We're done! Yay! And, while I'm happy I read this, I'm also positive that I didn't have the kind of seminal experience that people in my mother's generation had, reading this story as teens. I suspect this is due to (a) my age: forty-mumblemumble, (b) the current state of the world of fiction, and our … Continue reading In conclusion…

Or, The Grand ConclusionAnd, Lessons Finally LearnedAnd, Let’s Tie Up All the Loose Threads, Eh? Viper Ouyang has arrived and the contest at Mount Hua is now truly underway. Who will prevail? Viper and Count Seven square off, vowing to fight to the death. Which is odd, considering how many times Viper actually tried to … Continue reading A Heart Divided – Read-along, Chapter 12

Or, Guo Jing’s Crisis of FaithAnd, Seriously, How Did it Take So Long to Get Here? We last left our intrepid (and muddle brained) hero trudging listlessly into the desert of his despair. And also literally into the desert. His mother: dead. His love: dead. Exiled from the Mongols. What will become of our hero? … Continue reading A Heart Divided – Read-along, Chapter 11

Or, Guo Jing Can’t Catch a BreakAnd, Doing The Right Thing is Rarely EasyAlso, When are the Women Going to Get a Little Justice? Guo Jing has squandered his good will with the Khan. Instead of asking to be released from his betrothal, he asked the Khan to spare the people of Samarkand. Any guesses … Continue reading A Heart Divided – Read-along, Chapter 10

Or, The March of the MongolsAnd, Guo Jing is Always Guo Jing Who is the mysterious benefactor hidden in Guo Jing’s army who is giving him strategic advice? Will he ever reunite with Lotus? Is there any chance that these questions will be answered at the same time? The Mongols move west, conquering and sacking … Continue reading A Heart Divided – Read-along, Chapter 9

Or, Guo Jing Moves to the Next LevelAnd, The Return of the Mongols Genghis Khan, the original broody and menacing alpha male. Will Lotus talk her way out of her latest predicament?? Viper Ouyang grudgingly acknowledges that Lotus is indeed very clever, uncovering the truth behind the deaths of the Seven Freaks on Peach Blossom … Continue reading A Heart Divided – Read-along, Chapter 8

Or, Everyone Jumps Back into the PoolAlso, You Know Things are Bad When the Reasonable One is Freaking. Lotus. Ah yes, Lotus. The sensible one. *snort* When last we left our motley, arguing crew, someone was approaching the Tower of Mist and Rain from the water. Pretty much everyone else from the ensemble disembarks as … Continue reading A Heart Divided – Read-along, Chapter 7

Or, Trouble with the In-laws When we last left Lotus and Guo Jing, Guo Jing had promised to stay on Peach Blossom Island forever, devoting himself to his love. I’m sure everything will be fine for them from now on, right? Right? Lotus dances around a little, showing off as she throws her sleeves around, … Continue reading A Heart Divided – Read-Along, Chapter 6

Or, Even Martial Masters Can be Complete Idiots Another catch-up chapter as Lotus and Guo Jing finally rejoin Hoary Urchin Zhou Botong and Count Seven Hong, and discover what their martial masters have been up to. Plus, Lotus and Guo Jing’s romance brings them even more trouble. The return of Hoary Urchin! Lotus and Guo … Continue reading A Heart Divided – Read-along, Chapter 5

Or, Story Time!Or, Don't Get on Lotus' Bad Side This chapter fills in some blanks and backstory for us as Lotus and Guo King continue on their journey. Lotus frets over Guo Jing's imminent separation from her.  Mercy Mu, having warned our lovebirds about the Iron Palm Gang's trap, now recounts to them what happened … Continue reading A Heart Divided – Read-along, Chapter 4