Member Review

Fei was born with a mark on her forehead that was prophesied to be the sign of the Empress of All Empresses. Raised in the castle as the future bride of the Crown Prince, the only thing she lacks is freedom and the opportunity to choose her own way. When she tries to take her future into her own hands, it sets off a series of events that will see the world as she knows it changed forever.

There is so much to love in this book. From the shades of Mulan to the magical prophecies and even vampires, Chang threw everything and the kitchen sink into the plot, and it somehow works. Fei is such a strong character that you're pulled into her story, and it's entertaining and emotional from beginning to end.

I resisted reading this book because I'm tired of love triangles in YA, but I loved how Chang handles it. Fei loves the Crown Prince, as they grew up together, and he really does seem to adore her despite not fully understanding her. She also feels a connection to Yexue, in part because they both possess magic they don't understand, and also because he seems to see her true self. Her feelings are a big part of the plot, but it's not the main focus.

It's an enjoyable book with great writing, interesting characters, solid action, and a compelling message.

Delighted thanks to NetGalley and Random House Books for Young Readers for the enthralling read!