Thank you @netgalley and Justinian Huang for this ARC! It was unlike anything I’ve ever read before and I loved it! Obviously, being a heterosexual woman and liking men, I’ve not sought out many LGBTQ+ romance books. BUT this one was so damn magical and the romance was literally timeless. I loved the modern humor and whit mixed with the historical fiction aspect of this Romantasy. Like this line:

“𝙉𝙤, 𝙄 𝙙𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙢𝙤𝙤𝙣 𝙨𝙞𝙜𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙, 𝙮𝙚𝙖𝙝, 𝙗𝙞𝙩𝙘𝙝, 𝙄 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙤 𝙏𝙖𝙪𝙧𝙪𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙚!”

Starting off, the smut was like right in your face and I personally thought it was a bit much, but then I kept reading. I think it was mostly for character development. The storyline is at once magical and modern. I really enjoyed reading from different periods of time! The imagery was absolutely beautiful!! Definitely give this one a read!!

“𝙄 𝙙𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙪𝙨𝙪𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙡𝙖𝙮 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙢𝙚𝙣 𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙗𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚. 𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝙗𝙤𝙮, 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙨 𝙢𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙛*𝙘𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙡 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙨𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜.”
.
.
.
ʏᴏᴜʟʟ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴛʜɪꜱ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴋᴇ:
•fantasy world building
•star crossed lovers
•smut
•LGBTQ+
•Chinese culture

This was a great debut novel by Justinian Huang! It had everything that I look for typically in a romantasy book. Strong characters, a compelling story, SPICY scenes, and an ending that just leaves you wanting more from this story. I really hope thats an option because 3 timelines is simply not enough!

Thank you for the digital ARC!

EMPEROR AND THE ENDLESS PALACE is a gorgeous masterclass of interwoven timelines, beautiful romance, twisty intrigue, and clever prose. Huang is an author to watch.

Big thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for hooking me up with an early copy in exchange for my honest take.So, this book had all the makings of a deep dive into love, sex, and obsession. I was ready for a real exploration of how sexuality can be used as a weapon, a tool for gaining and wielding power.But instead? Ugh. We got stuck with some seriously cringy erotica (seriously, can we retire "pink plum" forever?), dialogue that had me questioning if anyone talks like that in real life, and way too many instances of iffy consent that caught me totally off guard. And don't even get me started on the lack of explanation for the curse or the whole deal with the third person (I'll avoid spoilers) and their supposed magical powers.I'm not sure if I'm just not the target audience for this or if there's some deeper meaning I missed, but unfortunately, this book goes on my DNF list.

I love the atmosphere and world that Huang has created here. Beautifully written, it instantly drew me in. I’m looking forward to seeing more from this author!

Justinian Huang's debut novel is a masterful tapestry of love's endurance through the ages. The narrative takes us on a journey across different timelines, from ancient China to modern-day Los Angeles, weaving a complex story of romance, betrayal, and destiny.

In 4 BCE China, we meet a low-ranking clerk whose life takes a dramatic turn when he is chosen to capture the young emperor's attention. This marks the beginning of an epic saga that traverses centuries, highlighting the immutable force of love. Huang's portrayal of this era is rich with historical detail, immersing readers in a world where duty and desire collide. A favorite trope, I must admit.

The story then shifts to 1740 China, where an innkeeper's mundane existence is disrupted by the arrival of a mysterious young man and his grandmother. The ensuing events draw the innkeeper into a web of intrigue, requiring the aid of a past lover. A tribute to Pu Songling, of course. Huang skillfully uses this narrative strand to explore themes of isolation and the human yearning for connection.

In present-day Los Angeles, a college student's life is forever changed when he encounters a mysterious artist who seems to have captured his likeness across time. This strand of the story delves into the complexities of identity and the search for belonging in a world that often feels alienating.

Huang's ability to toggle between these periods with ease is a testament to his storytelling prowess. The characters' struggles and triumphs resonate deeply, as they are reborn and rediscovered in each other's arms, lifetime after lifetime. Every interaction is like a mirage, at once familiar, and yet, unique. The novel is a celebration of queer love, transcending the boundaries of time and space.

Drawing from Chinese history and mythology, Huang creates a central couple that embodies the power and beauty of love. The novel's scope is ambitious, yet Huang manages to deliver a narrative that is lyrical, intimate, and grand. I was enthralled.

