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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
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
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Such a sweet book!! I think I like this better than My Fair Lady. Really loved reading a romance that isn’t regency England or contemporary America. Will definitely read more from the author!
I enjoyed this one so much that I was rarely willing to stop reading long enough to take notes. That makes writing this review a little difficult, but I'll try my best.
Unlike the other books by Lin that I've read, this one was light on action scenes. Fei Long had to be rescued at one point, and later he got to show off his archery prowess, but that was, I think, pretty much it. The bulk of the book was about Yan Ling learning how to act like a noble lady, Fei Long fretting over his family's debts, and the two of them falling for each other but being unable to say anything about their feelings.
Fei Long and Yan Ling were great characters. Yan Ling had spent most of her life keeping her head down and trying in vain to please the teahouse owner and his wife. She wasn't completely beaten down, however. When she thought Fei Long was trying to buy sex from her early on in the book, she was deeply offended, so much so that, without thinking, she doused him with tea. I wondered whether she'd be mulish about learning all the many things she needed to know in order to act like a princess, but she actually took her job very seriously, even going so far as to arrange study sessions beyond the ones Fei Long had already planned for her. I loved her determination and dedication – this was no annoyingly childish heroine.
Fei Long was very proper, ruled by honor and the responsibility he felt towards his servants and those who had helped his family. Even as he began to fall for Yan Ling, he knew he couldn't act on his feelings, because sending Yan Ling off to marry a Khitan tribal leader was most advantageous for everyone as a whole. Yan Ling would be treated as a princess for the rest of her life, Fei Long's family wouldn't lose face, and all the servants who depended on Fei Long could continue to work in his household. His unhappiness seemed like a small thing to him, by comparison.
Because Fei Long and Yan Ling were both such responsible people and couldn't hardly even envision doing anything other than what they'd agreed to do, they spent a good bit of time in love with each other but unable to vocalize their feelings. I loved this. I loved reading about the two of them sneaking looks at each other, trying to read each other's emotions, noticing little things about each other.
The people they were, and their reasons for not being together, kind of ruined the moment they finally had sex, however. There I was, thinking “But wait! What about Fei Long's servants and Minister Cao? Are they just going to give up on all of them?” It was Yan Ling who brought Fei Long's obligations up, and only after it was too late. The resolution to that problem, as well as the resolution to Fei Long's family's debts, all seemed just a little too easy.
All in all, despite the too-easy ending, I loved this book. I think it's my favorite of Lin's so far. Part of me hopes she'll write something starring Bai Shen, Fei Long's actor friend. His ego was enormous, and I wasn't happy with what he did in one scene involving Yan Ling, but he was usually a lot of fun.
Additional Comments:
While reading this, I had a lot of flashbacks to the Chinese calligraphy class I took in college. Fei Long was teaching Yan Ling how to write, and I was all, “Yeah, you definitely have to move your brush quickly. The paper absorbs the ink like a sponge." ::crying in remembered horror:: And I will never forget the one and only time the instructor said something positive about my homework. It was when we were practicing Li Style. His words were something to the effect of, “This is a little bit better.” That was high praise, coming from him.
(Original review, with read-alikes and watch-alikes, posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
Unlike the other books by Lin that I've read, this one was light on action scenes. Fei Long had to be rescued at one point, and later he got to show off his archery prowess, but that was, I think, pretty much it. The bulk of the book was about Yan Ling learning how to act like a noble lady, Fei Long fretting over his family's debts, and the two of them falling for each other but being unable to say anything about their feelings.
Fei Long and Yan Ling were great characters. Yan Ling had spent most of her life keeping her head down and trying in vain to please the teahouse owner and his wife. She wasn't completely beaten down, however. When she thought Fei Long was trying to buy sex from her early on in the book, she was deeply offended, so much so that, without thinking, she doused him with tea. I wondered whether she'd be mulish about learning all the many things she needed to know in order to act like a princess, but she actually took her job very seriously, even going so far as to arrange study sessions beyond the ones Fei Long had already planned for her. I loved her determination and dedication – this was no annoyingly childish heroine.
Fei Long was very proper, ruled by honor and the responsibility he felt towards his servants and those who had helped his family. Even as he began to fall for Yan Ling, he knew he couldn't act on his feelings, because sending Yan Ling off to marry a Khitan tribal leader was most advantageous for everyone as a whole. Yan Ling would be treated as a princess for the rest of her life, Fei Long's family wouldn't lose face, and all the servants who depended on Fei Long could continue to work in his household. His unhappiness seemed like a small thing to him, by comparison.
