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Summary
Summary
This fairy tale retelling lives in a mystical world inspired by the Far East, where the Dragon Lord and the Serpent God battle for control of the earthly realm; it is here that the flawed heroine of Forest of a Thousand Lanterns finally meets her match. An epic fantasy finale to the Rise of the Empress novels.
Princess Jade has grown up in exile, hidden away in a monastery while her stepmother, the ruthless Xifeng, rules as Empress of Feng Lu. But the empire is in distress and its people are sinking into poverty and despair. Even though Jade doesn't want the crown, she knows she is the only one who can dethrone the Empress and set the world right. Ready to reclaim her place as rightful heir, Jade embarks on a quest to raise the Dragon Lords and defeat Xifeng and the Serpent God once and for all. But will the same darkness that took Xifeng take Jade, too? Or will she find the strength within to save herself, her friends, and her empire?
Set in an East Asian-inspired fantasy world filled with breathtaking pain and beauty, Kingdom of the Blazing Phoenix is filled with dazzling magic, powerful prose, and characters readers won't soon forget.
Fans of Stealing Snow, Red Queen , and The Wrath and the Dawn will hungrily devour this page-turning read.
Praise for Forest of a Thousand Lanterns -
"A richly developed fantasy world coupled with an ambitious antiheroine 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
* "This novel will trap readers in a lush, dangerously dark, and often beautiful world from which they will want no escape."-- Booklist , starred review
* "A fascinating examination of destiny, responsibility, and how choices shape a person."-- 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
"Dark, lush, and intense, Forest of a Thousand Lanterns draws you into a world filled with mystery and intrigue. . . . A stunning debut!"--Cindy Pon, author of Want and Serpentine
"An enchanting debut with a powerful and ambitious lead."--Zoraida C rdova, award-winning author of Labyrinth Lost
"Magnetic, seductive, and alluring, Dao's Forest of a Thousand Lanterns is a lush, captivating read."--S. Jae-Jones, New York Times bestselling author of Wintersong
"Equal parts lush and devastating, this is a tale that will grab you by the throat."--Roshani Chokshi, New York Times bestselling author of The Star-Touched Queen
"Julie C. Dao's Forest of a Thousand Lanterns is delicious, addicting, and breathtaking, a book you fall into from the first page to the last. Her rich world is thick with wonder, intrigue, and delightful darkness."--Dhonielle Clayton, author of The Belles and coauthor of the Tiny Pretty Things series
Author Notes
Julie Dao (www.juledao.com) is a proud Vietnamese American who was born in upstate New York. She studied medicine in college, but came to realize blood and needles were her Kryptonite. By day, she worked in science news and research; by night, she wrote books about heroines unafraid to fight for their dreams, which inspired her to follow her passion of becoming a published author. Her debut book was Forest of a Thousand Lanterns . Julie lives in New England. Follow her on Twitter @jules_writes.
Reviews (3)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 9 Up-Whereas Forest of a Thousand Lanterns ended in a crescendo of betrayal and horror, with Xifeng having successfully usurped the throne and the Kingdom of the Great Forest by murdering Empress Lihua with the aid of the notorious Serpent God, this satisfying end to the duology begins in a serene monastery, where Jade, daughter of Empress Lihua, has quietly grown up for the last 15 years. When Xifeng summons Jade to court, she quickly sees through Xifeng's manipulations, recognizes the dire impact of this hateful leadership on the people of Feng Lu, and sets out on a quest with new friends (including a love interest) to reclaim the throne as the rightful heir. Dao's world-building is stunning; Jade's dive into the mouth of an enormous carp, in which the entirety of Feng Lu is replicated in miniature, is unforgettably imaginative. The emphasis on the importance of storytelling and of family, biological and chosen, will resonate deeply with readers, as will Dao's excellent examination of the ways in which women can fail other women and the effects of internalized misogyny. Jade's encounter with the elusive Crimson Army, an all-women band of fearsome warriors, is an illuminating and pivotal scene that contains many truths applicable to the real world. The surprising return of a few significant characters from the first installment and a truly epic final battle conclude this stirring work. VERDICT A top purchase for most fantasy collections, especially where the previous volume is popular.-Della -Farrell, School Library Journal © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
A young princess finds the courage to usurp an evil queen.Upon Empress Xifeng's dark and violent rise to power, Princess Jade was sent to a monastery to be raised in meditative simplicity. Pure-hearted Jade is the daughter of Emperor Jun's first wife and a descendant of the Dragon Kingin other words, a constant threat to her evil stepmother's ruleand is summoned back to the Imperial City for her 18th birthday celebration. Jade quickly discovers her stepmother's plot to poison the emperor and murder Jade using blood magic from the sinister Serpent God. Disguised as a commoner, Jade escapes with the help of her beloved Amah (nursemaid) and a handful of servants still loyal to the true heir. Thus begins a quest to save the kingdoms of Feng Lu, following crumbs from Amah's moral tales and a legend that prophesies that "the one who reunites the relics will bring peace to Feng Lu once more." In this sequel to A Forest of a Thousand Lanterns (2017), Dao marries Chinese history with Western folklore, which will entrance some readers, but the well-trodden paths involving forbidden poisoned apples, legendary swords, and magic invisibility cloaks will frustrate those who enjoyed the rich characterizations in Book 1, Xifeng's descent into villainy in particular.A grand adventure for fans of fairy tales, fables, and legends coupled with the vibrant history of Chinese dynasties. (Fantasy. 12-16) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Dao continues and completes her East Asian-inspired retelling of Snow White, incorporating historical, cultural, and folkloric elements for a stand-alone sequel that will likely inspire new readers to find the first volume. Princess Jade, raised by her devoted Amah in a secluded monastery, is turning 18 and is summoned back to court by her stepmother, Empress Xifeng, whose story was told in Forest of a Thousand Lanterns (2017). Jade's father, Emperor Jun, is in failing health, and the Empress wants Jade close by not necessarily to inherit the kingdom. Wren, Amah's granddaughter, and Koichi, son of former Ambassador Shiro on neighboring Kamatsu, are among the rebels and allies determined to see the empress' reign of terror end and Jade established as rightful ruler. Dao's characters are complex and intriguing; villains are admirably drawn so the reader sees their paths to unfortunate decisions. Battles, military strategy, and romance blend with stories within stories as Dao brings this richly embroidered saga to a satisfying close. A detailed and comprehensible cast of characters easily situates new readers.--Debbie Carton Copyright 2018 Booklist