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 ).

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.

Find me on: <a href="http://www.instagram.com/yourlocalbookreader">instagram</a>

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.

I love the descriptions at the beginning but then it became too much and the story started to drag. I did research some of the events to get a timeline on the story. The authors note also gives way more detail about her past and also the historical facts and that Zheng Yi Sao was a real pirate.

While reading this, I was getting major Pirates of the Caribbean vibes and my feeling was validated in the author's note. I feel that this story was more of a romance than a adventure for treasure.

As a fan of pirates, treasure hunts, and exciting historical fiction, I knew I'd be picking this book up whether or not I received it as an arc. This book is full of adventure, a superb diverse cast, and fans of A Treasure Island will pick up on some notable homages. Overall, this was such an enjoyable read. The first 75% of the book was amazing and I couldn't put it down. The final 25% felt a bit rushed to me, and I had some plot questions that didn't seem to have an answer. However, the setting and the characters really sailed this ship home for me, and I am so happy to have read it. A big thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Feiwel & Friends and Netgalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review! A full review will be posted on August 30th, 2021 on armedwithabook.com.

4.5 Stars

I have to admit that I’ve never read Treasure Island, though I am somewhat familiar with the major plot points. Because of that, I had nothing to compare A Clash of Steel with. I have to admit that it was a fun way to approach this book, as I wasn’t expecting anything.

At the center of A Clash of Steel is Xiang. Xiang is a strong protagonist. As tends to be a theme in a lot of books — and real life — Xiang wants more than a good marriage. She doesn’t want to become a wife and mother. She sees value in her own abilities and interests. And she’s not afraid to cross her mother to prove herself.

Second to Xiang is Anh. Anh is the opposite of Xiang. She’s lived her entire life beyond society’s boundaries, and she likes it that way. But any path you follow has rules and limitations. Anh must also look beyond what she knows if she wants to secure the treasure.

Author C.B. Lee has created a lush world for readers to escape into. Whether on land or sea, the experience is immersive. Lee’s prose is smooth and her pacing spot on. There are a few predictable elements, and Lee occasionally gets too lost in the details, but it’s not enough to be bothersome. Though inspired by classic literature, A Clash of Steel is fresh and exciting. The book publishes on Sept. 7.