Well, this was a bait & switch! The first quarter was great: the plot starts with a bang and the introduced characters had a lot of potential.

Sai is a humble matchmaker and tea house owner, but when he gets arrested for illegal possession of dragon scales that were supposed to cure his sick mother, he's given an ultimatum by the emperor: find and bring him the dragon the scales originated from, or get executed (and likely his mother too).

When Sai reaches, after facing death and danger, the southern kingdom, he meets a huntress who also seeks this dragon to kill it for glory and revenge. But when he finally meets the dragon, oh no, she's his fated mate!

This had so much potential for angst, adventure, even a love triangle.

Sadly, the book goes downhill from there.

The whole middle is Sai and his dragon lady stumbling around into random trouble, then finding random solutions of said trouble, and that's interspersed with some romantic bonding scenes. The plot feels aimless and the solutions to the problems random and a bit deus-ex-machina.

The dragon lady stubbornly withholds information from Sai which was supposed to create tension, but because the reader can easily guess what these "secrets" are, it's just frustrating waiting for the "big reveal" to drop. There are 2 other secrets (what happened with the 3rd dragon and why is Sai's thread gray), but neither of them are such plot twist to warrant so much stalling.

So after random laundry list of adventures we reach around 80% mark where something needs to happen and it feels rushed and predictable all the way. The secondary character of the huntress gets next to no character development staying a mostly one-note addition to the story (what a disappointment) and how her sub-plot is resolved is extremely anti-climactic and nearly an afterthought.

The ending goes way too much into cartoon villain vs shonen anime hero trope which tbh doesn't feel like doing justice to the story. It's shallow.

There's a HEA ending for the romance readers out there wanting to know. Spice is open door mild / non-explicit language used.

Anyway I feel like the first 25% was a 5-star read, the rest was like 3.5, but I'm docking points for treatment of Feng because this character was such a wasted potential. Half the novel is just the main duo wandering around and there's lack of development of side characters. The villain was very over the top one note too.

Also I picked the book because I wanted to see ordinary human mmc x ancient powerful fmc (she's a 7000 year old dragon with great strength and powers) and guess what, the further we go into the book, the more the characters fall into ye olde overdone standard gender roles. I can only dream that someone someday will do this trope right.

Anyway, this book desperately needed a developmental editor past act 1.

Thank you NetGalley, Saga Press / Simon & Schuster for the ARC.

I was pleasantly surprised by the beginning of this book. I was quickly drawn in and invested in the main character, Sai. As the story evolved and the Chinese myths began to emerge I was thoroughly enjoying the story, however at some point the book fizzled out for me.

The book did well establishing the characters and Chinese mythology. I had a hard time enjoying the book when the “Fated One” entered the story. I would have enjoyed the story more without the romance element.

Overall this is a decent read and had a young adult fantasy genre feel. I definitely see the young adult fantasy fans raving about this one.

Thank you to NetGalley, Saga Press and the author for the opportunity to read an early edition.

✨ If you love fantasy inspired by Chinese mythology, this is a must-read. The story follows Sai, a young man with the ability to see the red threads of fate that connect soulmates. When his mother falls ill, Sai embarks on a perilous quest to find the last dragon, whose scales might hold the cure. This book is an epic adventure with stunning world-building and complex characters. The themes of fate, love, and sacrifice are woven throughout the story. The pacing is fast, with plenty of action and emotional depth. The mythology and folklore elements really shine, making this feel like a modern fairy tale.
While the romance is a key part of the story, it's the kind that spans lifetimes, adding to the book's sense of scope.
Overall, "The Last Dragon of the East" is a captivating read that blends fantasy and romance. If you enjoy stories about dragons, reincarnation, and the power of true love, you'll love this. I do believe it ultimately tried to reach too far, though


Many thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with an ARC and allowing me to provide my honest review

This was really fun! I had some issues with it but overall I enjoyed reading it a lot and I’d read more from this author!

