i think the biggest issue with a clash of steel is its length. this did not need to be a 400+ page book, and if it was trimmed down to 300–350 pages i think it would be closer to a three-star read for me.

I loved CB Lee's Sidekick Squad and was so excited to read a remix on Treasure Island. I really thought I would love this, but I got about 30% in and it felt like nothing was happening. This was just paced too slow for my tastes, as much as I wanted to love it.

"A Clash of Steel" by C.B. Lee takes the story of "Treasure Island" and places it in 19th century China with a queer female protagonist. This makes total sense as China has a deep history of piracy. Lee's version is heavily inspired by pirate queen Ching Shih. Protagonist Xiang lives with her single girl boss mother who is often away at sea for trade. The only memento Xiang has of her dead father is a simple gold pendant. When Xiang travels to Canton, a girl named Anh steals the pendant, but later returns it. Anh instead asks for help decoding the tiny map that was inside the pendant. Xiang realizes her father was a pirate who was part of the legendary Dragon Fleet and this map leads to their treasure.
The girls set sail with Anh's ragtag crew, which become a found family for Xiang.
A good pick for teens seeking adventure.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a free advanced copy of this book to read and review.

Full honesty, I seem to have a really hard time getting into pirate type books. Something within them just never seems to really click with me. That being said, I did love the sapphic romance within it… hello slow burn *chef’s kiss*. This book did have such a wonderful balance of adventure vs romance which I greatly appreciate, I didn’t feel as if either was overshadowed or skimmed over. I would recommend this book to someone looking for a good queer retelling and all the pirates!

C.B. Lee created a masterful retelling. It’s one of those YA books that I will happily recommend to anyone who loves a good coming of age adventure story or even a great adventure set on the seas. If you love the idea of a lesbian retelling set in a gorgeous and interesting time of emperors, pirates and treasure then this is absolutely worth it.

Thank you so much Macmillan's Publishing Group for sending me an eARC through Netgalley to read and review.

DNF at 33%.

I'm going to start off by saying I have not read, nor watched Treasure Island. However, I doubt it took over a third of either one to actually set out on the ship to reach the island. I was completely bored by the first 33% because the author was entirely too descriptive of the setting. I love worldbuilding and all, but when I can skip 5 pages and still understand what's going on in the story? That's just a no for me. Additionally, the supposedly 16-year-old MC, Xiang, acted much younger than that. She got distracted easily and had none of the strength I expected. Also, as a pirate book, from what I read, there was little to no action (and from what I've heard other reviewers say).

And I tried with this book. I really tried (as you can see with it taking me over 5 days to read a 400-page book). I've tried reading this book three times. The first two, I didn't make it past the prologue. The third was the final straw. I HATE DNF-ing books in general because I feel like it's not fair to the author (especially when it's an ARC). I hate DNF-ing this book in particular because it sounded so good! I mean, pirates, treasure, and sapphic romance. However, this is definitely one of those books for me because I just don't have the time, nor the willpower, to continue trying this book.

I didn't love it but I could see how teen readers would enjoy it so I will likely be buying it for the library but not for myself. it just isn't my style. The cover is stunning though and for that alone I would contemplate buying it personally just to see that cover more often. Wonderful job.

It's a queer retelling of treasure island with a vietnamese/chinese sapphic romance by C.B. Lee. What's not love!

DNF. I really liked the premise but the writing did not work for me at all. It wouldn't be fair to the book if I finished reading and gave it a low rating.

a thrilling fun adventure this was everything I could have wanted! As someone who grew up with the original classic I was so excited to hear about this lovely twist that makes the book more inclusive, more personable, and frankly dare I say better. I love the way the character relationships developed ugh the banter was so good! I adored the found family aspect as well!! Enjoyed this thoroughly and cant wait to read more in these remixes and by this author

A refreshing retelling of the classic Treasure Island, A Clash of Steel is fearless as it highlights social and political issues from a most often ignored point of view. It's not afraid to be itself, regardless of it's ties to a classic piece. Sapphic and an own-voice piece, A Clash of Steel takes the crown, respectfully overshadowing it's source material.

