What drew me to this book was the title and the cover. It reminded me of Mulan, so I was eager to dive into this world. Unfortunately, it did not live up to my expectations. There was nothing spectacular or surprising in the plot, and the "twists" were very predictable. The history of the empire, which seems very important to the story, is muddled in the telling. I am sure in the author's mind it made perfect sense, but because we learned in bits and pieces, it felt disjointed. There was so much I thought we were supposed to know, but it is as if the author forgot to tell us. Basic things about Yunis and the Gifted Kith, like who they are, what they can do, and why they matter to the empire were left out in favor of vagueness and mystery, I suppose. But you would think by the end of the book we would have had a clearer picture. Since this is the first book in a series, I think it would have been fine for the author to spend more time on laying a cohesive, understandable foundation to build her world on.

I will probably read the next book, though, because the storyline I am most interested in is Nokhai's.

I thought this was a strong world with really well-developed characters. I couldn't decide who to root for and who to hate--for the most part. There were characters I absolutely hated. It was great. Highly recommend for fantasy fans.

3.5 stars

It was hard for me to rate this one.

So prepare yourself for a big, rambly review that will make no sense whatsoever as I try to unscramble my thoughts.

On the one hand, I enjoyed the premise and liked the varying points of view. I loved the setting, the different beings, and the theme of colonialism/conquerorism that predominated the narrative.

On the other, I never really connected with any of the characters. Are any, aside from sweet, soft Nok, supposed to be likable?

Lu's character arc felt shallow and barely there, as if she never changes from brash, arrogant princess to a more nuanced leader of an empire, who really understands the consequences of the destruction her father and grandfather had wrought upon innocent kingdoms in their quest for new lands. I felt myself emphasizing with Set of all people—who had actually commanded people and politicked and made allies instead of Lu who thought that because of her blood and weapons training she had the right to be Emperor.

Min's arc was...interesting. She begins as a timid, naive girl who has spent her entire life ignored by her sister and emotionally abused by her mother. Then she meets Set and a really one-sided infatuation begins.

Nok was interesting at well, and I wish that his character had been more fleshed out. He was a good fit to Lu's brashness—he wasn't a warrior, was deeply scarred by the destruction of his family and the death of his sister, and he was soft. He didn't want what was happening to him and was too unsure of what was coming, so unsure and uneasy with it that I just wanted to smack him across his face and snap, "Think of saving your people!"

Overall, my main complaint was that the book felt both too rushed and too slow all at once! The pacing felt off, and it resulted in a lack of connection with the characters, and a lack of me really caring about their fate despite what should have been a really riveting plot.

Okay, enough of me complaining and whining.

I really, really did love the setting, and I love the Asian representation. I really felt like plot and concept was fantastic, but for me the execution could have been a little stronger if the romance element was nixed and some character arcs strengthened up a bit.

This is a big, epic fantasy and there is so much that needs to be resolved.

I'm curious what the sequel will look like, and what the future will bring for Min, Lu and Nok.

I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.

This book was fine, yet nothing special? I can't say I hated it, I did end up flying through it, but nothing really happened. The rivalry between sisters wasn't really a thing here, I'm hoping we'll see more of that in a sequel. I didn't really have any strong feelings on the characters, I of course favored Lu seeing as she was the smarter of the three POV. The romance was annoyingly there, yet I wouldn't really call it a romance in the first place? I do have hopes the sequel will be better, but this was a bit of a trial to get through.

Starting this book I was hopeful and the concept was amazing, two sisters, a throne, an evil cousin sounded right up my alley. At first it was a good start, but then the world building was lacking, the plot didn't move and got a little boring at times. I didn't fall in love with any of the characters, they were fine, but just lacked getting my attention in any way which made it difficult. I liked the idea, but in the end it wasn't a favorite or something I would highly recommend.