My biggest issue is just that it felt somewhat clumsy. The writing style felt juvenile enough that I thought I was reading YA, and then I got hit with a sudden sex scene. It didn’t feel consistent at all, at points it felt super young and had that overly cheerful middle grade energy, and then at points there was extreme gore that didn’t fit with the rest of the vibes. The characters were very caricatured, with sudden extreme swings in mood or belief that didn’t make a lot of sense. It felt like a debut from an author who doesn’t have a strong idea of what genre they want to write.

That being said tho, I really enjoyed reading it! I loved Sai as a main character, and I haven’t read anything remotely similar to this. It had a super unique plot that had me shocked at multiple points. I think Katrina Kwan will definitely be an author to watch out for!

A good book is a good book.

I love it! I could even imagine it like I am watching a fantasy movie because the writing and the worldbuilding are amazing. I can't wait to see more from the author!

Thank you to Saga Press and Netgalley for an ARC!

I loved this book so much! The story was unique, so beautiful! I was immediately immersed in the story due to the amazing writing and plot. I felt like the love story was as old as time, because it sort of was, and I just loved the depth to it.

A massive thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book!

The Last Dragon of the East by Katrina Kwan is an absolutely beautiful story about how we are each tied to another by the red string of fate.

The main character Sai has a very special talent, he can see everyone's red string of fate - the one that ties you to your fated love. He uses this talent to gather more coin to care for his mother who is bedridden with sickness, even though his own thread is grey and fraying. When their village healer promises a rare type of medicine that will cure his mother, Sai scrapes together all of his money to pay.

What he did not know is that the medicine promised were dragon scales - a creature that was thought to be extinct. When the emperor hears of the scales, he arrests both the healer and Sai, and forces Sai on a quest that will change his life - to find and bring back the last remaining dragon of the East. But as he starts searching for this creature, Sai's own fate thread starts to move. And this journey might answer his own questions about his thread, but only if he survives.

This story was written beautifully. I flew through it in one day and enjoyed it thoroughly. The characters have so much history and character progression that you feel like you're learning with them. This book is for anyone who has read The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea and wanted something that had that dreamy feeling while still being an adventure.

I am looking forward to reading more of Katrina Kwan's books in the future, since this was my first. And I will be sure to recommend this to anyone looking for a Chinese inspired fantasy full of heart.

3.75 stars rounded up!

Chinese mythology-inspired romantasy featuring dragons, the threads of fate, multiple timelines, and the POV of the MMC primarily. The Last Dragon of the East is a sweeping love story focusing on Sai, who helps his ailing mother run a tea shop. He has the ability to see the threads of fate that reveal a person's fated life partner. The only catch? He can't see his own - it only appears as a gray, dormant thread. And boy does he long for this partner. The emperor soon discovers Sai's ability and sends him on a quest to find an ancient dragon so its magical scales can be retrieved. Along the way, will he find his Fated One?

I really enjoyed Sai's and Jyn's romance, though it did feel a little underdeveloped until their pasts/other timelines were revealed more. Once this happened, I felt a lot of empathy for both characters and was invested in their connection. I would have liked for them to come together without having to be torn apart so many times, but it did make for a very emotionally compelling and moving narrative. The ending was satisfying, and I recommend this book for anyone who's looking for a culturally specific, tender romantasy.

Thank you to NetGalley, Saga Press, and Katrina Kwan for providing this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I really enjoyed my time reading this book! It has been ages since I’ve been so deeply engaged in a story. I loved the writing, the lore about the dragons, and especially how the concept of the red string of fate was incorporated in this story. I've always been fascinated by the themes of fated mates and reincarnation, and this book satisfied that interest completely. There were plenty of surprising twists, and just when I thought I had everything figured out, new developments would arise which kept me want to keep reading.

This is a really strong debut! The storytelling is solid, especially the revelation of the characters’ backstory. I did have a few questions at the end, but nothing that ruined the experience.

Giving this one a 3.5 out of 5 starrs. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC and the publisher, Saga Press, for the gifted book.

