A Clash of Steel is a wonderful retelling of Treasure Island. The amount of research and history of Asian cultures that went into this book is astounding. The first few chapters may be a bit hard for younger students to get through, but once it starts to pick up they won’t be able to put it down. The amount of additional information that is located at the back of the book for readers is great for school settings. I can see many teachers using this book in their classes.

The book begins with us meeting the main character Xiang. Xiang is a young girl who struggles to make positive connections with her mother who is rarely around. After being brought to a new city, Xiang takes a chance on making her mother proud by setting out on her own adventure. Along her way she makes close friends, some enemies, and finds out family isn’t always what you think it is.

“I want the world.”
ARC provided by the publisher Feiwel & Friends / Macmillan Publishers through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review as part of the #AClashofSteelTour organized by Colored Pages Book Tours

An outstanding sapphic Asian inspired remix of a classic pirate adventure story following Xiang and Anh as they embark to find the legendary treasure trove of the famed pirate queen Zheng Yi Sao. A queer pirate adventure that surely will make a splash in the ocean of young adult books.

First and foremost I would like to thank Colored Pages Book Tours for choosing me as one of the many amazing book bloggers for A Clash of Steel tour from September 7th to September 14th 2021. Thank you as well to the author and publisher Feiwel & Friends for providing an ARC (Advance Readers Copy) as part of this blog tour.

All my life I’ve been waiting, and now I’m doing.

During my time in lock down back in July I was scrolling through Twitter and the cover for A Clash of Steel passed by my timeline. Honestly, I am not a cover type of person and I don’t normally branch out based on the cover. I need testimonies from friends or trusted reviewers first in order to consider if I want to read the book or not but I took the chance anyway. The blurb for A Clash of Steel is already appealing, “Two intrepid girls hunt for a legendary treasure on the deadly high seas in this YA remix of the classic adventure novel Treasure Island”. I’ve never read Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson before but I’ve seen the Disney’s Sci-Fi animated adaptation of the book, Treasure Planet (2002), when I was a child. The movie itself is impressive that I’ve rewatched it plenty of times. Treasure Planet and Atlantis are probably the two movies that shaped my love for Sci-Fi Fantasy exploration adventure stories.

For A Clash of Steel I didn’t have any expectations as I don’t remember much from Treasure Planet and never read any of C. B. Lee’s previous works so I went in completely blind. The only thing I know is that A Clash of Steel is an Asian queer retelling of Treasure Island with two protagonists, one Chinese and one Vietnamese. Let me repeat that! Asian and queer retelling! This is what we need! A remixed rendition of a classic that is written by a white author turn it up side down and write it for people of color. That alone is enough to convince me to pick it up. Let’s talk about the beautiful cover for A Clash of Steel that is illustrated by Feifei Ruan, the same artist that did the cover for Joan He’s Descendant of the Crane and Malinda Lo’s Last Night at the Telegraph Club. It is gorgeous! I love the colors and seeing Anh with Xiang looking back holding swords on the helm of the ship is just *chef’s kiss*. Designed by the talented Rich Deas.

I find new strength in the sea, in the wind in my hair, in the way sunlight glints off the ocean waves, in the dazzling sunsets over the water.

In A Clash of Steel the story follows Xiang, a girl that lives in a quiet village in the mountains dreaming of seeing the world. Xiang loves spending her time watching the ships from up the hill yearning for the sea and foreign lands. Growing up in the village Xiang is limited to her day to day task of studying, reading, and helping whenever she can at the tea house that is owned by her mother. Xiang doesn’t see her mother that is often travelling the world as a salt trader. Xiang’s mother’s visits are rare and brief resulting in Xiang being raise by her tutors and her mother’s tea house employees. The absence of Xiang’s mother has led her to be desperate in earning her approval and affection whenever she visits. The only parental figure Xiang ever known aside from her mother is her tutor, Master Feng. He had taught Xiang everything from philosophy, history, poetry, literature, and sums. But that isn’t enough for a curious child like Xiang, she wants to experience and see everything first hand. Xiang doesn’t want to live a boring life of raising a family and she wants to be like her mother.