Mimi Yu’s debut novel The Girl King is an Asian-inspired fantasy that is filled to the brim with political intrigue, sibling rivalry, betrayal, rebellion, and of course, magic. It follows Lu and Min, two sisters who are as different as night and day, and who are princesses of the Empire. Lu, the more outspoken and rebellious of the two, believes that their father (against their mother’s wishes) is about to name her as his successor, which would make her the Empire’s first female ruler. Min, the more docile and reserved sister, also believes that Lu is destined to be Empress and that her own role is simply to continue being the meek and dutiful daughter that makes their mother happy.

It’s also not only the sisters who expect Lu to be named the next ruler. Most of the citizens of the Empire expect it as well. So, when the unthinkable happens and their father names their cousin Set as the new Emperor instead and proclaims that Lu’s destiny will be to marry Set, chaos ensues on all sides. Lu feels betrayed and Min is utterly bewildered. Determined to reclaim her birthright at all costs, Lu sets out to find allies who will help her take back the throne. In doing so, however, she leaves her sister Min behind. Min’s future has also been up-ended, both by their father’s proclamation and by Lu’s desertion. What role will Min play now that everything has been turned upside down?

The three main characters of The Girl King were the story’s biggest draw for me.

I really liked Lu’s fierceness and determination, and that she’s a bit of a rebel. Most of all though, I liked her self-confidence. She truly feels that she is more than capable of taking her father’s place as ruler of the Empire. The fact that she would be the first female ruler doesn’t faze her in the least. Some may find her arrogant, but I just found it refreshing that she knows what she wants and feels ready for the responsibility. My heart broke for her when her father announced that Set, a cousin that Lu despises, would be named the next ruler instead of Lu.

Min was a little harder to get to know, mainly because she’s so quiet and retreating compared to Lu. She functions as little more than a secondary character while Lu is around. Even relegated to the background, however, Min still got to me. I still found myself really caring about her and feeling protective of her. It seemed like no good could come from her being left behind at the palace without Lu there as a buffer between her and anyone else who might try to take advantage of her meek nature. I don’t want to give away anything too spoilery but I will say that the transformation Min undergoes throughout the course of The Girl King wins her the Most Shocking Character award. It’s amazing what can happen when someone is just pushed way too far!

Nokhai (or Nok) was actually probably my favorite character. As much as I enjoyed the sibling dynamic between Lu and Min, I just found Nokhai’s story equally, if not more, compelling than theirs. Nok is a wolf shapeshifter, and thanks to Min and Lu’s father wiping out his people, Nok is the last surviving one of his kind. Unable to master this shapeshifting power that he has, Nok has been in hiding and would prefer to stay that way, However, when he and Lu meet up out in the forest, he finds himself drawn into an awkward alliance with her and vows to help her reclaim the throne. I love how the author infuses this character with so much complexity and inner turmoil. On the one hand, he hates the Empire and everything it stands for, but on the other, there’s something about Lu that makes him believe he can trust her to be a just ruler. Add to that Nok’s immense frustration that he cannot master his power and that there is no one left to teach him how to do so and we have ourselves an emotional mess of a character. Nok just needed a hug so badly.

Aside from the characters, I also thought the worldbuilding was wonderful too. Everything is just so detailed and vivid. There’s a complex and very cool magic system of course, but there’s also spirits, shapeshifters, prophecies, and even a hidden city and temples. I do wish I was more familiar with Asian folklore and history so that I could have appreciated it even more, but I was still quite captivated by the world the author has constructed.

The author also strikes a nice balance between action and emotion. While much of the story feels quite character driven as Lu, Min, and Nok are each battling their own inner demons, there is also a very strong plot that is filled with political intrigue, betrayal, and epic fight scenes.

Overall, I found The Girl King to be a very entertaining read. My only real complaint was that I wish the story had felt a little more original. I guess I’ve just read too many stories where the rightful ruler goes into exile and has to come back and fight for their throne. It was a nice twist to have that rightful ruler be a female this time though.

