I like romance and I love fantasy, but I’m not a big fan of romance in fantasy, so I’ve been reluctant to try out romantasy. Needless to say, The Emperor and the Endless Palace is my first romantasy read ever. I’ve been pushing myself to read more East Asian inspired novels in an attempt to connect with my heritage and find myself in the myriad Asian American experiences that exist, so, after a little battle with myself, I decided I wanted to try this one. The fact that it involves two men who are bound to seek each other out lifetime after lifetime, to love each other fiercely only for fate to intervene time after time, just kind of felt like the icing on the cake. In the end, I’m glad I read this, and I fell in love with the souls of these two men, but I’m quite sure this genre will just not be for me.

Across three timelines, the souls of two men are reborn time and time again, these three stories are expertly woven together so the chapter beginnings and endings blend perfectly together despite the massive time jumps. And yet it’s easy to figure out which timeline the reader is dropped into chapter after chapter. Despite three disparate time periods, the story unfolds in a mostly straightforward manner to masterfully tell this story of tragic, intense love.

In 4 BC, Liu Xin is Emperor, but he’s kept on a tight leash by his grandmother, who maneuvers around him and prevents him from doing as he pleases. Her manipulations extend to Dong Xian, a low-ranking Imperial clerk, as she orders him to seduce the Emperor, none of them able to foretell the intense love they’ll develop, even as the Emperor’s cousin watches and protects from the shadows.

In 1740, He Shican runs a relatively remote inn. It’s quiet until a young man named Jiulang arrives with his ill grandmother, asking Shican to bring Dr. Qi Yewang to help her. Shican has a complicated relationship with the doctor, but he does as Jiulang asks. In trying to cure the grandmother, terrible truths and a powerful being are revealed, changing Shican’s life forever.

In the present day, River has just recently come out and finds himself at a rather intense party with his date Calvin, unexpectedly bringing him into the orbit of a man named Joey who is, in strange ways, bound to the insanely wealthy Winston Chow. River and Joey are inexplicably drawn to each other, but tragedy has struck life after life, asking the question of when it’s time to let go. Or perhaps many more lifetimes are necessary for these two souls to find happiness.

Despite three different time periods, three different sets of characters, and three different settings, The Emperor and the Endless Palace is actually relatively straightforward, focusing on the epic love story between two souls who find each other lifetime after lifetime. There are, of course, hurdles in their path in the form of two other souls, one who wishes to control and one who loves and refuses to relinquish it. I really enjoyed the way all these souls were wrapped up together, bound to find each other and try to control each other life after life, but I left this novel with a vague feeling of dissatisfaction as I realized this is more of a tragic love story than anything else.

The Emperor and the Endless Palace is really laid out in a fascinating way. Over the course of three different lifetimes, a whole love story unfolds even as each time period has its own meetings, hurdles, and conclusions. The Emperor and Dong Xian’s story introduces these two souls and sets them on the path to being eternally reborn to find and eventually lose each other. He Shican and Jiulang’s story gives them the opportunity to be together, but it’s fraught, even as hurdles are destroyed and displaced. River and Joey’s story is a sweet re-meeting, but is tinged with the betrayal from their first lifetime, proving some bonds are too strong to break and letting go might have to be an eventuality.

These two souls, these two men, are not perfect, and neither is their love. It’s intense, and I was immediately drawn into their love story. There are outside forces in the Emperor’s grandmother and his cousin/protector that will try to control them, and it hurt my heart so much to watch them have to struggle. But their love is something like a beacon for both of them, and I loved seeing them together, loved their softer intimate moments. There’s a feeling of need and desperation, and I could feel the want so keenly. And yet neither of them are perfect, and they’re bound to hurt each other. Despite probably countless lifetimes, they’ve never managed to shake the shadow from their first lifetime together, and it felt like a shadow over the entire book. The ending hurt, but made absolute sense, and perhaps all these lifetimes were meant to be cleansing instead of an intense need to finally be together once and for all.

The thing that made me feel unbalanced, though, was trying to figure out which soul was which man in the two later timelines, and then having to readjust when it wasn’t quite right. It makes absolute sense by the end, but it was a little frustrating to have to think back through everything and rearrange how their relationship works. As straightforward as this story is, there are still some mild surprises as new information is provided, but most of it happens towards the end. The first two thirds ended up feeling a little slow, with each of the three timelines feeling like they were gearing up very slowly. I was a little surprised by how slowly each timeline actually moved as the frequent switches made it feel like the story was constantly moving forward. It made it easier to readjust to which soul was in which man, but I found myself pausing now and then to fix assumptions I’d planted in my head so the story would align properly.

