The Moon In The Palace

I adored this book because it gives us a peek into the early life of Chinese Empress Wu. Weina Dai Randel did her homework, and her words absolutely blossomed in ancient China.

With an extremely sympathetic young protagonist who rises to be a force in the Emperor’s court, this book captivated me. I also remember it as being rather romantic in its way.

One of my favorite things about historical fiction is getting to feel like I’m living in another time and place.

Weina dai Randel’s book took me to 7th century Tang Dynasty China with a woman forced to learn the dangerous intrigues of the Emperor’s court. You can feel the silk beneath your fingers and hear the whispers of the courtiers as you navigate the palace with Mei. Bonus: This is book one of two, so you will get to visit the Tang Dynasty again!

People in history are remembered as being larger than life. Likewise, people are either characterized as villains or heroes but to the extreme. There are many stories about Empress Wu, but Weina Dai Randel was able to demystify her and make her a relatable human whose story can still inspire us.