Empress of All Seasons by Emiko Jean is a young adult fantasy book that is inspired by the author’s own Japanese heritage. I think if you took the Japanese infused story complete with monsters and tossed it into a blender with the Hunger Games and a smidge of the Selection then blend it all up you come up with Empress of All Seasons.

Mari is a Yokai, she looks human but has the ability to transform into a monster. Yokai are feared Honoku so Mari hides who she is along with her small village of women. When grown the woman are expected to marry and then steal their husband’s wealth but Mari’s mother gave her the ultimate goal, marry the prince.

Mari has spent her whole life training to enter the competition to win the honor of marrying the prince of Honoku. Those that try are expected to conquer the four rooms of the seasons in an all out battle for the crown and the prince’s heart. Taro, the prince, however doesn’t like being a prize to be won and doesn’t agree with his father on how Honoku should be ran.

The story is told from changing the point of view between the characters. Mari is one of those snarky bad@ss female leads that pushes back when she needs to, then there is Taro the Prince who also goes against what is expected of him but he’s a bit uppity about it so I wasn’t too sure on him, but there’s also Akira who is part human and part yokai who Mari had known her whole life which you also might guess leads to a bit of a triangle, just to warn those who hate that set up. While there are touches of other stories this one still had a uniqueness of it’s own and I rather enjoyed reading it.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

Mari is a yōkai, a supernatural monster/spirit. Her clan is the Animal Wives, who are cunning, beautiful yōkai that enchant human men into marrying them, then return to their remote mountain village with their husbands’ riches. Since Mari isn’t as preternaturally beautiful as the rest of the Animal Wives, her mother decides to train her in combat to become the Empress of Honoku. In this competition, girls from all around the country have to survive the elements and demons until the last one standing can marry the crown Prince.

It was interesting to read a fantasy story inspired by Japanese folktales rather than the typical Western background. The world-building in this book was wonderful. I loved getting details about the different yōkai and the season rooms were easy to picture. The story as a whole fell flat for me. Even though the story is told through three points of view, the characters didn’t seem real and would change their personalities at the drop of a hat. That being said, I do think that many people will like this book. I would recommend it for fans of The Hunger Games and The Selection.

After reading Empress of All Seasons, we can say that this book is a combination of Brave and Hunger Games combined in a modern new world. All of our readers one way or another can relate to Mari and the passion she had for becoming an empress and being the missing piece of the puzzle for her kingdom. With Mari's curse/gift this book also reminded us of she hulk but we like how Mari kept giving effort in hiding her secret in order to keep training and competing. Then Mari meets Tokai and realizes he is one of her kind and the book also has a Shrek element to it where Monster falls in love with Monster.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. We will definitely be considering this title for our YFantasy collection at the library. This is why we are giving this book 4 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me a digital ARC of "Empress of All Seasons" by Emiko Jean. I loved this book. It is beautifully written with a unique plot. The character is equally wonderful. I will be purchasing it for the library.

I read this because it will be going in the November Illumicrate box. I really liked it, such an original concept and the world building was really interesting. I’m glad it’s going in the box, but I do think the cover leaves a lot to be desired. Bit frustrated by books with Asian-inspired mythology and characters having a vaguely Asian weapon on the cover rather than a person of colour.

I wanted SO badly to love this book. I am a huge fan of Japanese fantasy and there is a glaring lack of it in YA, so this was one of my most anticipated 2018 releases. Unfortunately, the writing style didn't work for me and I was also extremely bored because nothing happened until 40% through. The ONLY thing I liked was the culture. I made it to 45% before I had to put this one down because I had to force myself to pick it back up. No one is more sad than I am!