When I read the description and synopsis for this book I was incredibly intrigued. The line that specifically drew me in was “What if I told you that the feeling we call love is actually the feeling of metaphysical recognition, when your soul remembers someone from a previous life?”

Weaving through 3 separate timelines, one in 4 BC, one in 1740, and the other in current day, we’re told a tale of two men being reborn and finding each other in each life, recognizing the other as a true connection.

This book is promoted as a “genre-bending historical romantasy”, which is mostly true. The history is told in a way that is vivid and alive. You really feel like you’re standing in 4BC and 1740s China. The fantasy element is definitely there through spirits and dark magic. The way in which each timeline is told and how it’s woven together is really unique and captivating. It draws you in and keeps you invested. And there are some twists you absolutely do not expect that suddenly throw you for a loop, which makes you want to get to the end to know how it all unfolds.

All-in-all, really beautifully done.

The one part that I felt misleading was the romance. I may just be used to HEA endings, but this felt more tragedy than romance to me. There is a romance plot, so to speak, but it’s not what you think it’s going to be from how it’s promoted, and I think that part left me wanting in the end. The spice was definitely there, though! 🍑

However, this book is really beautifully told, and I definitely recommend it. I probably would have enjoyed it even more if it had been marketed a bit differently! But overall, a beautiful debut novel for Justinian Huang. Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Books for the ARC!

Giving this book a 4 out of 5. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

TW non-consensual sexual acts

It was refreshing to see the re-incarnation trope in a Western style fiction book (as an avid Danmei reader!). I absolutely adored following the main characters through the different timelines. They each reflected different aspects of Asian culture throughout history and you could tell the distinct differences in the language used and the environments presented. The twists presenting kept me on my toes and I was guessing how things were going to resolve right up to the last chapter. The erotica caught me off guard at first, but after learning more about the characters I was better able to understand its relevance to the plot.

This book is difficult to put a category on outside of fantasy. I agree with several other reviewers that I would market this not as a romance, because at the end of the day this is a story about breaking the cycle of said romance. Especially in the modern timeline, it is about a young gay Asian man learning about himself and how he fits into the world. It is especially about how he takes agency in his own life and doesn't let others or fate decide things for him.

Overall I really enjoyed this read and want to get a physical copy for my collection!

Reincarnation, living thousands of lives in love with the same person, and messing it up every time. Fantastic. It's a different kind of angst, it's inevitable that it will all go wrong but for thousands of year they still keep trying. Elaborating any further on the specific romantic situations will be extremely spoilery, so I'll just say I loved the dynamics between characters, romantic and otherwise, it really worked for me.

The brief scene with the origin of the term 'cutsleeve'!

I spent much of this book confused and most readers probably will until the very end but I enjoyed the heck out of it. The confusion and trying to keep track of all the moving pieces was actually fun and kept me invested.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the eARC in exchange for an honest review

I was given an ARC by the publisher in exchange for an honest review

The Emperor and the Endless Palace by Justinian Huang is an erotic contemporary and historical fantasy with three timelines. Following the POVs of Dong Xian in 4 BCE, He Shican in 1740, and River in the present day, the love story of two souls across time is explored. Dong Xian was a lower level scholar commissioned to seduce the Emperor by the Dowager Empress, He Shican’s story is intertwined with a fox spirit and a doctor, and River is a young man who gets the attention of an artist that is already attached to another man.

The weaving in of real historical figures and exploring their relationships with each other was one of my favorite parts. There was a richness added to the prose by poetry particularly in Shican's POV.

My favorite POV chapters were Dong Xian’s because of how the Dowager Empress’ villainy manifested. The political moves and how she presented information to Dong Xian is everything I love about villains who know that they are the villain in someone's story.

The charm of River’s chapters really lay in his interactions with others, especially with his sister, Garden, and his friend, Calvin.

I would recommend this to fans of multi-timeline fantasy, readers looking for love stories focusing on Queer Asian men in a historical setting that is not genre Romance, and those looking for books featuring fox spirits from East Asian folklore.

While there was stilted language at times, which I trust has been fixed in the final version of this book, it was so beautifully written. It keeps the reader engaged as they read each storyline, a feat that is not easy when switching between stories.
The characters were serious little sluts, and I love them for it.

