THE LAST DRAGON OF THE EAST

A bid to save his ailing mother turns into a literal date with destiny for a young teahouse owner.

For as long as he can remember, 25-year-old Sai has been able to see the red threads of fate, ties that link people to their Fated Ones or soulmates. Sai’s own limp gray thread is unlike any others he’s seen, but he has no time for romance, anyway. Not with his mother in such a frail state. After an illegal substance—powdered dragon scales—restores her health for a time, Sai makes it his mission to find more. Unfortunately for the young man and his mother, the emperor himself catches wind of the miracle cure and demands that Sai find the dragon who shed those scales and bring it to him. Accompanied by a huntress named Feng, who procured the original scales for his family doctor, Sai crosses the border into enemy territory in search of his mother’s salvation. Color him surprised when he discovers his thread of fate is tied to that very dragon—who is not at all pleased to see him. Kwan crafts a fascinating world in which the figures of Chinese myth and legend are real, breathing people. There is plenty to like here, along with a few disappointing details. The decision to make same-sex partnerships a normal part of Sai’s world is admirable, and Sai himself does not seem to care what gender his Fated One turns out to be. But the flagging middle portion, in which the stakes seem to vanish entirely, turns this cozy, low-fantasy story into a slog. Gentle Sai’s gradual transformation into a fierce fighter may appeal to fantasy readers, but the novel’s focus on his journey toward coming into his own makes it feel more suited to a teenage audience. Feng, who may be the most compelling character of the lot, disappears early and returns late, nearly forgotten as Sai continues his adventure with his dragon love.

An unevenly paced romantic fantasy adventure that feels too young for its intended audience.