The Last Dragon of the East

Following the threads of fate drives Sai from his loving home into the deadly schemes of dragon hunters. His teahouse doesn’t make enough profit to afford treatment for his ailing mother, so Sai supplements his income by matching nearby soulmates. He is the only one who can see the red threads that connect hearts fated to love one another. But a hasty good deed brings Sai to Emperor Róng’s attention. He threatens to destroy all Sai cares for if he doesn’t bring back the last living dragon. When Sai confronts the dragon, he’s astonished to discover that his thread leads to it—though rather than red, it’s gray and fraying. The novel begins with humor and a heavy dose of coziness, but that atmosphere is periodically broken by bloodshed, battle, and grievous wounds. These extend beyond descriptions of gore and violence, into the mind of a grieving mother and partner who’s suffered loss across centuries. Sai’s naivety serves as a counterpoint to his fated one’s trauma as their love grows through flashbacks.