4.5⭐
This was really good, it grab me from the first pages and I flew through the book in one sitting.
I really liked both characters, especially the female lead Ling Xin. she was so strong. They were very good together and I liked how they were drawn together. It kept me interested to the end with how everything will turn out, and I liked it how everything sorted out and we good happy ending.
Even though it was short. it felt the right length and everything that needed to happen and to resolve was there. This was really good, short and spicy book and I had so much fun reading it. Can't wait to start the second book.

Thank you to Jade Lee for sending me an ARC to review and to NetGalley for the opportunity!

It was a short read with much sexual content and eye rolling euphemisms. I’m a big fan of stories set in ancient China. I loved that the female lead was a headstrong, smart and charismatic character. She didn’t back away from a challenge or stayed in her bounds as told by her elders. She dared to explore what is forbidden on her own so as to survive in a place like the Emperor’s Palace. I loved her characterisation the most. Although the male lead wasn’t that likeable and I found his thoughts so icky still their chemistry was great in here. However, as it’s a short novella I felt that it wasn’t able to give a clean ending even though the story was wishy-washy to the end.

This was really good!
The characters pull you in quick and you want to know their stories. Zhi Hao and Ling Xin set the pages on fire. Zhi Hao is great at toeing the line and wanting to go past it but stops himself to protect Ling Xin. Ling Xin is a willing student that’s wants to know all the passion her body can take and give.

This was truly a great first book for me to dip my toe into Chinese historical romance. Im very grateful to have received an eARC of this book.
Vixen is out now please go grab it!

Thank you Netgalley and Dragonblade for the eARC of Vixen in exchange for my honest review.

*Gives a standing ovation*
I have not felt the sheer desperation, utter and complete *LONGING*, wanting a situation to be that's impossible between two characters since I read The Far Pavilions by M.M. Kaye. I was sweating there, I did not know how this was going to work out. WHAT a book. And the sexual tension between these two? They about tried to burn down my kindle. My god. It was incendiary. Desert Island Keeper. I'm off to look up Jade Lee's backlist.
Thank you to netgalley for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

At the beginning of this book, I was a little lost, I couldn't determine what time period this was in, and f it was based on some factual event. But once I got into the story I enjoyed it immensely.

Ling Xin is meant to go to the forbidden palace and belong to the emperor and Zhi Hao is getting ready to take the imperial exam. They are drawn together and Zhi Hao offers to help teach Ling Zin how to seduce the emperor, the sex lessons were amazing, so spicy! I found it a little hard to take some of the language seriously, with them constantly calling their genitals pearl and dragon, but if you can get past that it was great! It was a super short quick read but very enjoyable!

Chinese Historical Romance

Ling Xin is destined to be empress—at least, that is what her father wishes. To win the position, she believes she must learn the art of seduction. She seeks the help of Zhi Hao, who is working to pass the imperial exam. What happens when love enters the equation? The two live in a society of strict rules, and defying them means death. Does love stand a chance? For the answer, you must read the story. I enjoyed it and would recommend it. I look forward to reading what comes next in this series.

Vixen by Jade Lee is a Chinese romance featuring a man, Zhi Hao, who is to take the Imperial exam, which passing would lead to a career and a good life. He has contracted with master tutor, Gao, who lives behind the home of a baron who has achieved great success in the Imperial government. The baron has three children, two sons who failed the test, and his hope for the future, his daughter, Ling Xin, who was to vie for the opportunity to become the Emperor’s wife or one of his concubines. Either way she would never again be outside the walls of the Forbidden City where the only man allowed was the Emperor. She was not a typical girl, but climbed trees and hid on top of walls, spying. That is how they came to know one another. She watched him, and fell in love (lust) with the gorgeous young man. He introduced her to sensual pleasures, ostensibly so she would catch the eye of the Emperor, but leaving her chaste, and against his tutor’s warnings that interest in a woman could destroy his future, he could not stop.

Both fun and interesting characters, this romance in China instead of Regency England, had an exotic feel. Both these young people had visions of their futures, which changed as their relationship progressed. Lee found a way to make it all work out, although it is probably no more realistic than the Regency-style romances she normally writes. It was a fun change of pace. Thanks, Jade Lee!

