’s biggest fan after what happened in the battle in New York and she takes every opportunity to make it known. Unfortunately for everyone involved, the three of them must embark on this quest together. After losing her own brother, Faryn is forced to work with to siblings who remind her so much of her own relationship with Alex. Watching Faryn struggle with the comparisons throughout the story was heartbreaking. Ashley was a pain the the behind, I’ll admit, but I understood her reservations and her anger. Here’s this girl from a group of warriors that everyone knows has lost her way and suddenly she’s caused the death of her friend AND is encroaching on the quest they could actually get her accepted by the New Order. Who wouldn’t be upset about that?

There’s one scene that was HILARIOUS that I have to mention. The trio finds themselves looking for the entrance to the Underworld, which happens to be located in…wait for it….PANDA EXPRESS. This leads to a bunch of jokes being cracked about the legitimacy of Panda Express and how of course it’s the entrance to the Underworld. There’s a moment when they stepped into the Panda Express and when a group of white people are staring at them, Faryn says “Nothing to see here colonizers!” I literally burst out laughing while reading that.

In closing, this book was action packed. Each battle scene brought something new to the book and had me wanting more. Katie Zhao does not shy away from the tough subjects, even in battle. The only thing that struck me a little was that I though more than one piece of the quest would happen in the book, but it didn’t. The events that occurred didn’t feel drawn out, which is great, but I thought we’d see the end of the quest in this book. That’s okay though, it just means I’ll have to pick up the next book.

The book is beautifully written and the characters are so welll described. It's a must read! Would definitely recommend to anyone! I simply LOVE it!

Faryn has lost everything. Her grandfather died in a demon attack, her father lost his memories, her friend died trying to save her, and her brother, Alex, betrayed her and is siding with the gods in the destruction of all humankind. Not only that, but Faryn, who’d thought she was the Heaven Breaker, destined to save the world, lost her identity and her weapon to her brother. Now, she’s just trying to live in New York, hoping to somehow restore her father’s memories and bring back a semblance of family to her life. But when the gods interrupt the Hungry Ghosts Festival, they send Faryn and a few of her new friends on a quest. They have to find an even greater weapon, and convince a few gods to help them as they try to save the world. Easy, right?

I received an advanced reading copy of The Fallen Hero in exchange for an honest review.

Last year I was lucky enough to have the chance to receive an advanced reading copy of The Dragon Warrior, by Katie Zhao. That middle grade fantasy took me through a whole roller coaster of emotions, and ended with me crying on the train. So when I heard about The Fallen Hero, I knew I had to get my hands on it, and I was once more extremely lucky and got an advanced reading copy. And before I go on, you really should leave if you don’t want to be spoiled, because there will almost certainly be a few spoilers in this review.

The Fallen Hero picks up a few months after the events of The Dragon Warrior, after Faryn loses everything and barely escapes with her life. I remember the twists at the end of the last book shocking me so much, so to be able to see Faryn dealing with the aftermath of them was great to include. Sure, the story picks up several months later, after she’s had time to digest some of the events from that fateful quest, but you can tell throughout the narrative that she’s been affected by it all. Now, every time she wonders what choice to make, she has a niggling voice at the back of her mind, reminding her of what happened last time.

But that doesn’t make her any less likely to accept a quest. She still understands that she must, out of duty to the rest of humankind. And while she’s certainly a hero as she works to save the world, that doesn’t stop her from also being a regular twelve-year-old kid, who loves candy and teasing her friends, and who only really wants to find a place where she belongs. I said this in my last review and I say it again here: Zhao is excellent at conveying the youthful voice, and Faryn truly comes to life in the pages of this story.

As for the other characters, we do get a few new ones to make up for the losses of the previous book. The newer characters… I honestly didn’t really connect with them. I think part of the reason why was that there was so much action happening that the moments when Faryn actually talked to the others were few and far between, and I just didn’t feel close to any of them.

Speaking of the characters from the first book, we do get a return of some of them! And, since I’m on the topic of the previous book, I want to mention how it had been a whole year since I read The Dragon Warrior, and while I’d forgotten some elements of it, The Fallen Hero did a good job reminding me of important details, and so I never felt like I was missing anything. I hope the third book does that too.

Um, did I mention a third book? Yes, this book very strongly suggests that there will be a third book! While the initial quest was resolved, our characters end the novel in a very tricky spot, and there has to be a third book to fix all this! While I couldn’t find too much information on it yet, I can only assume it’ll be out 2021, and I can’t wait to read it!

The Fallen Hero is a fun installment in The Dragon Warrior series, and excellent for middle grade readers everywhere, especially those who enjoy mythology and adventure.