Mari is a yōkai in world where humans enslave and persecute the powerful beings of her kind. She's spent her life in her mountain village surrounded by the other Animal Wives, an all-female clan who entice men to fall in love with them, only to marry them and steal their riches. Oh, and they can also transform into flying beasts. With the competition to become the next empress about to be underway, Mari travels to the emperor's palace to conquer the seasonal rooms and win the prince's hand, despite the fact that yōkai aren't allowed to compete. It's the role Mari has trained her whole life for. But the young prince isn't who she expected, and her lifelong yōkai friend, Akira, isn't either. Mari's not the only one in the palace keeping secrets, and any number of them could cost her life.

Emiko Jean has created an imaginative mythology in EMPRESS OF ALL SEASONS. The pace is a bit of slow burn, but the intrigue and stakes are high. The writing was beautiful and the settings were rich and full of details. There were definitely a few fun surprises at the end.

An Advance Reader Copy was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

In a society based on tradition, the rules of humanity are simply: be human and be free, be yokai and be collared. The yokai are mystical beasts of various forms and talents often hidden within humanoid characters and Mari of the Animal Wives tribe is no different. Her village in the mountains is exclusively Animal Wives who are beautiful women who secure husbands, rob them of their wealth, and return to the mountain and their treasures with the hope that they will soon give birth to new daughters. Any sons born from them are sent down the river. Mari however is not as beautiful as the other Animal Wives nor is her beast fully formed. She is not Animal Wife material but there is still a place for her. Taro, the crown prince, is obligated to marry the winner of the Seasonal Rooms. The women who enter into the competition must survive four rooms in the palace enchanted to replicate each of the four seasons. Mari may not be beautiful but she is fierce and has been training her whole life for this mission, the ultimate husband.

Taro, the crown prince, is a gentle spirit and very human. He lacks his father, the Emperor's, blood-thirsty ways and wishes for a peaceful life outside the palace walls. He abruptly meets Mari and is fascinated by her. Throughout the backstabbing, lies, and betrayal of the women in the Seasonal Rooms and the hushed fear and challenges for yokai, Mari must keep her Animal Wife self hidden while in the care of the palace, stay alive in face of a quiet rebellion surging through the competition, and realize that her growing affection for the Cold Prince is sincere and reciprocated.

---

I was firstly intrigued by the idea of battle within the seasons. Living in a climate that does indeed experience all four seasons (aggressively), the idea of facing both the best and the worst of each was fascinating. This, along with the inclusion of struggle between human and non-human characters and a fantasy-Asian society, was very exciting. I was however dismayed by the rashness of so many of the characters whose personalities seemed to shift dramatically at the most minor inconvenience. Much of the drama of this work could have been settled by the characters having a conversation.

Also, why do YA book characters fall in love so quickly with people they know nothing about? What's that like?

Others have touted this book as a combination of "The Selection" series by Kiera Cass and "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins and that is a fair description.

This novel is magnificent. Jean weaves fragments of Japanese culture into an empowering story of a young woman named Mari and her quest to overcome the expectations placed on her and pursue the life she wants for herself instead. I couldn't put this book down, couldn't turn my eyes away from Mari's struggle, couldn't keep myself from falling in love with Akira, from sympathizing with Taro, from aching for all the sorrows each character was forced to face as the story progressed. It was fascinating to read a story so steeped in a culture that I know so little about; it's the mark of good writing (in my opinion) that I felt as strongly as I did about the characters so early into the book. I think it will turn some heads once it is published.

Emiko Jean's Empress of all Seasons inhabits a wondrous, well-crafted world drawing inspiration from Japanese myth and legend.

...I loved the rich world-building so much that it was my favorite character.

I really wanted to love this because the setting feels so fresh and well done, but I found it hard to get into Mari and Taro's heads. Their romance fell into the all-too-common YA trap of being too fast and too darn boring, with some eye-rollingly cheesy dialogue.

I would recommend the read to anyone looking for an Asian-inspired fantasy, and for those that don't mind a little cheese in their romance. 3.5 stars, rounded up.

Empress of All Seasons immediately gripped my attention. The first scene is full of action and thrusts you right into a part of Mari's life. Plus, the world building is absolutely amazing.

