#baptiste pinson wu

[dongzhou3kingdoms]

Heroes of Chaos Review

Second book about Liao Hua's life in Baptiste Pinson Wu's series, covering 190-196. Three parts (plus epilogue) for this tale.

The battles are better, Huluo Gate for example is very well done and dramatic, one gets the sense of the power of a certain mighty warrior, also some very good playing into how the central plain figures feel about the figures of the north like Dong Zhuo and the fear of tribes. Also Zhang Fei still amuses me.

The battles tend to be well done, varied in style with a sense of tactics (and competent opponents) but fairly short with focus on what it means for Liao Hua, his role in it. With the early part of the civil war (the title should give a hint which early warlord this focuses one), there was a risk of battles dominating but it avoids that, the battles are enjoyable but are carefully spaced.

If Liao Hua in the first book is a growing child, learning and not able to take up arms, this second is Liao Hua as a young soldier. Confident in his abilities, in his lord but with a lot to learn (and not always appreciating that). The training allows to build new characters around Liao Hua and bring in figures like sergeant-major Yu Jin and some adviser figures while figures like Xu Chu, Lady Bian (love their scenes) and Cao Ang remain. While you see the efforts being made to become an army that can fight, the sense of improvement as a miliatry man for Liao Hua and others.

I even liked Chen Gong. For which I can almost forgive Baptiste.

His chosen master who is not quite the smooth rising figure that the novel paints him as while still being a charismatic and wily figure, he is error prone and emotional. Brilliant and clever but like Liao Hua, though older, still also with much to learn and one sees his journey and development progressing.

The ability of characters to grow, to learn, to change is very much still there, just changed to a miliatry situation. While also not shirking away from this being a period of warfare, including one of the most brutal camapigns of the time is covered in this book, but balancing it with little moments for characters to celebrate, a bit of humour, an awareness from the characters at what is going on.

Baptiste does well in ensuring outside events and wider land situation is properly presented while keeping the tale focused on Liao Hua and friends. Of why certain events matter, leaving little bread-crumbs for events to come for the history fan (and I think people who aren't aware of the histories will like the teases/foreshadowing) while letting there be surprises.

While there was one thing that I felt hadn't quite built up enough in parts 1 and 2 for the moment in part 3 to have the impact it was going for, there is enough about it for me to look forward to how it unfolds. Generally through, it has really built well into setting up book three and how events will play out.

For history fans, there remains the fun cameo's of lesser known figures (Chu Gong in book one for example) to spot, some figures that get a little sidelined usually are done in intresting ways (there is a certain Han figure I was really pleased with how he was done), great foreshadowing (particularly around Liao Hua the narrator), it is nice seeing neglected parts of Cao Cao's early time in Yan covered and there are lovely cultural touches. Liao Hua does, given this is a novel about Liao Hua, have a more prominent role (though not all he does succeeds) and Baptiste does add some fiction of his own but would say, with the two books, he has earned the right to see how those changes play off in long term.

So yeah, I enjoyed the second novel. The long term development goes well, I like many of the characters, I enjoy the moments we spend with elderly Liao Hua and I am looking forward to book three and seeing how certain things play out.

[fazilareads]

Yellow Sky Revolt (The Three Kingdoms Chronicles #1) by Baptiste Pinson Wu | BOOK REVIEW

TITLE : Yellow Sky Revolt (The Three Kingdoms Chronicles #1) AUTHOR : Baptiste Pinson Wu GENRE : Historical Fiction FR RATING : ⭐⭐⭐⭐(4 – 4.5 Stars) DATE OF PUBLISHING : October 18, 2022 PUBLISHER : Self-Published NO OF PAGES : 283 FR REVIEW DISCLAIMER : Thank you so much to Baptiste Pinson Wu for sending me an e-arc of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily. Yellow Sky Revolt by…

[sunfin3k]

Heroes of Chaos by Baptiste Pinson Wu

Hello all! You may remember a few months I posted a review talking about a new historical fiction novel set in the Three Kingdoms! Well book 2 is now out! Find it here.

Heroes of Chaos follows Liao Hua during the coalition against Dong Zhuo and the political manoeuvring as the alliance fell apart.

The author is taking artistic license with his early life (after all we don’t actually know what Hua was up to at this time) to place him at the centre of events in ways that I doubt anyone could predict.

Like the last novel, it is written in a 1st person style reminiscent of Bernard Cornwell’s Last Kingdom series (now also a popular TV show) and fans of his work will love this, especially those who are also like the Three Kingdom era.

The author strikes a great balance between Liao Hua’s story being central to the plot whilst also telling the tale of the time period. I would really recommend reading it.

But it is worth stressing again that at times Wu has chosen to follow the narrative of RoTK rather than the historical accounts. I know some will find it off putting, but knowing that was the case I find it at a hugely enjoyable read.

