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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
I have been having such bad luck with books lately and mostly. Jeannie Lin has been one of my favourite authors after I found out about her first book, Butterfly Swords and enjoyed it so much. I have been eager to see what else she writes about the Tang Dynasty. Stories on historical chinese romance are not usual and that is one of the reasons why JL's books are unique and interesting.
Going into this one, I had my usual skepticism but I found myself enjoying the book very much. The cover was subtle but sensual. I loved the journey into ancient china and the exploration of the Pingkang Li and Changan. It was indeed eye opening to find out about who courtesans are and how they are different from concubines or consorts. I admit, what I assumed a courtesan was was slightly wrong. I actually assumed what the common stereotype was. It was pleasing to understand the true meaning of it.
I do not know what makes JL's novels so satisfying. It could be the lovely setting of the story with its multilayered facets, characters that are authentic because they are reluctant to show who they really are or the intrigue and mystery of the murders. Mystery and secrets are well known in that time setting and the allure is very attractive.
What about the unlikely romance between the playboy and maid servant? I was surprised that Bai Huang was different than I thought him to be. He actually isn't that experienced womanizer bad boy I thought he would be. He was playful and charming. I felt the name "Flower Prince" was hilarious and fitting to how he presented himself. But that is only how he presents himself and not who he really is. The fun was discovering who he really is as a person. The imperfections in him were evident, his cushy view of life because of his wealthy up bringing and his addiction.
Yue Ying was another mystery. She has a heart breaking past which even I felt my heart went out to her. Sold to prostituition when she was a child. She should be broken but she is not. Learning that Mingyu is her sister was another thing I did not see coming but thinking back to the first scene in the book. I was wondering why Yue Ying was so close to Mingyu. The pieces fell together. Her red birth mark made me feel glad as she was not one of those typical beautiful beyond belief heroines. Although bound by social norms and hierachy, Yue Ying is honest and sensible. I liked that she was brave but did not intentionally put herself into danger, she knew her limits.
I liked that their romance was believable. Huang may have been open about pursuing Yue Ying but while she knew he was handsome, she understood the challenges they faced and did not harbour false thoughts. The first love scene they had was utterly realistic as well because Yue Ying had been forced into prostituition. That was bound to leave scars, her reactions were very real and I commend JL for writing them this way. I did not want another romance where the author made the two characters panting for each other and every moment was spent talking about how the characters wanted the other and how their bodies were reacting. TMI! it shallows the romance and makes it seems as if everything is about sex and release.
Yue Ying was reluctant in accepting Bai Huang because of his status as nobleman and the impossibility of their situation. She was honestly reluctant and not in the fake way some heroines are. She understood what it would mean if they pursued a relationship together and I liked that the author really considered how it would have been like for Yue Ying had she chose to continue with Huang. She would have to be his concubine. That raised many doubts and issues with her which I was glad to read about. I liked the little things they did for each other. In a time where a man and woman cannot do much because of politeness, it was sweet. The romance had a nice ending but it did not cancel out how much they had to work for it.
The mystery was another aspect I really enjoyed. I applaud the author's way of drawing it out and making me the reader so fascinated that I just had to read on to find out.
I loved Butterfly Swords and enjoyed The Sword Dancer. This is a book I truly enjoyed and it is up there with my faves.
My favourite quote and hilariously so because it sounds utterly relatable even now.
'Whatever he had done to upset her - and he was certain there was something given the painfully mild expression she wore - it certainly wasn't deliberate on his part. But given that she was a woman and he a man, he was going to have to try to make amends without ever knowing his wrongs in the first place'.
Bai Huang
Going into this one, I had my usual skepticism but I found myself enjoying the book very much. The cover was subtle but sensual. I loved the journey into ancient china and the exploration of the Pingkang Li and Changan. It was indeed eye opening to find out about who courtesans are and how they are different from concubines or consorts. I admit, what I assumed a courtesan was was slightly wrong. I actually assumed what the common stereotype was. It was pleasing to understand the true meaning of it.
I do not know what makes JL's novels so satisfying. It could be the lovely setting of the story with its multilayered facets, characters that are authentic because they are reluctant to show who they really are or the intrigue and mystery of the murders. Mystery and secrets are well known in that time setting and the allure is very attractive.
