The Moon in the Palace

Starred review from September 15, 2015

This eloquent first novel follows the life of a young girl during China's Tang dynasty (618-907). When Mei is five years old, a monk foretells that her destiny is to be both the mother of emperors and an emperor in her own right. Aspiring to have his daughter brought to the palace, Mei's father educates her in poetry, history, mathematics, calligraphy, and even Sun Tzu's The Art of War. All seems lost after his sudden death, but fate will not be ignored. Thirteen-year-old Mei is chosen as one of the 15 Selects to serve in the Inner Court. She will need to draw on all she learned from her father to survive the machinations of the imperial court and to earn favor with the emperor. Mei finds herself in danger, both from other women and her involvement with a boy named Pheasant. This is the first book in a duology recounting the life of Empress Wu (624-705), China's only ruling female emperor. VERDICT This story of a woman who made her own destiny and has been often vilified is a must for historical fiction fans, especially those fascinated by China's glorious past.--Catherine Coyne, Mansfield P.L., MA

Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 1, 2016

The first of a duology based on the life of China's Empress Wu (624-705). Mei is her doting father's favorite, until his sudden death forces her family out of their luxurious life to live with uncaring relatives. Summoned to serve the emperor at 13, she wants to appeal on behalf of her family but is quickly thrust into a world of palace intrigue and treachery. Despite being trained in The Art of War, Mei is unprepared to chart this complex world. Her successful navigation owes much to good mentoring and being in the right place at the right time. The mutual attraction she has for the emperor's eighth son, their clandestine relationship, and Mei's conflicting desires to follow her heart or save her family further complicate matters. Randel excels at the twists, turns, machinations, and alliances of the palace ladies and greater political forces, creating a page-turning volume as Mei learns to navigate the harshness of both worlds. A compelling look at the outside forces and inner determination that shape the protagonist to become a formidable force in her own right, painting a very different portrait of a women than we saw in Shan Sa's Empress or unflattering depictions in the histories written by her political detractors. Luckily, readers will not have to wait to see the rest of Mei's story, as The Empress of Bright Moon is already available. VERDICT Full of politics and intrigue, this is a fascinating must-read for fans of historical fiction and romance.-Jennifer Rothschild, Arlington Public Library, Arlington VA

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.