an itinerant healer and sometime-charlatan. Hang Hsien: Hang Dejin's son and assistant, and eventually the prime minister to Emperor Zhizheng. Bai'ji: Wan-yan's brother. Xi Wengao: Hang Dejin's predecessor as prime minister, leader of the court's conservative faction, and a renowned poet who hosts Lin Shan, her father, and Lu Chen early in the novel. Reception Critical reception has been mostly positive. The Washington Post rated the book favorably, writing that it was "a major accomplishment, the work of a master novelist in full command of his subject". The A.V. Club gave a mostly favorable review, stating "The novel as a whole may not always succeed, but when it does, it’s astounding." Awards River of Stars won the 2014 Copper Cylinder Award in the adult novel category. References Further reading 2013 Canadian novels Historical fantasy novels Novels by Guy Gavriel Kay Novels set in the Song dynasty Novels set in the Jin dynasty (1115–1234) Roc Books books