Because Fei Long and Yan Ling were both such responsible people and couldn't hardly even envision doing anything other than what they'd agreed to do, they spent a good bit of time in love with each other but unable to vocalize their feelings. I loved this. I loved reading about the two of them sneaking looks at each other, trying to read each other's emotions, noticing little things about each other.
The people they were, and their reasons for not being together, kind of ruined the moment they finally had sex, however. There I was, thinking “But wait! What about Fei Long's servants and Minister Cao? Are they just going to give up on all of them?” It was Yan Ling who brought Fei Long's obligations up, and only after it was too late. The resolution to that problem, as well as the resolution to Fei Long's family's debts, all seemed just a little too easy.
All in all, despite the too-easy ending, I loved this book. I think it's my favorite of Lin's so far. Part of me hopes she'll write something starring Bai Shen, Fei Long's actor friend. His ego was enormous, and I wasn't happy with what he did in one scene involving Yan Ling, but he was usually a lot of fun.
Additional Comments:
While reading this, I had a lot of flashbacks to the Chinese calligraphy class I took in college. Fei Long was teaching Yan Ling how to write, and I was all, “Yeah, you definitely have to move your brush quickly. The paper absorbs the ink like a sponge." ::crying in remembered horror:: And I will never forget the one and only time the instructor said something positive about my homework. It was when we were practicing Li Style. His words were something to the effect of, “This is a little bit better.” That was high praise, coming from him.
(Original review, with read-alikes and watch-alikes, posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
I came across a recommendation for Jeannie Lin online, and I was definitely intrigued when I heard she wrote historical romances in Tang Dynasty China. This exceeded all my expectations.
The writing was exciting and fun, with genuine emotion and characters I was invested in. The classic "My Fair Lady" storyline worked so well in this context. I found myself having to guess all the way through how they would get their happily ever after, and the ending was just a delight. I was a little slow when I started out reading this, because of my mood at the time, but I got to the point where I really just couldn't get enough. The build-up was fabulous.
I definitely plan to read more from Jeannie Lin, especially within her Tang Dynasty series. Definitely recommended for all historical romance fans, especially for anyone looking to explore settings and periods not typically covered within the genre.
The writing was exciting and fun, with genuine emotion and characters I was invested in. The classic "My Fair Lady" storyline worked so well in this context. I found myself having to guess all the way through how they would get their happily ever after, and the ending was just a delight. I was a little slow when I started out reading this, because of my mood at the time, but I got to the point where I really just couldn't get enough. The build-up was fabulous.
I definitely plan to read more from Jeannie Lin, especially within her Tang Dynasty series. Definitely recommended for all historical romance fans, especially for anyone looking to explore settings and periods not typically covered within the genre.
A historical romance NOT set in Regency England! My Fair Concubine is instead set in 9th-century China during the Tang Dynasty. It was fun to read about a place and time in history that I am less familiar with. I liked both Yan Ling and Fei Long and there is some delicious tension between them. The plot is loosely based on My Fair Lady, so Fei Long is training Yan Ling, a tea house servant, to take the place of his sister (who ran away) as a political bride. Actor extraordinaire Bai Shen is also an awesome character. The ending was a bit rushed, but still satisfying. I'll definitely look for more in this series and by Jeannie Lin.
I really enjoyed this book. It’s rare that romances are set in Asia, so the time period and geography really set it apart. I’m a big fan of books, fiction and non-fiction, set in China so this book pales in comparison to some of the others I’ve read. It’s probably not a fair comparison. Still enjoyed it.
(Romance scale)
(Romance scale)
Sweet, surprising love story that really immersed me in the world of the Tang Dynasty, China, 824. Fascinating, fast moving and great on audio! #romantsy
Very fluffy. training the tea house girl to be a proper lady and then falling in love because she make you feel good. a nice archery contest at the end to show off the hero. Intelligence and stubbornness vs honour, correctness, and non-politicing
Characters: Strong. Motivations explained.
World Building: Tang Dynasty. Some court intrigue. Political marriages.
Plot: Some external around debt settlement.
Sex: Tepid to medium.
Read another: Probably
World Building: Tang Dynasty. Some court intrigue. Political marriages.
Plot: Some external around debt settlement.
Sex: Tepid to medium.
Read another: Probably