There were also a couple of plot twists regarding Nok that I found somewhat predictable. Predicting how things would turn out didn’t lessen my enjoyment of the story, although I always prefer to be kept guessing for as long as possible to build suspense.

If you like fierce heroines, sibling rivalries, vivid worldbuilding, and political intrigue, I think you would find The Girl King to your liking. I found it to be a very solid debut for Mimi Yu and look forward to seeing where the second book in the series takes me.

I didn't enjoy this very much, and there also were a few questionable things. Like the attempted rape. There was no point to it, and the fact that it was a male guard and that was the only hint of same sex relations was very disturbing. It didn't need to be there at all. I also was very disappointed by the lack of sibling feels. I wanted to have sibling related or family related feelings because there are sisters mentioned but they seemed very distant from each other. Also just everything about Min's characterization felt weird. And I had a hard time buying in.

Princess Lu is ready to be named her father's heir and become the first woman to rule their empire with her sister, Min, hiding in the shadows. But when their father names their cousin, Set, as the heir instead, a series of events are put into place that puts their empire into mortal peril. Lu abandons the palace in order to take her rightful place as heir, making an unlikely alliance with Nok, a survivor from the labor camps up north. Little do any of them know that they have set events into motion that will wake long sleeping magic--leaving none of them the same.

Thanks to Net Galley and Bloomsbury YA for giving me an early copy of this book to read and review! I'd been seeing this book everywhere on Twitter it felt like, so I'm glad I got to nab a copy before it was released. Fantasy has been the genre where more diversity is slowly being included, so it's refreshing to have an Asian protagonist that can fit into the likes of characters like Katniss or Aelin.

We'll start with my favorite aspect of this book: the magic. I though the system that Yu created was unique, giving this book an edge when put alongside other YA fantasy books. Additionally, I thoroughly enjoyed the sort of sibling rivalry that's included in the book; we don't see many YA fantasy books where sisters are pitted against each other, and just having a strong female power on both sides of the narrative adds another element to the book that makes it that much more enjoyable.

We were also given a large variety of points of view that also gave the reader a larger picture of the war that was quickly escalating. And there was a lot going on, between Lu, Min, Nok, and the various wrongs that the empire had committed. The multiple points of view helped some in keeping these events straight, but I do think a map would have made a huge world of difference (at least for me). I couldn't keep straight where everyone was going and who was moving to fight where. Maybe there will be one in the final version?

Despite the magical and mystical elements, the world building here fell a bit flat to me, as did some of the character development. While I enjoyed the different types of magic included here, I didn't feel like I got a good sense of the world as a whole. I wanted more detail, more information about the lives that Lu and Min lead, more about Nok's background. I feel that this would have made the book more immersive--and easier to follow. By the end, I was inundated with characters and places that it was difficult for me to follow what was going on. Instead of including so much in the first book, save some of the events and people for later books; this would allow the first book to breath, as well as creating a more immersive world building experience.

Overall, this is an enjoyable read that I think many YA fantasy fans will enjoy. Despite falling into similar tropes of the genre, Mimi Yu is still able to create a compelling narrative that I think will bring fans back for book 2 (because there's obviously going to be a book 2).

3.5/5 stars

I wanted to like this book.
In fact, I wanted to love The Girl King. Sisters! Rivals! Betrayal! Family! War! Mimi Yu's debut smells of an action-packed adventure with sibling rivalry, magic and court politics that would be hard to put down. Bonus points for #OwnVoices.

But much disappointment has occurred.
Bookwyrms, much disappointment has indeed occurred. I spent loads of time deciding if I should continue trekking my way through The Girl King or calling it quits. Eventually, at 50% through, I decided to call it a day because we don't have time for books that aren't enjoyable.

We're not going to talk much about the problems involved.
"Slipskin" feels awfully weird for a shifter/werewolf influence, bookwyrms. Sure, it's "slipping" out of one's "skin" and into another "slipping" into another "skin." But is it just me, or do I think of something gross and slimy at the thought? 🤔

And let's not get started with "pink." I legit thought of newly born babies.

