6 Reasons You Need to Read Cindy Pon’s Want
I first discovered the magic of Cindy Pon’s writing roughly six months ago, when I picked up Serpentine. I devoured the fantasy story of Chinese mythology, self-discovery, and friendship. Before I hit the last page, I was already ordering more of Pon’s books, including Silver Phoenix and Serpentine sequel Sacrifice. You can imagine my excitement when I recently got my hands on a copy of Want, Pon’s latest novel, set in futuristic Taiwan. Want follows Jason Zhou and his friends on a mission to infiltrate Jin Corp, a wealthy company that manufactures special (and very expensive) suits to protect customers from the city’s life-endangering pollution. As Zhou assumes a fake identity among the richest class to gain access to Jin Corp, he finds that the company might be doing something even more sinister than he imagined. If this synopsis isn’t enough to convince you to pick up the book asap, here are 6 reasons you’re going to want to get Want on your shelf.
Want
Hardcover $19.99
Want
By Cindy Pon
In Stock Online
Hardcover $19.99
1. The rich setting is spectacular
Pon incorporates amazing imagery, so you’ll find it easy to imagine Zhou walking down the streets of a near-future Taipei. Even though pollution is a serious problem, so much so that the sky rarely looks blue, you can feel the love Zhou and his friends have for the city and their desire to improve the place they call home. Bonus: the food descriptions are mouthwatering.
2. The environmental theme hits home to a scary degree
Want is set just far enough into the future to feature new technology and an even more pressing pollution problems, but not so far out that readers can’t see the ways our own present could one day look like Zhou’s. People in Taipei who can’t afford Jin Corp’s fancy suits often die on the streets, or are victims of the flu or pneumonia because they don’t have access to health care. Attempts at legislative action to fix the issues are quickly squashed, and corruption is rampant among lawmakers. This novel will leave you ready to call your own representatives about climate change, as Zhou witnesses his fellow citizens suffering from unfair distribution of resources, lack of accessible health care, and more.
3. Zhou and his friends are epic #squadgoals
Among the brilliant Want team is Victor, who can get hold of nearly anything you could want; Arun, desperately trying to create cures for the sick; Iris, as quick, strong, and ruthless as she is quiet; and Lingyi, an unparalleled hacker. Together with Zhou, they’re like a family dedicated to helping people and the environment. Each character is complex in their own way, and you’ll find yourself thinking of them as friends by the end. While I love the scenes in which only two or three of them are interacting, I adore scenes depicting all of them together, bantering and bickering in the sweetest way. By the end of the novel, I was ready to demand individual books for each and every one.
4. Zhou is the bookish main character we love
Zhou is so well-read that part of his fake identity is having a degree in world literature. I recommend keeping tabs every time you find a literary reference, because Zhou makes them all sound fantastic. The references span classics like A Wrinkle in Time, major authors like Yu Hua, folklore and mythology, and more. Many of the characters bond over bookish discussions exploring heavy themes like sacrifice and uprisings.
5. The side ship will have you swooning
Lingyi and Iris are one of the most adorable side ships I have ever read. Though they’re not the types to be overly affectionate in public, their small but frequent smiles and glances at each other could make any heart flutter. There’s one particularly emotional scene in which their guards are lowered that will leave you in absolute tears. I won’t give too much away, I’ll just be working on ship names in the corner (Iriling? Linir?).
6. One word: Daiyu
Daiyu is the daughter of the infamous owner of Jin Corp. Contrary to what Zhou expects, she’s nothing like her father. She wants to help Taiwan and doesn’t necessarily follow her father’s lead The romance between Daiyu and Zhou is heated and intense, but Daiyu herself is my favorite part of Want. She’s clever, kind, and unafraid of a challenge. She excels at putting plans into play without attracting notice. Quite simply, she’s one of the most badass characters I’ve read.
1. The rich setting is spectacular
Pon incorporates amazing imagery, so you’ll find it easy to imagine Zhou walking down the streets of a near-future Taipei. Even though pollution is a serious problem, so much so that the sky rarely looks blue, you can feel the love Zhou and his friends have for the city and their desire to improve the place they call home. Bonus: the food descriptions are mouthwatering.
2. The environmental theme hits home to a scary degree
Want is set just far enough into the future to feature new technology and an even more pressing pollution problems, but not so far out that readers can’t see the ways our own present could one day look like Zhou’s. People in Taipei who can’t afford Jin Corp’s fancy suits often die on the streets, or are victims of the flu or pneumonia because they don’t have access to health care. Attempts at legislative action to fix the issues are quickly squashed, and corruption is rampant among lawmakers. This novel will leave you ready to call your own representatives about climate change, as Zhou witnesses his fellow citizens suffering from unfair distribution of resources, lack of accessible health care, and more.
3. Zhou and his friends are epic #squadgoals
Among the brilliant Want team is Victor, who can get hold of nearly anything you could want; Arun, desperately trying to create cures for the sick; Iris, as quick, strong, and ruthless as she is quiet; and Lingyi, an unparalleled hacker. Together with Zhou, they’re like a family dedicated to helping people and the environment. Each character is complex in their own way, and you’ll find yourself thinking of them as friends by the end. While I love the scenes in which only two or three of them are interacting, I adore scenes depicting all of them together, bantering and bickering in the sweetest way. By the end of the novel, I was ready to demand individual books for each and every one.
4. Zhou is the bookish main character we love
Zhou is so well-read that part of his fake identity is having a degree in world literature. I recommend keeping tabs every time you find a literary reference, because Zhou makes them all sound fantastic. The references span classics like A Wrinkle in Time, major authors like Yu Hua, folklore and mythology, and more. Many of the characters bond over bookish discussions exploring heavy themes like sacrifice and uprisings.
5. The side ship will have you swooning
Lingyi and Iris are one of the most adorable side ships I have ever read. Though they’re not the types to be overly affectionate in public, their small but frequent smiles and glances at each other could make any heart flutter. There’s one particularly emotional scene in which their guards are lowered that will leave you in absolute tears. I won’t give too much away, I’ll just be working on ship names in the corner (Iriling? Linir?).
6. One word: Daiyu
Daiyu is the daughter of the infamous owner of Jin Corp. Contrary to what Zhou expects, she’s nothing like her father. She wants to help Taiwan and doesn’t necessarily follow her father’s lead The romance between Daiyu and Zhou is heated and intense, but Daiyu herself is my favorite part of Want. She’s clever, kind, and unafraid of a challenge. She excels at putting plans into play without attracting notice. Quite simply, she’s one of the most badass characters I’ve read.