I was invited to read Vixen by Dragonblade. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Dragonblade #JadeLee #Vixen

I enjoyed reading a historical romance that wasn’t set in the UK. I loved how you quickly get immersed in the setting, even if you didn’t know much about 1800’s China.

I didn’t love how heavy the focus was on purity, however I do understand why in the context of the plot. I would absolutely read more historical romances by this author.

I was not expecting this to be an erotic romance, and *fans self* was it ever.

Weaving the extreme purity culture of 1850's Imperial China together with the mysticism of fox spirits, add in a pillow book and some shirtless martial arts practice, altogether it made for a very enjoyable read.

Thank you to Dragonblade Publishing for an eARC via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This is the first in a series set in China; from the author’s website we learn that it’s set in 1852, during a historical event called the Feast of Fertility.

Our protagonists have been raised from the cradle to fulfill their families’ dreams: she, to stand out among the many beautiful, virtuous, and eligible daughters of Manchurian aristocracy, in order to be selected as empress of all of China; he, to earn a high enough position within the empire’s vast bureaucracy, to lift his family from poverty, provide his sisters with dowries, and his parents and grandparents with a comfortable living in their old ages.

The premise is very intriguing indeed, and the stakes for both characters are nothing short of life and death, as the back cover blurb explains.

Beware: explicit sex on page; ARC review.

The night Ko Zhi Hao arrives in Peking, searching for the home of the man who will instruct him for the last few weeks before the imperial exam, a restless Song Ling Xin watches the street from her perch above the garden wall; as he knocks on her family’s back door, she offers him directions to Master Gao’s house, a much smaller property almost hidden behind the magnificent grounds of her family’s home. In the evenings that follow, they talk; she up on the wall, he in his master’s courtyard, they talk every night for a few minutes.

Of course, this is not proper in any way; she should have never seen any man other than a close relative, let alone talked with him alone at night, for she’s destined for the Forbidden City, and he should concentrate exclusively in his studies, for if he fails, all of his family’s sacrifices would be wasted, his entire future lost.

In fact, if they are found out, there’s every possibility that he would be killed and she cast out; that’s what just happened to her cousin Li Fei. Once destined to compete for the emperor’s favor alongside Ling Xi, Li Fei allowed a man to kiss her, after which her father killed the young man, and sent Li Fei to her uncle with a few pieces of jade, to be married off to “whichever man can stand the stench” of her “dishonor”. Mind you, Li Fei is still a virgin, it’s just that she’s now not “pure enough” for the emperor.

So of course, despite both of them being aware of the very real risk, Zhi Hao and Ling Xin keep talking, and, being young and horny, soon they are making out.

The excuse they give each other is that Ling Xin needs to learn how to entice a man, to distinguish herself from the dozens of beautiful girls put forth by the noblest and wealthiest families in China. And since, in order to “keep her pure”, her family has told her nothing about the sex act, let alone seduction, she has to find out more from the only other source available to her. As for him, well, what’s a hot-blooded, straight young man to do?

“Release my pants and you will see my male dragon, full and eager because I am a man and you are beautiful” (Zhi Hao, chapter 4)

Zhi Hao is very distracted by his attraction to Ling Xin, as well as quite conflicted; for one thing, he’s stealing a march on “The Son of Heaven”, and for another, she’s soon to be locked away in the Forbidden City, out of his reach entirely, and hoping to use what she learns from him to seduce another man to bed.

Noticing Zhi Hao’s restlessness, Master Gao lectures him on the danger of demon foxes (huli jing) who steal young men’s energy and ambition through sex. Of course Zhi Hao must ascertain whether the vixen tempting him is woman or demon.

“What was more probable?That a sheltered aristocratic woman had come to him last night, stroking him to orgasm? Or that a spirit had tempted him away from his path?” (Zhi Hao, chapter 7)

Since Ling Xin is all woman, which she proves during yet another sexual encounter, the trysts continue, becoming ever more adventurous–though they both take pains to ensure her hymen remains intact, so she’ll pass the all-important physical purity test all aspirants to the emperor’s harem must submit to.

