Janie Chang's The Library of Legends (#930) was an interesting blend of historical fiction and fantasy inspired by the author's own father's student experiences in pre World War II China. As the students and professors evacuate Chinese universities before the Japanese arrive, taking with them books and scrolls important to preserving Chinese culture, the celestial gods and spirits guarding the woods, trees, rivers and cities are warned to leave China as well for their heavenly home before the Palace Gates close forever.
Binding the two stories together is the (fictitious) Legend about the Willow Star and the Prince. Willow Star chooses to live her immortal life watching over the Prince in his many incarnations, while never being able to recapture their love. Willow in this life is known as Sparrow Chen, servant to the wealthy Liu family. She accompanies Shaoming (the Prince) to college in Nanking, but few mortals are aware that she is any more than a servant. Hu Lian is a second year scholarship student at Nanking with secrets of her own. Both leave Nanking behind along with a group of more than one hundred students, professors and laborers to make the thousand mile trek to safety in Chengtu. With them they take the Library of Legends, charged with its safe concealment during the war. Spies and murder pursue them as the Nationalists and Communists clash with each other and the Japanese.
The course of true love never does run smoothly; it's the obstacles put in the couple's way that make the story interesting. You might even learn a few things along the way.
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