One day during her mother’s rare visits, Xiang finds courage in herself to prove to her mother that she is capable of continuing her legacy as a trader. But her mother has other plans for Xiang as she is set to marry a man. Determined to prove her mother wrong Xiang convinces her to give Xiang a chance to go to Canton, one of the major port cities in China that is the hub for trade from all over the world. However going to Canton did not satisfy Xiang’s thirst for adventure it only intensifies it. During her outing in town Xiang meets Anh in which she quickly forms a friendship with. Losing hope in her future Xiang convinces herself that she needs to tackle the matter into her own hands. Accompanied by Anh and her crew she sets of to sea armed with the map to find the legendary treasure of the Dragon Fleet.

Perhaps my soul has lived in the wrong place this whole time, and I’ve always been meant to be at sea.

The world in which the story takes place is centered mostly in China and Vietnam, specifically the South China Sea for the most part of the story. Lee expertly weaves history into her story drawing inspiration from one of China’s most infamous and prominent figures Zheng Yi Shao. The legendary pirate Zheng Yi Sao that lead the Pirate Confederation and ruled the South China Sea back in the 1800s serves as an inspiration for the most part of the story. The only time I’ve seen a depiction of Zheng Yi Sao in western media is probably in the movie sequel for Pirates of the Caribbean. Seeing a different version of Zheng Yi Sao that is every bit of the meme gas light, gate keep, and girl boss is refreshing to see. Lee did an amazing job at remixing a classic into a more modern and inclusive story that I’m sure a lot of the younger generation will grow up to appreciate.

A Clash of Steel is a well written story from start to end. Lee’s writing is accessible and detailed that I could easily immerse myself into the story. The descriptions of places and the scenery is meticulously done which only made me want to travel more than ever. Besides the historical inspiration I want to gush about the food that are mentioned throughout the story. What I love more besides characters in books is descriptions of food. Lee wrote about the food with the same amount of importance as any other part of the story. In my opinion food is a window to the culture and the people of the world as it is a universal language that anyone can relate to. In A Clash of Steel it achieved that by showing how big and diverse Canton is through the food which is such a delight to read. Though I have to admit personally I had trouble with the pacing. During the first few chapters the pacing is on the slower side for me that it made crave for something interesting to happen. This something subjective and relatively a small speed bump in my reading experience. Because the plot did pick up when Anh is introduced into the story and the pacing did get better in the later chapters.

I have felt untethered all my life, drifting endlessly, and here, finally is a safe place to land, a quite harbor to protect me from the turbulence of the sea.

The back bone of A Clash of Steel is it’s cast of strong and lovable characters. Xiang the main driving force of the story determined, compassionate, and all around a joy to read. Her development throughout the story is believable and realistic. The need to prove to herself and everyone else fuels her drive to break barrier after barrier that stood in her way. Xiang stood up for herself and took it upon herself to show how determined she is to find who she is and where she fits in the story. Lee’s characterization of Xiang exceeded my expectations tremendously. The obedient and sheltered Xiang grew to be a strong woman by the end of the book carrying herself with much more confidence. Anh, the main love interest, is also well fleshed out and is a joy to see. I wish we get to see from her perspective because Anh is so much fun to read. The lingering stares and breathless brief brushes of fingers against hands between the two left me yearning to see them together. Xiang and Anh is the ship I wish to never sink because of their chemistry and vibe when they are near is crackling with tension.

I’m tired of others deciding my story for me. I’m done.

Another character that stole my attention in the story is Xiang’s mother and Captain Hoa, Anh’s mother. Two very different mother figures which parallel each other throughout the book. Xiang’s mother is mostly absent from her life and shows that she has very high standards towards the people she associates with including Xiang. The affection she shows are limited, cold, and detached like she’s putting on an act instead of genuinely expressing it. Captain Hoa on the other hand is a present mother that loves and cares for her family deeply extending to the crew of Huyền Vũ. Even to Xiang, a total stranger, she shows kindness and warmth towards her. Captain Hoa shows her appreciation and gives constant assurances to her crew with no discrimination or lack of empathy. Seeing the parallels between the two women made me think a lot about Xiang and Anh’s upbringing. If Xiang didn’t board the Huyền Vũ she wouldn’t have developed to become a much stronger character that finally realizes who she is and the real people that care about her.

“I suppose I wouldn’t rather be stuck on this island with anyone but you.”