The Red String of Fate mythos is one that has always been really interesting to me, because on the one hand the idea that you have SOMEONE out there in the world meant for you is a really heartwarming idea. But at the same time, there are lots of ways that it can go awry, and that is one of the central premises of this book. I love how this myth was layered with dragons and always comes back to family, giving it a whimsical air. The story doesn't hide the fact that there is "something" special about Sai and it is pretty easy to figure out what that is if you read between the lines.

However, the first half of the book and the second half have completely different tones. The front end is lighter in nature and at first I did not like the relationship between Sai and Jyn; but once the second half kicks in, the story takes a dark and honestly violent turn that really drew me in. I devoured the second half in one sitting. I almost wish that tone had been present throughout the story, giving it a grittier nature.

Another pro of this story is that it is standalone. It can be exhausting to have to invest in multiple, several-hundred page books to get a conclusion to a story so this was a really nice change of pace.

This book was so beautiful. The world building and writing were lovely and I really loved the Mcs. Every since I learned about it a few years ago I have always been so fascinated by the red thread, and how it connects those fated to be together. It such a beautiful mythology and this story made me fall in love with it even more. I love that Sai has such a great disposition and I love how he would do absolutely anything for his mother. I loved the themes of reincarnation, fate, and of course the dragon shifting. Weirdly enough I think that my ending was my favorite part. This book ties up and end in the best way and it left me feeling both sad that it was over and smiling from ear to ear.

I love fantasy books with dragons and if it has themes like reincarnation and fated mates - then even better! This one reminded me of some of the xianxia cdramas that I've watched in the past with lots of adventure, some romance and a mix of lighter and darker moments! And it was even more amazing because of the writing!⁣
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Sai has been trying his best to keep his family teahouse running while taking care of his sick mother. He has the ability to see the red threads of fate that connect soulmates and uses this to earn some money on the side - though not many believe him. After scrounging up some money to get some medicine for his mom from the doctor he discovers that it's actually dragon scales - though he's convinced that he's being tricked at first. After seeing its effect he's surprised and things take a turn when he's caught by the emperor and made to search for the dragon and bring it back. With zero fighting experience, Sai has to try his best to survive this journey to the South and he's in for a bigger surprise when he finds his Fated One - the one at the end of his gray and fraying thread. ⁣
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It's been a while since I read a fantasy romance completely from the MMC's pov and I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it! Sai is an easy character to root for - he's delightful, sincere and quite funny at times! Jyn was his opposite as she's quite grumpy haha😂 I can't blame her considering what she's been through but omg I felt so sorry for both of them when everything was revealed. Their romance was quite sweet with the fated mates aspect! I loved all of the mythological stories that were woven into the plot. I was on the edge of my seat in the last one third of the book and quite worried, but I'm glad it ended well 😌 I hated the antagonist so much in this one😤. And I'd have loved an extended epilogue as I wanted more of Sai and Jyn!❣️ But in the end this was such an amazing fantasy read and I can't wait to read more from this author!

Thanks to Saga Press Book for the gifted copy!

Can we get a shoutout for a shorter, standalone fantasy?!?! This almost never happens, lol! I really enjoyed this story - it's super easy to binge in one or two sittings, there's adventure and some politics and romance, and it's easy to follow. I really loved the red threads of fate, reincarnation, and dragon shifter elements here, and think it's a solid read (with a really pretty cover)!

It took me two days to finish this book. I love mythology and folklore. I found this one written by katrinazkwan and published by @sagapressbooks . The story is a sad, tragic, and hopeful one. The magic and the land it takes place in is vast and beautiful. The main characters are fun, smart, likeable. Sai the male main character is green when it comes to love. So he's a bit innocent, still bubbly, sweet, not jaded. The female main is more of a realist as she's been around longer. Experienced more like. They make for cute funny moments that still have depth.

From the publisher:

Inspired by Chinese myths of ancient dragon gods and threads of fate, Katrina Kwan’s dazzling fantasy debut is a propulsive adventure perfect for fans of Sue Lynn Tan and Hannah Whitten.

At the spry young age of twenty-five, Sai has led a quiet life, keeping the family teahouse up and running—even if that means ignoring the past-due notices—and taking care of his ailing mother. But he has a not-so-secret gift that he’s parlayed into a side career: he was born with the ability to see the red threads of fate between soulmates, which lends itself nicely to matchmaking. Sai has thus far been content not to follow his own thread, the only one he’s ever seen that’s gray and fraying.