I am LOVING this book, and greatly appreciate the chance to read it in advance! I have posted a video regarding the book on my TikTok (kimmmberlycrain) as well as shared to Instagram. What a great book! Happy release!!

What a delightful read! I have a full review coming here and on my blog in the upcoming week but my mental health has been real bad. You know what’s helped with my mental health? This book. 🤓

I received an ARC, of which I am so thankful, and I am so happy to have experienced a book that caught me off guard in a great way. The relationship had layers (time-focused ones) that I wasn’t aware would exist until I starting reading, and while I normally don’t enjoy time-focused stories, I had a fun time with this one!

I’ll go more in detail soon but overall? 3.75 rounded up to 4! Definitely give this one a shot if it’s something you had your eye on!

Rated: 3.5 stars, rounded up

I really enjoyed how this was written. The woven storylines leave you with just enough information to be curious about the rest. However, I think I was marketed this book as a love story, and I don’t think that’s the best descriptor for this book. While it is about love, it’s not necessarily a “love story”, it’s about breaking cycles.

I went into this expecting something else, so I think that’s why I rated it the way I did. I still enjoyed it and I am looking forward to more things by Huang!

I liked the love across time and synchronization of the characters in their past lives. That being said, the modern "river" and "joey" failed to be nearly as interesting and I felt myself wanting much more of the past lives. The ending felt rushed and like nothing was actually accomplished. I was left confused and felt that many things were left unexplained.

This was such a wonderful read about finding your ‘soulmate’ and the lengths people will go to do that. I really enjoyed reading this, the storylines were all very interesting and well thought out, and I especially loved how they were all brought together.
It is kind of hard to categorize this book but I will say whatever it is doing, it’s doing it right.
The premise of this book is about soulmates and the idea that your soul is always seeking out that one person, regardless of what life you are living at that moment. I thought the author did a wonderful job of showing us how we’ve evolved as humans and how we view relationships with one another, especially queer relationships.
There is magic, time jumping, love, sex, obsession, and so many explorations of culture, this book really had it all.

This is one of the most unique novels I've read so far in 2024! Woven across centuries, The Emperor and the Endless Palace follows three main characters in 4 BCE, where an ambitious courtier is called upon to seduce the young emperor; in 1740, where a lonely innkeeper agrees to help a mysterious visitor procure a rare medicine, only to unleash an otherworldly terror instead; and in present-day Los Angeles, where a college student meets a beautiful stranger and cannot shake the feeling they’ve met before.

Each of these seemingly unrelated plotlines are woven together by the twists and turns of fate, as two men are reborn, lifetime after lifetime. Drawn together by forces more powerful than fate, this book explores fate, love, and power.

While I was drawn to the story as a queer romantasy novel, my expectations were a little unfulfilled as the book is definitely light on an actual romance plot. However, the book is fresh, erotic, and full of unexpected twists. Take care by reading the content warnings, as there are explicit scenes and some dubious consent scenes.

This book is a mix of many genres; it’s hard to put it into one box. It’s a fantasy, a romance, an erotica, a mystery, a folklore, lgbt contemporary - and yet also historical fiction. I really enjoyed this story, I thought I knew exactly what was going on and then was thrown through a loop; I liked that. I found this book to be one of the most unique things I’ve read. I do think it could have been longer; there is a chunk of storyline at the end that I want to know more about/think there should be more about. This book made me hopeful, and then sad, haha, but that’s life - and I do respect that real life element, even in a fantastical setting.

A retelling of the Chinese short story "Huang Jiulang" and the cut sleeve tale of Emperor Ai's relationship with Dong XIan, it adds a third reincarnation of those characters in the modern day. I enjoyed the threads individually, but I'm not sure they fully came together.

This book is being marketed very differently than it should be, in my humble opinion. The fantasy element is rich, complex, and dominates the story. It’s rich in folklore, full of emotion, and deeply original.

While it definitely contains erotic elements, the scenes are short and spread out and don’t dominate the plot. I will also give a CW that there is a non-consensual moment that is central to the plot (this is generally a no from me- I’m thinking maybe I didn’t fully grasp what was happening?) The relationships did feel more developed in some timelines than others and I did find myself wanting more chemistry between the two outside of the physical.

However - I do think the timeline hopping was well done and not difficult to follow, the magic systems and folk magic were clear throughout, and the reincarnation element was so fresh.