This is, at its heart, the story of a man who seeks for, and finds, a fox spirit - a Chinese spirit known for its shapeshifting and sometimes benevolent, sometimes malevolent nature. A love triangle develops between the fox spirit and two men, and their relationships continue as they are reincarnated over the centuries. The story is told in three time frames, one present day, one in the 1700s, using the names of historical figures from the Ming dynasty, and one 2000 years ago, in the 10-3 BCE range. The story repeats across each time frame; in each, the three men find each other, in different ways, and play out their interactions. Although such relationships were accepted in China for most of its known history, this novel presents them as unacceptable in the older time frames, more akin to how Christian nations would have reacted. The interplay between the characters across the timelines is interesting and would appeal to a variety of readers, but the sexual interludes limits the recommended audience to adults.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

What a mix of so many things - multiple timelines, reincarnation, star-crossed lovers. Each timeline is written with a different voice to reflect the time period and the people in the time period and Justininan Huang wrote so breathtaking lines.

A quote to convince you to read this:
What if I told you that the feeling we call love is actually the feeling of metaphysical recognition, when your soul remembers someone from a precious life? How would that change the way you look at each stranger, knowing they could be the epic romance across all of your lifetimes?

Readers who liked Spear Cuts Through Water may like this book: it's queer and has brilliant storytelling.

Based on true stories and Chinese mythology, this book follows fated mates through time
✅MM
✅ Three timelines: 4BCE, 1740, and Today, in LA
✅ a love story that spans 2000 years

There are some triggers so please look them up if you are a sensitive to them!

‘The Emperor and the Endless Place’ is a book I enjoyed for its reincarnation plot and characterization, which are both nicely done. This being said, there were times that the reading experience gave me whiplash because the writing didn’t feel like a consistent quality. The sex scenes in particular were not a particular highlight because they were a bit clunky and hindered my personal immersion. I will admit that I’m not much of a romance reader and am definitely not the target audience, but I typically am more forgiving to titles outside of my comfort zone and still couldn’t quite justify a higher rating due to how incongruous the prose was occasionally.

The beautifully colourful cover matches the story within perfectly. A massive thank you to the publishers for letting me read this early and being inspired by this amazing cover.

Taking place across a time span of nearly two thousand years, The Emperor and the Endless Palace follows the recurring love story of two souls destined to find each other and be together regardless of era or location. In their first incarnation, Dong Xian is a courtier of Emperor Liu Xin who, through the machinations of his grandmother, Fu, begins a dutiful affair with the monarch that soon turns to passionate love. In 1740, He Shican loses his very sense of self—and his life—to the attentions of the fox spirit, Jiulang. And in the present day, doctor-in-training River is captivated by the mysterious artist Joey, even after discovering that all of Joey's artistic creations bear his likeness. One of them is doomed to forever Remember every lifetime together—and the other to always forget. In this one, will the one who Remembers find his soulmate in time to break the curse that hangs over them? Or will they have to wait until fate spins them both into the world again?

While the love story and reincarnation elements sometimes got lost among the eroticism, The Emperor and the Endless Palace wove a rich tapestry reminiscent of the best Chinese myths and stories, one with hidden meanings and buried wisdom that made the story more than what it appeared on the surface. Although the ending didn't offer the resolution I was expecting, it leaves River and Joey's future open to the reader's interpretation with more satisfaction than frustration, making it ultimately a successful conclusion.

THIS WAS SO WONDERFUL! Just a warning, it is quite erotic.

U guys, prepare to be transported to a realm of unparalleled grandeur and intrigue in Justinian Huang's masterful creation, "The Emperor and the Endless Palace." This literary gem takes readers on an extraordinary journey through a world where opulence meets enigma, and the line between power and mystery blurs into a tapestry of sublime storytelling.

Huang's prose is a symphony of elegance, each word carefully chosen to weave a narrative that unfolds with the grace of a courtly dance. From the very first page, readers are immersed in a world of regal splendor, where the Emperor's decisions resonate through the towering halls of the Endless Palace, leaving an indelible mark on both the characters and the readers themselves.

The characters in "The Emperor and the Endless Palace" are as complex as the palace's labyrinthine corridors. The Emperor, a figure of both majesty and vulnerability, grapples with the weight of his decisions as the palace's secrets unfold around him. Each supporting character is a masterpiece in their own right, contributing to a rich tapestry of political intrigue and personal drama that keeps readers guessing until the final revelation.

DEF A 5 OUTTA 5

I love reincarnation stories and I went in to this with high hopes that weren’t quite met.

