Free Downloads The Moon In The Palace: The Empress Of Bright Moon, Book 1
There is no easy path for a woman aspiring to power. A concubine at the palace learns quickly that there are many ways to capture the emperor's attention. Many paint their faces white and style their hair attractively, hoping to lure in the One Above All with their beauty. Some present him with fantastic gifts, such as jade pendants and scrolls of calligraphy, while others rely on their knowledge of seduction to draw his interest. But young Mei knows nothing of these womanly arts, yet she will give the emperor a gift he can never forget. Mei's intelligence and curiosity, the same traits that make her an outcast among the other concubines, impress the emperor. But just as she is in a position to seduce the most powerful man in China, divided loyalties split the palace in two, culminating in a perilous battle that Mei can only hope to survive. In the breakthrough first volume in the Empress of Bright Moon duology, Weina Dai Randel paints a vibrant portrait of ancient China - where love, ambition, and loyalty can spell life or death - and the woman who came to rule it all.
Audible Audio Edition
Listening Length: 12 hours and 44 minutes
Program Type: Audiobook
Version: Unabridged
Publisher: Audible Studios
Audible.com Release Date: April 19, 2016
Whispersync for Voice: Ready
Language: English
ASIN: B01CUWLTEG
Best Sellers Rank: #204 in Books > Literature & Fiction > United States > Asian American #567 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Historical > Cultural Heritage #1407 in Books > Audible Audiobooks > Fiction & Literature > Historical Fiction
I loved this book. I have been loving a few books lately but this one is epic. I first became interested in Empress Wu when I saw a poster for The Empress of China series starring Fan Bingbing. I began to love all things Tang through the works of Jeannie Lin. When I watched the series with subtitles I became completely enamored with Wu Zeitian. When I found out there was a book coming out about her I dropped everything to get my hands on it.This book was everything I expected. It lyrically portrays all of the violence and beauty of one of China's most cosmopolitan eras. I really enjoyed the inclusion of the cut throat harem politics and plots. While this is a fictional account, I am sure many similar events did happen. Overall I can't say enough good things about this book. I can't wait until the sequel appears on my doorstep in the next couple of weeks. I truly savored every inch of this book and can't wait to savor more!
This book was absolutely magnificent. The research on the historical side was evident as I read, as was the emotion in the characters on the fictional side. I was rooting for Mei from the very beginning, and so very much wanted to see her romance with Pheasant succeed in spite of the enormous obstacles between them. The descriptive details made this book--everything from silk worms to polo to deadly attacks came to life. Looking forward to book two!
Wow!!! Since buying my kindle, (and feeling like I am cheating on my huge library of books)...I have only purchased a couple...and this was the biggest purchase. I was unsure, since though I love reading about ancient history, its usually revolving around my own ancestory; the Welsh, Irish & Scots. This was a completely different world..plus, not an inexpensive book..I would usually have just made the purchase as a hold in your hand, add to the book collection book, but ended up in the hospital and welp; I decided I was worth the price..even seeing there's a second book to this story and realizing fairly swiftly I'd want it. Now I KNOW I have to buy it, and dont want to wait for it to come in the mail. I wish I had just purchased this to add to my collection!! This is a fast moving, thoughtful, draw you right into the story excellent read. I read this book in four days..and yes, I am a fast reader but I have to place the blame on the author; she did an outstanding job on this and showed me a whole different unknown world; ancient China!!!
I was very fond of Clavell's books on Japan - the "Shogun" series - and had hoped to find something as intriguing based in China. No such luck! I can count the books I've ever quit reading before reaching the end without taking off my shoes - but this one will be added to the list.I'm half way through this book and have found it to be tedious, plodding, plotless and entirely devoid of serious character development. The protagonist seems to just "float" through every experience - without a clue as to what's going on around her. She's like a ping-pong ball in a bouncy-house. Everything happens TO her - - not BECAUSE of her - - or anything other than caprice. And there are no other characters to carry her story for her.So MANY books - - - so LITTLE time!! This one is going to the local PTO Thrift Shop.
Wu Mei is the fictional story of Empress Wu's young life (approximately late 600 AD) when she is chosen to be a palace concubine of Emperor Taizong. It was an interesting and informative story telling about the life of concubines, the tiers of social status, the politics, the culture, etc. Unless a woman was in the upper tiers, her life wasn't very good; she was protected but poor clothing, little food, and treated more like a servant than an entitled woman. Wu Mei was a strong, independent woman who rose through the ranks to be acknowledged by the emperor. This is not your typical story about concubines but an in-depth history about them in early China.
If you enjoy good, solid historical fiction based on facts, then this book is for you! It's full of interesting details about 7th century Chinese court life, dress, food, customs and political intrigue as depicted by this talented author. I do agree with another reviewer that the cover is disappointing and gives the impression of a light and frivolous historical romance, which this book is not. It kept me turning the pages and looking forward to the second book in this two-volume set. It's a great trip back in time to visit and appreciate a very different culture.
It kept me up quite a few nights, I was able to relate to the future empress. She is a determined child in this the first book but very intelligent and I was really rooting for her. Along the way, I learned quite a bit about Chinese culture. Much concern and care for family, family ancestry very important. Being fertile very important. Makes me want to go back and re read Maxine Hong Kingston's book on Chinese women.
Randel writes with elegant Chinese metaphors that give insight into the life in China when in China the Emperor ruled with an iron fist. The Court was a hot bed of back stabbers and social climbers. Mei's life unfolds as her intelligence and ability to see into human behavior creates her thrust into the limelight of the Court. Good story love the history lesson.
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