The Wall of Storms: Proper Way to Retell Human, Magical Technology, and Asia Culture

Book Title: The Dandelion Dynasty #2 The Wall of Storms

Author: Ken Liu

My Rating: 4,5

The Wall of Storms focuses on how the kingdom of Dara survived and changed. The first part mainly focuses on Zomi Kidosu’s story, a woman from Daru Island who was trying to pursue her dream; see the world and learn more. The story slowly shifted to the real conflicts that Emperor Ragin and the government of Dara faced. The rebellion sparked from the former aristocrat of Mata Zyndu Empire. And, the main problems started when Lyucuu, the barbarian clan from another side of the sea came.

This is phenomenal. Even though I haven't read the first book, I love the story instantly. The setting seems like Avatar: The Last Airbender, but without supernatural elements. All of the magic in this book come from technology which seems magical and classy. The dynasty and its history are built comprehensively. The literature, culture, principles, even though mostly referenced from Chinese Culture, are blended beautifully and well-explained through the narrator and beyond the characters' dialogue. Besides the writing is not direct and sometimes confusing, I am still enjoying it (and I've read Paper Menagerie and Other Stories, so I am familiar with Liu's style in writing).

There are some moments that I love from this book:

Fitst Part of Book (Zomi's Past and Zomi's early journey in Dandelion House)

* Zomi and Lyu Zia journey in the first half of the book, especially when they rode the balloon and learned Classical Ano.

* Zomi's appearance in Examination Hall, well-inspiring and audacious.

I actually felt the first half of the book just like some scenes from almost all of Ghibli movies. It looked peaceful yet the conflict arose slowly

Mid Part of Book (The rebellion is started to come and Zia's manipulative tricks)

The mid-half of the book when the rebellion from Dara's old general is my least favorite part. I thought the story swift to fast from the part of Zomi's past and the Dandelion family to the politic.

*Zia's character is delightful to read

*Mirror magic and how community of the rebels evoked is interesting.

PS: The conversations between Dara's God are always made me laughed and smiled.

Third Part of Book (The War between Lyucu and Dara begin, politics, experiments, and exploration)

* Luan Zya's journey is mesmerizing

* All of the wars are always astonishing, in addition, the technology behind it.

* The process of development and manifestation of the other technological-likely-magic in the next chapters. The parts before Zathin Gulf War are my favorites.

Overall, the book left me some interesting parts that I've never found at the other Fantasy or Science-Fiction Book. The religion, principles or norms, literature, and education system are rarely told by the other books in this genre. Wow, wonderful, Liu can build the dynasty with the culture that is referenced heavily to Asia's culture in general term. The book taught me that the story in the Fantasy genre is not only about world-building in physical terms or abilities. You can see how many Fantasy stories are told about either magic or supernatural abilities, physical building in the new world, magnificent creatures, however the same traditional society and system. Sometimes, the others tend to focus on the fantasy and left the "core" of every story; humans. And guessed what humans in every kind of society have? Yes, culture. The culture is often ignored and does not explain meticulously, so I think it is unfortunate not to see the different way how society thinks and behaves. The Wall of Storm meticulously told all of it. The human aspect of the story is Liu's specialy in writing and I've faith with it (even though it was sometimes escalated into tragedy).

Therefore, the book is smart along with the characters. How the characters are playing? Hmm, I am satisfied with the development of some characters, but not some of the others. Well, it might because I haven't read book one, so I can't catch some of the character's development in this book. I'll focus on the development of the new characters which are introduced in the second book, such as Zomi and Thera. Both characters show some development in the first and mid part of the book, but I found they came dryly to the end of the book. It might because the story in the last part of the book mainly focused on the conflict and the conclusion. However, the characters that I think performed consistently and perfectly written are Empress Jia and Gin Mazoti. They're my favorites, adding Luan Zya.

I hope the next book can give me more exploration of other parts of Dara, not all about politics but how the society of Dara is living its life. It is always good to see from the bottom side of the society than the upper like the first half of this book did. Their life in Dara is changing, and I am enthusiastic to see how the change "makes over" all lives, in Dara, Lyucu, and the other land of Wall of Storms.

MY FAVORITE QUOTES:

 I was taught that what we fill our hearts with has much more to do with our fates than our native talents or circumstances. I was named Disolver of Sorrows, and I intend to live up to my name. If our situation seems hopeless, we can either give in to it and lament our fortune, or revise the script and chart ourselves a new course. We're awlays the heroes of our own stories. -Thera (Chapter: The Marshal's Decision)

I never had any doubt. Our lives are but brief respites between stormy veils cast over the eternal unknown, and we must be guided in our deeds by the inner compass of our will, not what others may think of us. Yet now that death has come to us, we shall make this day that will live on in song and story. -Gin Mazoty (Chapter: Battle of Zathin Gulf part 2)