Final thoughts, A Clash of Steel is the Sapphic nautical adventure that didn’t know I needed until I read this book. It is a story filled with self discovery and development both on ground and sea that any reader can easily get lost into during these rough times. C. B. Lee’s ability to weave Asian history into a well loved classic, all the while making it educational, inclusive, fun, and queer is truly astounding. The masterful story telling and amazing characters made the whole experience of reading A Clash of Steel all the more enjoyable. Even though it is a story about treasure hunting the message it carries strives beyond material things. The themes about family, friendship, and love that became the core of the story were conveyed beautifully through the experiences of our main protagonist Xiang and other characters. Everything from the plot, premise, and overall structure is executed beautifully by C. B. Lee that by the end of the story I felt satisfied with how things turned out. The ending is wrapped up nicely and carries a hopeful tone of endless possibilities for adventure.

Reading Lee’s authors note I understood that A Clash of Steel is also inspired by Lee’s family history. Specifically Lee’s mother’s and father’s experience escaping a war torn Vietnam on boats. Lee’s mother actually met pirates in real life and had first hand encounters with them. The story hits differently for me after knowing this piece of personal account. I hope by writing this review that I can convince people to read A Clash of Steel not only for the Sapphic yearning between Xiang and Anh but also to shed a light on the stories that is never given a chance to be told. Stories by people from all different backgrounds and ethnicities. Please do pick up A Clash of Steel I highly recommend this book for all readers who are looking to escape to the sea for an action packed sapphic treasure hunting adventure. By the time this review is up the book is already released so I strongly urge you to pick up a copy.

The quotes in this review were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.

When I saw this, I was beyond excited. Zhen Yi Sao is my favorite pirate--as she should be everyone's--so seeing a book that even reference her was an instant read for me. I've never Treasure Island, so I've got no opinions on this as a remix of that (and really who cares?). This is a character driven adventure story with a romance as a major plot point. There is definitely more character driven more than a typical adventure story. I personally found the pacing fine because I was enjoying the characters so much, and I knew the pay off would be worth it. And it was. Xiang's character growth was wonderful, and I loved the emphasis on found families. Well worth a read for those who enjoy character driven stories.

I enjoyed this really cool take on Treasure Island! I was not ever drawn to reading the original but felt compelled to read this one. There aren't nearly enough female pirate characters but this gave us not only that but ones that are Asian backgrounds and a bit of history along with the adventure!

C.B. Lee takes on remixing the well-known tale of 'Treasure Island' in 'A Clash of Steel' and it’s magnificent. A story featuring sapphic pirates that are on the search for missing treasure but find so much more.

Xiang is a sixteen-year-old girl growing up in a quiet village. She has a peaceful life there where her days are spent studying and reading about adventures she can only imagine. She yearns for a life that she isn’t sure she’ll ever get to have because her mother is determined to keep Xiang safely tucked away in the village.

The moment arises where Xiang has an opportunity to propose going to Canton with her mother. Xiang claims she wants to help her mother run her successful business there, and she’s ready to prove that she can follow in her footsteps. Reluctantly, her mother agrees that Canton might just be the perfect place for Xiang.

The pacing at the beginning of the story is slow as we learn about Xiang and her background. There’s a lot of backstory to this world through her eyes. I didn’t necessarily find this to be a bad thing but compared to the rest of the story it felt lacking, even with all the world-building.

I enjoyed getting to know about Xiang. She’s a character I think many readers will resonate with. Especially when it came to her wanting more than the life she felt she was supposed to live. She’s brave and the way she paves her own path is inspiring.

Shortly after arriving in Canton, Xiang crosses paths with a girl named Anh who she is instantly fascinated with.

This is when the pace starts picking up. After stealing Xiang’s pendant, Anh returns it and reveals that there was a hidden map inside and now she needs her help decoding it. Xiang sees this as not only an opportunity to finally see the world she’s always wanted to but to also prove herself to her mother.

The girls set off to sail with Anh and her misfit crew.

I am a huge fan of the found family trope in YA and was so happy to see it present in 'A Clash of Steel'. It warmed my heart! The crew Xiang finds herself living with at sea is different from the one that sails with her mother. They don’t feel like a robotic team but like a real family. They laugh at inside jokes, smile at one another, and most importantly take care of each other. Xiang becomes a part of this crew and she almost wishes she never has to return to Canton.

Xiang and Anh grow closer to one another and their romance is a very sweet first-love story. Where Xiang is a dreamer, Anh is a realist and their connection is so interesting. If there is no one else in the world they can trust, they quickly learn that they can at least count on each other.

