Paper Dragons: The Race to the Cloud Sea
This final instalment in the Paper Dragons trilogy offers a satisfying conclusion to Zhi Ging’s quest. With the realm in peril from the greed-fueled ambitions of C’yo B’Ahon Ami, Zhi Ging and her friends must race to stop her from advancing self-serving plans and endangering others. At the same time, Zhi Ging must try to complete her transformation into a full Cyo B’Ahon, succeeding in challenges set by her teachers in Hok Woh.
The world-building continues to enchant; from the ‘Bannerman’ – warriors crafted from paper cuttings to the ‘Belughails’ – whales that eject icicles from their blowholes, every aspect of Wengyen is vividly realised. Equally inventive are the challenges: from overcoming shyness to capturing folktales from across the realm as they rest in the eerie cave ‘liebrary’ and confronting one’s own shadow. These trials, combined with high-stakes problem-solving and constant adventure, create a sense of anticipation and wonder that promises to keep readers racing through the story alongside Zhi Ging.
Themes of family, home and personal identity run deeply throughout. Zhi Ging’s quest to find her mother mirrors her friend Jack’s search to recover lost memories and rediscover his roots, while Ami’s schemes, driven by greed and disconnection from her origins, offer a sharp contrast. Whether aboard Team Bolei’s porcelain dragon boat, stopping Ami in the Cloud Sea or striving to become a fully realised Cyo B’Ahon, these intertwined races capture the urgency, courage and determination at the heart of Zhi Ging’s journey.
A fitting conclusion to a lyrically written, immersive fantasy series.
