Forest of a Thousand Lanterns (Rise of the Empress)
The Wrath and the Dawn meets Snow White and the Huntsman in this dark and mystical East Asian fantasy reimagining of The Evil Queen legend about one peasant girl's quest to become Empress.
"A richly developed fantasy world . . . Julie C. Dao is a talent to watch."—Marie Lu, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Young Elites
Eighteen-year-old Xifeng is beautiful. The stars say she is destined for greatness, that she is meant to be Empress of Feng Lu. But only if she embraces the darkness within her.
Growing up as a peasant in a forgotten village on the edge of the map, Xifeng longs to fulfill the destiny promised to her by her cruel aunt, the witch Guma, who has read the cards and seen glimmers of Xifeng's majestic future. But is the price of the throne too high? Because in order to achieve greatness, she must spurn the young man who loves her and exploit the callous magic that runs through her veins--sorcery fueled by eating the hearts of the recently killed. For the god who has sent her on this journey will not be satisfied until his power is absolute.
Set in an East Asian-inspired fantasy world filled with both breathtaking pain and beauty, Forest of a Thousand Lanterns possesses all the hallmarks of masterful fantasy: dazzling magic, heartbreaking romance, and a world that hangs in the balance. Fans of Heartless, Stealing Snow, and Red Queen will devour this stunning debut.
Praise for Forest of a Thousand Lanterns
A Junior Library Guild Selection
"A richly developed fantasy world coupled with an ambitious anti-heroine of complex agency, this story shines and surprises at every turn. Julie C. Dao is a talent to watch."—Marie Lu, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Young Elites
★ "A masterful reimagining of the early life of Snow White’s Evil Queen."—Booklist, starred review
★ "Lushly written . . . tantalizing reading."—Publishers Weekly, starred review
"Rich in detail and full of gore and blood, this dark novel will satisfy ‘Game of Thrones’ fans."—School Library Journal
“A stunning reimagining of the Evil Queen. Filled with treacherous courtesans, dark magic, terrible choices, and bloody hearts, Julie Dao’s exquisite take on this classic villain rises far above the average retelling.”—Stephanie Garber, New York Times bestselling author of Caraval
“Magnetic, seductive, and alluring, Dao’s Forest of a Thousand Lanterns is a lush, captivating read about desire and the lengths to which we will go to find our true destiny.”—S. Jae-Jones, New York Times bestselling author of Wintersong
"A richly developed fantasy world . . . Julie C. Dao is a talent to watch."—Marie Lu, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Young Elites
Eighteen-year-old Xifeng is beautiful. The stars say she is destined for greatness, that she is meant to be Empress of Feng Lu. But only if she embraces the darkness within her.
Growing up as a peasant in a forgotten village on the edge of the map, Xifeng longs to fulfill the destiny promised to her by her cruel aunt, the witch Guma, who has read the cards and seen glimmers of Xifeng's majestic future. But is the price of the throne too high? Because in order to achieve greatness, she must spurn the young man who loves her and exploit the callous magic that runs through her veins--sorcery fueled by eating the hearts of the recently killed. For the god who has sent her on this journey will not be satisfied until his power is absolute.
Set in an East Asian-inspired fantasy world filled with both breathtaking pain and beauty, Forest of a Thousand Lanterns possesses all the hallmarks of masterful fantasy: dazzling magic, heartbreaking romance, and a world that hangs in the balance. Fans of Heartless, Stealing Snow, and Red Queen will devour this stunning debut.
