So, I entered into this book expecting to love it - since pirate stories are my favorite. And a pirate story about Zheng Yi Sao, the most successful pirate of human history and whose name is overshadowed by the western centricism in terms of piracy we knwon? I cannot describe how hyped I was to get my hands on an arc of this book.

But after I've finished this book. All I could say is…it's an okay book.

What I liked most is the found family and the sapphic romance. Ahn and Xiang, their romance feel very natural as it progressed from begrudging allies to family. Also how Ahn's crew becomes a family that Xiang choose instead the one she's born into is very powerful to read about.

However, the pacing is way too messy and the characters of this story feels very distant. For the first 40% of the book we didn get much of a plot, we spent way too much time in Xiang's backstory instead of the actual plot. And almost all the characters feel underdeveloped, I feel like I'm TOLD of the personality characters instead of SEEING them be who they are with my own eyes. This caused me to not care even as there are major character dying.

Also, for a book that's supposed to be about Zheng Yi Sao, we didn't get that much of her. And her characterization feels very weird and forced. The real life Zheng Yi Sao died in Macao surrounded by her family because she is such a successful pirate but also a clever woman. In this book she reads more like an idiot caricature.

Thank you to Fierce Reads and YALLwest for an ARC of this title.

A Clash of Steel: A Treasure Island Remix is an interesting story based on Treasure Island. I haven't read the actual Treasure Island, so I don't know how close the plot is to the original. It mixes in Chinese culture and real-life historical figures in a tale of 2 female protagonists.

Taking place in the 1800s, Xiang is a sheltered girl growing up in a small village who looks forward to visits from her long absent mother. She convinces her mom to take her to Canton in order to start her future, but soon runs away in search of adventure (and long lost treasure!).

It was a fun read but a long read. It definitely wasn't as fast paced as I would have liked. It took me a while to get into it and did pick up near the end. I wish I cared about the characters more, but I did finish it and thought it was entertaining.

I would have given it 3 1/2 stars if that was an option.

I love retellings, and I’m happy I had the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book, thank you to NetGalley.

So, this is a remix of Treasure Island, and I’m all about that! I’ve never read a retelling or remix of that story, so I definitely was excited to read it, plus it’s set in China’s past which just made it more interesting.

Unfortunately, it fell flat for me. The story really dragged for me until literally 70% of the way through and then it started to get interesting. Treasure Island to me is about pirates, adventure, treasure-hunting, but this story seem to focus more on the MC and what she wanted in life, and how sad she was that her mother didn’t seem to see her or care that much about her, and just on and on about herself. And don’t get me wrong, I appreciate learning about a character and seeing them grow in a story, but it would have been nice if there was a better balance between her development and the adventure/story.

I ended up giving this book 3 ⭐️ because once I reached that 70% mark, like I said, it got much more interesting, much more adventurous, and there were some interesting plot twists(which I love).

If you love retellings, or remixes, I would recommend this book.

I tried to get into this but found the story hard to follow. I love Treasure Island but felt that this was not up to par with the original. I think others will find it enjoyable, though, so don't let my opinion sway you!

Personally this work was a little slow for me, which took it from a pleasant read to more of a slog. The world is lush and beautifully described, but it was sometimes this detail that slowed the plot and reduced my pleasure. More patient readers may well love it. There's also some excellent LGBTQIA2S+ content, which should have broad appeal as well.

This is a new take on Treasure Island with female pirates. It's a creative reimagining with an active pace. I didn't feel as connected to the characters as I'd have liked, but it was enjoyable overall. This is likely to engage many young adult readers.

This delightful story remixes elements of Treasure Island, real historical figures (such as Zheng Yi Sao), and fictional characters with adventure, treasure and a little bit of romance. Although most of us would run away on a fishing vessel with strangers in order to seek out a legendary pirate treasure to do it, Xiang's desire to prove herself to her mother was so relatable to so many young adults. I love how Lee has created Xiang from a little bit of Jim Hawkins, a little bit of Long John Silver, but she is also an original character unique to the story Lee is telling. For me the fun of reading a retelling or remixed version of a story is finding the pieces of the original, but appreciating how the author reinterprets it.

A Clash of Steel is a unique take on Treasure Island, one that builds a story of female pirates onto the classic story of high adventure, high stakes, and the high seas. C. B. Lee's vision is creative and enthralling, and the story moves quickly, drawing readers into the plot page by page. The plot itself is tightly woven, leaving only the merest hints of the surprising twists it takes as it progresses. On a second reading, those hints become more obvious, a technique that contributes to a strong story. Each chapter brings new discoveries and new threats to the main character's goals, and I was kept intrigued throughout the novel.

While the plot is well-drawn and fast-paced, I found myself disconnected from C.B. Lee's characters. Lee suggests that protagonist Xiang is intelligent and craves her mother's approval, but readers don't see those traits in her actions. She seems egocentric, focused on what she wants, even if her aging tutor has to chase her high into the hills, even when she leaves her mother's home without permission, remaining gone an entire day on her first day in Canton. Her mother's coldness and distance make it hard to see why her daughter would choose her over those who have faithfully cared for her. The brutality her mother shows as the story progresses makes her even less understandable or relatable. Even Anh, the young sailor who befriends Xiang, is selfish, self-centered, and distant. Without a strong connection to these characters, I found it difficult to care enough about the plot. The best-drawn characters, Master Feng and Captain Hoa, are minor in comparison to Xiang, her mother, and Anh, but their kindness, constancy, and humanity makes them the ones most memorable to me.

Many young adult readers will be drawn to the tightly paced plot and the detailed descriptions of exotic places as I was. The plot is a triumph, but I am left wishing for stronger connections to the pivotal characters,

Thank you to the publisher and net galley for a copy of A Clash of Steel! This is a Treasure Island retelling and while I'm sure there are readers who will love this one it wasn't for me. I didn't feel connected to Xiang but I enjoyed reading about Anh! The plot twist made it worth reading and if you're a huge fan of Treasure Island, then this is for you!!

I really enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. I was not familiar with the treasure Island story before this book but it is now on my list! The main characters were so interesting and the plot line would not let me put the book down. Great Book!