I am very happy to wish my friend Weina Dai Randel happy launch day for her debut novel The Moon in the Palace. I had the pleasure of meeting Weina at the Historical Novel Society’s American conference in 2013. At the time, her Moon in the Palace was a manuscript and I got to read it before she found an editor for it. I adored every word and I am thrilled that it’s out now from Sourcebooks Landmark.
Once you pick up this beautiful novel for yourself, you’ll see why I love it.
Book Description
There is no easy path for a woman aspiring to power
A concubine at the palace learns quickly that there are many ways to capture the Emperor’s attention. Many paint their faces white and style their hair attractively, hoping to lure in the One Above All with their beauty. 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. But young Mei knows nothing of these womanly arts, yet she will give the Emperor a gift he can never forget.
Mei’s intelligence and curiosity, the same traits that make her an outcast among the other concubines, impress the Emperor. 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.
In the breakthrough first volume in the Empress of Bright Moon duology, Weina Dai Randel paints a vibrant portrait of ancient China—where love, ambition, and loyalty can spell life or death—and the woman who came to rule it all.
Thank you so much for the shout-out, Christy! You’re an amazing writer with a beautiful heart! I feel so absolutely honored that I have met you!
Love,
Weina
I’m so glad you’re book is out at last! I just love it 🙂