It was a fun surprise to realize this was based on the origin of the term “cut sleeve”. It isn’t mentioned in the synopsis but a scene about halfway through made me realize and subsequently Google it.

I loved how each incarnation of River and Joey were so different but also so similar. The whole idea of, I loved you (was betrayed by you) so much that we’re reborn over and over, repeating our story, trying to right a wrong. River's sister was a fantastic character and even though the focus of the story was on River and Joey, I would have loved to have seen more of her.

I think my biggest grievance was with the sex scenes. Sex scenes are not a problem on their own, but I felt like they were the worst written parts. Most of the scenes in the first half of the book seemed kind of unintentionally comical to me and continuously and abruptly brought me out of the story. There's a definite tone shift that happens about midway through and they lose the comical edge, but that only helped a little.

I highly recommend checking content warnings for this book, which I will add at the end. It just skirted the edge of what I am okay reading.

Thank you to NetGalley for making this available in exchange for an honest review!

tw: blood, death, drug abuse/use, fire, infidelity, rape/sexual assault, sexual content, sexual violence, toxic relationship, violence, alcohol, animal death, mental illness, panic attacks, abandonment, cancer, death of a parent, medical content, vomit

This book has incredibly beautiful writing and the character work is deep and intriguing. However, I was confused what was going on and who the characters were. The modern day chapters almost ruined it for me as well, since it was very confusing and not my vibe at all.

What a beautifully written story. The world of the past came to life on these pages, and the story itself—three interwoven timelines—felt fablelike and original. While there were certain characters I liked more than others (River was my favorite), all were compelling. The book felt like an experience in the best way.

What if our souls actually recognized each other from encounters in our past lives? In present day Los Angeles, a college student, River, meets a handsome stranger, Joey, at a party. In China in 4 BCE, the youngest son of a minor court official, finds himself falling for the emperor. In 1740, an innkeeper finds himself helping a mysterious stranger and his grandmother. These three timelines collide in the most intriguing manner as debut author, Justinian Huang, weaves a tale of magical realism. There is quite a bit of on the page sex, but the intersection of the three timelines was beautifully crafted. The one disappointment I had was the ending felt abrupt. I would be curious to see if a sequel is planned. I would like to see what happens to all of the characters and maybe learn about their lives in other eras.

This book was excellent. I enjoyed the lore and the different characters very much. I loved how the book was written from three different perspectives.

This book grabbed me by the throat from the very beginning and wouldn't let me go. I was completely engrossed in the intertwining storylines and mysteries and with each new revelation I was only more and more hooked until I had breathlessly finished the entire thing in record time. Though I was left with many questions in the end, some clearly intended by the author and others perhaps not, the experience of reading this novel was one of such thrill and excitement that I have not felt about a book in a very long time. An absolutely captivating mix of historical, paranormal, and romance.

This book will take you on the journey of three lifetimes! I finished this book yesterday and I'm still gathering my thoughts about it. The way the three timelines were interwoven made for a compelling read that made me want to keep going back to the book. I love how the prose reflected the time period and how each timeline showed a different obstacle to their relationship.

It's certainly a genre-bending romantic thriller, as advertised. Fans of xianxia, fantasy, mystery, and romantic suspense will enjoy this book.

I will return with my full review closer to the publication date per the publishers instructions as outlined on their approval preferences.

The Emperor and the Endless Palace is a stunning achievement. If that’s not enough to get you to read this (I warn you - tragic, without a single happily ever after involved) romantic epic, then take this into account: it’s almost certainly going to be on my best of year for 2024.

In 4 BCE, jaded, social-climbing courtier Dong Xian is called upon by a murderous princess to seduce the new young emperor Liu Xin, but it turns out they have something secret, magical – and deadly – in common.

In 1740, solitary innkeeper Shican sets out to help the mysterious Jiulang find a medicine which will end a terrible curse, only to find himself intrigued by more than the mission.

In contemporary Los Angeles, college student River meets handsome stranger Joey. River can’t understand why he feels so drawn to Joey – until Joey reveals that they share a magical secret. For not only have they been reincarnated over many lifetimes, Joey is the only one who remembers that fact, knows they are soulmates, remembers their fox spirits - and he seeks to break that curse, lifetime after lifetime.

This is heartbreaking and filled with the brio of life and sex and death, and there’s never really been anything like it. It takes a while for the book’s three narrative mysteries to interconnect and unravel, but when they do, it is masterful.

