Speaking Bones
core novel 2022 The Dandelion Dynasty
Record
| First published | 2022 |
|---|---|
| Original language |  EN |
| Work type | novel |
| Canon status | core |
| Reader rating | 4.53 (4,788 ratings, collected 2026-09-14) |
| First-edition ISBN | 9781982148973 |
Synopsis
Speaking Bones is the fourth and final novel in Ken Liu's Dandelion Dynasty series, continuing directly from The Veiled Throne. Princess Thera and Pekyu Takval, pursuing an ancestral vision they hope can unite their divided peoples, flee north through treacherous mountain terrain with the remnants of the Agon rebels, pursued by Lyucu forces determined to stop them. Across the ocean, the people of Dara mount a defense against what has become a genocidal invasion, with the fates of both lands bound together despite the vast distance and the Wall of Storms separating them. As the two wars unfold in parallel, long-buried mysteries connected to the legendary Barrows begin to surface, hinting at truths from the shared, ancient past of both Dara and the Lyucu that could reshape how either side understands the conflict they are fighting.
Where it sits
- Universe: The Dandelion Dynasty
- Series: The Dandelion Dynasty core; position 4 of 4 in the series' recorded order
- Author: Ken Liu
Notes
- From the series record (The Dandelion Dynasty): New author record. A 'silkpunk' epic fantasy quartet drawing on Chinese history and mythology (a fantastical retelling of the Chu-Han Contention), originally announced as a trilogy that grew to 4 volumes per the author's own account. The Grace of Kings WON the 2016 Locus Award for Best First Novel and was a 2016 Nebula Award for Best Novel nominee (both verified via sfadb.com); The Wall of Storms placed 3rd in the 2017 Locus Award (Fantasy Novel) poll. Completed with Speaking Bones (2022).
Neighbouring works
Publication order and internal chronology are tracked as two separate orderings and are never conflated: a book's place in one says nothing about its place in the other.
- Publication order, within the series The Dandelion Dynasty: position 4 of 4: previous The Veiled Throne (2021)
Sources
- Wikipedia: Ken Liu
- sfadb: Ken Liu
- https://the-dandelion-dynasty.fandom.com/wiki/Speaking_Bones
- https://kenliu.name/blog/book/speaking-bones/
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