A review by rachelnevada
The Concubine by Jade Lee

 A historical romance between a young woman competing to become a concubine for the Emperor and the Emperor's best friend, who has been placed in charge of the ceremony.

This was fine, a quick read that satisfied my craving for a historical romance. It would have been better without a few problematic aspects. Namely, a decision to villainize eunuchs and older women (something something non-normative gender presentation something something), somewhat iffy consent

(mitigated somewhat by the genius use of a plate)

, the implied legitimacy of virginity examinations, and a few too many comparisons between the hero and the heroine's father. The ending also was very much a deus ex machina

(the bratty emperor decides to oh so generously cede his claim over the heroine)

, but as long as it's a HEA I'm not too picky.