Vicky from Vicky Who Reads has this covered in more detail in her review. (I guarantee you her post is 100x more professional.)

I didn't connect with anything in The Girl King.
Sure, I went to at least halfway through the book, but it was a whole lot of back and forth reading between this book and another one. I didn't care about the storyline or the world, even though I could relate to some of the cultural influences included. Despite enjoying Lu's fierceness, I ultimately didn't care about Lu or any of the other characters involved. I found myself interested in continuing the book at some points, but at the same time, I didn't really care.

This is an impressive debut novel and Mimi Yu is one to watch. The Girl King is a Chinese inspired fantasy with a fully fleshed world, nuanced characters, magic, unexpected twists, and a dash of brutality. Royal sisters Lu and Min have always been opposites. Lu is brave and fierce, raised to be her father's heir and skilled in combat. Min is quiet, pushed toward traditional femininity, and often overlooked. But when their father instead betroths Lu to her cousin and makes him the heir, a series of events will lead to the sisters becoming rivals in a battle for the throne. Lu allies herself with Nokhai, a wolf shapeshifter, while her sister must contend with their cousin and the creepy priest who advises him.

Lu and Min are fascinating characters, and we get to see their arcs develop through the story in interesting ways. Nokhai and Lu dislike each other at first, but eventually learn from each other and become close. I don't want to say much about Min's arc, but she has several disturbing yet compelling interactions at court. I did think the book was a tad long and meandered at times, but overall the author has crafted an interesting and compelling story that sets the stage for future books in the series. I received a review copy of this book via Net-Galley. All opinions are my own.

An Asian-inspired fantasy novel about two sisters on opposite sides of the fight for the throne. Lu and Min are the only daughters of the emperor, and when he declares their cousin, Set, as heir, Lu is determined to fight for her right to rule. But political intrigue and betrayal run rampant at court and Lu is forced to flee after an attempt on her life. An old friend could make for an unlikely ally in her quest—if he can overcome his hatred for all royals for the role they played in wiping out his people. Min, meanwhile, pledges her loyalty to her cousin while discovering some unknown gifts of her own—magical abilities that were forbidden long ago, but may prove invaluable in the fighting ahead.
I love stories about sisters, and this was such an interesting one because of the really complicated relationship between Lu and Min. They do love each other in a way, but their personalities and loyalties are so polarized that they find themselves becoming enemies. Min’s descent toward darkness and both sisters’ desire to save the other were really fascinating elements to me. I’m also a big fan of fantasy stories inspired by cultures outside of Europe—and specifically medieval England / France—so I really enjoyed that element of this book, as well.
The first half felt pretty slow to me, which is why this book only gets three and a half stars from me, but ultimately I did still enjoy it. A fun and interesting read.

I requested the eARC of The Girl King from Bloomsbury on Netgalley. I saw Samantha Shannon say some great things about it, so even though I didn’t know much myself I was intrigued! It’s is another in a longish line of Asian inspired YA fantasy novels, which I just can’t get enough of. But! I saw lots of surprisingly negative comments on Goodreads. I have so many thoughts on this book and my reading experience, so let’s go.

Mimi Yu creates a new take on the Japanese yokai myth in The Girl King. At least, that’s how I read Nokhai’s storyline. He was one of my favorite characters for so many reasons, and I really think the heritage she created for him sets this book apart from other Asian inspired fantasy, and warring kingdoms fantasy in general. If you aren’t familiar with yokai myths, they are essentially shape-shifters but are typically seen in isolation. Yu’s novel presents whole communities of them, grouped together based on their patron animal. I really grabbed on to this idea, and I love the magic it brought to the world.

The Girl King is really chock full of magic! I was expecting more terrestrial forms of warfare, but there is so much mysticism in the story. Spirits of dead shamans seeking closure, hidden cities, telepathy, and of course the shape-shifters are just a few of the magical elements that create the world of The Girl King.

