October 9, 2023
In this cyberpunk alternate history dystopia by Tang (Renegade Flight), the Beiyang government took control of Beijing in 1915 and has ruled for 150 years through strict class stratifications offering limited upward mobility. Seventeen-year-old Zhong Ning’er lives in Beijing’s Sixth Ring with her father, who has become dependent on the addictive drugs developed by pharmaceutical company Lilium. Ning’er is barely getting by as a barkeep and must occasionally sell her cybernetic prosthetic arm and leg for cash, until she’s offered a job by the Robin Hood–like Red Yaksha. She’s tasked with infiltrating Lilium and rescuing He Bailing, also known as the Lark, a near-mythical girl who spoke out against government corruption and Lilium’s influence and was presumed dead following a rally gone wrong. Accompanied by explosives specialist Ke Zi’an, medic Ran Feifei, and biohacker Pan Zhenyi, Ning’er finds her motivations changing from getting paid to sparking revolution. With parallels to real-life opioid crises set against a futuristic backdrop, this fast-paced heist balances lofty ideals of change with snappy dialogue and pulse-pounding action. Characters are Chinese. Ages 12–up. Agent: Thao Le, Sandra Dijkstra Literary.
October 15, 2023
A Beijing teen gets pulled into the ultimate heist. The Beiyang clique came to power in 1915, with ministers manipulating the emperor and taking money from large corporations to maintain control; 150 years later, 17-year-old Zhong Ning'er lives in the slums of Beijing's Sixth Ring. Ning'er sells her cybernetic prosthetic arm and leg to make ends meet, but when her father, who is addicted to drugs, cleans out her bank account, she takes a job as a thief with the Red Yaksha, a masked hero who steals from the Upper Rings to help the poor. Her unexpected assignment involves helping him free the Lark, an imprisoned revolutionary figure from the Lower Rings who spoke out against the corrupt government. Since her apparent death--her shooting was caught on camera, although no body was ever found--corruption has increased, and the Lower Rings have become even more oppressed by the gendarme and their androids. Focused on her payday, Ning'er works with the Red Yaksha and his crew, but she didn't expect to make friends, much less feel hope for a better future for herself and all of Beijing. This cyberpunk story with well-constructed worldbuilding offers a strong mix of wit, humor, action, and heart. Centered on revolution, the story addresses a range of social and identity issues. A fun and powerful adventure for lovers of alternate histories. (dramatis personae) (Science fiction. 12-18)
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December 1, 2023
Gr 9 Up-In a futuristic, alternate-world Beijing, Lilium Corp, corrupt makers of addictive drug Complacency, essentially controls the empire. As a child, Ning'er's father sold two of her limbs to feed his Complacency habit, and now the 17-year-old cat burglar often sells her prosthetic limbs to survive; luckily, a friend makes replacements. Insufficient cash flow drives Ning'er to agree to a heist for the Red Yaksha, a Robin Hood figure seeking to rescue a young revolutionary imprisoned by Lilium. On meeting her employer, though, Ning'er is stunned to recognize the irritatingly handsome Cheng Yun as a high-ranking figurehead for the brutal Gendarme. Ning'er knows she cannot risk an attraction to him, but her heart says otherwise. This thriller includes familiar dystopic, romantic, and heist tropes: corrupt governments and addictive drugs; enemies-to-lovers and only-one-bed; and conspirators with multiple skill sets. In a well-constructed world, Ning'er is a tough, talented, and sympathetic character, and Cheng Yun is charismatic and complex, aware of the ethically shady aspects of his double life. The pacing balances heart-pounding action with extended sequences in which Ning'er and Cheng Yun build their doomed romance. While the Red Yaksha's network includes many distinctive characters, some readers might struggle to remember them all. Also, a few decisions-e.g., discussing top secret information in a crowded bar-seem questionable. All characters are cued Asian, with names sometimes given in Chinese characters. Due to swearing and violence, this is recommended for high school. VERDICT Hand this dystopic-heist-romance in an alt-world China to fans of Marissa Meyer's Cinder.-Rebecca Moore
Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
January 31, 2024
Grades 8-11 Zhong Ning'er, once a thief and addict of the enhancement drug Complacency, is now retired, working for no tips at a low-class bar. Unfortunately, her father, still addicted to the drug, stole all of her rent money, and she must now return to being a cat burglar or be evicted. Adding to the difficulty of the task is the fact that she is missing two limbs: Ning'er has a prosthetic arm and leg made by the gifted Ge Rong, who offers her services to his patron, the Red Yaksha. The Red Yaksha is a futuristic Robin Hood, most famous for hacking an android and prosthetic company so the Lower Rings citizens could afford prosthetics. Though well known, his identity is a mystery, hidden behind a red demon mask, and he wants Ning'er to steal back a revolutionary called The Lark. Can she, without the enhancement drugs she needed before? And what's in it for her? There's a lot of world building here that comes together slowly, but it's an intriguing dystopia. Scott Westerfeld fans will devour it.
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