But Sai’s ordinary existence is about to be turned upside-down by a pair of shining dragon scales. When his mother’s doctor sells them to him, claiming them as a miracle cure, Sai is pretty sure he’s being scammed. When the medicine actually works—and the terrifying, ruthless emperor catches wind—Sai is thrust into the search for a dragon long thought extinct that will lead him into the throes of a brewing war and deep into foreign lands, facing down challenges both magical and mortal on an unexpected adventure. And for the very first time, as his own thread of fate begins to move, he may be able to solve the mystery of his Fated One at the other end of the line.

Thank you NetGalley and @sagapressbooks
For this ARC.I truly enjoyed this read .

Triggers:
Self harm trigger
Closed door spice
Death
Death of a child
.
#peasreads #read#book#dragons#chinesemythology #tbr @NetGalley #NetGalley

3 1/2 stars rounded up to four!

I enjoyed this book a lot but there were a couple small things that bugged me. I didn’t like how the character Feng was written at all and how her accent was written phonetically into her dialogue, and I also felt like her character didn’t really contribute anything to the story. It seemed like there was no reason for her to exist.

Without getting into spoilers, there was one bit at the end that felt so weird to me. Again, not trying to get into spoilers, but for lack of a better explanation it felt kind of like a Renesmee situation. Take that as you will.

I did love Sai and Jyn and I thought the romance was beautifully written. I would definitely read the sequel or other books by the author. There were just too many issues for me to call it perfect, that’s all. I still enjoyed it a lot!

Also, it’s the first book I have finished in like, 7 months due to the HORRENDOUS reading slump I’ve been in, so that has to speak for something. It held my attention!

Huge thank you to the lovely people at Saga Press for granting my wish on NetGalley and sending me an advance copy!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, all thoughts are my own. I DNF this book. It started out interesting, I liked the concept but partway through I began to have a suspicion that I knew where the twist was going. I won't reveal what it was but I have seen it in a few other books and didn't really care for it. To see if my suspicions were correct I skipped to the last chapter of the book. I was right. Needless to say it wasn't really what I was hoping for in the book.

Fantasy • Mythology • Romance
Publication Date • 8 October 2024

Thank you @sagapressbooks and @booksparks for the complimentary book!

This is a standalone adventure fantasy about fated mates, dragons, and shape shifters. Main character Sai can see the threads of fate that bond people together. He uses this magical talent as a side hustle, while trying to keep the family tea shop afloat. 🍵

In concert, Sai’s mother is dying of an unknown illness and dragon scale powder seems to be the miracle cure. Thus, Sai embarks upon a quest on behalf of crown and country (and under threat of blackmail from the evil emperor) to locate the last dragon of the East. 🐉

The writing style leans YA, although the authors note explicitly states that this is an adult fantasy due to, “war, violence, death, self-harm, suicidal thought and torture.” I may be desensitized at this point after reading far more brutal adult fantasy novels [hello Rebecca Roanhorse], and thus I would still categorize this book as a lighter fantasy.

My favorite parts centered around Chinese mythology and the love story between the main characters. I would have liked more dimensionality to the characters. I’ll admit that the beginning had me unsure, but once I got to the end, I was invested in finding out how the story would end. A cute debut fantasy by Katrina Kwan.

This was a beautiful story with dragons, fated ones, and Chinese Mythology. It was refreshing to read a book on Eastern mythology when most books are based on Western mythology. The author also is a beautiful storyteller and can weave together both the beauty and the struggle in this book.

This journey was life changing for Sai. He was able to find himself along the way and learned a great deal about his past. He would often use humor to get out of a tough situation. He also loved those around him and would do anything to make sure they were safe. His love for his mother sets him on this journey.

I had a great time reading this. Not typically found of books that puts as much focus on romance as this does but I thi know it handled balancing romance and plot well and making the romance bring value to the stoey and not just there for romance sake.