I want to talk more about characters because I saw some comments related to characters being flat, or undeveloped. The 3 primary characters are sisters Min & Lu, and their childhood acquaintance Nokhai. I won’t spoil how they met, but it does play a critical role in their relationship as young adults. Each of these characters struggles with very different issues throughout the course of the book. Lu has to contend with the loss of her birthright, being separated from her family, and learning that her life is based on a lie. Nokhai has to try to find his way back to his heritage, and to control newfound abilities. Min perhaps has the most difficult struggle of all. She is faced with family struggles both from without and within. Her entire world upends itself in a very short time. As the youngest POV character, it’s at times alarming to see what she has to deal with, and how she rises to that challenge.

I do have 1 qualm with the book, though it is fairly minor. I wish there hadn’t been a romance. I think the book would have been stronger if that relationship had been swapped out for a platonic one. It muddied some things that were already pretty muddy, to begin with, and burned too hot too fast. I didn’t completely hate it, but I could have done without it personally.

So, ultimately I feel confused by a lot of the popular negative reviews on Goodreads. There are some important trigger warnings for The Girl King (attempted rape, physical/emotional/mental abuse, war themes), and if those put you off of reading it I completely understand, but I can’t agree with some of the comments about it not truly being Asian inspired, or the characters lacking depth. I honestly felt like maybe there were some big changes between the edition those reviewers read and the one I read. I encourage anyone who enjoyed The Poppy War, Shadow of the Fox, or the Three Dark Crowns series to give The Girl King a try!

Hello, I will be adding this review to my blog, Instagram, and Goodreads two weeks before the release date. I will also add the review to Amazon and Barnes & Noble on the release date. I will add links once they go public, thank you.

Title: The Girl King
Author: Mimi Yu
Publication Date: January 8th, 2019
Rating: 5 stars
eARC provided by publisher through NetGalley

The Girl King is about an empire thrown into mayhem when the oldest of two siblings decides that she will create her own fate no matter the cost, leaving the younger sister with the consequences of her older sister's decisions.

Lu, the oldest sister is strong-headed and knows what she wants. Min, the youngest, is very quiet and does as she is told but with such restraint comes a breaking point. They are both relatable since we have all had to decide at one point if what we want has too high of a risk and if we are willing to keep going despite the damage it has on others. We also have had times of being in someones shadow and wanting to break through. The characters are well developed and you really connect with them through her writing as she adds a few PoV which adds another layer to her already in depth characters. 

The sibling rivalry was something I enjoyed because they didn't really start off as rivals per say. Over the course of the book it builds and we get to see another side of the characters when everything begins to fall apart. The writing is wonderfully detailed as it adds depth to the world she surrounds us in. The one small thing I didn't care for was the relationship building between two of the characters. It felt a little pushed but it's such a minor thing that it didn't make me love the book any less.

Filled with mystical beings, sibling rivalry, and secrets this book is nothing short of incredible. If you are a fan of Three Dark Crowns, Shadow of the Fox or just love fantasy, I would recommend this book. I have already ordered the UK version and a US signed copy because I love this book so much! I will anxiously be waiting for the second book. Seriously, if it isn't on your TBR, add it!

The cover caught my attention and I was drawn in with the synopsis. That is usually the case for most diverse books these days. And I'm very thankful that there are books with Asian girls on the covers. It's amazing.

The Girl King by Mimi Yu is told through three point-of-views: Lu, the promised heir to the empire, Min, the young sister with the hidden power, and Nok, the last of his kind hiding from everyone who would remember him. When Lu's was not chosen as the heir, it split the destiny of the sisters, changing their future and catapulting this story.

