Mandate of Heaven – Book Review

Mandate of Heaven (Legends of Tivara, Daughter of the Dragon Throne Book 4) (2016) by J.C. Kang
Princess Kaiya returns to her homeland carrying twins but without the magic of her singing voice.  Cathay is assailed from outside by many enemies, while others work to weaken the Empire from the inside.  Kaiya will have to draw on all the things she has learned in her travels to save herself, her country and the future of her children.  This is the fourth and final book in the Princess of Cathay series.

I have been enjoying reading this entire series.  Kang continues to spin his story with great skill.  His characters continue to be believable and draw you into their stories. In this final installment of the series, the author throws plenty of obstacles in the path of his heroine.  The one tool that gave her an advantage in virtually every situation is gone. Her grief at the death of her beloved stands between her and her gift.  The Kaiya we watch here has grown a great deal from the foolish girl of the first book.  That’s great to see because that’s what happens in real life as well.  Key characters around her have grown as well.  It brings an added touch of depth to the storytelling.

The book comes with plenty of action and intrigue as well.  Kaiya is faced with all kinds of schemes that have been brewing in her absence.  It makes for a story that moves relentlessly forward.
It was everything I was hoping for in the last book.

I’ve mentioned before that I have enjoyed the different cultural setting for these stories.  Not all of your standard assumptions about the world you’re in are going to stand.  That’s a great attribute for the books all by itself.  Watching all the threads of that world being woven into the ending was a joy to read.

I bumped into the author a few weeks ago and he asked me if anything had come as a “surprise”.  I thought about it and said no.  The story isn’t predictable but everything seemed to flow from what came before, so I didn’t feel surprised.  Then he asked me about one specific reveal towards the end.  I’ll admit, I hadn’t seen that one coming, so I amended my answer to him.  I’ll leave the surprise for you to find.

Dragon Scale Lute (book 1)
The Dragon Charmer review (book 2)
True Colors of Betrayal review (book 3)

Why I Liked It –

Why You Will Like It – The concluding book of the series comes with plenty of action, deceit, and surprises.

“Mandate of Heaven” will be available December 7.  I am told by the author that he is planning a re-release of the entire series in early January.  This will include new names and new covers (which, honestly, have been the weakest part of the books).

Rating – **** Recommended