Despite the lack of HEA/HFN, this is a beautifully romantic book – it’s not at all soppy, and it’s going to make you stop and stare at least once as you read it. The main characters are flawed people, interesting people. And the magical systems are excellently wrought.

I can’t tell you much more about the story because I’d risk revealing its secrets, and that’s the last thing I want to do. Just know this: The Emperor and the Endless Palace is enthralling and romantic and gory and shattering. It’s definitely a hit.

Note: this story contains harm to animals and on-page animal death.

In the year 4 BCE, an ambitious courtier is called upon to seduce the young emperor — but quickly discovers they are both ruled by blood, sex and intrigue. ~ In 1740, a lonely innkeeper agrees to help a mysterious visitor procure a rare medicine, only to unleash an otherworldly terror instead. ~ And in present-day Los Angeles, a college student meets a beautiful stranger and cannot shake the feeling they’ve met before.

Across these seemingly unrelated timelines woven together only by the twists and turns of fate, two men are reborn, lifetime after lifetime. Within the treacherous walls of an ancient palace and the boundless forests of the Asian wilderness to the heart-pounding cement floors of underground rave scenes, our lovers are inexplicably drawn to each other, constantly tested by the worlds around them. As their many lives intertwine, they begin to realize the power of their undying love—a power that transcends time itself…but one that might consume them both.

This book is an emotional roller coaster and packs a huge emotional punch. Love that transcends time and place, what pulls us to each other, is so powerful the universe weaves our stories together. Wow. Fantastic, sometimes messy (deliberately so), a beautifully written story. I will be looking for more from this debut author in the future. Amazing!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced digital reader's copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!

"The Emperor and the Endless Palace" by Justinian Huang is a genre-bending romantic thriller that spans across different timelines and explores the themes of love, fate, and reincarnation. The novel weaves together multiple stories set in different eras, all connected by the threads of destiny and the enduring power of love.

In the year 4 BCE, an ambitious courtier is tasked with seducing the young emperor, leading to a tale of blood, sex, and intrigue. In 1740, a lonely innkeeper becomes involved in a mysterious quest for a rare medicine, setting off a chain of events that brings about otherworldly terror. In present-day Los Angeles, a college student encounters a beautiful stranger, feeling an inexplicable connection that transcends time.

The narrative explores the concept that the feeling we call love is actually a form of metaphysical recognition, where souls remember each other from previous lives. The central characters, reborn lifetime after lifetime, find themselves drawn to each other amidst the complexities of different worlds and timelines. The novel delves into the challenges and tests faced by the characters as they navigate their interconnected lives and the power of their undying love.

"The Emperor and the Endless Palace" promises to be an unpredictable and captivating debut that challenges conventional notions of true love, blending elements of romance, fantasy, and thriller across diverse settings and time periods. The novel invites readers to explore the mysteries of fate and the enduring nature of love that transcends the boundaries of time itself.

This book is such an experience! Multi-timeline books are always one of my favorites because it takes careful reveals and points of contact to make them tie together, and this book definitely managed that! I spent two-thirds trying to piece together who was who across each lifetime, and I love how it stayed with a cyclic nature of reincarnation where the connections of lives keeps replaying previous roles. I’m not familiar with Chinese history, so it took me a while to realize who Dong Xian was, but when I realized this was a retelling/reimagining with the emperor who originated the cut sleeve euphemism, it was like a mind-blowing moment. This was just really good, and so intense in so many ways. I had trouble putting it down once I got pulled in, and I couldn’t wait to see how each of the lives would play out. And that ending! It feels so open while firmly finishing this story. I was utterly enthralled and can’t wait for others to have a chance to read this twisty reincarnation story.

This is a really strange one, but I enjoyed my time with it! I'm finding it a little difficult to pull my thoughts together, since the book is quite jumbled (intentionally so), splitting itself between three time periods and three lifetimes. We follow the same two characters as they reincarnate and inevitably fall in love anew each time—the intrigue comes from the how, when, and why. The writing is absolutely beautiful (and distinct within each time period, too, which I loved), so in that sense, the book is a delight to read. Something about the characters didn't really sit with me, unfortunately; I maybe wanted longer chapters to allow for more time with each set of characters at once, since the smaller chunks often made it hard for me to connect with them and their individual plights. The pacing is also kind of weird—glacially slow at times, but the ending goes by so quickly that it's a little hard to follow. I was honestly a little bored until maybe halfway through, at which point the book starts kicking itself into high gear, and I stopped wanting to put it down. So I've got my issues with this book, but I still can't help but recommend it anyway; it's fun and frantic and weird in a way I've never quite seen a book be weird before.