This story fell a bit short for me. While I enjoy the overall premise, and I absolutely love Lu, Min and I didn't connect as much as I wanted to. Lu was a force that was strong and fierce. She knew what she wanted, and her gumption was loud and clear. I loved how determined she was, and didn't let any man, especially her father, get her down. I enjoyed how she developed as a character, and is my favorite part of the story. Min is young, and her personality clearly showed that. I didn't agree with anything she did, and it was hard for me to read through any part that included her.

Nok was someone that I enjoyed but didn't mind either way. I didn't enjoy the romance, but I felt that Nok and Lu would have been better off as friends. Their dynamic is fun, but the romance changed it, and I just didn't ship them.

Every time the sisters were pitted against each other, I was waiting for a catalyst to just really propel the story and the pacing. I was waiting for an all out fight between two strong characters.

Overall, I enjoyed the story and am interested in reading the next story.

*Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.*

The Girl King is one of those books that sucks you in and surprises you. I expected a book about a girl who was warlike and wanted her claim to the throne, but what I got was so much more.

Without giving away any spoilers, I got magic in unexpected places. People whose personalities surprised you with their strength, or even their cruelty. I found a tangled web of political intrigue and an oppressed people. I found characters that I began to love and became heartbroken over. I found characters in impossible situations making choices that made me want to scream. And it was very, very good.

I enjoyed the characters, and for a while, I wasn't really sure who to root for. The setting was in a China-like place full of magic an emperors and dynasties, which I loved. I loved the writing style.

The Girl King is a planned duology, and I just put the second book in this series on my Want-To-Read shelf over at Goodreads. I'll definitely be looking for the second book in 2020!

"'I wasn't made to torment you,' she snarled. 'I wasn't made for you at all. I was made for me.'"

An own-voices Asian-inspired fantasy, full of magic, shape-shifting, political intrigue and fights for the throne? Sign me up. The description of this book is exactly what I look for when I request books, and this was one of my most anticipated ARCs of the month. I wasn't disappointed.

This book gripped my interest from page one, and it held it until the very end. The world building was spectacular, and I fond myself super invested in who ended up on the throne. The betrayal in this book was UNREAL, but there is also a sibling relationship in this book that makes my heart all soft and warm. The writing was fantastic, and I felt like I was really transported to the world Yu was describing. I loved the character development, and even the characters I hated had impressive depth. The characters were, hands-down, my favorite part of this book.

Lu: Lu is destined to become the Empire's first female Emperor. She's trained for it all her life, and she's ready to rule. That is, until her father declares her cousin Set as the male heir instead. Lu, being who she is, isn't ready to take that lying down. Lu is fierce, smart, and loyal, but she's also stubborn and quick-tempered. And she's determined to win back her throne, even if she has to turn the Empire upside down to do it. Lu was one of my faves, and everything I could want in a strong, female MC.

"She did not run, and she did not cry. If conflict came at Lu, she would rush to meet it."

Min: Min is Lu's younger sister, and easily overlooked by most of the court. Ignored by her father and drawing perhaps too much attention from her mother, Min has always been regarded as small, quiet, and perhaps a little "simple". When her hidden powers start to manifest, she's determined to change that. Min is ready to step out of Lu's shadow and into her own person. I'll be honest: I actually really hated Min. Her character development was great, but I could just not get behind this girl. I wanted to punch her in the face numerous times. I couldn't figure her out: did she love Lu or not? Was she just a spoiled brat, or actually cruel? I never did decide. I will say, I feel like Min was portrayed as slightly mentally ill, but in a way that left a bad taste in my mouth? I can't really put my finger on it.

"There's nothing that can't be won with a well-crafted lie. Why, in the right light, a liar might even glint like gold."

Nokhai: Nok is the last survivor of his kind: a wolf shapeshifter. His character arc throughout the book is hands-down my favorite. We get to watch as he goes from a boy hiding from the Imperials and steps into his birthright as a Pactmaker. He starts out hiding and weak, and becomes a strong, capable warrior. I'll admit, Nok is definitely a softer version of a warrior, but I think that's what I love about him. Even though he doesn't need it, I kind of want to put him in my pocket and protect him. However, my favorite thing about him is how he makes Lu question her empire and herself. He has experienced the hardships and cruelty of her father's rule firsthand, and he does not let her look away from that. If anything, he forces her to look closer, and then question what kind of ruler she wants to be.