It is also self-published. That means that its perhaps not quite as polished as a traditionally published novel would be. But Baptiste Wu takes his work seriously and he finishes it to a high standard - he is certainly one of the best self published writers I’ve come across.  

Basically, check it out! And if you’ve not read the first one yet, what have you been doing? You can buy that one from amazon too!

[discourseofthethreekingdoms]

Interview with Baptiste Pinson Wu

On youtube and episode link

With his second book three kingdoms Heroes of Chaos book launched this week, @sunfin3k and @dongzhou3kingdoms interview (at the time, was not our editor) about his first book Yellow Sky Revolt, the main character Liao Hua, the Yellow Turbans, Cao Cao and the three kingdoms generally. A friendly chat, we decided to let this run the full length. This interview is going to relax our no spoiler about the era rule so avoid if you wish to avoid hearing about what happens beyond the Yellow Turbans.

Baptiste Pinson Wu various media can be found here including his website, his youtube channel Back in Fiction and twitter while his books can be found on likes of Amazon and Good Reads.

Steve on Tumblr and Jude on tumblr have both reviewed the first book while the historian Rafe De Crespigny calls it a tremendous achievement. If looking for non-spoilery reviews, we suggest looking at ToriTalks: she is someone who's coming to Yellow Sky Revolt unfamiliar with the era, that will give you a good idea how accessible it is for you 

This is the end of our first season, The Rise of the Yellow Sky, with season 2 going to be following on the chaos at the Han court, chapters 3 and 4 of the novel and another deep dive with new and existing guests. One of the new guests has a cat, another is a member of the undead. Will be a delay till season two but we hope to see you again soon.

Chapter timings

00:00 Intro

02:15 Book Writing

19:15 Three Kingdoms

42:55 Yellow Turbans

52:50 Cao Cao

01:11:29 Book Two Heroes of Chaos and Newsletter

Transcript

Full list of platforms

Artwork with permission from Baptiste

Music is Sao Meo Orchestral Mix by Doug Maxwell/Zac Zinger

[oldtimetennessee]

Heroes of Chaos by Baptiste Pinson Wu

Heroes of Chaos by Baptiste Pinson WuMy rating: 5 of 5 starsA fascinating look through the misty veils of ancient Chinese history and legend.I’m really enjoying this series. Pinson Wu brings us a great story from a time and place rarely covered in English by historical novelists. This series tells the story of the War of Three Kingdoms through Liao Chun (Liao Hua), an actual historical figure.…

[dongzhou3kingdoms]

Dynasty Killers Review

New book by Baptiste Pinson Wu, the third in the Liao Hua cycle.

As ever, good choice of poem to open. I suspect people new to the era will find the “whose who” at the start helpful, and Baptiste knows how to provide enough of a recap or sense of the world. But for those who have read the three books, there will also be little moments that pay off from the past as Liao Hua's world shifts.

A sense of things are happening in the elderly Liao Hua scenes, a good combination with Chen Shou while quickly building personalities of key figures around him. But the main focus is on the youngish man and his friends, the world around him changing. Each part has a big and entertaining battle at its centre, but not just the battle. It is the building up to it as pieces fall into place and people prepare, Liao Hua getting heavily involved with daring plans and actions and then dealing with the aftermath. As fun and varied as I find the battles, I am a bigger fan of the build ups and aftermath

Baptiste has a good touch for the little details about people and life at the time including geographical differences, good at quickly giving a sense of character and tweaking big historical (and novel) moments, so they feel fresh to read. It does go quite dark, particularly in part 2, so fair warning but it is balanced overall by a little bit of humour, kindness, crushes and love, and good bonds between characters even as events fray them.

It is also where we first really get Liu Bei and co as more than difficult opponents for an angry Liao Hua to face. There is always the worry that one gets either a Dynasty Warriors Liu Bei of vague motive and no brain, or a backlash Liu "the treacherous, dishonest failure" Bei. Here though is a Liu Bei I would be willing to serve, using the knack of seeing little acts of kindness and consideration, a sense of charisma about him to see why he pulls men together. I was really pleased with this version of Liu Bei.

Loved the ending.

More spoilery below

Part 1: It felt a little “scene by scene” as it moved Liao Hua around from place to place to meet figures before we get to Wan. I loved the scene with Liu Bei, a strong sense of personalities and use of passing history that mattered so much to Liao Hua. Having built up to a seeming cynical view of Liu Bei, instead we get one that feels like a charismatic well-meaning figure, one can see from the first scene why people might follow him.

Sun family scene, some good description works for Sun Ce's camp and people, I liked Lu Fan and Zhou Yu, will be interesting to see if we get more of them as time goes on. The adventure there was well done, and I liked the play on Liao Hua's love of older women with some reactions from his team.