For such a straightforward story, there are a ton of details in this book. There are two souls who are split into three lifetimes, side characters that go with each timeline, lush settings that accompany each couple, and the mythology behind fox spirits. I had a fantastic time getting to know these men as they remained the same at their cores, but their different life experiences also had a hand in shaping them somewhat differently. I loved meeting the Emperor and the clerk, but wasn’t so fond of the innkeeper and his guest, though I adored River and found his timeline the easiest to slide into, probably because it’s set in the present day. I also love the LA setting as that’s where I live, and I love that little thrill of recognizing different areas and landmarks. But I also loved how the forest played such a huge role in the 1740 timeline, because it was perfect with the story of the fox spirit and the magic that was woven in, as terrifying as it was now and then. The manipulations in the ancient Chinese palace were a ton of fun, too, and I really enjoyed how it set up all the characters. But I also loved Calvin in the present day, and my heart really ached for him. I loved what I think he symbolized, and I love the possible scenarios that play out in my mind after the book’s last page.

I can’t say whether The Emperor and the Endless Palace is what romantasy is, or how much of the genre it embodies, but I enjoyed it. I loved the characters and had fun with the settings, and I do like the idea of reincarnation here. The love story was certainly intense and fraught, and I didn’t mind the graphic sex scenes as much as I thought I would as they’re kept relatively short, but I was also a little dissatisfied with the way the story wrapped up. I did love all the fantastical elements, and I enjoyed watching these two souls try so hard to be together, but the focus on the love story ended up being just a little too much for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

The book wasn't bad at all. I just don't think it connected well with me. I liked certain time periods better but overall I wasn't invested in any of the characters.

This was nothing I expected....but not in a good way. I hated the way this was written with constant euphemisms, the timelines did not really make sense and overall we changed perspectives so often that I was lost even when connections were revealed. I felt no connection between these star-crossed characters they were meant to defy time and have destiny rule....they were messy without redemption and it was not an enjoyable read for me.

Just about the smartest thing this book does is to rotate between its three time periods. When I read the blurb I assumed we'd be getting the earliest incarnation, then the one in the 1700s, then the present day one, but no: cycling through the stories chapter by chapter was definitely the superior way to tell this story. Firstly, it makes it read a lot faster - the pacing in general is good, but moving from one time period to the next adds an extra bit of snap - and secondly, going from court intrigue, to historical supernatural, to modern day club scene adds zest to what could have been pretty rote. Finally, and probably most importantly, it helps to obscure the fact that one of the sections has significantly weaker writing than the other two. (Nobody talks without using contractions; it's just not how we speak - or think. So to drop them in the most modern section isn't just a bad choice, it's a baffling one. Add to that the fact that River is kind of a drip and well, yeah. Good that the time period shifts kept it moving.)

I do want to give a little credit to the twist of perspective that happens in the modern section though, and a LOT of credit to the ending, which felt right to me. If this had ended on a schmaltzy note it would've felt very unearned. Because as interesting as parts of this book are, and as much as it does excel tonally with the Dong Xian and He Shican sections, it never really convinces me of its romance. It's instalove in the earliest time period, and then leans on the reincarnation bit for the other two and that's...eh. Not super satisfying. That's the biggest failure here: the fact that without the bells and whistles of the shifts in time and scenery, there's not really much there, character wise. It's ALMOST there, at points, but never entirely.

Because of this I'm not sure whether I'd recommend it or not. For epic, lifetime spanning romance set in ancient Chinese imperial courts, you may be better off with something that goes a little deeper. But if what you want is a snack that traverses genres and times, then I think this fits the bill.

I was going to give this book a 2.5 (or 3 on Goodreads), but the ending (and present day storyline) was not that satisfying to me. I was drawn to this book because of the idea that these characters were reconnecting across multiple lifetimes, and it was a MM fantasy romance. It seemed like 3 short stories with a common theme. I think the one I enjoyed the most was the story from the 1700s. But even that one didn't have a great ending. The story during 4 BCE was more political machinations than anything, with intimate moments sprinkled here and there. The present day seemed weird with how quickly some characters got connected.

Found this author on Instagram & I was so happy I ended up with an ARC!
This is unlike any other queer book I’ve ever read. Huang created a super dense & compelling world here. Loved the use of the interweaving timelines. REINCARNATION TROPE! Such an underrated/underused trope. It was beautifully used here.