As the title (subtitle?) suggests, this is a retelling of the classic novel Treasure Island. I haven't read the original, but that's definitely okay going in to this book. All I knew was that the basis of the original is that there was a great pirate who had a giant stash of treasure hidden away. This book keeps that main theme, and blends it with the legend of Zheng Yi Sao. She was a pirate leader who was active in the early 1800's. She was the most successful female pirate in history, and one of the most successful pirates in general. I haven't had a chance to learn much Chinese history, so I loved this chance to learn a little bit, albeit through a fictional lens.

To start with, the whole novel was beautifully written. I could easily picture the different scenes, from the mountains and rivers to the oceans and the ships the characters sailed on. Everything felt so colorful and rich! And oh my god, some of the food descriptions literally had me salivating. I had to actually stop and go cook dinner for myself because I was getting hungry haha.

Another thing that Lee did well was balancing the action and adventure with the self discovery aspect, as well as the romance. Of course the main story is about the treasure hunt, but I feel it is equally about our main character Xiang discovering herself, what she wants, and what love feels like. Her journey to discover/recognize her queerness, and her romance with Anh was lovely to read.

For the most part I thoroughly enjoyed this book, there were just a couple areas where there could have been some improvement. For one, I loved the cast of characters that Xiang encounters on Anh and her mother's ship. But I wanted more development for these characters! I loved them from the little bit we got to see of them, but they weren't well fleshed out. Another thing is that I think the pacing could have been adjusted. I found the first half a bit slow, and then everything clicked into high gear verrrry rapidly. But then the last little bit also felt awkwardly paced, and slightly rushed. I think there could have been a little rebalancing done to make it flow a bit better.

Overall, I definitely recommend this book, and had a wonderful time reading it. I'm looking forward to checking out C.B. Lee's other novels!

This was AMAZING. I love C.B. Lee's writing and characterization, and this plot just absolutely dragged me into the book. Pirates, dragons, queens, Chinese folklore! Wow. I will read everything from this author.

The surge in retellings, especially by BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ creators, is giving us such amazing stories! And A Clash of Steel is one of them with a hidden treasure that no one can resist, pages full of adventure, and sapphic romance. Truly an incredible book and a classic in the making!

Advanced Reader’s Copy provided by NetGalley and Macmillan/Feiwel Friends in exchange for an honest review.

A CLASH OF STEEL is part of Macmillan's Remixed Classics YA series where BIPOC authors are reimagining classic stories but adding diversity to them. They aren't retellings (so don't go into reading this thinking that's what you're going to get). C.B. Lee takes TREASURE ISLAND and turns it into something unique and amazing.

Lee gives us Xiang and Anh - two girls from different backgrounds, but both with the desire to see the world. Set in China in 1826, Xiang and Anh decide to search for the long missing treasure from the legendary Dragon Fleet. There is self-discovery, there are adventures and trials, and at the heart of it is the story of two girls who come to realize that they love each other. Yes, this is a Sapphic version of a pirate story that combines TREASURE ISLAND with Chinese history.

But there is also representation from other Asian cultures. The crew that Anh sails with is far more diverse and puts Xiang into the situation where she chooses to learn Vietnamese and other languages in order to keep up with conversations on the ship.

And the twist! Maybe other readers will see it coming, but I definitely did not to the extent of how things played out. This is a wildly entertaining read, so far Macmillan is hitting it out of the park with their Remixed Classics!

This novel was a delightful, engaging adventure tale of one girl's quest to prove her worth to her disapproving mother and to discover her purpose in a world of pirates and political intrigue. In "A Clash of Steel", Lee pays homage to "Treasure Island" in ways that only a true fan of the original could while adding plenty of original content that makes the text all her own. The budding romance between Xiang and Anh is precious to behold as is Xiang's character development from start to finish. The nods to Asian history make the book even more compelling as a learning tool that could easily be incorporated into a study of world literature or as a supplemental text while studying "Treasure Island" and British literature.