Mari is a supernatural monster that is competing to be Empress, but of course, Yokai are not supposed to be competing. I really liked her. I liked that she cared about others but could never be classified as a pushover. She is definitely quite brave and smart.

Taro is the Emperor's son, and the best and worst thing about him was his inventions. I liked that they showed that he wasn't just a one dimensional character and that he should be given a chance.

I had a tough time getting into the Akira POV chapters. I liked that they showed Mari's compassion, but I found myself wanting to get back to the other chapters. I think I didn't always understand the decisions that Akira made.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading Empress of All Seasons because it instantly sweeps you off to Honoku!

Publication date: November 6, 2018

Tags: fantasy, feudal Japan, supernatural, YA, adventure, romance, action



My thoughts:
Hooray for the new crop of Japanese female warriors cropping up in YA fantasy! They bring their culture and their collective ferocity and loyalty to a genre that sometimes makes the men weak in order to raise up the women.



The two books that will introduce the YA/Fantasy audience to feudal Japanese strong female characters are Empress of all Seasons and Julie Kagawa's October release Shadow of the Fox.



I don't think their stories, although both fantasy, are similar in plot, however, the main characters have similar dispositions and the supernatural element as well as the time period is so similar that for a little while I felt like I had read this book before.



Also, once the competition starts in the season rooms, things start feeling a bit like Catching Fire.



So yes, this book feels familiar, but it is a good familiar and I enjoyed the read.



Description:
In a palace of illusions, nothing is what it seems.

Each generation, a competition is held to find the next empress of Honoku. The rules are simple. Survive the palace’s enchanted seasonal rooms. Conquer Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall. Marry the prince. All are eligible to compete—all except yōkai, supernatural monsters and spirits whom the human emperor is determined to enslave and destroy. Mari has spent a lifetime training to become empress. Winning should be easy. And it would be, if she weren't hiding a dangerous secret. Mari is a yōkai with the ability to transform into a terrifying monster. If discovered, her life will be forfeit. As she struggles to keep her true identity hidden, Mari’s fate collides with that of Taro, the prince who has no desire to inherit the imperial throne, and Akira, a half-human, half-yōkai outcast. Torn between duty and love, loyalty and betrayal, vengeance and forgiveness, the choices of Mari, Taro, and Akira will decide the fate of Honoku in this beautifully written, edge-of-your-seat YA fantasy.



An advanced copy provided by Net Galley and the publisher for an honest review.

Men are conditioned to take. Women are conditioned to give.

This book is absolutely wonderful. I've read a spate of Asian-inspired YA fantasies at the moment and this is my favourite. I loved the rich world that the author built, a Japanese-inspired world where yokai are treated as second class citizens by a hateful human Emperor.

Mari is our protagonist, a yokai Animal Wife, who comes from an all-woman clan where they trick human men into marrying them and make off with their treasure. Mari has been tasked with winning the highest prize of all, become the prince's wife by defeating the four seasonal rooms to become the Empress of All Seasons.

The story has three POVs: Mari; her best friend, half-human/half-yokai Akira (aka The Son of Nightmares, aka, the best character); and Taro, future emperor and metal tinkerer, The Cold Prince. I honestly loved each of their point of views and the supporting cast is brilliant as well. It was well plotted and paced, and I couldn't put it down.

I especially enjoyed how the story made me reflect on perceptions of beauty, gender roles, and prejudice. It's rare to have a standalone fantasy that feels complete on its own. I'm sure there could be more stories set in this world, but I'm very satisfied with how it wrapped up. Highly recommended.

I squealed when I heard about this book. Asians in fantasy? Heck yes! However, I was kind of nervous coming into it because of previous experience with Asians and fantasy, but this book just blew my mind away.

