The Rise of the Sand Spirits (Paper Dragons 2) by Siobhan McDermott

What worked:

The book’s first half finds Zhi Ging and other Silhouettes trying to pass twelve challenges. Silhouettes are apprentices to the Cyo B’Ahon, or immortals, and the challenges require them to master twelve different disciplines including Perseverance, Recall, Concealment, and Perception. The tasks Zhi Ging and her friends face differ from what readers might expect. The story includes a bully named Iridill but Zhi Ging can’t understand why the girl’s so mean. She goes out of her way to verbally attack Zhi Ging and uses fear to manipulate others. Strange, painted yellow lines begin to appear on the walls and Iridill tries to direct suspicions in Zhi Ging’s direction. Zhi Ging fears it could doom her hopes of passing the twelve challenges and becoming a Cyo B’Ahon.

The author creates a mystical, magical setting under the sea. How many books incorporate a phoenix along with jellyfish of different sizes helping the immortals train the Silhouettes? Jellyfish assist by recording stories, carrying messages, supervising the students, and doing other tasks for the immortals. Early in the book, cut paper birds are animated and protect Zhi Ging. In the previous book, many of the Silhouettes became thralls, minions for the antagonist named Ami, and Zhi Ging now discovers they’ve been frozen into statues. The Silhouettes are protected by Cyo B’Ahon with talents in Prediction and they’re supported by battle cranes. The book’s second half shifts to a more desert-like setting and presents even more imaginative descriptions.

Zhi Ging and her mentors suspect the Matchmakers are doing some shady things. Children have been disappearing but no one is sure why they’re being targeted or where they’ve gone. The Matchmakers aggressively try to force kids to eat buns they’ve made but Zhi Ging discovers grains of sand in the middle. This detail draws Sand Spirits into the plot and opens many new questions. Sand Spirits don’t work with humans so what would make them become allies with the Matchmakers? It seems to have something to do with an upcoming ceremony. Zhi Ging learns something about her past that rocks her world and has her questioning her life. Is she the reason behind the abductions of children?

What didn’t work as well:

This book doesn’t recap the backstory so readers will need to have clear memories of what’s already happened. The setting and language are unique to the story and readers need to have a working knowledge to follow along. It can be challenging at times.

The final verdict:

You should read Paper Dragons: The Fight for the Hidden Realm before reading this book. Blending Chinese folklore into the story creates an imaginative adventure with memorable characters. It’s a gripping tale and I recommend you give it a shot.