Strange Alliances: Book 2

by Nie Jun, Nie Jun (Illustrator)

Overview

Xinyue, a treasure hunter turned guardian of a baby deity, has escaped death—and awakened in a strange new land.

Qiliu, the boy he once called brother, has been captured by enemies—and must tamp down his rage long enough to make his next move. Faced with wolf raiders, frog royalty, and killer plants, both young men will have to choose allies carefully as powerful forces emerge.

In Seekers of the Aweto, a poetic adventure across medieval China, roguish bands of "seekers" chase a plantlike treasure that may lead to fortune and even eternal life. Acclaimed artist and storyteller Nie Jun (My Beijing: Four Stories of Everyday Wonder) presents an environmental fantasy rich with mystery, betrayal, and an adorable baby deity.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781541597853
Publisher:	Lerner Publishing Group
Publication date:	05/02/2023
Series:	Seekers of the Aweto , #2
Pages:	136
Product dimensions:	7.75(w) x 10.75(h) x 0.31(d)
Age Range:	12 - 13 Years

About the Author

Nie Jun began drawing at an early age by copying lianhuanhua (Chinese sequential art). He later discovered the cartooning legends of Europe, Japan, and elsewhere. He lives in Beijing and teaches drawing to university students.

Nie Jun began drawing at an early age by copying lianhuanhua (Chinese sequential art). He later discovered the cartooning legends of Europe, Japan, and elsewhere. He lives in Beijing and teaches drawing to university students.

Editorial Reviews

2023-02-25
A second series entry introduces many new faces in this graphic fantasy translated from Chinese.

A brief prologue explains the context for the events taking place immediately after what happened in The Hunt Is On (2021), as the allure of the mystical aweto, strongest of the plantlike chadolo deities, leads brothers Qiliu and Xinyue to split up and pursue their own journeys. Younger sibling Xinyue has been healed from his brother’s attack by the aweto Kshana. He and Kshana find themselves under the care of a lost apprentice monk named Miaodeng, who begs to join them. Despite the dangers, Xinyue reluctantly allows Miaodeng to follow along. Older brother Qiliu, meanwhile, wakes up with no memories, unaware that his taking his brother's life in the previous volume has led to his losing his soul. Wandering in a daze, he runs into Ashmi, a Sanamo warrior, and they head toward the Forest of Poison Mists. Xinyue is now reluctantly accompanying Princess Anxi and her caravan, while Qiliu and the Sanamo are coerced by men who are seeking Kshana. The ending teases another entry. The story is action-packed, but the sheer number of new characters and challenges occasionally disrupts the flow. A highlight is the beautiful watercolor artwork that conveys a strong sense of movement. Light background washes of color are pleasing to the eye, while pops of more saturated tones add emphasis.

A roller-coaster ride that is at times overwhelming. (character guide, map) (Graphic fantasy. 12-18)

Kirkus Reviews

"Nie Jun's striking gray washes and warm watercolors add to the story's serious and humorous beats; but more so, they once again invite readers to delve into a unique, dreamy fantasy world ripe with redemption arcs and its own mythology."—Booklist

From the Publisher