Empress of All Seasons is a beautiful YA fantasy novel set in Ancient Japan. This story comes from the perspective of Mari, a yokai (which is a supernatural being with animalistic traits). Mari is part of a group, the Animal Wives, where she is shunned due to her lack of "beauty." Due to being shunned for her "plainness," her mother forces her to work hard as a warrior and enter the competition to become the Empress, by conquering the Seasons, all while hiding that she is a yokai.

I loved reading from Mari's point of view as she struggles and overcomes her many tasks to get to where she ended. This book displays her in a fierce and strong way, and the FEMINISM! I applaud! Unlike most YA fantasy novels, Mari isn't at all a bit "air-headed." She was her own person and it made the book so much better! I was left hanging on the edge of my seat most of the time that I was reading this book...IT'S THAT GOOD!

The character and world development of this book was absolutely PERFECT! I loved how she incorporated Japanese mythology and folklore into this book, my Asian heart is just so happy! And the characters? AGH! My heart is just bursting in happiness with this book. *Casually winking at you, Prince Taro ;)* Also, I can definitely say that Emiko Jean is a word wizard. The way she writes just draws me in. Her way of describing things make it seem as if I was really there inside the book.

However, I have one complaint with this book...HOW IN THE WORLD CAN THIS BE ONLY ONE BOOK? I can't let go of this story yet, it's just sooooo good! Due to this being a standalone, the ending of this book was a bit rushed, especially the romance (UM, HELLO? I somehow now have to mention romance, what's up?). But the last 100 pages of this arc just had me on the ground, I fell off my chair because I was on the edge of my seat.

So please pick up this book, I promise you will not regret it.

I really enjoyed this richly developed Japanese-inspired fantasy! The worldbuilding, which incorporates elements of history and mythology, is stellar. Absolutely gorgeous. I loved headstrong heroine, Mari. The romance could’ve been stronger for me, but I am always looking for something to swoon over— this book will appeal to readers who prefer more emphasis on action and intrigue. I will definitely be recommending this to tweens and teens at my library!

Mari is yokai, a type of non-human spirit. She is what's known as an Animal Wife--a shape changing spirit that marries a man and runs away with his fortune. Except Mari isn't like the others of her kind--her mother has trained her for something else.

When the son of the emperor grows old enough to marry, a great contest will be held to find him his perfect mate. The palace has four magic rooms, one for each of the four seasons. Each has it's own dangers, and during the contest women will try to survive each room and conquer it. When they can become the Empress of All Seasons, they may marry the future emperor. This is what Mari's mother has trained her for--to become the Empress of All Seasons, and steal her people a vast fortune.

The only problem is that if she's found out as yokai, they're sure to kill her. In this empire, yokai are treated horribly, and sometimes collared as slaves.

This was an interesting one. It was a pretty new and inventive story, but it also felt like an older myth or fairytale. I quite enjoyed it, and the characters were well rounded enough to remain interesting throughout. Beautiful setting, and a beautiful story.

Mari has trained to be empress her whole life, but can she survive the trials to win the position or will her secret ruin her chances. As a Yokai she is forbidden to enter the contest. This book was a fun exciting read and I really liked Mari. Take a chance and read this book!

This review will be posted on Goodreads, Amazon and my blog, Foxes and Fairy Tales, on 28 July
https://foxesfairytale.wordpress.com/2018/07/28/review-empress-of-all-seasons

Empress of All Seasons is a really amazing example of a stand-alone fantasy novel. Everything is wrapped up by the end and although it doesn't necessarily explain the post-novel period in great detail, it does wrap up the storyline enough to give you a sense of closure.

And what an ending it is! Jean pulls off a whole bunch of impressive twists. I was constantly guessing and thrown through loops. Nothing turned out the way I was expecting.

As much as I loved the way the story ended -- and as much as I'm all for standalone novels, especially fantasy (and I sort of hate myself for saying this) -- I think the Empress of All Seasons would have worked maybe a little bit better as a duology. I think it could have been good to have the story split into Book One: focusing mostly on the contest itself, and Book Two: focusing on the rebellion. As much as I adored Jean's worldbuilding -- and I did -- I just didn't connect to the characters as much as I might have liked. Perhaps there had been a little more downtime or to get to know the characters, then I would have felt a better connection to them overall.

