SONG OF THE YELLOW DRAGON

In this Chinese-inspired fantasy world, a young emperor flees a threat to his life and finds an unlikely friend and ally in a hidden village.

Twelve-year-old Wang Kaixuan is shocked to overhear his grand chancellor uncle, Zhang Yu, and imperial secretary Liang Jin planning his imminent murder. Having already lost his parents and older siblings, Kai escapes the palace, heading out into the cold, snowy night. He’s later found lying on the ground by orphan Xu Mengyao, who’s nearly 13. She lives with her older sister in a secluded village in a mountain vale that sees few visitors. The villagers heal Kai, who attempts to hide his royal origins. He eventually confides in Mengyao, telling her the story of the Dragon’s Pulse—wish-granting magic left by his ancestors in the mountains. But at age 13, one stops believing in magic, so he cannot delay. Mengyao longs to become a Divine Healer, someone who won’t lose her magic; she convinces Kai that she’s destined to be part of his quest, and he invites her along. The third-person narration rotates among several characters’ viewpoints, offering different entry points to a world that feels lacking in distinct details. The resolution of the evenly paced narrative feels conveniently tied up with little conflict or suspense, and the narrative includes extraneous details that bog down the plot. Still, the compelling twists should sustain readers’ interest. Final art not seen.

An anticlimactic adventure that’s elevated by some intriguing surprises.