The Library of Legends
| Modern Age |
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 The Library of Legends
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World History > Modern Age > WWII
“Myths are the darkest and brightest incarnations of who we are...”
China, 1937: When Japanese bombs begin falling on the city of Nanking, nineteen-year-old Hu Lian and her classmates at Minghua University are ordered to flee. Lian and a convoy of more than a hundred students, faculty, and staff must walk a thousand miles to the safety of China’s western provinces, a journey marred by hunger, cold, and the constant threat of aerial attack. And it is not just the student refugees who are at risk: Lian and her classmates have been entrusted with a priceless treasure, a 500-year-old collection of myths and folklore known as the Library of Legends.
Her family’s past has made Lian wary of forming attachments, but the students’ common duty to safeguard the Library of Legends forms unexpected bonds. Lian finds friendship and a cautious romance with the handsome and wealthy Liu Shaoming. But after one classmate is murdered and another arrested, Lian realizes she must escape from the convoy before a family secret puts her in danger. Accompanied by Shao and the enigmatic maidservant Sparrow, Lian makes her way to Shanghai, hoping to reunite with her mother.
On the journey, Lian learns of the connection between her two companions and a tale from the Library of Legends, The Willow Star and the Prince. Learning Shao and Sparrow’s true identities compels Lian to confront her feelings for Shao. But there are broader consequences too, for as the ancient books travel across China, they awaken immortals and guardian spirits to embark on an exodus of their own, one that changes the country’s fate forever.
Based on true events, rich in Chinese history and lore, The Library of Legends is both an illuminating exploration of China’s recent past and an evocative tale of love, sacrifice, and the extraordinary power of storytelling.
Emily's Review
I really enjoyed this story. I am always looking for stories about World War II that take place in Asian countries. I've read a few things about the Rape of Nanking, so I was really excited to dig into this story.
The writing was beautiful. I felt that the time period was well researched and very fleshed out. I felt like I was there with them. This novel is following the stories of a few students marching with their college across the interior of China to get to safety and protect a collection of legends - the Library of Legends. Each student was assigned a book that they must protect, carrying it across the country as they travel to safety.
I really liked the themes of friendship, love, and devotion, both romantic and familial. I highly recommend this to anyone interested in reading more about this time and place in history.
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