More adventure comes as the story progresses. C. B. Lee’s writing is beautiful and inviting. Lee took on writing about one of the most notorious pirates, who was also a woman, Zheng Yi Sao. I loved the rich history behind this story and learning more about this period of time and Zheng Yi Sao. At times I wish we got to see more behind her character, but what we did see was captivating.

'A Clash of Steel' was such a well-written story with great representation. It mixes history and fiction well to take readers on a fun adventure. There’s a lot of heart inside of this book. These characters are sure to show readers how important it is to write your own story, no matter what the world demands of you.

3.5 stars, rounded up.

a clash of steel was an entrancing and vivid story, filled with quests and treasure and of course, pirates. and since i was craving a good fantasy and a good historical fiction, this was exactly what i needed.

can i just mention how much i love found family? and how much i love pirates? and how much i love sapphic books? because i love all those things. which is why this book is technically made for me.

CHARCTERS
possibly my favourite part of this book were the characters ( and their dynamics with one another but that is the next part ). xiang was an amazing protagonist and while she was sometimes kind of oblivious, i think, it was still nice to read the book through her eyes and watch her grow as a character. i also loved anh and i am a captain hoa stan, always <3. the entire found family crew were so amazing and lovable, honestly, and i wish we'd seen more of some of them. and master feng, i cried, i love love him. zheng yi sao was also such a complex and interesting character.

ROMANCE & DYNAMICS
god, the romance was so so cuuute. the tension was amazing and i loved watching their relationship progress. and their little sword fights, so true. and two certain married side characters also had the cutest relationship ever. the dynamics in general between the found family were perfect and reminded me why found family is the superior trope. but my favourite dynamics were the ones with xiang and her parents. or rather xiang and master feng. they just had such a wholesome relationship, that i loved lots. in general, the relationships were so beautiful and wholesome, that it was impossible not to love.

WRITING
the writing was beautifully entwined but so easy to read too. the incorporation of poetry was so pretty and the authors style of writing was gorgeous. i just think the writing captured the whole vibe that went on in this book and fit the theme of remixed classics.

PLOT
now that we're here, this is where some of my problems start ( hence the book being 3.5 stars ). don't get me wrong, i loved the plot and i think it told an amazing tale, as mentioned. i loved the finding of the treasure and i loved the last 100 pages, especially since the plot picked up. there were betrayals and the opposite too, twists and turns, and it was so much fun to read. but some of the plot twists were predictable and i guessed them close to the beginning of the book. some did come as a surprise, but mostly, i guessed them. but that wasn't my biggest problem. it was that absolutely nothing happened in the first 40%. which leads us to...

PACING
as mentioned, this was... not my favourite. i was reading on the kindle, meaning i had the percentage showing. and until the 42% mark on my kindle, they were still in canton. which i understand that the world needs to be set, the characters introduced and the plot established, half the time it felt like nothing was happening in this part. for the next 58%, the pacing was great and i was no longer slugging through it but that first part was too slow for my tastes.

i still highly recommend this book, especially to anyone who likes pirates and quests, because it is the perfect pirate book. ( and the pirates are sapphic, in case i haven't mentioned enough ).

An incredible adaptation of a classic adventure novel.

As a reader who missed Treasure Island in my high school English courses but loved the movie Treasure Planet, I went into A CLASH OF STEEL with a great deal of excitement and only a loose awareness of the plot beats. For me, it was enough that the story advertised pirates, a sapphic romance, and a South China Sea setting. And it delivered on all it promised - while also diving deep into the character of a young girl who wants to prove herself to her mother - but who must realize the only person she needs approval from is herself.

Though the novel is written in first-person POV - Xiang's - I never felt like the world-building suffered for limiting the perspective. C.B. Lee packed a lot of history into the story without ever leaving the main action behind. Each detail, historic or dramatized, helped build the mystique of the treasure hunting narrative.

And the interpersonal relationships between Xiang and the crew she joins, as well as between the crew themselves, were delightful. They were an excellent backdrop to Xiang's relationship with Anh, the girl who betrayed her - and then invited her onto the waves. I only wish I could read about more of their adventures at the end of this one!

The second of Macmillian Children's reimagined classics series, A Clash of Steel brings Treasure Island out of the doldrums of England (and memories of the Muppets). Xiang, daughter of a wealthy merchant who is always away, goes from a sheltered small town to the great harbor of Canton in search of her mother's approval. She soon discovers that her treasured necklace holds a key to the lost hoard of the Dragon Fleet, and accompanies a girl named Ahn and her piratical family across the South China Sea to hunt for it. Clash of Steel is a much better adventure story for young readers, and journeying along with Xiang and Ahn is a transporting romp. Many of the twists can be seen for leagues away, but the classic story shines under C. B. Lee's hand.

