Bridge of Birds bills itself as "a story of an ancient China that never was." I have no idea to what extent the China herein depicted resembles any historical China; I would be more surprised to discover any strong correspondence than not. The story unfolds and keeps on unfolding. It's a fairy tail inside a legend inside a mystery, inside a heist, inside a scam, inside a... well, that would be telling. Each of these genres is well executed.

There are two important characters. It is the story of responsible and good natured boy named Number Ten Ox, who goes searching for a wise man when his village is mysteriously stricken with a plague, and finds one. His surname is Li and his personal name is Kao and there is a slight flaw in his character: that flaw is streak of amorality a mile wide. Ox, as the narrator, allows one to sympathize, Li Kao, a sprightly centenarian, gives the book its madcap pace.

Two caveats. Women tend to be peripheral in this book, and Li Kao's amorality occasionally results in gruesome deeds executed with zest.