A snake lies waiting

The third installment in this translation of Yong's wuxia classic (after A Bond Undone, 2019) continues to follow the journeys of Guo Jing, Lotus Huang, and their various allies and adversaries. Beginning with Guo Jing and his mentors being rescued from a sinking ship by the sinister Viper Ouyang, this action-packed volume follows its central couple as they end up marooned on a deserted island, sneak into the Song imperial palace, witness an entire weeks' worth of martial battles at an inn, and journey to the mountain headquarters of the mysterious Beggar Clan. Throughout these adventures, Guo Jing and Lotus must fight off their enemies, including Guo Jing's former sworn brother Yang Kang, and their burgeoning feelings for each other, since Guo Jing has been betrothed since childhood to Khojin, the daughter of Genghis Khan. Though not a good starting place for new readers, this volume lives up to the excitement of its predecessors. The Condor Heroes saga, with its dense web of characters both historical and fantastic, is highly recommended, essential reading for anyone interested in the various martial arts media descended from it, from the long tradition of Hong Kong wuxia films to their many animated heirs.

The entertaining third volume of the Condor Heroes series showcases Yong's characteristic blend of kung fu--based magic and timeless themes of love and betrayal. Picking up from A Bond Undone, hero Guo Jing and his teachers, Count Seven Hong and Zhou Botong, are stranded in shark-infested waters as their ship sinks. They are saved by Jing's former rival, Gallant Ouyang, and his uncle, Viper. Once aboard Ouyang's ship, Jing discovers the rescue was a trap and Gallant and Viper hope to uncover the details of the Nine Yin Manual, a document that exists only in the minds of Jing and Botong. Jing's betrothed, Lotus Huang, rescues Jing, Hong, and Botong in the nick of time and leads the trio back to shore, but the fire of revenge and ambition burning in their many rivals follows them on land as well as sea. The story will feel slow for new readers, but fans of Yong's previous Condor Heroes novels will appreciate the convergence of many separate subplots and the enthralling ending, which serves as a strong setup for the next in the series. This is a solid installment. (Sept.)