The battle: nicely done on how Cao Cao messed up and the hinting that things will change for Cao Cao from there on out, which helps further build the sense of people changing. But also a sense of chaos and desperation from Liao Hua and others as things get desperate, which felt the right tone for that battle.

Part 2: Focus on Xiapi. Some good balancing of personalities within Cao Cao's army, allowing Liao Hua to build dynamics with various figures that he had met before. I love the Xiahou Ba connection past and future with the future events building a head of steam.

The famed scenes in that siege are done well and one still sees the sense of Lu Bu the powerful threat. But its most powerful moments are in the aftermath, it goes very dark and stuck in my head for a time afterwards (in the right way). There was one scene near that end I wasn't fond of but the general brutality in the aftermath scenes, both in the fighting and the disquieting celebrations was powerful.

Part 3: Guandu. We see a good mix of the brutal Cao Cao (dealing with the Girdle Decree comes to mind) that has Liao Hua considering his future. But also flashes of the old Cao Cao and, particularly as the campaign draws to a close, we see things knitting together from Liao Hua's time under Cao Cao. It does have an end-of-era in his life feel.

Yuan Shu's scene was sad and pathetic without feeling it punched down against the false Emperor, some sad goodbye moments in Liao Hua's life as we approached the end. I enjoyed Wuchao as a big culmination moment done with a bit of humour before the big fight. There was one goodbye that was particularly sad, and I really enjoyed the build-up to Guan Yu's journey, including building dynamics with new groups.

[dongzhou3kingdoms]

Newsletter+Tales of 3Kingdoms Chapter 2

Baptiste Pinson Wu sent out his latest newsletter and chapter. Friendly, sounds like an intresting year and a busy one (including for his readers) 2023. It was fitting for a January to look back on a year that brought in child and book, even as Baptisite suffered via covid and DW film (one may have marginally been worse then the other)

A fair bit of the newsletter is to tease Book 2: Heroes of Chaos, coming on March 15th. Gives him a chance to talk about Cao Cao (with pictures of some fav adaptations) and the title but also builds up more secondary figures arriving and doing a DW tease (combined with a pleasant olden picture of one iconic early scenes of the novel). It also provides another of the side stories, of possibly the most popular character of the first novel (Chen Shou's biggest failing is failure to wrote of this chap)

Cover

Honest about the cover and having to adapt but what comes out well. The general cover keeps a good balance between similar to book 1 while shifting it enough to be different and stand out. The youth in armour, straggly facial hair, well equipped and armoured but still very much a reminder that Liao Hua may be growing to be a warrior but he is a youngster coming of age. Nice touch the Chinese characters, I liked the sense of the red sun and the way the colour makes me thinking of a setting sun (and fire) and I liked the marching image at the back. The back cover "190 set up", a quick reminder of where we are, highlighting coalition, Cao Cao and Liao Hua with some neat turns of phrase though I find the Cao Cao section of newsletter and fondness of first book more of a pull.

Cao Cao

I enjoy Baptiste bringing to light lesser known figures and I look forward to seeing who he brings forward, how he plays with iconic scenes but the Cao Cao bit excited me. I love Cao Cao of the novel, of DW for similar reasons to many, the great driving force who deserves the nickname Hero of Chaos but it leads to problematic views of the man.

Baptiste has talked before of one flaw of the novel is how big figures become instant heroes. Warriors look at a weapon and instantly kill champions, people never see battle before come up with game changing strategies. War happens and for many, Cao Cao instantly takes to it like a duck to water, he as able at the start as he is at his peak. He forges the world by sheer will and ability which isn't really how the historical era (or history) works but it is part of his modern appeal.

Baptiste talks of Cao Cao, like the young Liao Hua, needing to grow and of image taking a hit. Seeing a non-peak Cao Cao but someone needing to grow and learn is a Cao Cao I want to see. Not that I don't love "hero of chaos Cao Cao" but it would be good to see Cao Cao as someone who, though he has great talent, is more human and having to take the hits of inexperience. With Baptiste having shown such strength in coming of age, I look forward to seeing that

Also promises a (another) Cao Cao poem!

Tales of three Kingdoms: Fat Ling

So yeah I certainly didn't expect to come out of reading the novel and loving a villager Liao Hua knew. I did really enjoy Cheng Yuanzhi and the dynamics with Liao Hua but there was something about that unexpected transformation of that character that seemed to capture not just me. When hearing of the side stories, one part of me did go "oh I would love to see parts that were not in the novel", another went "Fat Ling!" Baptiste has adjusted to the demand smoothly. A change of style to try a different way (as he likes to do for these side stories) which mostly works. Nodding to the past as it fits into the world, setting up for the long term by gently moving pieces while telling tale, keeping to the theme of people developing and learning. I like it retains the village far away is not always aware of how the world is going feel, one segment felt forced but overall was a sweet and fun short tale.

