The Moon in the Palace by Weina Dai Randel
Synopsis:
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.
The first volume of the Empress of Bright Moon duology 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.
My Review:
“I knew now: love and destiny were two wild horses that could not be curbed. They galloped in different directions and ran down different paths where streams of desire and hope would not converge. To follow one was to betray the other. To make one happy was to break the other's heart. Yet I supposed that was part of life, a lesson we had to learn. To grow up was also to give up, and to build the future was to dissolve the past. The only thing we could do was hope for the best, to believe that the horse we chose would find us a safe destination.”
Wu Zetian is China’s female emperor. The Moon in the Palace chronicles the early life of Empress Wu. Mei, as Wu is called in this novel, receives a prophecy at five years old that she will be the mother of emperors and an emperor in her name. Her fate pleases her father and believes Mei will bring her family honor. When she enters the palace at thirteen, she believes she will at once lead a good life. However, she soon finds that there is treachery in the court, as hundreds of women are fighting to receive the Emperor’s affection. Mei realizes she must stay ahead of her enemies so she can survive and bring her family honor.
Mei is a woman who is devoted to her family. She wants her parents to be proud of her. When she goes to the palace, she is very naive and trusting. She soon realizes that she cannot trust anyone in the harem because they too have the same ambition as Mei. Mei becomes more observant. She is always planning for her survival. She finds a few friends and is very loyal to them. She is also very compassionate. Even though she does not like her enemies, she still feels some pity for them. She yearns to live the life she wants and fights for her happiness. She does not want to be someone’s pawn. Thus, throughout the course of the novel, Mei develops into a mature and capable young woman. I love that she is such a smart woman, yet is still ruled by her heart and makes some less than perfect decisions. It makes her feel a much more realistic to me.
There were many other characters I loved. Like Pheasant , he’s my favorite. I also like Noble Lady. And there are many characters I hate, like the Pure Lady and Rain. And then there are many characters I feel are grey-area. For example, Jewel, Mei’s mother. I feel like it’s a strong aspect of this novel, that it has created characters I love, hate, pity, and so on. There are so many characters who induced emotions in me while reading, not just Mei.
Along the way, the author takes us backstage at the Imperial Court, where we get a glimpse of the inner workings of the Emperor’s vast wardrobe, the silkworm nursery, the epic polo matches, and other fascinating locations behind the palace gates. It’s obvious that the Moon in the Palace is extensively researched, and yet the author wears her historical expertise as lightly as the elegant silks of her characters. Sumptuous descriptions of the sights, sounds, and even tastes make you feel you are right in the middle of the action.
This book was everything I expected. It lyrically portrays all the violence and beauty of one of China’s most cosmopolitan eras. I enjoyed the inclusion of harem politics and plots. While this is a fictional account, I am sure many similar events happened.
It is about duty, friendship, love, loyalty, choices, loss, and sacrifices. This novel is about a woman who is searching to find her happiness. Full of court intrigue, action, danger, and a forbidden romance. Moon in the Palace left me breathless and utterly captivated.
My Rating:
✬✬✬✬✬
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