I loved Jean's worldbuilding. It was wonderful. I would have really liked if we had spent a little more time in the Season Rooms. That was what sold me on the book and, although they were cool, I had expected them to get a lot more page time. I really loved the yōkai which I hadn't really expected to be as prominent. I loved all the different types and seeing the various powers they had. I loved the idea of the yōkai rebellion. Again, I think this could have been given more attention. It was really interesting and if the book had been longer we could have spent a little more time getting to know the different factions.

All that being said, Empress of All Seasons is simply a marvellous book, and the fact that I would want to make a few changes are just because I liked it so much and felt it had even more potential.

Empress of All Seasons is a fresh, imaginative tale revolving around two young Japanese teens and their struggle to find and accept their own identities. Mari is a young yokai, one of the amazing variety of supernatural beings that exist in Japan along side, but not equal to, the regular humans. Taro is the Emperor's son who is being forced to find a bride. Taro chaffs at his role and longs for the freedom to pursue inventing and creating fantastical metal creatures, until he meets Mari as she arrives in the city for the competition which will decide the next Empress.

Mari is an Animal Wife, a yokai who can change to an animal shape. Animal Wives are known for their beauty and "wifely skills" and for seducing men and running off with their riches. The Animal Wives live in the mountains in their own village. Mari has been trained by her mother as an assassin and for the Empress competition since she was very small, Her short stature and less-than-perfect figure made her the source of disappointment for her mother, Tami, the village chief.

Mari is saved from total despair by her friendship with Akira, the Child of Nightmares, a young man whose bravery and loyalty may prove her salvation. Unbeknownst to Mari, Akira follows Mari to the city to watch over her during the competition where he is taught to fight by Hanako, the Water GIrl, and Ren, an oni (the strongest yokai). . What follows is a spell-binding tale of bravery and friendship as the yokai fight for freedom and equality, Mari fights for love, and to win the competition so she can free the yokai while maintaining her own unique identity.

It is difficult to summarize this book as I want to tell you all about it. Read it! Teens who are interested in Japanese culture will LOVE this, as will anyone who is interested in great storytelling and a fascinating story. Empress of All Seasons ends with the possibility of continuing - I hope Emiko Jean continues the story!

I can not figure out my feelings for this book, my thoughts are still a mess even now. I finished this book about two weeks ago and I'm still struggling to write my opinion down.

I loved this book... in case that wasn't obvious. I believe this book is set in a fictional Japan, or has elements of Japanese folklore, which is brilliant for diversity.

It's described as an edge of your seat YA novel and I wholeheartedly agree. I couldn't put this book down for long, I needed to carry on reading to find out what would happen next!

I was enthralled by the characters and their different POV's, it was fascinating to read about their individual lives and their own adventures which all happened within the same city.

The first character we're introduced to is Mari, she is an easily relatable character. Although she is part of a family of yõkai, she has never felt like one of them. Mari has been trained by her mother for a different destiny.

Akira is a quiet, steady character who is a friend of sorts to Mari when she needed one most. I found Akira to be a very humble boy, who didn't yet understand his purpose in life.

Prince Taro is determined to change his own destiny when we first meet him, he has his own family issues within the castle walls and dreams and schemes of escaping his father's clutches.

All three of these characters play an important role within the story, and each character develops and grows in maturity, self-worth and confidence. If possible I would describe this book as a coming of age novel for these three characters.

Around half way through, the drama and anticipation really climbs up a notch and you start rooting for your favourite characters.

I was left completely shocked by the ending of this book, no spoilers but this book is not predictable in any way. It's very refreshing to read a standalone fantasy novel with an ending you didn't expect.

If you enjoy action packed fantasy novel set in a Japanese setting then I definitely recommend picking up this book when it's published on the 6th of November.