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Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea by Rita Chang-Eppig

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Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea

Publisher
Blackstone Publishing
Publish Date
30 May 2023
Run Time
10 hours 41 minutes
Format
Audiobook
$13.95

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What to expect

For listeners of Outlawed, Piranesi, and The Night Tiger, a riveting, roaring adventure novel about a legendary Chinese pirate queen, her fight to save her fleet from the forces allied against them, and the dangerous price of power

When Shek Yeung sees a Portuguese sailor slay her husband, a feared pirate, she knows she must act swiftly or die. Instead of mourning, Shek Yeung launches a new plan: immediately marrying her husband’s second-in-command, and agreeing to bear him a son and heir, in order to retain power over her half of the fleet.

But as Shek Yeung vies for control over the army she knows she was born to lead, larger threats loom. The Chinese Emperor has charged a brutal, crafty nobleman with ridding the South China Seas of pirates, and the Europeans—tired of losing ships, men, and money to Shek Yeung’s alliance—have new plans for the area. Even worse, Shek Yeung’s cutthroat retributions create problems all their own. As Shek Yeung navigates new motherhood and the crises of leadership, she must decide how long she is willing to fight, and at what price, or risk losing her fleet, her new family, and even her life.

A book of salt and grit, blood and sweat, Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea is an unmissable portrait of a woman who leads with the courage and ruthlessness of our darkest and most beloved heroes.

Critics Review

  • “Gritty…A lyrically written high-seas adventure."”

    Time

  • “Emily Woo Zeller…giv[es] life to a multitude of unique characters. She accomplishes this with an energetic delivery and strong character work that make Shek Yeung’s story worthy of listeners’ attention.”

    AudioFile

  • “A feared pirate queen juggling motherhood and murder? Aye!”

    Los Angeles Times

  • “A refreshingly vivid adventure tale.”

    Elle

See more reviews
  • “A hold-onto-your-seat ode to an unforgettable woman.”

    Real Simple

  • “Her adventures will make you want to take up the sword and learn to sail.”

    Tor.com

  • “In this swashbuckling saga, the Chinese Emperor, colonial European forces, and even the mythological sea goddess Ma-Zou attempt to thwart Shek Yeung’s plans at every turn, and she must battle fiercely for the world she believes in.”

    Washington Post

  • "A clever story that explores gender roles, power, and even love.”

    Huffington Post

  • “[An] epic adventure story that dabbles with magical realism.”

    BookRiot

  • “[The] Chinese pirate queen…is one of the best characters of the year. Deep as the Sky…feels cinematic in every sense of the word.”

    Debutiful

  • “[A] blend of high-stakes action and a complex character sketch of a fierce and wily leader.”

    Shelf Awareness

  • “A rollicking nineteenth-century adventure on the South China Sea…The plot is clever and serpentine, exploring questions of power, violence, gender, and fate. This is not to be missed.”

    Publishers Weekly (starred review)

  • “Author Chang-Eppig fearlessly helms this seafaring debut with grand, sprawling prose. Perfect for fans of historical fiction, pirates, and strong female protagonists.”

    Booklist

  • “A debut novel inspired by the legendary career of one of history’s most successful pirates…with many moments of real lyrical beauty.”

    Kirkus Reviews

  • “A riveting, heart-pounding exploration of ambition, grit, and…the fiery, magnetic Shek Yeung.”

    Kirstin Chen, author of Counterfeit

  • “A pirate queen, a mother, a ruthless killer, and a loyal friend…an unforgettable heroine whose journey will keep readers hooked from beginning to end.”

    Anna North, New York Times bestselling author

  • “Paints a complex portrait of one of history’s most powerful women. A gorgeous, vivid adventure.”

    Erika Swyler, author of Light from Other Stars

User Reviews

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Details

Author
Rita Chang-Eppig
Narrator
Emily Woo Zeller
Duration
10 hours 41 minutes
Release Date
30 May 2023
ISBN
9798212172745
Format
Audiobook
Publisher
Blackstone Publishing
Genre
Historical fiction, Adventure fiction

Synopsis

For listeners of Outlawed, Piranesi, and The Night Tiger, a riveting, roaring adventure novel about a legendary Chinese pirate queen, her fight to save her fleet from the forces allied against them, and the dangerous price of powerWhen Shek Yeung sees a Portuguese sailor slay her husband, a feared pirate, she knows she must act swiftly or die. Instead of mourning, Shek Yeung launches a new plan: immediately marrying her husband’s second-in-command, and agreeing to bear him a son and heir, in order to retain power over her half of the fleet.But as Shek Yeung vies for control over the army she knows she was born to lead, larger threats loom. The Chinese Emperor has charged a brutal, crafty nobleman with ridding the South China Seas of pirates, and the Europeans—tired of losing ships, men, and money to Shek Yeung’s alliance—have new plans for the area. Even worse, Shek Yeung’s cutthroat retributions create problems all their own. As Shek Yeung navigates new motherhood and the crises of leadership, she must decide how long she is willing to fight, and at what price, or risk losing her fleet, her new family, and even her life.A book of salt and grit, blood and sweat, Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea is an unmissable portrait of a woman who leads with the courage and ruthlessness of our darkest and most beloved heroes.

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