The Emperor and the Endless Palace" is an ambitious addition to the genre of gay Asian romantasy. It is a debut novel that weaves together the tales of ill-fated lovers ensnared in a cursed romance that extends into multiple lifetimes. Set against the backdrop of an ancient Chinese imperial palace, the novel introduces readers to an ambitious courtier whose destiny becomes irrevocably intertwined with that of the emperor he is assigned to seduce. As the story unfolds across time—from an isolated Asian forest in the 1700s, haunted by a cryptic fox spirit, to the vibrant gaysian party scenes of contemporary Los Angeles and Thailand—the story explores the pull between two souls destined to meet again and again. The central question that propels the narrative forward is whether these two individuals can ever escape the cyclical nature of their eternal love before it utterly consumes them.

The book targets a niche audience and didn't fully resonate with me as I expected base don the unique premise. While it is categorized under the romantasy genre, I would argue that its essence leans more towards historical-adjacent erotica. The craftsmanship in the writing and world-building showed; however, I found myself struggling to form an emotional connection with the characters and the romantic tension that ought to define their relationship. The sexual tension is there, for sure, but my anticipation for a romance that transcends the physical realm wasn't met.

The novel's reincarnation theme hampered the development of a consistent emotional engagement with the characters. The transition into the modern-day setting, specifically, felt like it detracted from the narrative's historical and mystical allure. This aspect could benefit greatly from further editing and refinement to enhance coherence and emotional depth across the various timelines. The story itself was rather short for all that it tried to do which I think played a part in the lack of emotional depth.

"The Emperor and the Endless Palace" represents a significant contribution to the diversification of characters and narratives within traditional publishing. This was an entertaining read, and while this specific story didn't land for me, I am genuinely enthusiastic about the potential of this author and eagerly anticipate their future works.

Although richly detailed with Asian mythical folklore and a promising premise of a romance with a reincarnation trope, The Emperor and the Endless Palace ultimately left me wanting more.

Billed as an epic romantasy, this novel fell solidly in a homoerotic historical fantasy genre. I found the main characters interesting enough, however I did not find them very likeable as their love for each other fell flat for me and came across as definitively more lustful than romantic love. The multiple lives and Chinese mythos provided an amazingly atmospheric background, but was not enough to carry the fact that I didn't particularly care that deeply about any of the relationships.

There is definitely heartbreak and beauty in this novel, however I feel like it just simply wasn't for me even though I know a lot of other readers loved it.

Thank you to NetGalley, MIRA, and Justinian Huang for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

‘The Emperor and the Endless Palace’ is a gorgeous queer romantasy erotica where the bond between two souls transcends time, bound together by an undying love that is the essence of metaphysical recognition, their fates intertwined through the ancient palaces, wild forests, and modern cityscapes they navigate. From the power struggles of 4 BCE to the eerie encounters of 1740, and the familiar pull in present-day Los Angeles, their journey is a testament to love’s enduring force across lifetimes, offering both salvation and destruction.

If Justinian’s fantastic marketing hasn’t sold you, I implore you to pick it up for some of the most gorgeous prose I have read that follow not just love, but obsession, lies , intrigue and drama as well between two souls.

DNF @ 57%
Thank you so much to Harlequin, Libro.fm, and Netgalley for providing advanced copies of this book! All thoughts and opinions are still my own.

In one of the saddest surprises of 2024, I dnf'd one of my most anticipated books of the entire year... I've been desperate for this book since I first read this synopsis and was so lucky to be sent not only an e-arc, but a physical arc, and audiobook as well.

Unfortunately it just wasn't what I had expected.

This opens up with one of my new favorite quotes of all time
“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 previous life?”

and I thought for sure it would be a 5 star read.

But this book wasn't the epic romance I was hoping for. It felt more literary fiction meets fantasy with unlikable MCs and dysfunctional, toxic relationships.

And I was 57% of the way in and I still wasn't certain who the romance element was between...

I just felt like there was so much time spent in superfluous details that slowed the book way down. There were parts of each story I really enjoyed, but I never felt connected to the story or characters.

I think there was a lot well done in this book - the writing is beautiful, the cultural integrations and discussions of identity through time, the QUEERNESS, and the end of each section leaves you wanting more from that POV.

But it wasn't the epic fantasy romance it pitched itself to be.