The Fallen Hero will be released on October 13. You can pre-order your copy from Bloomsbury here.

I received this e-ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Faryn Liu is back in New York’s Chinatown about six months after the betrayal of her brother Alex in The Dragon Warrior. The gods are still threatening war and Faryn and Ren, along with New Order warriors Jordan and Ashley, must journey to find support for humanity. Their quest takes them to the Monkey King who sends them to Diyu, the Underworld, to retrieve a powerful weapon to aid them in battle. To obtain the weapon will require an enormous sacrifice on the part of the warriors.
We see a lot of growth in Faryn’s character in this second book. She has been usurped by her brother as Heaven Breaker and she found her father but he has lost all his memories. But push on she must and does. This is a worthy sequel and leaves you waiting for Book 3. Definitely recommend for those who read the first.
#TheFallenHero #NetGalley

Content Warnings: abandonment, violence (battle context)

I read The Fallen Hero after rereading The Dragon Warrior (I read it more than a year ago—my memory isn't that great😔), and let me tell you, I flew through this sequel.

Like in The Dragon Warrior I really loved how The Fallen Hero delves into the complexities of family. There are many families in The Fallen Hero, but they are all fractured in some way. The characters are often struggling to figure out who they are in their family.

As we found out at the end of <em>The Dragon Warrior</em>, Faryn's younger brother Alex sided with the Jade Emperor, betraying his older sister. She witnesses a cruel side of her 弟弟 (didi) she thought she knew, and she sees him make decisions she never thought he would even think about making. Although the two are almost polar opposites of one another (especially morally), Faryn still loves Alex, regardless of his betrayal, and wants to protect him, even when she debates with herself whether she should or not.

Faryn's struggle with abandonment permeates The Fallen Hero, and I feel like I empathized with her a lot more because I really understood those fears and realities. There is one scene when Faryn is in the Chamber of Mirrors in Diyu (the equivalent of the underworld in Chinese mythology) that struck a chord. Her fears and trauma is overwhelming.

At the same time there were some things that Alex said/believed in that made me so sad, but I also deeply understood. As mentioned in The Dragon Warrior, Alex finds out that he is not blood-related to Faryn. After that news in The Fallen Hero he struggles to understand who he is, and all he wants to do is find his blood-related family. I hope he comes to realize that you most definitely do not have to be blood-related to someone to be family.

On the family topic: I thought the father plotline could have been stronger. The end to this seemed rushed and it did not have the impact that I wish it could have had. It was resolved almost too easily, and I felt Faryn's desire to be truly reunited with her father, but I wish there was more there.

Swerving a bit, but the plot! I don't think I could ever get tired of the quest plot because sure the end goal is similar (lowkey save the world), but the journey is ALWAYS different. In The Fallen Hero, there are new characters (ex. Ashley and Jordan) and familiar faces. The part where they went to Diyu personally stood out more than their encounter(s) with the Monkey King, possibly because I could picture Diyu a lot more vividly and there were some great moments that took place here.

The Dragon Warrior, I really liked the focus on Chinese mythology, specifically the Monkey King. Also, the Hungry Ghost Festival is the deadline of Faryn & crew's quest, and since I did not know about this festival prior to reading The Fallen Hero, it was neat to see what this festival is for and why it is important. It got me thinking about ancestors and knowing your history as well as understanding that your ancestors are there for you.

Lastly, I can't write this review without mentioning the humor!! I love Faryn's witty responses; sometimes I was like FARYN. There were moments I couldn't help but chuckle because it was so sarcastic/dry/deadpan, and I greatly appreciate that kind of humor.

I have so many questions about what will happen next!!

I received an electronic ARC from Bloomsbury USA Children's Books through NetGalley.
The adventures continue as Falun faces a new quest to defeat the gods. She meets new friends who join together on a journey that takes them from the Monkey King's home to Diyu (the underworld). She must confront her brother and acknowledge that she cannot change his path. After returning from the quest, she is able to restore her father's memories and reunite with him. The ending hints at the next book's adventure.
Zhao continues to bring Chinese mythology to life. Her settings and characters draw readers in to be part of the adventure. Action scenes are suspenseful and tasteful. The descriptions allow readers to see the story unfold.
A glossary of gods, demons and other characters is included at the end.
Looking forward to book three.

Six months since her disastrous quest, Faryn Liu is struggling to adjust to life in the New York City Chinatown's New Order, figure out a way to reconcile with her traitor brother, and restore her lost father's memories. But now she and the two New Order misfits, siblings Jordan and Ashley, are sent on a quest to save the world from the Jade Emperor during the Hungry Ghost Festival. When the quest leads the young warriors to the Monkey King, they find themselves on a much more treacherous journey, with much higher stakes. For in order to stand a chance against the immortal warriors of Heaven, they must first descend into Diyu, the Underworld...

