When a powerful viceroy arrives with a fleet of mechanical dragons and stops an attack on Anlei’s village, the villagers see him as a godsend. They agree to give him their sacred, enchanted River Pearl in exchange for permanent protection—if he’ll marry one of the village girls to solidify the alliance. Anlei is appalled when the viceroy selects her as a bride, but with the fate of her people at stake, she sees no choice but to consent. Anlei’s noble plans are sent into a tailspin, however, when a young thief steals the River Pearl for himself. Knowing the viceroy won’t protect her village without the jewel, she takes matters into her own hands. But once she catches the thief, she discovers he needs the pearl just as much as she does. The two embark on an epic quest across the land and into the Courts of Hell, taking Anlei on a journey that reveals more is at stake than she could have ever imagined. With incredibly vivid world building and fast-paced storytelling, Stronger Than a Bronze Dragon is great for readers who are looking for something fresh in epic fantasy.

Stronger Than a Bronze Dragon by Mary Fan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In Stronger than a Bronze Dragon we follow Anlei and her village. We know that she wants to do what's best not only for her family but also her village. We learn what she's willing to do to keep her home safe.

I love the mechanical dragons, that's something I've hardly read about and it's very different, pulled me in. Anlei is strong & moving characters, but my favorite characters were Tai; he was funny, witty and made the story fell fuller. I have to say that Mary Fan's writing was my all time favorite part of this book, her writing is balanced with just enough world build and you could see everything while still letting the story be about the characters. Beautifully done!

I also like that all I knew about this book was that there was a girl wanting to keep her village safe and the mechanical dragons, that's it. It made everything seem more surprising. This book will leave you flying, wanting more!

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I was given an ARC, however this is my 100% honest review.