What about the unlikely romance between the playboy and maid servant? I was surprised that Bai Huang was different than I thought him to be. He actually isn't that experienced womanizer bad boy I thought he would be. He was playful and charming. I felt the name "Flower Prince" was hilarious and fitting to how he presented himself. But that is only how he presents himself and not who he really is. The fun was discovering who he really is as a person. The imperfections in him were evident, his cushy view of life because of his wealthy up bringing and his addiction.
Yue Ying was another mystery. She has a heart breaking past which even I felt my heart went out to her. Sold to prostituition when she was a child. She should be broken but she is not. Learning that Mingyu is her sister was another thing I did not see coming but thinking back to the first scene in the book. I was wondering why Yue Ying was so close to Mingyu. The pieces fell together. Her red birth mark made me feel glad as she was not one of those typical beautiful beyond belief heroines. Although bound by social norms and hierachy, Yue Ying is honest and sensible. I liked that she was brave but did not intentionally put herself into danger, she knew her limits.
I liked that their romance was believable. Huang may have been open about pursuing Yue Ying but while she knew he was handsome, she understood the challenges they faced and did not harbour false thoughts. The first love scene they had was utterly realistic as well because Yue Ying had been forced into prostituition. That was bound to leave scars, her reactions were very real and I commend JL for writing them this way. I did not want another romance where the author made the two characters panting for each other and every moment was spent talking about how the characters wanted the other and how their bodies were reacting. TMI! it shallows the romance and makes it seems as if everything is about sex and release.
Yue Ying was reluctant in accepting Bai Huang because of his status as nobleman and the impossibility of their situation. She was honestly reluctant and not in the fake way some heroines are. She understood what it would mean if they pursued a relationship together and I liked that the author really considered how it would have been like for Yue Ying had she chose to continue with Huang. She would have to be his concubine. That raised many doubts and issues with her which I was glad to read about. I liked the little things they did for each other. In a time where a man and woman cannot do much because of politeness, it was sweet. The romance had a nice ending but it did not cancel out how much they had to work for it.
The mystery was another aspect I really enjoyed. I applaud the author's way of drawing it out and making me the reader so fascinated that I just had to read on to find out.
I loved Butterfly Swords and enjoyed The Sword Dancer. This is a book I truly enjoyed and it is up there with my faves.
My favourite quote and hilariously so because it sounds utterly relatable even now.
'Whatever he had done to upset her - and he was certain there was something given the painfully mild expression she wore - it certainly wasn't deliberate on his part. But given that she was a woman and he a man, he was going to have to try to make amends without ever knowing his wrongs in the first place'.
Bai Huang
The Lotus Palace by Jeannie Lin...not a complete waste of time I found this author through a review by Khan about it's sequel (which also made me want to watch The Curse of the Golden Flower). So me being me can't knowingly start a series in the middle, got a hold of the first book the Lotus Palace.
It had a very slow start up until the halfway mark, it picked up a little and then everything happened all at once. The story follows Yue-Ying, a former prostitute turned servant to the Pingkang Li's most popular courtesan, and her relationship with Lord Bai Huang a playboy scholar and Lotus Palace frequent customer. It is definitely a Cinderella type of story in its most basic form. Rich guy+Poor Girl=HEA. But add a little murder, greed, and court intrigue to the mix and you've got a solid story.
It had a very slow start up until the halfway mark, it picked up a little and then everything happened all at once. The story follows Yue-Ying, a former prostitute turned servant to the Pingkang Li's most popular courtesan, and her relationship with Lord Bai Huang a playboy scholar and Lotus Palace frequent customer. It is definitely a Cinderella type of story in its most basic form. Rich guy+Poor Girl=HEA. But add a little murder, greed, and court intrigue to the mix and you've got a solid story.
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This hero was so sweet, and the interactions super lovely and satisfying.
But the external factors lined up against yue-ying & Bai Huang were... a lot. So why the mystery, essentially because it just pulled me out of their little cocoon every time.