CWs: some underage drinking and intoxication; brief references to past sexual harassment; descriptions of death, blood, injury, and violence

I don't have any kind of personal connection to the original "Treasure Island", but this remix is sensational! Not only is "A Clash of Steel" a fun reclamation of a classic adventure story, but it also does such a great job of showing that pirates have existed across cultures and across the world for as long as there have been pirates. This story also definitely stands on its own, so it's broadly accessible whether the reader is familiar with the original text or not.

This story has such an infectious sense of discovery, joy, and adventure, and it’s really satisfying to see how Xiang grows from being such an uncertain person into a swash-buckling adventurer who unwaveringly knows her worth and value. There's also a constant hunger that underscores her as a character. She's hungry to prove herself to her mother and earn her independence. But when she realizes that she'll never be able to do that within the confines of "proper society," especially as someone who's queer, she knows that she has to break away and dare to write her own script. Historically, pirates have been understood as those who are "other"—those who dare to rail against the rules, laws, and social norms—and I love the way the story embraces that "otherness" as essential to Xiang's freedom.

I also have to say that C.B. Lee excels in creating dynamic relationships between characters. There is depth and complexity to every relationship in this story—whether it’s familial, romantic, found family, platonic, or between friends. The slow-burn romance between Xiang and Anh is one of my favorite parts of the story, and it's also satisfying to see how closely the dynamic between them is paralleled by this epic treasure hunt. To that end, I also love how the story doesn't waste a single moment and uses every inch of narrative space. There is something exciting or enticing constantly happening with every page you turn, and the adventure aspect is fast-paced and gripping.

I think it's also important to acknowledge how the story beautifully addresses cultural overlap, especially in 1826 China. The story does such a great job of balancing and addressing both Chinese culture and Vietnamese culture, and understanding how and why the two would overlap during this specific time period—whether it's in terms of adapting language or exchanging foods and customs. I can't speak to the representation present, but I can say that I appreciate how the story portrays historical China with such depth and shows the complex interplay of multiple Asian cultures in one place.

The one thing I will say is that I wish there was even more mystery and more obstacles when it came to deciphering the treasure map and then actually navigating the island itself. In some respects, the story is supposed to revolve around this legendary plunder that’s extremely well hidden, and it just felt like even more could’ve been done in that respect to amp up the adventure even further. But I still loved this so much! Drama, loss, tension, romance, and adventure all come together in this epic story, and I think it's well worth the read!

Do your eyelids droop when you hear the word classic? Never fear, remixed classic to the rescue! C. B. Lee’s reimaging of Treasure Island transports readers to China in the 1800s when one pirate ruled the ocean, the queen of the Dragon Fleet, Zheng Yi Sao, and she makes Blackbeard look like a naïve schoolboy.

A Clash of Steel overflows with sword fights, mysterious islands, and epic storms, but it offers readers much more than the classic tale. C. B. Lee is no Victorian-era author. Lee and her heroin, Xiang, take this story to bolder, brighter places and offer a refreshing challenge to history and the people who record it.

Lee’s attention to language, culture, and identity creates a more inclusive and exciting portal into history for young readers. It is a space where diverse audiences can imagine their place sailing the high seas searching for treasure. Xiang’s struggle to connect with her mother, defy expectations, and claim her place in her found family reminds readers that they too can cut their own paths. It is the perfect read for anyone who loves romance, adventure, and a fresh perspective; I highly recommend this book for ages 13 and up.

If you like historical fiction - and especially with an Asian base - then this is the novel for you! Xiang and Anh are very different girls, raised in very different world: Xiang, the daughter of a wealthy teahouse operator, and Anh the daughter of a fishing family. They meet by chance, and set out to change the world, searching for a lost treasure. Based on a real person - Zheng Yi Sao - a woman who rose to prominence as a pirate commander in the late 1700s and early 1800s, A Clash of Steel follows Yi Sao's daughter, who, not knowing her mother is a pirate queen, follows a scrap of a map to a lost treasure. A fascinating and intricate journey based a real person, this novel is was a pleasure to read.