A Clash of Steel: A Treasure Island Remix (Remixed Classics)

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. 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.

• ISBN10: 1250750377
• ISBN13: 9781250750372
• Publish Date: 7 September 2021
• Publish Status: Out of Stock
• Out of Print: 5 April 2024
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: St Martin's Press
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 432
• Language: English

Reviews

[Angie]

I don't know what it is about Treasure Island, but I can't help but be drawn to it. It's one of very few classics that I enjoyed. Of course, I absolutely love Muppet Treasure Island, and I was completely obsessed with Black Sails. Now, A Clash of Steel can be added to my list of adored Treasure Island retellings. I was very excited for it, but also extremely nervous going into it. But that was unfounded because I was quickly hooked!

A Clash of Steel starts of a bit slow, but I liked Xiang right away. She's living in a small fishing village while her mother is off running her teahouses and selling salt. All Xiang wants is to see the city, learn the family business, and make her mother proud. She finally gets her chance when her mother agrees to take her to Canton to learn about running the teahouse there. This is when the story really picks up, and I didn't want to put it down.

If you're familiar with Treasure Island, I'm sure you can guess how the story unfolds. That doesn't mean A Clash of Steel is predictable. Not at all! This is its own complete story with interesting characters, adventure, and twists and turns. Aside from being set in China, there's also a sapphic romance between Xiang and the daughter of the captain she winds up sailing with to find a long lost treasure. It's super sweet to see Xiang come to terms with where her affections lie, since she's never realized that she could love another girl. It's just not something she was exposed to in her village. They're not the only queer couple either.

I just really enjoyed A Clash of Steel. I'm a huge fan of pirates, which is probably what drew me to Treasure Island in the first place. But there's something about this mysterious treasure that calls to me, as it did to Xiang. It's a fun adventure, and I was never sure how exactly it would end. It could have gone in any number of ways, but where it winds up was satisfying. I did wish for a bit more though, maybe an epilogue of where Xiang wound up. But as it stands, I fully recommend A Clash of Steel if you're looking for a feminist adventure.

[Quirky Cat]

A Clash of Steel: A Treasure Island Remix is the first novel in C.B. Lee's latest series, Remixed Classics. This series is something that I never knew I needed, but now I live and breathe by this concept. More! Please!

The year is 1826, and young Xiang has only ever met a pirate in her imagination. She grew up hearing of the pirates known as the Dragon Fleet, and their ruthless leader is the Head of the Dragon.

To think, her imagination might have stayed unchanged forever, if not for one fateful day. Xiang's life changed when Anh tried to steal her necklace – a cherished memento of her late father. Somehow, this is the moment that sent two women off on a whole new adventure.

“Words may disappear like the wind; a story is passed on forever.”

Yes, a million times yes! A Clash of Steel is by far the most unique pirate novel I've ever read – and quite possibly by my favorite as well. This was such a thrilling read; I'm struggling to hold back everything running through my thoughts.

For those wondering, yes, this is very much a sapphic pirates novel, and I am here for it. Once again, it's one of those things I didn't realize I needed – right up until it was handed to me on a silver platter. But now I want more.

Likewise, A Clash of Steel very much brings real historical relevance into the mix, and it enhanced this classic tale (Treasure Island, in case it wasn't obvious), turning it into something new and almost magical.

I'll confess that A Clash of Steel has a slightly slow beginning, but I promise it will pick up within the first third of the novel. And when it does, it's going to be nonstop action, romance, and adventure.

Thanks to Feiwel and Friends and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Check out more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks