A Heart Divided - (Legends of the Condor Heroes) by Jin Yong (Paperback)

About the Book

"A Heart Divided is the next in the high stakes, tension-filled epic Legends of the Condor Heroes series, where kung fu is magic, kingdoms vie for power and the battle to become the ultimate kung fu master unfolds. China: 1200 A.D. In the fourth and final volume of Legends of the Condor Heroes, Guo Jing is at last forced to make a choice between loyalty to the land of his birth and keeping faith with Genghis Khan, who has been like a father to him. When it comes to matters of the heart, trouble waters stir there as well when Guo Jin's love for Lotus Huang is tested when he becomes convinced that her father has murdered someone dear to him. As the Mongol armies descend on China, Jin Yong brings this most beloved of his novels to a thrilling conclusion, complete with vast battles, stirring heroism, heartbreak, triumph and loss"--

Book Synopsis

A Heart Divided is the fourth and final volume in Jin Yong's high stakes, tension-filled epic Legends of the Condor Heroes, where kung fu is magic, kingdoms vie for power and the battle to become the ultimate kung fu master unfolds.

China: 1200 A.D.

Guo Jing and Lotus have escaped Qiu Qianren's stronghold, but at a steep price: Lotus has been mortally wounded. The only one who could save her life is Duan, King of the South, a man skilled and renowned for his healing. But little do they know that danger awaits, including a plan to tear them apart.

As the Mongol armies descend on China, Guo Jing will have to make the toughest decision of all--rejoin the people who raised him to avenge his father or fight against his homeland. The ultimate battle for China and Guo Jing's future plays out in the sweeping, high stakes adventure of A Heart Divided, where one choice can change the world.

Review Quotes

Praise for LEGENDS OF THE CONDOR HEROES:

"A treat for fans of Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, and Shaolin-style mayhem." - Kirkus for A Heart Divided

"Series fans will be delighted to return to this universe for a final, invigorating quest. Jing, Lotus, and the rest of their companions are sure to be missed." - Publishers Weekly on A Heart Divided

"The Condor Heroes saga [. . .] is highly recommended, essential reading for anyone interested in the various martial arts media descended from it, from the long tradition of Hong Kong wuxia films to their many animated heirs." - Booklist, starred review on A Snake Lies Waiting

"Fans of Yong's previous Condor Heroes novels will appreciate the convergence of many separate subplots and the enthralling ending, which serves as a strong setup for the next in the series. This is a solid installment." - Publishers Weekly on A Snake Lies Waiting

"A delightful entertainment." - Kirkus on A Bond Undone

"Jin Yong's work is undoubtedly worth reading." - Publisher's Weekly

"Fans of sword-and-sorcery fantasy and historical fiction alike will enjoy this hard-hitting yarn." - Kirkus

"Filled to the brim with characters and action, this translation will allow English-speaking readers to finally enjoy a classic of the wuxia fantasy genre, and hopefully whet their appetites for more." - Booklist

"Pick [A Hero Born] up as soon as you can and check out its majesty for yourself." - SyFy Wire, 10 SFF Books You Shouldn't Miss This September

"Full of noble heroes and pitched battles, Cha's stories were epic, featuring not just fantastical kung fu swordsmen who can fly and walk on water, but also complex characters and plots woven into dramatic historical events." - CNN

"Widely known by his pen name, Jin Yong, his work, in the Chinese-speaking world, has a cultural currency roughly equal to that of 'Harry Potter' and 'Star Wars' combined." - The New Yorker

"[A Hero Born is] actually one of the most famous works by author Louis Cha (commonly known as Jin Yong), a Hong Kong writer beloved across the Chinese-speaking world." - NPR

"...his works were loved by generations - both in China and worldwide." - BBC

"If you haven't read Jin Yong's work, you haven't yet fully experienced the fantasy genre. Bursting with magic, heroism, history, drama, and epic martial arts battles, this is the wuxia genre at its very finest." --Fonda Lee, World Fantasy Award-winning author of the Green Bone Saga

"The Hong Kong writer, Louis Cha, writing under the pen name Jin Yong from the mid-1950s through the rise of a movie star named Bruce Lee, created what have become the world's greatest and most beloved martial arts novels. When he passed in 2018, he left behind epic stories of betrayal and honor, intrigue and amour, slashing blades and flashing fists, and a dazzling parade of indelible characters that hundreds of millions of readers have come to love. The arrival of the U.S. edition of The Legends of the Condor Heroes is a major event. Welcome to the world of Jin Yong. Once you've entered, you may never want to leave." -- Jeff Chang, American Book Award Winner and author of Can't Stop Won't Stop: A History of the Hip-Hop Generation

"A Chinese Lord of the Rings." - Irish Times

"The world's biggest kung fu fantasy writer." - The Guardian

"In Anna Holmwood's spirited translation, this action-packed and ideas-laden saga is as revealing of modern as of ancient China." - economist.com

"...the novel makes use of hundreds of characters to create an epic world of martial arts and entangled human stories, not just about familial bonds and romance, but also brotherhood and patriotism." - Global Times

"A Hero Born reads like...an early legend, such as the Death of King Arthur." - GeekDad

"A Hero Born is a stirring epic, full of gravity-defying kung fu, treachery, loyalty and love." - The Times

"The plot includes betrayal and allegiance in different martial arts schools, and the rise and fall of dynasties." - Telegraph UK

"...[Jin Yong's novels have] become a touchstone for generations of readers, and an influence on authors such as Ken Liu." - The Verge

"The world imagined by Chinese writer Jin Yong is one which celebrates loyalty, courage, and the triumph of the individual over a corrupt and authoritarian state - carried out by no less than heroes who fly through trees and deliver deadly blows to their enemies with a single finger." - Quartzy.com

"You'll be rooting for the heroes to the end." - SFX Magazine, 4 starred review

"Cha...created an imaginary world in his 15 novels - one featuring martial arts, poetry and plots with deep roots in Chinese history, culture and beliefs." - South China Morning Post

"Prepare to be swept along as our champion gallops towards his nemesis and destiny." - Daily Mail

"Jin Yong's stories have been passed down in the East from generation to generation and thus nurture people of all ages." - Yan Lianke, Man International Booker-shortlisted author

About the Author

Jin Yong (pen name of Louis Cha) was a true phenomenon in the Chinese-speaking world. Born in Mainland China, he spent most of his life writing novels and editing newspapers in Hong Kong. His enormously popular martial arts novels have become modern classics and remain a must-read for readers looking for danger and adventure.

Gigi Chang translates from Chinese into English. Her translations include classical Chinese dramas for the Royal Shakespeare Company and contemporary Chinese plays for London's Royal Court Theatre, Hong Kong Arts Festival and Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre.

Shelly Bryant divides her year between Shanghai and Singapore, working as a writer, researcher, and translator. Her translation of Sheng Keyi's Northern Girls was long-listed for the Man Asian Literary Prize in 2012.