pickThis was a good set of cases: Judge Dee usually has three on the go, & it's interesting to see whether they are interlinked or not.
This one sees JD arrive at a new posting, Lan-feng, & having to deal with organised crime & insurrection in addition to murder, kidnapping & fraud.
There's a locked-room mystery, puzzle clues, the secret of a maze, a baffling will, barbarians on the doorstep & a mystic recluse. Learning more about JD & his trusted ⬇️
I'd intended this month's #ClassicLSFBC pick to be my next read, but this came in & I find I can't delay it!
The 2nd volume in the Judge Dee Mysteries, this is van Gulik's sequel to his translation of historical murder cases from the Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE). While this is his own invention he says the plots are based on other historical cases.
This is actually a prequel, covering 3 interlinked cases Judge Dee investigated earlier in his career.
Day 5 #Translate This section of a 9th century Chinese poem, translated into English, just goes to show that despite all our advancements and differences all these many years later, at the end of the day we're all just human looking for someone to love and spend our lives with. 💙😢❤️
#PoetryMatters @TheSpineView
"The autumn wastes are each day wilder:
Cold in the river the blue sky stirs."
- The Autumn Wastes, by Du Fu
#FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl
pickI really enjoyed this book because although it‘s fantasy it‘s historical fantasy and doesn‘t involve too many unbelievable creatures and has certain ideas that are interesting to think about.
pickAccording to Sarah MacLean, this is the first own voices Asian historical and it was pubbed in 2010! That seems unreal, but then most (if not all) of my own HR reading is set in England so...ugh, talk about a reading gap I need to correct!
Anyway, the book is great! The couple is phenomenal. I often struggle with contemporary romance bc the stakes aren't high enough - this book is why! The stakes are literally dynastic! So much angst! Love it!
pickThis was a refreshing change of pace. Set during China‘s Tang Dynasty in 758 CE, this was the most unique historical romance I‘ve ever read. A strong warrior princess heroine made this an enjoyable read. I learned a bit about China‘s history from this book, which added to the enjoyment. Good storyline, interesting characters, fascinating history, and plenty of cultural information make this highly recommended.
pickThe second in the series by Jeannie Lin. This is a historical mystery set in imperial China. This follows Mingyu, a high ranking courtesan and Constable Wu Keifeng after Mingyu finds her war lord patron dead in his chambers.
While I don't typically like books with a lot of intrigue, this series drew me in from the start.
#CuriousCover
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs
I've been meaning to read Guy Gavriel Kay for decades. Seriously. And l still haven't done it.
JD uses the legal tools available to him, which include torture & cruel methods of capital punishment (which they all are, actually), that are fairly graphically described.
There are some prejudiced attitudes consonant both with the historical setting and the time of writing, in this case lesbophobia being the most egregious to a modern reader. If you're prepared for these, the story is colourful and ingenious. 6mo