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fairytaleriots's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
bibliogeekgirl's review against another edition
5.0
A Hero Born is written simply. And that's all it needs to capture your attention.
There is kung fu fighting, mistaken identity, historical figures, mystical creatures and a cliffhanger to end all cliffhangers. I can't imagine if I had been reading this story as it was originally serialized. Things may have been broken in the rage born from having to wait til next week or month. As it is, I can't wait for the next book in this series to be available.
The omniscient writing was a little challenging to get used to at first, but this style makes this book decidedly not one with an unreliable narrator. The reader is always given all the information even when the characters don't have it. Even with all this knowledge, you don't get bored. Watching the characters play out their drama and commonplace actions is just as delightful when you know SOMETHING is going to happen.
I recommend this book if you have ever enjoyed old kung fu movies. The story and plot points will be right up your alley.
There is kung fu fighting, mistaken identity, historical figures, mystical creatures and a cliffhanger to end all cliffhangers. I can't imagine if I had been reading this story as it was originally serialized. Things may have been broken in the rage born from having to wait til next week or month. As it is, I can't wait for the next book in this series to be available.
The omniscient writing was a little challenging to get used to at first, but this style makes this book decidedly not one with an unreliable narrator. The reader is always given all the information even when the characters don't have it. Even with all this knowledge, you don't get bored. Watching the characters play out their drama and commonplace actions is just as delightful when you know SOMETHING is going to happen.
I recommend this book if you have ever enjoyed old kung fu movies. The story and plot points will be right up your alley.
jknoxwhite's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Fun book, lots of interesting history and the Martial arts were great.
Simple s ory and writing, a delight to read
Simple s ory and writing, a delight to read
silisiili's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
timinbc's review against another edition
4.0
I've read a fair number of novels set in Old China, but I don't have any Chinese language so I can't judge the translation. And I've seen a few movies using some of the martial arts described here, so I can visualize. That may make me the ideal reader.
You HAVE to relax your filters. You have to see a character gliding across snow or flying up a tree and just think "hm, an expert," just as the characters here do.
You have to be comfortable with Han Ying also being Pin Cheng a hundred pages later, and with him being part of group A, which hates group B except when group C is around, but that's only because Co Chao is actually Ping Pong's long-thought-dead father and Chia Pett is actually a girl pretending to be a boy pretending to be a girl. After a while you just have to say "whee!" and enjoy the ride.
There are endless combinations of people defeating or outsmarting individuals or groups who are actually stronger. We meet literally dozens of one-man armies, and we meet Genghis Khan.
It's a fun ride. I'll read #2.
You HAVE to relax your filters. You have to see a character gliding across snow or flying up a tree and just think "hm, an expert," just as the characters here do.
You have to be comfortable with Han Ying also being Pin Cheng a hundred pages later, and with him being part of group A, which hates group B except when group C is around, but that's only because Co Chao is actually Ping Pong's long-thought-dead father and Chia Pett is actually a girl pretending to be a boy pretending to be a girl. After a while you just have to say "whee!" and enjoy the ride.
There are endless combinations of people defeating or outsmarting individuals or groups who are actually stronger. We meet literally dozens of one-man armies, and we meet Genghis Khan.
It's a fun ride. I'll read #2.
ltg61's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
eldaaurora97's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.75
mkpatt's review against another edition
4.0
Excellent and engaging novel
Before starting this book I’d read several reviews that were critical of the translation. I don’t read Chinese so that didn’t concern me too much.
What I found when I started reading was an interesting story with interesting characters. Like many of the Asian novel’s I’ve read, this one has a plethora of characters which can mean it’s difficult to identify and distinguish protagonist from antagonist sometimes. Each character has unique motivations and although some of the minor characters are somewhat cartoonish in nature, their actions all seem consistent with how they’re presented.
The story moved at a decent pace and although the end wasn’t exactly a cliffhanger, I’m still interested in reading the next book in the series.
Before starting this book I’d read several reviews that were critical of the translation. I don’t read Chinese so that didn’t concern me too much.
What I found when I started reading was an interesting story with interesting characters. Like many of the Asian novel’s I’ve read, this one has a plethora of characters which can mean it’s difficult to identify and distinguish protagonist from antagonist sometimes. Each character has unique motivations and although some of the minor characters are somewhat cartoonish in nature, their actions all seem consistent with how they’re presented.
The story moved at a decent pace and although the end wasn’t exactly a cliffhanger, I’m still interested in reading the next book in the series.