A Clash of Steel: A Treasure Island Remix

C.B. Lee

Sep 2021 · Remixed Classics Book 1 · Sold by Feiwel & Friends

About this ebook

In the Remixed Classics series, authors from marginalized backgrounds reinterpret classic works through their own cultural lens to subvert the overwhelming cishet, white, and male canon. Two intrepid queer girls of color embark on a legendary treasure hunt in this YA remix of Treasure Island, flipping the script on a notoriously Euro-centric sausage-fest of a classic.

1826. The sun is setting on the golden age of piracy, and the legendary Dragon Fleet, the scourge of the South China Sea, is no more. Its ruthless leader, a woman known only as the Head of the Dragon, is now only a story, like the ones Xiang has grown up with all her life. She desperately wants to prove her worth, especially to her mother, a shrewd businesswoman who never seems to have enough time for Xiang. Her father is also only a story, dead at sea before Xiang was born. Her single memento of him is a pendant she always wears, a simple but plain piece of gold jewelry.

But the pendant's true nature is revealed when a mysterious girl named Anh steals it, only to return it to Xiang in exchange for her help in decoding the tiny map scroll hidden inside. The revelation that Xiang's father sailed with the Dragon Fleet and tucked away this secret changes everything. Rumor has it that the legendary Head of the Dragon had one last treasure—the plunder of a thousand ports—that for decades has only been a myth, a fool's journey.

Xiang is convinced this map could lead to the fabled treasure. Captivated with the thrill of adventure, she joins Anh and her motley crew off in pursuit of the island. But the girls soon find that the sea—and especially those who sail it—are far more dangerous than the legends led them to believe.

Praise for A Clash of Steel:

A Cosmopolitan Best YA Book of 2021

"This deeply immersive adventure features deftly interwoven Chinese and Vietnamese, luscious culinary descriptions, and well-rendered explorations of imperialism, treasure, found family, and love." —Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Vividly realized and brimming with romantic adventure. Rooted in the legend of Chinese pirate queen Ching Shih, C.B. Lee’s A Clash of Steel is richly imagined and thrilling to the end." —Malinda Lo, bestselling author of Last Night at the Telegraph Club

"Lavishly drawn and studded with jewels from the original, C.B. Lee has written a remix that delves deep into questions of family, love, and treasure. This is a book I wish I'd had as a young, queer teen and it deserves a spot in any collection." —Natalie C. Parker, author of the Seafire trilogy

The Remixed Classics Series
A Clash of Steel: A Treasure Island Remix by C.B. Lee
So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix by Bethany C. Morrow
Travelers Along the Way: A Robin Hood Remix by Aminah Mae Safi
What Souls Are Made Of: A Wuthering Heights Remix by Tasha Suri
Self-Made Boys: A Great Gatsby Remix by Anna-Marie McLemore
My Dear Henry: A Jekyll & Hyde Remix by Kalynn Bayron
Teach the Torches to Burn: A Romeo & Juliet Remix by Caleb Roehrig
Into the Bright Open: A Secret Garden Remix by Cherie Dimaline
Most Ardently: A Pride & Prejudice Remix by Gabe Cole Novoa

Ratings and reviews

Thrilling Ride Not only does this book have a gorgeous cover, but it's going to be one of my favorite reads of 2021. I found so much to love inside this historical fiction tale based on real characters from pirate history. From the very beginning the reader is presented with a poem; the meaning of this poem is revealed much later in the book and is such a clever way to use poetry. The first person point of view from Xiang felt authentic and I was immediately drawn to her character. I loved how she wanted so much more than society offered a girl at this time and cheered her on as she gained the courage to demand more from life. I enjoy pirate tales and this book made me feel as if I were sailing the dangerous seas and working on a ship. I enjoyed the found family Xiang was welcomed into as she joined a motley crew seemingly tossed together, yet all working as one. I enjoyed the romance and caring, supportive adults Xiang encountered. The twists, especially one (no spoilers!) made my jaw drop and I gasped, loving that I never saw it coming. Overall, this book was a fun ride, with so much excitement, action, and perfect pacing with quieter times mixed in expertly. I highly recommend this book and want readers to make sure they read the backmatter as it adds so much depth to the story he/she/they just finished reading.

