Strange Horizons, October 1, 2018

“The Palace of the Silver Dragon” by Y. M. Pang

Reviewed by Victoria Silverwolf

The protagonist of “The Palace of the Silver Dragon” by Y. M. Pang is a woman who cares nothing for other people. After a final act of rebellion against her father, she leaps into the sea. A dragon in human form takes her into his underwater realm. He tells her many stories, and shows her rooms that lead to the memories of those who have come before her. Eventually they share their darkest secrets, and both must decide whether to sacrifice themselves for another.

This mythic tale is very well written. It is full of beautiful descriptions of magical settings. The author may be too generous with the story’s fantastic content, as it seems that almost anything can happen. Readers may find it difficult to believe that two characters who are completely self-centered come to care for each other.

Victoria Silverwolf likes the illustration for this story.