EEEKKKKK Thank you NetGalley and Feiwel and Friends for a digital ARC of A Clash of Steel!

My first thoughts: Treasure Island retelling but make it Asian? Sure, sign me up.

After reading: OMG this book! Soft lesbian pirates go on a treasure hunt but throw in some secrets, betrayal, found family, and a whole lot of Asian culture.

Xiang has spent her entire life sheltered in a small village. She longs to explore the world and visit the bustling trade port of Canton. When her mother (a successful merchant) comes for a brief visit, Xiang convinces her to take her to Canton and teach her how to run the family business. In Canton, Xiang meets Anh and decides to join her on a hunt for the mythical treasure of the Dragon Fleet to finally prove her worth to her mother.

I absolutely adored this book! Not only is this a Treasure Island retelling, it is also based in the history of Zheng Yi Sao, a legendary female pirate of the early 1800s. The representation in this book is amazing. From Anh’s motley crew to the depiction of Canton as a bustling and diverse port, I loved that we got to see not only representation from different Asian countries but also the differences within China itself via the use of multiple Chinese dialects. The use of foods and language was stunning through the eyes of the sheltered Xiang who had never known anything beyond her village and her books. Also, Xiang discovering her own worth and her sexual identity was so heartwarming. The soft queer moments had me grinning like a fool and her internal battle with the world’s homophobia were so poignant. Amidst all the self-discovery and treasure hunting, A Clash of Steel also offers some philosophical pondering on the age-old dilemma of “good” versus “bad” through the lens of pirates. Although the ending felt rushed, I loved joining Xiang on her journey. Xiang uncovers secrets and weathers betrayals but she also learns to stand up for herself and finds her place in the world.

I can’t wait for the rest of the books in this Remixed Classics series that aims to bring diversity to the stories that society has deemed as “classic.”

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The setting was really expansive and well written, and I loved how creative this was as a retelling of Treasure Island.. I LOVED the characters of Anh and Xiang, and their relationship together. I couldn't stop reading. Loved the there's-only-one-bed trope. Sapphic pirates... how can you go wrong?

It’s more of a 3.5 but I’m rounding up.

I have never been much of a classics reader and I probably don’t even remember all of them which I did manage to read, and Treasure Island seems to be one of those which I can’t recollect at all. So I couldn’t approach this as a retelling and more like any new YA fantasy. And it was definitely quite fun.

The first thing that makes an impression in this book is the prose. It’s beautiful and lush and there were so many moments where I wanted to linger and savor the descriptions, as well as the atmosphere the author managed to create. The other highlight of the book was the setting, and it’s inspiration from the story of the Chinese pirate queen Ching Shih. I loved how the author incorporated her legend into this tale while also giving a commentary on the corrupt empires of both China and Vietnam. The story itself on the other hand is a fairly standard YA adventure fantasy with the usual tropes, a cute f/f romance subplot and a twist that was quite predictable. But nonetheless, it was quite entertaining and I managed to finish it in a single sitting.

Xiang is also a typical YA protagonist - ignored by her successful independent but absent mother whose love and attention she craves; and is obsessed with reading adventure stories and dreams that one day she could have her own. But she is ultimately an innocent village girl who sees the vibrant city life of Canton with stars in her eyes and just wants the option to experience it all. There is an innocence to her privileged bookish existence, but it doesn’t make her arrogant in anyway and she is very capable of compassion, humility and hard work.

Anh on the other hand knows the reality of poverty and the struggles of living on the sea, which has made her cynical as well as practical, giving more importance only to things which can provide meals and shelter and not frivolous experiences like poetry and books. But she can’t escape the sweet charm of Xiang, in the same way Xiang can’t help but fall for Anh’s mischievous nature. It may not be insta love but there’s definitely a bond that’s formed in their first meeting, which slowly develops into love. It’s sweet and endearing and a nice addition to the story.

There were quite a few side characters but the ones who made the most impression were Xiang’s formidable mother who is a force to reckon with and not easy to understand at all; Master Feng who was more of a caring parent to Xiang than anyone else in the world; and Captain Hoa, Anh’s mother who is good natured and caring while also being a brave leader of her crew.