A thrilling sequel to Zhao's debut, "The Dragon Warrior", "The Fallen Hero" continues to dazzle with the presentation of Chinese mythology and culture, epic fight scenes, and sassy ghosts. Readers will be on the edge of their seats waiting for Book 3 of this saga, and continue to rally behind Faryn and her friends--especially as they all struggle with their inner demons (somewhat literally) and balance saving the world with growing up, finding where they're meant to be, and other typical pre-teen things.

Review will be available, The Reading Fairy, on October 10th, 2020

TW: Fantasy Violence, death, parental death (mentioned), mention of bullying, blood, trauma, mention of war, mention of genocide, death of a child (mentioned)
Rep: multiracial (Chinese, Greek, Egyptian, Turk) MC, all-Chinese cast

Disclaimer: I received an ARC via Netgalley, in exchange of my honest review. This does not affect my opinion.

“I don’t know why my family hasn’t shown up,” I growled, “but I know it isn’t because they’ve abandoned me.”

If you don’t mind me: I need ANSWERS! And I am not confusing this book with The Silvered Serpents. I need to know what just happened with some of those plot twists, and also is there a third book?! And there are way too many unanswered that I need answers too! I refuse to believe that is the end (for now!)!

The Fallen Hero takes place right after the Dragon Warrior ended. Faryn is now in Manhatten’s Chinatown, after finding out that the gods are planning to end humanity, and there will be a war against the gods and the humans to save their world. Faryn is now alone, with a dad who doesn’t remember her, Alex left to be the gods who ere planning to end humanity and who is now the Heaven Breaker, and Molli dead. She only has her friend, Ren, left.

Until Erlang Shen tells another prophecy, and the New Order is hosting trials to be the next warrior to handle the prophecy. Suddenly, Faryn not only has to win (or everyone would die), but travel with Jordan and Ashley afterwards to find the one weapon to stand against Fenghuang.

I love the new characters-Jordan and Ashley. I felt like they were developed especially with Jordan and Ashley. I wasn’t sure I was going to like them, but honestly I loved how rocky their relationship was throughout the book. They had to learn to trust each other, and work together to solve the riddle, and get the weapon.

Of course the the return of the group-Ren and Molli returned and I loved it. And we even a little bit from Alex’s POV and I found it lovely!

I felt like this novel took more a serious tone which is just fine by me! I loved that Faryn is a not snarky as she’s trying to deal with everything and to prepare for a war. And of course, trauma to unpack from the last book. I loved that Faryn was struggling with her family and of course, trying to save the world.

And of course, she still remained snarky as she was in the first book, but this book was less lightheaded and more dark and serious, with the stakes higher than ever before.

And the plot twists?! Holy shit, I was not expecting that though I should, but holy crap though. I thought they were good, but no! I’m screaming because of where it ended off!

I really love how this book makes it really easy to understand if you haven’t read the last book in a while!

3.5 This book was much easier to follow than the first book and I was much more invested in the characters. I suppose much of that is attributed to the fact that I know have more of an understanding of Chinese Gods and mythology (thanks to book 1). Now I’m eagerly awaiting book 3.

This book was amazing! Strong plot! Powerful characters! A plot that held my attention the entire time!!!! I couldn’t put it down. I needed to find out what happened next!

In my childhood, I watched a cartoon known as “Journey to the West: Legends of the Monkey King.” So, I’m sad to say that I forgotten about my love for that show until I discovered Katie Zhao’s Dragon Warrior. Therefore, I want to say that the sequel to the Dragon Warrior does not disappoint! The Fallen Hero is a brilliant sequel with sibling bonding (good and bad!), scary demons, treacherous and loyal gods, amazing ancestral spirits, and one favorite trickster! A particular set of siblings are my new favorite character in the sequel (and that secret of theirs? Who would have thought?) However, what (or who) I love most is the trickster himself, and I can’t wait to see more of him in future sequel.

I am really enjoying this series, the characters are easy to follow and the author gives you enough backstory if you have forgotten what happened to them in the first book. Faryn and Ren are now guests of the “New Order” in Manhattan’s Chinatown. Just as they are trying to settle in, the Gods send a new quest.. The Elder of the New Order has a vision that Faryn must lead the quest for it to succeed. She must battle the New Order apprentices to see who will be tasked with the quest. Will Faryn be able to survive the battle challenges?
#TheFallenHero #NetGalley #ARC