ARC Review: A Clash of Steel by C.B. Lee

Two intrepid girls hunt for a legendary treasure on the deadly high seas in this YA remix of the classic adventure novel Treasure Island.

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. Xiang has grown up with stories about the Dragon Fleet and its ruthless leader, a woman known only as the Dragon Queen, all her life. Xiang desperately wants to set sail and explore—mainly to find her father, a presumed dead crew member of the Dragon Fleet. Her only 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. Rumor has it that the legendary Dragon Queen had one last treasure—the plunder of a thousand ports—hidden away on an island shrouded in mist that only can be seen once in a blue moon.

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.

• Title: A Clash of Steel
• Author: C.B. Lee
• Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
• Publication Date: September 7, 2021
• Genre: Historical Fiction, Fantasy 
• Source: Digital ARC provided through Netgalley
• Targeted Age Range: Young Adult 
• Content Warnings:death of loved one, physical violence (sword and fist fight scenes), alcohol consumption, parental abandonment 
• Rating: ★★★★

Set in 1826, A Clash of Steel follows sixteen-year-old Xiang, who has been sheltered her entire life. Raised in a tiny village by Lan Nai Nai, Lan Zhai, and Master Feng, while her mother is mostly away on business, managing The Pearl House teahouse, Xiang has always longed for adventure, and her mother’s approval. Having grown up with tales about the world renowned pirate, Dragon Queen, all her life, Xiang dreams of a world greater than the one she’s known. When she finally convinces her mom to take her to Canton, so she can learn the trades and hopefully one day take over, she ends up caught in something unexpected. After a mysterious and captivating girl, Ahn, steals Xiang’s pendant — the only thing she has left of her father — and a tiny map is revealed that may be location of the Dragon Queen’s hidden treasure, the two of them make a deal: Ahn will return the pendant, but in exchange, Xiang must go along and help decipher it.  

I knew very little about Treasure Island going in, and so I didn’t really know what to expect from A Clash of Steel. All I knew was this was a remix of Treasure Island, and that there were pirates. What I got was so much better — I got sapphic pirates, found family, and a fascinating and immersive story rooted in Chinese history. 

In a time where we’ve been quarantined for the last year and a half, A Clash of Steel, and all its adventures was a breath of fresh air. Lee employs wonderfully descriptive imagery that made it incredibly easy to picture that I was along for the ride. One of my favorite non-spoilery moments in A Clash of Steel was when Xiang goes to Canton for the first time — all the descriptions of food made me so hungry, and reminded me of home. 

It was a joy following Xiang and watching her break out of her shell. Xiang’s determination, heart, and perseverance made her a fun protagonist to follow. I especially enjoyed watching how different her relationships were with each person. One of my least favorite tropes is insta-love, which A Clash of Steel does feel like, but I overlooked it for Ahn. After all, who wouldn’t fall in love with a pirate? Ahn and Xiang had a very tender relationship that was filled with its trials and tribulations. As much as I loved Ahn and Xiang, the true relationships that had me soft were Xiang’s relationship with her tutor, Master Feng, and Xiang’s relationship with the crew. The side characters were all so fascinating, and I would definitely read spin-offs or sequels about them all. It’s simply about the found family. Something else I really appreciated about A Clash of Steel was how openly accepting the characters were of everyone’s sexualities! 

Admittedly, it took me a while to get invested in A Clash of Steel, but I feel like that was more due to the fact that I was coming out of a reading slump. Once I was invested in Xiang and her story, I was really interested, and couldn’t put the book down. Personally, I felt like the pacing was a little off, and I would’ve liked to read more about Xiang’s adventures at sea — in general, I think A Clash of Steel would have benefited from being longer.  

A Clash of Steel can really be summed up by this question: What would you be willing to do for treasure, for love, for happiness, and for power? Overall, I loved the message it sent, and I’d highly recommend A Clash of Steel to anyone who loves twists, pirates, or just wants a good time! 

Links for A Clash of Steel: Goodreads | Bookshop | IndieBound