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The Library Of Legends by Janie Chang: Historical Chinese WW2 Fiction

Do you love WW2 books based on true stories? Don’t miss The Library Of Legends by Janie Chang, Chinese WWII historical fiction. Find a The Library Of Legends summary, book information, and reviews.

The Library Of Legends by Janie Chang book cover with woman carrying a red umbrella and walking down a path surrounded by mountains

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The Library Of Legends by Janie Chang Book Information

Author: Janie Chang
Genre: WW2 Historical Fiction | Book Set In China | WW2 Chinese & Japanese Fiction
Pages: 400
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Publication Date: May 2020

Buy Now: Amazon

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The Library Of Legends by Janie Chang Summary

Myths are the darkest and brightest incarnations of who we are…

China, 1937: When Japanese bombs begin falling on the city of Nanking, nineteen-year-old Hu Lian and her classmates at Minghua University are ordered to flee. Lian and a convoy of more than a hundred students, faculty, and staff must walk a thousand miles to the safety of China’s western provinces, a journey marred by hunger, cold, and the constant threat of aerial attack. And it is not just the student refugees who are at risk: Lian and her classmates have been entrusted with a priceless treasure, a 500-year-old collection of myths and folklore known as the Library of Legends.

Her family’s past has made Lian wary of forming attachments, but the students’ common duty to safeguard the Library of Legends forms unexpected bonds. Lian finds friendship and a cautious romance with the handsome and wealthy Liu Shaoming. But after one classmate is murdered and another arrested, Lian realizes she must escape from the convoy before a family secret puts her in danger. Accompanied by Shao and the enigmatic maidservant Sparrow, Lian makes her way to Shanghai, hoping to reunite with her mother.

On the journey, Lian learns of the connection between her two companions and a tale from the Library of Legends, The Willow Star and the Prince. Learning Shao and Sparrow’s true identities compels Lian to confront her feelings for Shao. But there are broader consequences too, for as the ancient books travel across China, they awaken immortals and guardian spirits to embark on an exodus of their own, one that changes the country’s fate forever.

Based on true events, rich in Chinese history and lore, The Library of Legends is both an illuminating exploration of China’s recent past and an evocative tale of love, sacrifice, and the extraordinary power of storytelling.

William Morrow Paperbacks

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About The Author, Janie Chang

Janie Chang is a bestselling and award-winning historical fiction author. Born in Taiwan, Chang has lived all over the world and currently resides in Canada. Learn more about Janie Chang.

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