"He is a boy covered in hidden wounds."

Set: Lu and Min's cousin, who is named next in line for the throne. This boy needs a good punch in the face. Several times. That is all.

I did have some minor complaints. I've seen a lot of people complaining that while this is own-voices and marketed as Asian-inspired fantasy, you could easily replace all the names with others and have any other YA fantasy story. I can't say I disagree with that. I saw the Asian influence in the first 25% of the book, but after that the journeying and the separate plot lines took over a little bit. This is certainly not my area of expertise, so I do not want to be too harsh on this, especially because it's own-voices. But beyond that, my biggest complaint is that I wanted more explanation of the magic system. The world building was fantastic, but I wanted more information on the shape shifters, Brother, and Min's power; that was always a little confusing to me.

Ultimately, I loved this book. It was full of journeying, political intrigue, sibling love and betrayal, and new friendships. As the characters each discovered more about themselves and each other, I found myself more and more invested in their story and their friendships. This book was action-packed, beautifully written, and full of feisty strong female characters. What more could you want? I cannot wait to pick up the sequel.

The Girl King releases on January 8, 2019.

*All quotes are taken from an ARC and are subject to change prior to publication.

This is a story with so many wonderful elements, I eagerly jumped at the chance to review it. It did not disappoint. With a world formed around empires and magic, this novel is a page-turner that was really fun.

What I Liked:
World Building:

I really enjoyed the creative world in which this book is set. There are people who can shapeshift into animals, warriors, royalty, and mythical cities. I loved the "Inbetween" realm, where a city hides from their aggressive neighbors. And Min's secret abilities are exciting, and terrifying. All of these elements were rich details that added to the story.

Characters:

I really liked the strong women in this novel. Lu has been training her whole life to lead her nation. When it looks as if she won't get the chance, she doesn't accept this lying down. She takes action. The problem for Lu is that she doesn't anticipate how much resistance the men in her society have to the idea of a female ruler.

Min is harder to like. But she learns through the story to embrace her talents and take control. I did like that she went from an awkward, self-conscious young teen to an empress who demand respect.

Nok is a scrappy survivor. He is the last of his people, after Lu's father has all but wiped out anyone who can shapeshift into an animal form. Nok is also trying to understand his own abilities. Even though Nok is not the best fighter or charismatic of young men, he knows his own worth and demands respect from Lu. He will not be intimidated by Lu being a princess.

Set, although a thoroughly abhorrent human being, had a clear motive for his actions. I liked that he had a backstory that contributed to his actions.

Romance:

I loved the bittersweet romance between Lu and Nok. Considering how they were both from different stations, their love story was doomed from the start. But I loved that Nok accepted Lu for who she really was. He didn't assume she was a spoiled princess. Lu also saw Nok as a young man with plenty to offer other than power or position. I really rooted for them.

Story:

The story follows the power plays among the empire after the king dies. Will Set become the emperor? Or will Lu be able to overcome the sexism of her time and become the first girl king? I love the ceremony of the court, with all its pageantry. But I also love the everyday people and how they are affected by what the nobility does.

This was a fast-paced story that kept me guessing throughout the novel.

What I Was Mixed About:
Characters:

As much as I loved the strong characters, it took me a while (quite a while, actually) to like anyone in the novel. Every character had a mean streak. I suppose characters need to grow through the course of a story. But I found it difficult to empathize with Lu and Min, in particular, as they both were rather petty and self-centered. Lu did begin to change by the end of the book, and I loved her growth. I could not feel such a connection to Min.

