Review: Strike the Zither by Joan He

Written By Linda Quintanilla

YA Fantasy

Strike the Zither

Book Info

  • Released Date: 10/25/22

  • Publication: Roaring Brook

  • Pages: 368

  • Format: Paperback

This was an enjoyable political YA fantasy that kept me invested, especially once everything started coming together. Be prepared to pay attention because the small details really matter, and many of them pay off satisfyingly later in the story.

The pacing slows down quite a bit in the middle, making it feel like the story is taking its time setting everything into place. Thankfully, the ending made it worth sticking with. The cunning strategy between the two rivals was one of my favorite parts, and watching them try to outsmart each other was incredibly satisfying.

There was also an unexpected twist that completely caught me off guard and made me question everything I thought I knew. While I think the story has even more potential, it still delivered a strong finish that left me curious to see where the series goes next.

Linda Quintanilla
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