Lu may be the
oldest of the Emperor’s children, both girls, but that in no way ensures that
she will become Emperor after him. There has never been a female Emperor, and
most of the land’s nobles want to keep it that way. Even though her entire life
has been spent training to rule—in combat, in court etiquette, in history, in
tactics—there is the very real chance that she will never get the opportunity
to put them into practice.
Lu suddenly
finds herself betrayed by everyone around her: tutors, generals, the man who
would be her husband, and even her own parents. She must go on the run to find
new supporters in her bid for the throne, with only the help of Nokhai, one of
the shape-shifters whose family her own father destroyed. Meanwhile, her sister
Minyi is trapped in the world that Lu leaves behind, and must struggle to discover
her own identity now that she is no longer overshadowed by her older sister.
Mimi Yu presents
a vivid, well-constructed fantasy world inspired by the empires of Asia. The imperial
palace and courtly life are intricately detailed and portrayed—you can feel the
weight of history surrounding Lu and vainly attempting to mold her into a role
she does not want to accept. Yu effectively contrasts the disparity between the
nobility and the common man without being blunt or overbearing.
The plot is
as twisted as a nest of vipers, which leaves the pace of the book feeling a
little slow at first as all of the strands are introduced. But there is nothing
slow about most of the novel, and the ending is over almost too quickly,
leaving you begging for more.
Released in
January 2019, The Girl King is Mimi Yu’s first novel, but it is clear it won’t
be her last. If you are a lover of high fantasy, imperfect characters, and shadowy
intrigue that leaves you constantly guessing, The Girl King is the book for
you.
C. Wombat