In the end, this one was basically fun. It has a cool on the sea setting, a fascinating backdrop of pirate legends, two young women who may have different motives but ultimately want to have an adventure together and prove themselves, and an ever elusive long lost treasure that forms the fulcrum of the story but ultimately it isn’t what this book is about. This is a tale of love and family and I think it will delight any lover of YA adventure novels, and I also feel that it will be perfect for younger readers as well.

3 stars

<b> "There’s something about describing a feeling that is so magnificent it may never come again, a love that is irreplaceable, that captures my imagination." </b>

cw // murder, blood, pirates,

rep // wlw, asian MC

A Clash of Steel is part treasure island, part historical fiction, and part reimagining of the historical figure zheng yi sao, who was perhaps the most successful pirate in history—and a woman. while I wanted to love this book more than ANYONE out there, I found the plot to be rather predictable, and oftentimes absurd, but not in a good way.

the book follows xiang, who grows up in a remote village in a tea shop, dreaming of the stories from far away and her (ofter) absent mother. However, with all her friends married off, and the tea shop too small, she dreams of leaving and managing her mother's second location in Canton. Her chance comes at last, but on arrival she runs into ahn, who first steals her locket, and then shows her that it hold the map to zheng's long hidden treasure, and convinces her to join her ship and find it. this offer, while originally everything she wanted to prove to her mother that she is capable of running a business in the city, leads to her questioning what truly matters in life.

the romance between xiang and ahn was interesting. While I did start rooting for them around 70% of the way in, I didn't originally. xiang is smitten VERY early on, while ahn isn't. ahn sees her attraction and uses it to further their bond, but I don't think it was out of pure intentions in the beginning. However, once she did it felt like entire personality changed, from a hardened pirate to a lovesick teenager.

I originally loved the cast of side characters on the ship, but they fell flat. The other queer couple seemed only as a point to show xiang that queer relationships are okay, rather than actually being fleshed out. Even ahn's brother who's only personality trait is not liking xiang doesn't seem to hold much heft to him.

I did however love the writing! This book clocks in at around 400 pages, making it full of beautiful prose, poetry and very quotable lines. The long chapters make this even more enjoyable, really allowing me to get immersed in the story. So much time was spent being verbose about the setting which really brought it to life.

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The ARC of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

“Words may disappear like the wind; a story is passed on forever.”

Ugh!! My heart. What a beautiful, fresh rix of a classic. Listen to me - this is a sapphic story about pirates. There’s adventure AND romance. Do you need to know anything else? No. Just read it.

But really, I loved the protagonists, I loved the magic, and I loved the mythology! The world-building was enchanting. The writing itself is marvelously descriptive. Don’t be fooled but the slow start.

This is a fantastic YA Fantasy! Thank you to the author and the publisher for the E-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This Treasure Island remix is amazing! The queer Asian girls as protagonists give this classic tale a fresh spin in so many ways. This young adult fantasy novel will delight readers and take them on an exciting adventure. I'm really excited about this new series...I think they're onto something great!

It's a bit difficult to find the words to describe such a wonderful and amazing story such as A Clash of Steel. Each page is filled with magic, mystery, history, mythology, love, and enchantment. CB Lee has wound a story together to make something truly magical and fantastical that I will remember for the rest of my life.

A Clash of Steel: A Treasure Island Remix is the first novel in C.B. Lee's latest series, Remixed Classics. This series is something that I never knew I needed, but now I live and breathe by this concept. More! Please!

The year is 1826, and young Xiang has only ever met a pirate in her imagination. She grew up hearing of the pirates known as the Dragon Fleet, and their ruthless leader is the Head of the Dragon.

To think, her imagination might have stayed unchanged forever, if not for one fateful day. Xiang's life changed when Anh tried to steal her necklace – a cherished memento of her late father. Somehow, this is the moment that sent two women off on a whole new adventure.

“Words may disappear like the wind; a story is passed on forever.”

Yes, a million times yes! A Clash of Steel is by far the most unique pirate novel I've ever read – and quite possibly by my favorite as well. This was such a thrilling read; I'm struggling to hold back everything running through my thoughts.

For those wondering, yes, this is very much a sapphic pirates novel, and I am here for it. Once again, it's one of those things I didn't realize I needed – right up until it was handed to me on a silver platter. But now I want more.

