In The Jade Owl and The Third Peregrination, we meet the learned figure in Chinese history, Li K'ai-men, an academician's academician.

It is this man, Li K'ai-men's story told in The Academician. Li's man-servant, K'u Ko-ling, tells the story through his eyes, although Mr. Patterson, deftly transfers to third person to overview the goings on we need to know. We come to know each character, the good and the bad, and understand their part in history and part they play beyond this book.

To me, having read the Jade Owl series before this book, I found great insight into the characters we have learned about in literally past adventures featuring the China Hands.

The Academician hints at actions we see in the Jade Owl series, which were brilliant. For example, Li K'ai-men, smells lavender, which is the signature scent of Nick Battle, whose life and spirit are literally tied to both the Jade Owl series, and the Southern Swallow series - which The Academician is Book One.

Li-K'ai-men's banners are painted with mystical and mythical proportians and we know these paintings are shared in the Jade Owl series.

So one book flows into the other - almost a highlight film, a backstory to the Jade Series, but The Academician can also be a stand alone read.
It shows the heart and soul of the time of Li-K'ai-men's China.

An excellent read from an amazing author.

ellen george

The Academician-Southern Swallow Book One by Edward C. Patterson, ISBN 144149975X, ASIN B001UE7D96, CreateSpace, Dancaster Publishing, review by ellen george