I'm a massive fan of this series, and have been reading them since they were published paperback years ago. I read the first 6, and have now had the chance to come back and reread the entire series now that the final book is due out in a few weeks (I marathoned all 8 of the ones out now over a few days).
First off:these books really should be read as each trilogy when possible. I'll posting much of this review for every book, though in this case it's for the third book in the first trilogy.
Let's get the good and easy stuff out of the way. To start off, let me say i recommend the first trilogy to everyone I know. It is extremely well written, has a fantastic plot, mesmerizing characters, and perhaps most importantly, a setting that is utterly amazing. The setting is something that doesn't appear too often in most of the fantasy books that are released in the English speaking world, exploring a chinese mythology setting of gods. Much like how Percy Jackson focuses on the Greek/Roman gods, or Dresden Files tries to encorporate the whole damn thing, this one focuses on characters like the Four Winds and the Jade Emperor. So anyone who has read lots of fantasy should definitely give this a shot, because it's such a breath of fresh air that it is amazing.
So anyway, long story short: I highly recommend the first trilogy (the Dark Heavens trilogy, consisting of White Tiger, Red Phoenix, and Blue Dragon).
Now the downsides. As much as it pains me to admit it, Kylie Chan's writing gets steadily worse and worse as the series progresses. Some brief almost non-spoiler background on the series: so the central plot point of the series deals with a character John Wu, and how he will eventually have to leave his young daughter for quite a few years. Emma, the main character, was originally hired as a nanny for the daughter, and eventually fell in love with her and her father (different types of love obviously). So the first trilogy, as mentioned previously, is amazing, while the second trilogy starts after John has left, with an 8 year time skip.
So the second trilogy, alas, starts to slightly drag, because there's almost a genre shift. It has become less action/drama/family, and has become far more political (and dealing with traditions). That's not to say those things are bad, but combined with some Deus Ex Machina plot devices, main antagonists that popped up out of nowhere, and suddenly turning the main female lead from a badass-warrior-in-training-mother-bear-of-awesomeness character.... she becomes dreadfully boring at times. To be perfectly honest, the entire 2nd trilogy seemed like filler episodes that producers put in because the plot can't happen yet for various reasons. Don't even get me started on randomly giving the main heroine several types of death-wishes. Both she and Leo [the bodyguard/family retainer], who are strong characters that are easy to love and relate to, turn into single-characteristic cutouts that become impossible to relate to.
I mention this as fair warning because I so thoroughly love the first trilogy, and it rather annoys ME when series I love drop in quality. Anyway, to sum up the review - please please please give the first trilogy a shot, but fair warning that it goes downhill after that
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There are 3 books in this series.
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