Dragon Pearl

By: Yoon Ha Lee

Narrated by: Kim Mai Guest

Rick Riordan presents Yoon Ha Lee's space opera about 13-year-old Min, who comes from a long line of fox spirits. But you'd never know it by looking at her.

To keep the family safe, Min's mother insists none of them use any fox-magic such as charm or shape-shifting. They must appear human at all times.

Min feels hemmed in by the household rules and resents the endless chores, the cousins who crowd her, and the aunties who judge her. She would like nothing more than to escape Jinju, her neglected, dust-ridden, and impoverished planet. She's counting the days until she can follow her older brother, Jun, into the Space Forces and see more of the Thousand Worlds.

When word arrives Jun is suspected of leaving his post to go in search of the Dragon Pearl, Min knows something is wrong. Jun would never desert his battle cruiser, even for a mystical object rumored to have tremendous power. She decides to run away to find him and clear his name.

Min's quest will have her meeting gamblers, pirates, and vengeful ghosts. It will involve deception, lies, and sabotage. She will be forced to use more fox-magic than ever before and to rely on all of her cleverness and bravery. The outcome may not be what she had hoped, but it has the potential to exceed her wildest dreams.

This sci-fi adventure with the underpinnings of Korean mythology will transport you to a world far beyond your imagination.

©2019 Yoon Ha Lee (P)2019 Listening Library

Brilliant sci fi!

Wow, this is such a great ride. Very visionary with a future where it feels humanity has actually progressed. The narrator really brought the different characters to life, too. Great from start to finish.

I’m going to listen for a second time so I can pick up all the nuances.

Fabulous author

Great new story! Love the mythology! Was very intrigued by this book as I love all things Rick Riordan. Loved the narrator in the storyline. Well done. Has a hint of Star Wars black Spier outpost and Percy Jackson young teenagers quest. Great story for both adults and kids alike.

Too slow

It was way too slow. I had to speed it up a lot, and even then it was too slow.

Impressed with the storytelling

This book was a nice find! After listening to the 2nd half of the Percy Jackson series, I didn’t think I would find another book that I would enjoy so much. Having an Asian girl as the protagonist was such a refreshing change. Excellent narration of an engaging story. I hope to find more like this!

Different but in a great way

I liked the mixture of science, magic and folklore. Very interesting idea and I think well executed. Overall the story was interesting and enjoyable. The only down side would be a few slow spots that maybe the author went on for background/reference for next book or to just babble on about things or I didn't get reason, not sure. Also a few too many bad luck incidents, it just seems author was in everything that could go wrong did wrong mode for a while. But seems to get more realistic last quarter or third of book. I would be interested in read more of Min's adventures as long more adventures than bad luck stories, So will have to see what the author does.

Great story!

Grandmother (75) and 11 year old grandson listened to this together. We both enjoyed it very much. Interesting, engaging story well narrated. We look forward to listening to the next book in the series.

story felt like it need some more information .

it was as if you were guessing about some things. Not alot of detail on characters. some things get explained to a point but others keep you guessing.

I love this it was not trash at all

I loved how it was in a space and how it involves fox spirits it is so cool.

Loved it, one regret

WARNING SPOILER IS IN THIS TEXT




I loved the main characters personality, the world just came alive, here's the spoiler,


When you brother was dead I was disappointed I didn't get to meet him I almost gave up on the book, however DO NOT!!! The ending left me wanting for more, fallow through readers!!!

Like Harry Potter combined with Star Wars with Asian mythology. WOW!!!

Better science than Star Wars, where Star Wars draws a lot from Japanese culture and general Asian mysticism like the force (in Asia it’s the same as Chi or Ki in Korea) bordering on cultural appropriation, this is non appropriated Korean culture but with Asian mythical creatures added to the list. Like how Marvel did a what if with Thor, Loki, and the Norse Gods, this is Koreas version of Marvel Harry Potter lord of the Rings Star Wars and might I add Dune... maybe? I bought this for my kids, I ended up listening to this once with them and once on my own at my own pace. It was that good.