Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha LeeMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
The third book published under the Rick Riordan Presents imprint proves to be the most different yet in the lineup, mostly because instead of being a straight-up modern fantasy just like Riordan's books were, here we get our mythological retelling (Korean, in this case) in the form of a space opera. And also very differently from previous Riordan books and Rick Riordan Presents, this one's a standalone. So far. With that open ending, there's absolutely room for continuing the story, and I'd be very devastated if Yoon Ha Lee never does continue it, not when there are literally a Thousand Worlds to explore! But for this book, Lee gives us a fast-paced interstellar adventure, where spaceships and fox magic (and goblin magic, and dragon magic, and more kinds of magic) have pretty equal impact on the story's unique aesthetic. That fox magic, though...it's really something else, something that our protagonist Min's been forced to hide all her life, but only now that she needs it does she really get to cut the heck loose. (I wonder if perhaps Lee drew on his experiences as a trans man to write Min and her unique conflicts with society.) It's a great little book, though, a bite-sized powerhouse of action and intrigue. And of course, pretty inclusive in its characters, as befits the Rick Riordan Presents imprint (most notably, it's common practice for people, especially in official positions, to wear symbols on their nametag indicating their gender.) Again, I'll be very sad if Lee doesn't come back to this story world...but hey, I'll be sure to read more of his other books as soon as I can!
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