Likewise, A Clash of Steel very much brings real historical relevance into the mix, and it enhanced this classic tale (Treasure Island, in case it wasn't obvious), turning it into something new and almost magical.

I'll confess that A Clash of Steel has a slightly slow beginning, but I promise it will pick up within the first third of the novel. And when it does, it's going to be nonstop action, romance, and adventure.

What a lovely read! I’ve never read Treasure Island (or consumed any of its derivative medias) so I had no idea what to expect coming in, but this was a delightful tale of sapphic discovery and Chinese-Vietnamese worldbuilding!

We follow the journey of Xiang, only daughter her wealthy merchant mother but oft-neglected to a small, country-side village in Southern China while her mother takes to the seas. Xiang, as people stuck in the countryside with only stories of the outside do, dreams of adventure, of exploring the outdoors. And when she finally convinces her mother to take her to the city with her, to finally learn her mother’s business and trade, she becomes whisked away on a wild adventure of sailing, treasure, and a possible romance with the mysterious young sailor Anh.

What stood out to me the most while reading was the sheer sensory pleasure Lee invokes in her writing. Xiang journey’s through a myriad of new locations and we, the readers, are encompassed with beautifully evocative language, from the smells of fresh foods to the bustles of crowded cities. Xiang visits the hectic street markets of Guangdong, the boisterous taverns of sailors on break, experiences the quiet intimate moments between her and Ahn. The worldbuilding and settings are so richly written.

That being said, it seemed the pacing of this book slowed immensely to allow Xiang the time to take in all these new locations. Plot-wise, I found the pacing to be extremely slow and did occasionally find myself wishing Xiang would spend less time describing things and more time actually doing whatever she’d set out to do. To me, Xiang was a little *too* introspective for my liking.

Overall, I rate this book a 4/5. I enjoyed the plot, the characters, and the sapphic romance. The worldbuilding was phenomenally done, but I did find myself wishing the pacing were a little faster.

a clash of steel is part treasure island, part historical fiction, and part reimagining of the historical figure zheng yi sao, who was perhaps the most successful pirate in history—and a woman. i loved the concept of this book, but the story itself was so predictable and lacked a lot of the nail-biting adventure i expected from a pirate story.

xiang grows up in a remote village, raised on stories of faraway places and desperate to prove herself to her often-absent mother. when a chance to leave her village and show herself capable of taking over her mother’s business goes awry, she goes on the run in pursuit of the long-lost treasure of zheng yi sao and soon finds herself questioning everything she believed she wanted out of life.

the writing is lush and descriptive, with vivid settings (i especially loved canton), but the pacing dragged until around the 75% mark. there are also a few very anachronistic conversations that pulled me out of the story—i think it’s so interesting to explore gender nonconformity, lgbtq+ identities, etc., in historical fiction, but it frustrates me when it’s done through overly modern language and ideas. if you’re going to include those themes in your historical fiction, you should be able to write them through the lens of the time period your characters live in.

the romance between xiang and ahn was sweet but underdeveloped. xiang was smitten early on, but i thought their overall relationship was rushed and ahn’s entire personality seemed to change once she acknowledged her feelings for xiang. the other characters were frustratingly one-dimensional, and i was particularly irritated with the portrayal of zheng yi sao. based on what i’ve read, she was a fascinating, impressive woman; here she’s reduced to a caricature.

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.

Thank you to Fierce Reads for the ARC of this book (contest winner).

"Words may disappear like the wind; a story is passed on forever." A Clash of Steel is the first book in the Remixed Classic series, and it made me so excited to read the rest of them! I love many classic novels, but I also love when we get fresh takes on them.

The author did an excellent job of giving you enough of the classic tale while keeping it fresh and interesting (honestly had no idea how this would end).

Whether or not you know the original Treasure Island story, you should read this if you like: pirates (especially women pirates), treasure, adventure, sapphic slow burn romances, and "there's only one bed". It warmed my heart, and made me want to go on an adventure on the high seas. This also reawakened the pirate phase in me and I started researching Zheng Yi Sao.

My favorite out of context quote (Ch 12: New Skills): "Everyone should be afraid of those who can embroider. We have the patience to keep stabbing the same thing over and over again."

I appreciated this retelling for what it was and adored the way it taught me Chinese history I wouldn't learn elsewhere. But I also struggled to focus on the story. I don't know if it's to do with me or the book but it just wasn't working.