Forest of a Thousand Lanterns by Julie C. Dao

This dark turn of a tale will keep you engulfed in it’s story until the last page. A wonderfully spun tale, Dao has created an enigma.

I am woefully lacking in beautiful East Asian stories on my shelf, and I am so glad to have Forest of a Thousand Lanterns begin to remedy this. I was immediately drawn in by Xifeng and her aunt. The dark magic air that follows Xifeng around was addicting, as was her tenacity within her ambitions.

Probably one of the things that stood out most was, Xifeng is not a good person, nor is she always bad. Her morally grey compass was filled with desire for becoming Empress, while fighting against the darker powers calling to her. Xifeng is filled with cunning which is hidden behind her beautiful face, and the ambition that outstrips even the Tudor court. The dilemma was wonderful.

While we follow Xifeng on her journey of self discovery, we once again are continually surrounded by well rounded, characters. However, that never meant they were safe. I routinely picked several that I loved, and with an almost George R.R. Martin-like quality the brutality in their demise was a hard reminder of the world of which they inhabit.

This book isn’t fast paced, like those that focus on the battles of war, but rather the dynamic of relationships and the subtleties of living in the Emperors court. I was hesitant at first, however I shouldn’t have been worried. The court and world of Feng Lu is repeatedly highlighted by the fantastical otherness of the magic that surrounds this dark tale. While the reader also is faced by the question of love. True love, the love of a mother, and the love for power.

Left with questions and a chilling image, I cannot wait to read the second novel in the Rise of the Empress series. Here are my accolades to Juile C. Dao, for her haunting depiction of a young woman determined to become Empress, and what that kind of a road those ambitions lead you down.

You can get Forest of a Thousand Lanterns here through Bookshop.org, which supports local independent bookstores!

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