Praise for Forest of a Thousand Lanterns
A Junior Library Guild Selection
"A richly developed fantasy world coupled with an ambitious anti-heroine of complex agency, this story shines and surprises at every turn. Julie C. Dao is a talent to watch."—Marie Lu, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Young Elites
★ "A masterful reimagining of the early life of Snow White’s Evil Queen."—Booklist, starred review
★ "Lushly written . . . tantalizing reading."—Publishers Weekly, starred review
"Rich in detail and full of gore and blood, this dark novel will satisfy ‘Game of Thrones’ fans."—School Library Journal
“A stunning reimagining of the Evil Queen. Filled with treacherous courtesans, dark magic, terrible choices, and bloody hearts, Julie Dao’s exquisite take on this classic villain rises far above the average retelling.”—Stephanie Garber, New York Times bestselling author of Caraval
“Magnetic, seductive, and alluring, Dao’s Forest of a Thousand Lanterns is a lush, captivating read about desire and the lengths to which we will go to find our true destiny.”—S. Jae-Jones, New York Times bestselling author of Wintersong
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Community Reviews
Cultural
I love how rich the culture is in this story. Itâs not just something sitting in the background, being used as a setting, but something that is incorporated into the story, the plotline, the charactersâ lives. The culture knows what it is and shows that throughout the book, unfolding and unraveling into something very beautiful and crisp and alive.
Off Pacing
I was very thrown off by the pacing of this novel. One second itâs here and then itâs there and I had no idea how we go to there and the time jumps were such a nuisance and really threw off the pace of the story as well. Suddenly two years passes and youâre just like: âWait, what? That⦠doesnât seem right. Two years of nothing interesting? I mean⦠why?â I just had some issues with the pacing of this story because it would drag and then BAM action scene with no build up and it would make it feel so out of place.
More Filling
One thing that I felt was lacking was character development. We get a lot of insight into Xifeng because sheâs the POV character, but everyone else honestly felt like they were there just for her. They didnât feel autonomous like they would have their own lives. It was like they just sat off stage waiting until they were needed for Xifengâs interaction and that made them feel flat and one-dimensional.
Good vs Evil
I liked the fact that this story deals with the inner darkness within a person and how she willingly gave into it because of the things she wanted, but⦠in this regard, Iâm not sure I actually liked the way it worked. It felt like Xifeng had no say in her inner darkness and I donât honestly know if she âchoseâ it or it was just the inner darkness of the creature was too dark for her. I would have liked for it to feel more like a choice.
I love how rich the culture is in this story. Itâs not just something sitting in the background, being used as a setting, but something that is incorporated into the story, the plotline, the charactersâ lives. The culture knows what it is and shows that throughout the book, unfolding and unraveling into something very beautiful and crisp and alive.
Off Pacing
I was very thrown off by the pacing of this novel. One second itâs here and then itâs there and I had no idea how we go to there and the time jumps were such a nuisance and really threw off the pace of the story as well. Suddenly two years passes and youâre just like: âWait, what? That⦠doesnât seem right. Two years of nothing interesting? I mean⦠why?â I just had some issues with the pacing of this story because it would drag and then BAM action scene with no build up and it would make it feel so out of place.
More Filling
One thing that I felt was lacking was character development. We get a lot of insight into Xifeng because sheâs the POV character, but everyone else honestly felt like they were there just for her. They didnât feel autonomous like they would have their own lives. It was like they just sat off stage waiting until they were needed for Xifengâs interaction and that made them feel flat and one-dimensional.
Good vs Evil
I liked the fact that this story deals with the inner darkness within a person and how she willingly gave into it because of the things she wanted, but⦠in this regard, Iâm not sure I actually liked the way it worked. It felt like Xifeng had no say in her inner darkness and I donât honestly know if she âchoseâ it or it was just the inner darkness of the creature was too dark for her. I would have liked for it to feel more like a choice.
This book is everything I have ever wanted in a villain origin story. Due to health reasons, it took me a while to finish the story. Don’t let that stop you.
Oftentimes, villain origin stories can make the protagonist seem weak and controlled or casts them as misunderstood and places the blame on a different character. In Forest of a Thousand Lanterns, Dao manages to give Xifeng, our evil queen character, a story arc into villainy that gives her strength and ferocity. And the book doesn’t shy away from having Xifeng become wicked, but you always understand her motivations.
Hollywood should take note. This is how you tell the villain’s story.
10/10. Highly recommend.
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