3.5, rounded up. I should not have waited so long to read Jeannie Lin.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Wrote a long review on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/RomanceBooks/comments/thr8fs/the_lotus_palace_by_jeannie_lin_a_beautiful_tang/
Long story short, I LOVE this book! đ
Long story short, I LOVE this book! đ
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Very entertaining historical myster romance set in China
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
first time a romance book manages to make me want to continue reading the rest of the series
I was really surprised how much I liked this. I kinda thought it would be good since I'd seem some glowing reviews of this author and "mystery plus romance set in ancient china" sounded all up my alley. But it's published by Harlequin.... and I mean to each their own but I have never been into any of Harlequin's releases ever. So I gave it a shot anyways and I was kind of blown away. It took a little while to really sink into the story but once I did it was like a breath of fresh air. The story had a lot of depth to it and the characters were very complicated and there was a lot of female characters SUPPORTING EACH OTHER and UGH! <3 Really good. Highly recommend.
**This review is based on an ARC**
Expected publication August 27, 2013
ISBN-10: 0373777736
ISBN-13: 9780373777730
I found this story to be a very pleasant, easy, engaging read. The story is a romance, but it has a nice element of mystery around each character. Everyone has a secret or intrigue to hide, and itâs quite fun reading along to find out what will be revealed about whom.
This book, while following the lead characters Yue-ying and Huang, actually contains three basic plots occurring in the world around them. Itâs quite ambitious, but generally well done.
One involves the complicated romantic feelings developing between Yue-ying and Huangânaturally forbidden because she is a servant in the pleasure district, and he is the son of a nobleman. This thread is very sweet, since both have worlds of drummed-in prejudices gained from prior experiences and noble ideals to overcome. Itâs a treat to watch these two evolve from an uneasy friendship into true romance through not only their investigations, but also Huangâs studies to pass the Imperial exams. Their ultimate resolution seemed a little sudden, a change not in their own perceptions, but of those around them who nay-say their relationship. Still, it was nice to see the answer being provided by the strong women in the story.
The second plot revolves around the murder of a courtesan. That story is the catalyst for all the others, but in the end, I found it a bit confusing. Its resolution seemed to be almost an afterthought to the other characters.
The third plot comes with the disappearance of Yue-yingâs contracted mistress, Mingyu. Her disappearance is much more interesting since it directly involves Yue-ying, and there is more at stake in it for our lead couple. Through this story, we see many secrets revealed, and we get some great characterizations in Constable Wu and Huangâs sister, Wei-wei.
Iâd recommend this book for readers who like a little something more mixed with their romance fiction. In this case you get a variety of mystery and intrigue threads that interweave the romance and bind it together. Itâs great to see a story with an Asian setting, too. The Tang Dynasty background adds an exotic element of historic atmosphere to each scene, although no specific historic events are mentioned.
Expected publication August 27, 2013
ISBN-10: 0373777736
ISBN-13: 9780373777730
I found this story to be a very pleasant, easy, engaging read. The story is a romance, but it has a nice element of mystery around each character. Everyone has a secret or intrigue to hide, and itâs quite fun reading along to find out what will be revealed about whom.
This book, while following the lead characters Yue-ying and Huang, actually contains three basic plots occurring in the world around them. Itâs quite ambitious, but generally well done.
One involves the complicated romantic feelings developing between Yue-ying and Huangânaturally forbidden because she is a servant in the pleasure district, and he is the son of a nobleman. This thread is very sweet, since both have worlds of drummed-in prejudices gained from prior experiences and noble ideals to overcome. Itâs a treat to watch these two evolve from an uneasy friendship into true romance through not only their investigations, but also Huangâs studies to pass the Imperial exams. Their ultimate resolution seemed a little sudden, a change not in their own perceptions, but of those around them who nay-say their relationship. Still, it was nice to see the answer being provided by the strong women in the story.
The second plot revolves around the murder of a courtesan. That story is the catalyst for all the others, but in the end, I found it a bit confusing. Its resolution seemed to be almost an afterthought to the other characters.
The third plot comes with the disappearance of Yue-yingâs contracted mistress, Mingyu. Her disappearance is much more interesting since it directly involves Yue-ying, and there is more at stake in it for our lead couple. Through this story, we see many secrets revealed, and we get some great characterizations in Constable Wu and Huangâs sister, Wei-wei.
Iâd recommend this book for readers who like a little something more mixed with their romance fiction. In this case you get a variety of mystery and intrigue threads that interweave the romance and bind it together. Itâs great to see a story with an Asian setting, too. The Tang Dynasty background adds an exotic element of historic atmosphere to each scene, although no specific historic events are mentioned.