Spoilery stuff below

I liked the use of Fat Ling trying to write a promised letter framing the story, how he handles it shaping the segment the story. That initially he lacks confidence, he is uncertain about the words to choose and limited literacy hampers him was a lovely touch, how easily things could be distracted and how things changed with help. Some sweet lines from Ling to his young friend as he tells of how life is going. I enjoyed the way Ling's part in the first novel played a part in this, his bond with Liao Hua, his memories of Cheng Yuanzhi, the confidence gained from his role. But also how even in the short story, Ling was evolving on his own journey (via the letters). Ling's journey with writing, his thoughts of his friend and his own life provide the emotional heart. It was nice seeing glimpses of Fa Jia Po changing during times of peace, I liked the play on the migration shifts and the way change of governorship also had an impact on their nearby city. I feel it could have done with one more segment, perhaps to add a bit more on Ling's changing life and the change of the village as finding out he got married (though teased) and had a kid felt sudden.

The way Ling's fortunes is connected to Cao Cao is done smoothly without pushing Ling too far in importance, the Cai's treating Ling as a potential asset for future. The idea of it then biting Ling later when Cao Cao's position changes is a good one but the interrogation scenes felt the weakest part of the tale. The dynamics between Cai Mao and Fat Ling felt a little forced to suit the situation, Ling's heroic stand felt something he could do but also that something the author needed him to do rather then a moment I cheered. It ends well with Cai Mao's warning and Ling's dawning realization providing a fitting teasing last line.

[dongzhou3kingdoms]

Yellow Sky Revolt Review

Tipped off by @sunfin3k this might be worth a try, grabbed kindle edition (for less then £3 so thanks for that price).

Baptiste Pinson Wu (who can be found on twitter and 3k communities) has taken a concept people often discuss for a game or other media. Life via the eyes of Liao Hua, Turban who lives to see the fall of Shu-Han, but actually did it. Being book one, this covers the beginning (the title may be a bit of a clue) but from a farmer's boy rather then a yet grand figure.

Wu has drawn upon a mix of sources, history, novel (with a leaning towards the novel), TV shows for his characters (he explains this well in his author notes) and managed to keep it cohesive. So you will get nods to both historical characters and novel figure (also a lot of Turbans), including new figures for Liao Hua's circle while reflecting them from a young Liao Hua's view. When making a choice of how one would write a character, such choices won't please everybody all the time but we all have different angles of how we portray someone and there are certainly fun nods for those who know the era.

I had fun and I do look forward to reading the next book. Deeper thoughts below (no spoilers)

The writing style is easy to read and he aims to be accessible, smoothly inserting explanations, but, perhaps in a bid to touch upon the culture of his wife, the use of the odd little Chinese (pinyin) word is possibly not a great idea for first timers? Not without a small glossary for it? He doesn't overdo it and usually (either via a line that follows or context) easy to understand but I do wonder if that might put one or two off.

Each character gets a brief appearance description while avoids the issue some have with the romance of throwing so many names at people. Figures gradually come into Liao Hua's life and only need to focus on a set few at a time, those he focuses on do make an impact as they are built up over their time with Liao Hua.

Humour aims for the boyish humour that people of Liao Hua's age would go for and ones aimed over his head (my fav bit involved Zhang Fei's memorable entrance). Goes for a sometimes harsh world with corporal punishment at the ready but bar one scene, didn't think he overdid it.

Liao Hua in this is both the elderly defeated general, looking back over his life and able to use that to help inform the narration, and Liao Hua the youth who is on a distant farm and is young, with so much to learn. A kid, unaware of so much and treated like one by those around him. Wu manages to knit together that balance well of the old head and the youngster.

I really admire how Liao Hua doesn't have major knowledge of things he shouldn't. No "and he knows the eunuchs are evil" or "woe, the Han court is evil and uncaring", more it is a distant entity most of the time and what he picks up are rumours or talk that may or may not be 100% accurate.

On the balance between "you want Liao Hua to be central enough to the story" (ie seeing events, interacting with figures) vs "avoiding being the special one", I think Wu keeps that balance. One situation I thought might go potentially too much towards the special one avoided that trap.

Book is split into two parts. First part I loved, the farm, the distance, the youthfulness vs the world, why Liao Hua became interested in the Turbans, the people he met, his being drawn into something bigger. I was a big fan of how the issue of magic was handled. It faded for me near the end when it came to a bit close to the novel, the build up to the scene was good but despite playing it from a different perspective, didn't quite land the moment, and the transition to part 2 was not the most exciting.

On paper I wasn't sure what I would feel about phase 2 initially when I saw the direction but soon found my attention fully engaged again. I don't think I can speak about what I enjoyed without spoiling it but felt that it was well pulled off involving figures I'm fond of. Got to see Liao Hua grow both during moments of peace then as danger reasserts (well done sense of the world changing) and an enjoyably teasing way to end.