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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.
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
October 8, 2024 -
Formats
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OverDrive Listen audiobook
- ISBN: 9781797184852
- File size: 257075 KB
- Duration: 08:55:34
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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August 12, 2024
Kwan’s unfulfilling fantasy debut remixes Chinese legends about dragons and the red threads of fate. Sai, 25, struggles to run the failing teahouse left by his late father while also tending to his ailing mother. His unusual gift of being able to see the red threads of fate, which link true lovers together, allows him to earn some income on the side by working as a matchmaker, though he is mostly seen as a charlatan. Sai’s own thread is gray and unraveling, and he’s afraid to discover where it might lead. When a doctor claims to have a miracle cure for Sai’s mother made of blue dragon scales, Sai is skeptical that dragons could be real, but he’s also desperate. To his surprise, the treatment works, and his mother makes an extraordinary recovery. Then the emperor gets wind of this miracle cure and orders Sai to track down the dragon. On this seemingly impossible quest, Sai discovers that the dragon legends are true—and that his fate is inextricably tied to them. The premise has promise, but faulty execution, from uneven pacing to flat characterization, sells the story short. Given the current boom of dragon books, readers will be better served elsewhere. Agent: Jim McCarthy, Dystel, Goderich, and Bourret. -
Eric Yang's gentle narration perfectly suits this slow-paced fantasy audiobook. Sai can see the red threads of fate that link people to their soulmates. Through this skill he earns enough to care for his sick mother and keep his family's teahouse running. After a miracle medicine made of dragon scales heals her, the emperor orders him to find the dragon they belonged to. But Sai never expects the dragon's red thread to connect to his own. Yang's soothing voice reflects Sai's kindness and adds warmth and humor to the romance that develops. Narrating a small subplot about a family of ancient dragons, Feodor Chin gives a commanding performance. A.K.R. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine
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