I met Mimi at BookExpo in 2018 and she is so sweet and amazing (and has some pretty amazing tattoos) and it easily one of my highlights of the conference. But The Girl King has sat on my bookcase since June when in November I finally decided to give The Girl King a try and I made it about 20% before I put it to the side and said I would go back to it. It sucks when you are really excited for a book and then just don't love it. Sadly that was the case with The Girl King. It is beautifully written Asian inspired fantasy that will have you immersed from the first page. But my relationship with this book is: "It's not you, it's me."

The first few chapters I was really intrigued and eager to learn what was going on. Like I said, The Girl King is beautifully written and Mimi did not spare one second on building her characters. Each POV is distinctive and you could just tell by their voice whose POV you were reading from. The world is lush and the traditions are beautiful. Mimi created two sisters who are complete and total opposites and each with motives of their own for wanting the throne.

My biggest problem was that by 50% point of The Girl King nothing much had really happen. Where the book started off nicely with world building that made complete sense, but the halfway mark my head was spinning. This totally might be a me issue and maybe with The Girl King not being the book for me. But this book is almost 500 pages long, so by pretty much 250ish pages I really wasn't sure what was going on. The time frame also jumps a lot, so in Min's POV suddenly a month has passed by but it doesn't seem like that in Lu's POV at times.

Overall I really think The Girl King just wasn't for me and it was more of a me issue then the actual book. I do encourage you to pick this book up because it does contain beautiful writing and it has been loved by so many so far. I am excited to see what Mimi is going to write after The Girl King with all things considered.

This is the first time I will ever admit to a novel having too much going on for me to handle! Lu, the Emperor’s daughter destined to take the throne. Min, forever in her shadow and always trying to be the perfect lady. Two sisters who are very different. Everything gets turned upside down when the Emperor chooses their cousin, Set, as next to the throne.

"Myths are what common men call history distorted by time."

In a story of deceit, death, betrayal. and magic, is anyone safe? While on the run from Set, she runs into Nokhai, who happens to shapeshift into a wolf…and the only one left who can. While things quickly turn steamy between the two, history shows their “people” to be great enemies.

"Beauty was a weapon – one that required honing and care, like a sword. But also like a sword it could cut both ways."

Min was always the obedient one. Set to marry the new Emperor, she is suddenly surprised when she learns about a power she now yields. Both girls embark on a journey of their own, except what they want might lead to the destruction of the other.

"What is popular is not always what is right."

The action is non-stop and intense. I was engulfed in the novel the entire time I was reading it and actually wanted to read more than the allotted Buddy Read chapters per day. I’m excited for the sequel!

The Girl King is an East Asian inspired story full of fantasy elements, a magic system, and sisterly betrayal. The synopsis is really intriguing and I was invested in the plot, however this was a difficult review to write, because while there was a lot I liked about the book, there were also a few things I didn't enjoy. 

One of the things I liked was that I was never bored while reading. The pacing was well-done, and I never had a problem with the story capturing my attention. There were even a times when I had a hard time stopping and wanted to continue to read chapter after chapter. The story was told through three different character POVs: Lu, Min, and Nokhai. Each chapter was told in third person, which made it harder to connect with the characters. I liked reading Lu and Nokhai's chapters; I really loved Lu's narrative arc and Nok was such an interesting character that I hope to learn much more about in the next books!

Another aspect I really loved about The Girl King was the dichotomy of personality between Lu and Min, and how each sister changed and adapted to their situation as the book progressed. I wasn't a fan of Min's chapters, although I did appreciate her transition from a guileless and quiet young girl into arguably the antagonist. Her naivety and youth were frustrating to read, especially when it came to some of the choices she made, but I can't argue that she makes an intriguing character for upcoming sequels. 

I wanted to love The Girl King much more than what I did, but unfortunately there were a few aspects of the story that made it harder to connect with and enjoy. Despite the things I didn't like, there were quite a few that I did really like and so I'm looking forward to reading the next in the series!