I've also heard from some reviewers that this does not actually end in a HEA. I obviously didn't complete the book so I can't confirm or deny that. But it's worth noting before picking this up.

This is definitely an author I want to give another read in the future. I thought the casual queerness and sexuality was wonderful, his writing gorgeous, and themes and plot extremely unique. So while this specific book didn't work for me, he's definitely an author I will be keeping my eye on.

DNF @ 20%

I really, really, REALLY wanted to love this. From the quote: “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 previous life?” I WAS HOOKED.

I wanted a soul wrenching story of love across multiple lifetimes. It might have gotten there eventually, but there was just so much sex in such a short time. I'm all for some well written smut, but this just felt like walking in on strangers. I didn't feel any connection to the characters and could not bring myself to stick it out for the rest of the book.

I did not finish this book. The beginning was very confusing, and while it was obvious that it was following three separate timelines, most of what I read in each chapter seemed senseless. It just wasn't for me.

The Emperor and the Endless Palace is a novel that spans three timelines, reaching from the distant past into the modern day. There is court intrigue, betrayal, magic, and lots of sex and drugs. The idea is a cursed love that extends across many lifetimes, between very toxic people who are kind of immature, aren't good at being faithful to a relationship, and are sometimes abusive and manipulative. So...if I think of this as a "romance" it's not really a success for me, but as a partially historical erotic fantasy novel, it's more interesting. There's tons of drama and I think the right reader will love this. It was certainly an experience! I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

I ended up DNFing this book.
First, the language is beautiful and sweeping, the shifting timelines is interesting, and the historical and mythical aspects of it were fascinating but I just found that I could not fully connect with these characters in any of their lives.
I agree with other reviewers about the classification of this book. It either needs to be more fully formed to be 'romantasy' or just call it a more developed erotica maybe?
Will probably revisit this book in a few years to try again.

DNF

The more I read this book, the more I dislike it. There’s something with the writing that I don’t like and although the historical parts are good, I can’t get into the rest of the story.

This book was AMAZING! I loved the idea of being soulmates throughout many lives. The jumping between the past and present flowed perfectly and was easy to follow along. Highly recommend this one

Unfortunately, this book was not for me. The writing was absolutely stunning, but between all those sexual content, I coudn't not find the essence of the story.

I enjoyed this book a lot. It unfolds before you like a fascinating puzzle. However, marketing it as romance is an odd choice. It is about love, attraction, and betrayal. But there is no fidelity to any kind of happiness ever after or happiness for now, that romance as a genre demands..

What you do get is three storylines across three different times., 4BCE, 1740 and present day. The use of language in each is realistic, but jarring when the baldness of the 21st century rubs against the norms of earlier periods. I don't want to give away any spoilers, but the connection between the three stories becomes apparent, but in each the layers of sexuality, love, politics, and power differ..

I'm not sure I felt resolved at the ending, but it was a compelling read.

Normally I go into reading others reviews on a book before writing my own but with this one, I am strictly only looking at my own. One thing I will say about this book is that there is no dull moment. It’s something that makes you want to read more and more. But what I will say is that because I kept on reading the book, when I finished I was like —“That’s it? I want more!” And now I wish for more; more to what will happen next. I loved the bouncing between timelines as it felt all connected but I wish I would’ve understood the connection sooner than I did. Would I market this as a romantasy? I would rather it be marketed as an erotic romantasy because though so many books probably get head to turn away from reading it, I think it would’ve been better to let the world to understand the importance of all the erotica within the main character’s connection/bond.

Gosh, what to say about this book. I went into this one with high expectations, as I had seen people with similar taste as mine speak highly of it, along with the concept being so interesting. And in some ways, it met my expectations but in others it let me down. I feel conflicting things about this one. The style of writing was very striking, and the changing time periods and point of views were really captivating. I didn't find myself really connecting or understanding the characters, especially the 3 main ones whose point of view it was in. I think this was in part because of the writing style. I also found the ending to be a bit of a letdown with the way the tension was built up throughout the story. I don't need an ending that's neat and tidy, but without getting into spoiler territory, this ending in some ways felt like nothing had changed. I like an open-ended ending but this was a bit too open-ended for my liking. There was also a lot more drugs and trippiness than I was expecting, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, I like weird confusing storytelling, but it's worth noting as the cover and description don't really give that vibe. I guess my consensus is that this was conceptually really cool, and the writing style was distinct, but in the end certain elements and plot points just didn't work for me.