Thank you to Feiwel and BookishFirst for this book in exchange for an honest review! First off, as a person of Asian descent, I am so excited to support C.B. Lee, who drew on her own experiences while writing this book. There really needs to be more #ownvoices YA books just like this one! This book is set mainly in the seas around the Canton region of 19th century China and features characters of Chinese and Vietnamese descent. As a person who grew up speaking Cantonese, I was so excited to see that language represented in this book, along with hallmarks of my family's culture, like the food. Thank you again to the publisher for the opportunity to review this book! A Clash of Steel: A Treasure Island Remix by C.B. Lee is a stunningly original #ownvoices and queer historical adventure that will appeal to fans of Fable and Daughter of the Pirate King. The story revolves around Xiang, a 16 year-old girl who has never left her village in Canton. Xiang never knew her father and only has one memento of him: a pendant necklace. One day, she meets a girl named Anh, who reveals that the necklace contains a map leading to a trove of pirate treasure. Xiang sails away with Anh to find the island where the treasure is located. Will they succeed in finding treasure? Will they become friends or more than friends? And what dangers await them on the seas? Here's an excerpt from Chapter 1, where Xiang introduces herself and the village she's from: "I am sixteen, and I have never left the village. I’ve never even been to the bustling metropolis of Canton, despite my family owning another teahouse there—even more successful and busy than the one in the village. Mother has alwayssaid the city is no place for a young girl. I sigh, dreaming of the stories that the travelers there must tell, the distant places they’ve been, music and foods from other lands. I can only imagine the taste of honeyed dates, the feel of finely spun silks from Siam, the taste of those famed spicy noodles from the Sichuan province, juicy tropical fruits from faraway lands. I’ve only glimpsed these other worlds beyond my small riverside village in my scrolls and books, precious rare luxuries, stories and poems collected from Master Feng’s collection or gifts from Mother’s travels. These works are my only window into worlds beyond this quiet village and this lonely mountain." Overall, A Clash of Steel: A Treasure Island Remix is an amazing Asian #remix of a classic book, and I'm sure many YA readers of Asian descent will love to see themselves represented. In addition, it will appeal to any reader who wants to learn more about 19th century China and Vietnam and the languages and cultures that existed at the time One highlight of this book is the immense amount of research that the author did in order to evoke the world in this book. I found the afterword, where she describes the setting and the language choices that she made, to be fascinating. If I had to complain about one thing, though, I would say that I wish there was a tiny bit more "fantasy" involved, instead of being a realistic, historical retelling. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of historical adventures set on the sea, I highly recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in September!

We love pirates here! This was a very thoroughly enjoyable read! I loved the diversity and representation in this book, with a sapphic romance and Asian main characters. It’s not often enough that we see this representation and I’m so glad we’re starting to see more! Xiang and Anh had great chemistry and it was so much fun to watch their relationship progress and root for their success. It was a slow burn romance, so at times I got a little impatient (as one does) but it paid off so well in the end! The one bed trope is an all time favorite of mine, and all that romantic tension added so much to the story. The found family element of this book was also nice and it reminded me of the Six of Crows gang. The side characters didn’t steal the spotlight from Xiang and Anh, but they were still fun to read about. The first bit was rather slow for my liking, but as the plot progresses and moves forward it picks up and by the last third it was fast paced and I was glued to the book.

About the author

C.B. Lee is a Lambda Literary Award nominated writer of young adult and middle grade fiction. Their works include A Clash of Steel: A Treasure Island Remix (Feiwel and Friends), the Sidekick Squad series (Duet Books), Ben 10 graphic novels (Boom! Studios), Out Now: Queer We Go Again (HarperTeen), Minecraft: The Shipwreck (Del Rey Books), and From A Certain Point Of View: The Empire Strikes Back (Del Rey Books). Lee’s work has been featured in Teen Vogue, Wired Magazine, Hypable, Tor’s Best of Fantasy and Sci Fi and the American Library Association’s Rainbow List.