The Moon in the Palace by Weina Dai Randel

It is a story of one woman's rise to power, but also of the relationships between the women of the palace. Randel's novel is an impressive tale of lethal court intrigue that is seductive and alluring. 'Like fragile yet strong silk threads, Randel's beautifully composed debut ensnares readers in the dynamic story of the young girl who would become Empress of the Bright Moon. A rare and beautiful treasure.-Elizabeth Chadwick, NYT bestselling author Winner of RWA RITA(R) Award 2017 Recommended by Texas Library Association's 2017 Lariat Reading List One of the Biggest Historical Fiction books of 2016 by Bookbub One of Washington Independent Reviews of Book's 25 Favorite Books of 2016 A San Francisco Book Festival Honorable Mention I absolutely loved The Moon in the Palace. In the breakthrough first volume in the Empress of Bright Moon duology, Weina Dai Randel paints a vibrant portrait of the Emperor's Palace-where love, ambition, and loyalty can spell life or death-and the woman who came to rule all of ancient China. But just as she is in a position to seduce the most powerful man in China, divided loyalties split the palace in two, culminating in a perilous battle that Mei can only hope to survive. Mei's intelligence and curiosity, the same traits that make her an outcast among the other concubines, impress the Emperor.

Young Mei knows nothing of these womanly arts, yet she will give the Emperor a gift he can never forget. Some present him with fantastic gifts, such as jade pendants and scrolls of calligraphy, while others rely on their knowledge of seduction to draw his interest. Many hope to lure in the One Above All with their beauty.

In Tang Dynasty China, a concubine at the palace learns quickly that there are many ways to capture the Emperor's attention. Randel's gorgeous debut novel seductively pulls back the curtain to reveal the heartbreaking world of.China.-Stephanie Dray, NYT bestselling Author of America's First Daughter A thrilling work of historical fiction, bringing romance, intrigue, and the unexpected rise of an Empress to intoxicating life under the inscrutable moon.

The Moon in the Palace by Weina Dai Randel