3.5
The Lotus Palace
ByPublisher Description
An unlikely pair of heroes find themselves caught in a star-crossed relationship in this rich tale of history, mystery and forbidden love!
At the Lotus Palace, the best of society comes to drink and enjoy the company of beautiful and talented courtesans. Street-smart and practical Yue-ying is not part of this elite class but is content to live in the shadow of her mistress, Mingyu, only serving as her silent attendant at the lavish and exquisite palace.
Running into notorious flirt Bai Huang changes everything.
Bai Huang, an eternal student at the palace, is different from Yue-ying in every way. But as the two are thrown together in an attempt to solve a deadly mystery, they both start to dream of a different life. Their statuses forbid them from being together, but could they find a way to follow their hearts?
Previously published.
At the Lotus Palace, the best of society comes to drink and enjoy the company of beautiful and talented courtesans. Street-smart and practical Yue-ying is not part of this elite class but is content to live in the shadow of her mistress, Mingyu, only serving as her silent attendant at the lavish and exquisite palace.
Running into notorious flirt Bai Huang changes everything.
Bai Huang, an eternal student at the palace, is different from Yue-ying in every way. But as the two are thrown together in an attempt to solve a deadly mystery, they both start to dream of a different life. Their statuses forbid them from being together, but could they find a way to follow their hearts?
Previously published.
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Meet readers like you in the Fable For You feed, designed to build bookish communities84 Reviews
3.5

jenuine
Created about 1 month agoShare
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“I filled my historical craving but the main couple got together too quickly and I’m not sure how it is love and the murder mystery wasn’t that mysterious”

Brianna Castellini
Created 2 months agoShare
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Alice
Created 3 months agoShare
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“This novel is a masterpiece in meshing different genres to create a cohesive story that celebrates all of its elements and holds nothing back. The historical setting is immersive and perfectly balanced. It never takes over the narrative nor does is it a vague after-thought. It's purposeful and authentic. The romance is poignant, nuanced, and rich. The mystery is gripping and perfectly paced. You never feel like one element is over-powering the other. Truly, Lin should teach a masterclass because this book is one of a kind.
Just like the Pingkang li, not everything is as it seems. Bai Huang is pretending to play the fool while he gets close to Yue-ying, a maidservant with a half-moon birthmark on her face who works at one of the establishments that houses courtesans. She is devoted to the courtesan Mingyu, who is hiding something in the wake of a fellow courtesan's murder. As Huang and Yue-ying team up to solve the mystery, they also grapple with their feelings for each other, as well as the obstacles that arise for people of their social status. It's a very realistic portrayal of an unbalanced relationship that avoids making Huang out to be a dashing rescuer and Yue-ying a passive victim of his love. She very much has her own agency, and her integrity is astounding. Lin's skilled writing makes her more than a match for Huang, so when their story finally ends in a fairy tale, it feels genuinely romantic.
The supporting cast! How could you forget them! Everyone is playing a part, and everyone is so complex. You're constantly guessing who's going to do what next. It's the perfect mystery and the perfect character study, and it's truly a feminist masterpiece, as they women avoid cliches and assert their independence at every turn. You must read this! You will be so glad you did.”

Mihl
Created 4 months agoShare
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“Rating: 5 stars
The Lotus Palace was my first Chinese historical romance book, and it did not disappoint in the slightest.
First thing you should know before you read this book, is that the women of the Lotus Palace were no prostitutes. Yes, they sometimes slept with rich, wealthy men in exchange for money, but they were also much more than that - calling these women prostitutes would sell them short. For the lack of words, they're also called courtesans, which is more accurate but still not a 100% because they are not mistresses. These women have basically been educated, not only in music, dance and poetry, but also in how to hold a man's interest and how to use it. They're all perfectly gorgeous, sophisticated, and underneath all that beauty and grace lies an intelligence they will not hesitate to use.
Our MC Yue-Ying, however smart and beautiful she is, is not one of these courtesans though. Her beauty has been tainted by a red mark on the left side of her face, which is seen as a flaw, a bad omen and so she merely serves as a maid of one of the most prestigious courtesans of Pingkang Li.
Yue-Ying is a very lovable protagonist: she's headstrong, realistic and loyal. She knows her own limits, she doesn't make things prettier than they are, and her character growth was so beautifully written. Being demeaned and discarded her whole life has resulted into a disrupted self image, but Yue-Ying learns to grow into herself and it's one of the most beautiful things ever.
Alright, I'll cut this review short because I still have an exam to study for (which will probably be the end of me) so the last thing I want to say is:
The Lotus Palace's plot involves not only a well developed romance, but intricate mysteries as well, and it gives some insight of (a small part of) the Chinese historical culture. Highly recommend it if you're looking for a historical romance, which is probably different than you've encountered so far!
I do have one complaint about the ending though, but this part will contain spoilers so read at your own risk!”

Sarah
Created 5 months agoShare
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About Jeannie Lin
Jeannie Lin grew up fascinated with stories of Western epic fantasy and Eastern martial arts adventures. When her best friend introduced her to romance novels in middle school, the stage was set. Jeannie started writing her first romance while working as a high school science teacher in South Central Los Angeles. Her first two books have received starred reviews in Publishers Weekly and Library Journal and The Dragon and the Pearl was listed among Library Journal's Best Romances of 2011.
Other books by Jeannie Lin
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