I’m thrilled to share the exciting follow-up to Fred Yu’s sword-slashing fantasy, The Orchid Farmer’s Sacrifice! Read on to learn more about The Commoner’s Destiny! I’m sharing my reviews for both book one and two!
The Commoner’s Destiny (The Red Crest Series #2)
Genre: Epic Fantasy/ Historical Fantasy/ Asian Fantasy
Publication Date: May 5th, 2022
His past is dark. His intentions are cloudy. When lies pull him out of hiding, can he fight off imminent destruction?
Ancient China. For Chen Han, honor sits above all. So, when his name is unjustly slandered and his former brothers-in-arms rise against him, he doesn’t hesitate to counter the falsehoods. But his heart burns for vengeance after he learns his beloved father figure has been murdered by a hidden villain…
Joining forces with a beautiful archer, Han treks to a dangerous island only to spring a deadly trap. And as he discovers a plot that could drive the entire Middle Kingdom into civil war, he must become the very traitor he swore to destroy in order to save his people from slaughter.
Will he submit to disgrace to stop countless deaths?
The Commoner’s Destiny is the astonishing second book in The Red Crest Asian historical fantasy series. If you like emotionally wrought heroes, heart-pounding twists, and epic battles, then you’ll love Fred Yu’s sword-slashing story.
Available on Amazon
Review
The Commoner’s Destiny by Fred Yu is the second book in The Red Crest Series. You’ll definitely need to read book one before reading book two. Not only will it help you understand, if you don’t, you’ll be missing out on an incredible series.
In my review of the first novel, I raved about that cover, and I’m going to here, again. If I was walking through a bookstore and saw these covers, these books would absolutely be going home with me.
I loved the first book, but this second book topped the charts. I am absolutely obsessed and now I need to wait to read more. The fight scenes somehow became more realistic than they were in the first novel, and they took my breath away.
This was almost impossible to put down. I read way past my bedtime. I am officially hooked. The characters, the descriptions, the action…this has everything I’d want and more. Highly recommended!!
Thank you to R&R Book Tours and the author for the review copy and tour invite. All opinions are my own and unbiased.
Rating
5★
The Orchid Farmer’s Sacrifice (The Red Crest Series #1)
Publication Date: October 5th, 2021
Genre: Asian Fantasy/ Epic Fantasy
He was born of prophecy. If he can’t embrace his destiny in time, his country is doomed.
Ancient China. Spoiled and overconfident, eighteen-year-old Mu Feng relishes life as the son of an honored general. But when his sister is abducted and his friends slaughtered, he flees home. He soon discovers the mystical birthmark on his body has attracted an enormous price on his head.
Pursued across the Middle Kingdom, Feng finds allies in two fierce warriors and a beautiful assassin.
When he learns his ultimate enemy plans an incursion with advanced weaponry, he must call on his friends and his own budding military genius to defend his country. His plan is desperate, and the enemy outnumbers him twenty-five to one…
Can Feng fulfill a duty he didn’t know he had and unite the empire against a terrifying force?
Review
I know, I know… don’t judge a book by its cover. But, how could you skip reading this? This cover is amazing!
Fair warning, this is definitely a violent book. That doesn’t take points away for me, but definitely something to know going in. The descriptions of the fight scenes are just incredibly descriptive.
The portrayal of sorrow and grief in this is fantastic. Our main character, Mu Feng, doesn’t hold back when it comes to showing emotions. I appreciated this. It caused me to grow very fond of him. This author is excellent at character building.
This is the first fantasy novel I’ve read that was set in ancient China. I absolutely felt like I was transported back in time. With the descriptiveness of the characters, setting, and fight scenes, I felt like I was placed into this story. It was difficult to set down.
This is a series you’re going to want to continue in. Some things wrap up in this first story, but it is obvious these books will not be standalones. I thoroughly enjoyed The Orchid Farmer’s Sacrifice and think you will too!
Thank you to R&R Book Tours and the author for the review copy and tour invite. All opinions are my own and unbiased.
Rating
4★
As a lifelong student of martial arts and growing up watching martial arts flicks in the 80s and 90s, Yu decided early on that he would write in this genre.
Inspired by George RR Martin’s work, he decided he would write a series in English in this centuries-old Asian genre. Yu has written three previous novels, The Legend of Snow Wolf, Haute Tea Cuisine and Yin Yang Blades. Yu has a BFA Film and Television from NYU Tisch School of Arts. He was born in Guangzhou, China, but presently lives in New York City.
Let me know what you think in the comments. I’d love to interact with you. If this sounds like something you would read, let me know!
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Jessica Belmont 