Isabella's Reading Corner: Forest of a Thousand Lanterns

Forest of a Thousand Lanterns (Rise of the Empress, #1)

Author: Julie C. Dao

Publication Date: October 10th 2017

Publisher: Philomel Books

Forest of a Thousand Lanterns is a gorgeously written debut novel inspired by the Evil Queen legend from Snow White. 

Xifeng lives a frugal and unhappy life in her dilapidated family home, along with her aunt Guma who raised her. By reading cards and practicing magic, Guma sees greatness in her niece's future, but this rise to power will come at a price. Xifeng will have to give up something or someone important to her to achieve it. 

Xifeng is beautiful, ambitious and intelligent. She has a difficult and complicated relationship with her aunt. Although Guma treats her harshly with her words and physically beats her, she expresses that she has high expectations for her niece. Xifeng lives for the rare moments of kindness and occasional approval she receives from her aunt, hoping for genuine love and affection from her. Deciding to take her fate into her own hands, she leaves Guma and her village behind. She travels with her lover Wei to the Imperial City in the hopes of becoming the one destined to unite the five kingdoms and bring peace to the continent. However, it is foretold there is another whose destiny may be greater than her own.

Xifeng has an inner malevolence that she desperately strives to suppress. She is quick to anger and has extremely violent thoughts about others who she feels have slighted her, no matter how insignificant the circumstance. She constantly struggles to fight this creature within her and not embrace the darkness which will destroy her soul. Her transformation through her choices is plausible and authentic. She is resourceful as she faces adversity and rivals on her path to becoming the Empress.

There is remarkable attention to detail in every aspect of the story. The village, the Emperor’s palace, Imperial City and the forest where the tengaru reside, are all magnificently described.  The characters are extremely well-developed, unique and believable. The connections and interactions between the women are more potent and fascinating than the romances, which makes for a more thought-provoking narrative.

Forest of a Thousand Lanterns is a powerful and compelling fantasy tale, filled with mystery, dark magic and secrets. Julie C. Dao has created a kingdom that is beautifully imagined. With East Asian mythology, colourful demons, political intrigue, complex relationships and an ambitious, yet tortured anti-heroine, I can’t recommend it highly enough!

Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada for the ARC provided for review.

From the publisher:

The Wrath and the Dawn meets Snow White and the Huntsman in this dark and mystical East Asian fantasy reimagining of The Evil Queen legend about one peasant girl's quest to become Empress.

Eighteen-year-old Xifeng is beautiful. The stars say she is destined for greatness, that she is meant to be Empress of Feng Lu. But only if she embraces the darkness within her.

Growing up as a peasant in a forgotten village on the edge of the map, Xifeng longs to fulfill the destiny promised to her by her cruel aunt, the witch Guma, who has read the cards and seen glimmers of Xifeng's majestic future. But is the price of the throne too high? Because in order to achieve greatness, she must spurn the young man who loves her and  exploit the callous magic that runs through her veins--sorcery fueled by eating the hearts of the recently killed. For the god who has sent her on this journey will not be satisfied until his power is absolute. 

Set in an East Asian-inspired fantasy world filled with both breathtaking pain and beauty, Forest of a Thousand Lanterns possesses all the hallmarks of masterful fantasy: dazzling magic, heartbreaking romance, and a world that hangs in the balance. Fans of Heartless, Stealing Snow, and Red Queen will devour this stunning debut.

You can read my original Isabella's Reading Corner post on Forest of a Thousand Lanterns here.

Isabella's Reading Corner: That Inevitable Victorian Thing

That Inevitable Victorian Thing

Author: E.K. Johnston

Publication Date: October 3rd 2017

Publisher: Dutton Books for Young Readers

That Inevitable Victorian Thing takes place in the near future and is set in an alternative world created when Victoria I appoints her eldest daughter heir, instead of her son. Rather than arranging marriages for her children within Europe, she looked further to other continents and encouraged her daughter, Victoria II, to do so as well. This ultimately resulted in a diverse royal family and a strong multiracial, multicultural British Empire.

Margaret, Crown Princess of the Empire and direct descendant of Victoria I, travels to Canada with her parents, the Queen of England and the Prince Consort. Masquerading as a commoner, she embarks on an adventure reminiscent of Roman Holiday. She wants the freedom to enjoy her visit before taking up her royal responsibilities as an adult, including a political marriage. While there she meets August, son of a prominent family and Helena, his potential fiancée, who has been invited to debut at the ball in Toronto attended by the royals. The story revolves around the three as they forge a bond against a background of parties, dances and intrigue.

The book was an absolute joy to read. The characters live in a world where racism and bigotry is not tolerated. Diversity in gender, sexuality and religion is encouraged and different ethnicities and cultures are celebrated, not scorned. I was fascinated by so many aspects of this novel, especially the world building and use of computer genetic matchmaking, with it's combination of tradition and technology. Using the alluring scenery of Ontario as a backdrop to the story was refreshing. The pacing was steady, which gave me an opportunity to relish in the nuances and developing relationships, particularly the strong female friendships. 

Johnston has a unique writing style that kept me captivated. Once I started reading, I really didn't want to stop. That Inevitable Victorian Thing is a charming, compelling story of a future that although not perfect, inspires hope and understanding, amidst the unhappiness and division in today's chaotic world. Highly recommended.

Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada for the ARC provided for review.

From the publisher:

Speculative fiction from the acclaimed bestselling author of Exit, Pursued by a Bear and Star Wars: Ahsoka.

Victoria-Margaret is the crown princess of the empire, a direct descendant of Victoria I, the queen who changed the course of history. The imperial tradition of genetically arranged matchmaking will soon guide Margaret into a politically advantageous marriage. But before she does her duty, she'll have one summer of freedom and privacy in a far corner of empire. Posing as a commoner in Toronto, she meets Helena Marcus, daughter of one of the empire's greatest placement geneticists, and August Callaghan, the heir to a powerful shipping firm currently besieged by American pirates. In a summer of high-society debutante balls, politically charged tea parties, and romantic country dances, Margaret, Helena, and August discover they share an extraordinary bond and maybe a one-in-a-million chance to have what they want and to change the world in the process.

Set in a near-future world where the British Empire was preserved not by the cost of blood and theft but by the effort of repatriation and promises kept, That Inevitable Victorian Thing is a surprising, romantic, and thought-provoking story of love, duty, and the small moments that can change people and the world.

You can read my original Isabella's Reading Corner post on That Inevitable Victorian Thing here.