Monastic life is all about duty, service, and harmony. For Serang, a young girl abandoned at the temple by her mother after the death of her father, that life becomes all she knows. The monks give her purpose, and become her new family.When political upheaval brings chaos throughout the land, Serang again loses everything and everyone she loves. Alone, she struggles to survive. She convinces a … convinces a wandering monk to take her under his wing and complete her training. Thus begin her adventures through strange lands and her trials to become a confident, capable, independent adult.
This is a coming of age story set in fantasy world. It’s filled with monsters and martial arts, difficulties and dangers. The serious situations preclude the story from the levity of it’s predecessor, Voyage of the Lanternfish, but it provides a compelling look at the origin of one of the saga’s most fascinating characters.
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“Serang” is a companion book to “Voyage of the Lanternfish,” but it isn’t necessary to have read it to enjoy this story. I was very excited to explore Serang’s history, and this book didn’t disappoint. Her mother abandons her at a temple as a young girl, but I like Serang is given a choice about that later. When the new Emperor removes her way of life, everything changes again. This journey into adulthood and her relationship with a monk were the heart of this story. The fights were exciting, and the moments of learning were thought-provoking. The detail in the scenery brought me into her world as they battled, searched for water in the desert, or slept in a cave. There were times I was worried for Serang and other times enjoyed her accomplishments. A fantastic fantasy coming-of-age tale that I highly recommend.
Well-written and well-paced, Serang captured my attention on the first page and kept it to the very end. My reasons may be different from most. Having lived in Japan for five years, around temples and monks, I was intrigued by Boyack’s depiction of monastic training, especially the discipline and singlemindedness. Then moving the story into fantasy added a whole other dimension. Boyack is a storyteller par excellence.
A vivid story that follows an orphan’s path as she matures from a child adrift, to a confident young woman and warrior. Serang is a character from Boyack’s popular Voyage of the Lanternfish tale, but you needn’t have read that book to enjoy this story. It stands on its own, allowing the reader to grow with Serang.
Through the course of the story she learns valuable lessons—many from a wise monk—faces multiple challenges and discovers herself along the way. There is danger and adventure. Heartbreak as well, but there is also plenty of humor, and the ending delivers a beautiful reward. As a reader I loved seeing the growth of Serang’s character. Enjoy this as a backstory to Voyage of the Lanternfish, or as a brand-new tale. Either way, it is a wholly entertaining read!
Serang by C.S. Boyack is the story of a girl who is abandoned at a temple by her own mother and is trained by the monks. They are kind to her; Mei Ling is like a mother but she loses her too soon and has to face another tragedy all alone. Early attachments wear off as she struggles to survive. Despite the challenges, she grows up into an independently fierce woman who could face life as it comes to her. The story focuses on her tough journey through rough terrains of life, mentored by a wandering monk and learning new lessons at each step.
There are vivid details about the settings that transport you to those strange lands she travels through. Repetitive at places, it is slow-paced but some adventures are enthralling. Quite different from Boyack’s style, it sounds like Serang’s memoir and makes an interesting reading.
Serang is a wonderful coming of age story by C. S. Boyack. You first find the character Serang in Voyage of the Lanternfish. However, if you haven’t read that book, this could easily stand alone.
This book tells Serang’s backstory. After her fisherman father dies, Serang’s mother is unable to support her and sends her to a monastery. You will see how she matures under the wise tutelage of her mentors.
There is action, adventure, and yes, heartbreak. But there is also a mixture of humor culminated into a rewarding ending.
I highly recommend this one and give it five stars.
Gripping Coming-of-Age Story
Readers were first introduced to Serang in Boyack’s VOYAGE OF THE LANTERNFISH. I was immediately taken with her obvious strength and her hidden vulnerabilities. It was clear to me that she’d suffered in her past.
SERANG puts an end to my questions and reveals her backstory.
Readers who are looking for the light-hearted banter and hilarious antics of Lanternfish’s root monsters will not find it here. This is a serious tale covering serious topics. But Boyack handled them brilliantly. I felt her pain, her despair. I reveled in her determination and her strength. I feared for her life and celebrated her triumphs.
You can’t ask for more than that.
This is an excellent companion piece to the Lanternfish franchise. One I highly recommend.
Serang was one of my favorite characters in C.S. Boyack’s novel Voyage of the Lanternfish, so I’ve been waiting for her story for a long time. And boy, did I enjoy it! Set in a fantasized China when emperors ruled, Serang’s father is a fisherman. When his boat goes down and he dies, her mother can’t support her and takes her to the nearby temple for the monks to raise. From then on, Serang’s story becomes a coming of age journey taught by wise mentors, even though Serang harbors a great deal of anger that she has to get past. Her first Grand Master is Mei Ling who teaches her reading and writing, as well as martial arts. When the emperor destroys the temple, determined to modernize his country and rid it of the old ways, Serang is taught by a wandering monk who takes her on one adventure after another. In theory, if they survive, Serang will have learned much:) Yong, the monk, brings wisdom and humor to her journey as they meet exotic animals and obstacles. I enjoyed every place they visited and every adversary they faced. Serang asked serious questions with a nice dollop of humor.