Predictably, the young lovers are soon found out, but as they are both clever and resourceful, they manage to avoid death, or indeed, any grave consequences at all, and eventually find a way to be together and win her family’s blessings; the end.

If you can’t tell, I found the premise fantastic and the execution a let down.

Given the paranormal element of the spirit fox–which adds shades of the fated mate trope–and the fact that Western readers already fetishize Asian cultures in general, I would have liked context in the text to grounding the book in a specific period in history. As written, the story could have taken place at any time between the construction of the Forbidden City and the twentieth century, or indeed, in an alternative universe.

The characterizations are very limited for all characters with spoken lines, everyone else barely sketched in.

And granted, at under 200 pages, the author had to condense the courtship, especially when framing it within the larger premise of the protagonists pre-determined destinies, but having the characters engage in sexual activities by the second chapter–and frequently and explicitly on page thereafter–essentially takes the place of any relationship building between them. So when they swear their mutual love, I wasn’t quite convinced there much more there than sexual attraction.

Oh, there are a couple of scenes where Zhi Hao gets to show Ling Xin’s father what he’s made off, to try and earn his favor, since Earl Song is so high in the empire’s bureaucracy, but that’s it. It almost felt that for every couple of scenes involving any other character, there was another sexual encounter. (I mean, probably not quite that bad, but you get the idea.)

However, it was how the “oh, so terrifying” threat of death is dealt with so easily at the end that disappointed me most; it did not feel clever, as it involved a radical change in attitudes in a matter of minutes that negated what had been established for almost every other speaking character in the book.

Vixen gets a 6.50 out of 10

A most unique historical romance ever. This is one of my favorite authors and now even more so. Set in ancient China, the story looks at the process of two people. One who wishes to pass an exam well above his station and one who was groomed to be an empress. Within the plot is the look at both the myths/stories and the culture that is so entirely different from an Western country. The portrait of the characters is strong, daring, humble and delightful. Thoroughly enjoyed this story.

A delightful sexy historical love story with a nice twist at the end. I enjoyed this book and recommend it to romance readers.

I would like to thank netgalley and Dragonblade Publishing for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Interesting setting and characters. Enjoyable.

Its a novella so they plot moved quickly. Over all, I just wasn't a fan of the writing or the euphemisms used during the spicy scenes. I do think the setting is a good change of pace for someone looking to expand their reading outside of regency or victorian historical romances.

She's no kitsune...

I feel like its been a minute since I've read a Jade Lee and I always enjoy her writing.
This was a fun, foxy, novella with some roots in ancient lore. Set in China, Ling Xin is proper but wants to be improper to seduce the emperor and possibly be the next empress of China. Zhi Hao is her next door neighbor, with a very active imagination that he puts to good use.
Recommend.

I requested this title on a whim and I’m so glad I did!! The writing was stunning and the author was able to weave so much into this story. I can’t wait to read more!

If you're looking for a longish erotic novella set in Imperial China, you could do much worse than Vixen! Ling Xin is the daughter of a nobleman; she's been raised to join the Forbidden City as a possible empress. Zhi Hao just moved in next door to train with a scholar so he can pass the Imperial Civil Service exam. She wants to learn how to entice a man; he thinks she's a fox spirit sent to distract him from his studies, but he can't resist. There's a little too much emphasis on PIV "virginity" for my taste, but otherwise this is a sexy, fun historical romance set outside of the usual Western landscapes of the ton/Gilded Age NYC/Western US.

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novella.

This book was a fun in-between book but I can't say it blew me away.
I understand that this is a novella but I have this problem more often with a novella is that I mis a little but a world building and character building.
It's understandable it's difficult in a 190 page story. But the story is wel constructed and it feel likes the author knows some about the Manchu periode in China.

<i>I received this title as an ARC on Net-galley in exchange for a honest review. Thank you Dragonblade Publishing for the copy!</i>

<b>Thoughts</b>
I liked this book a lot! I love chinese fantasy books so reading a chinese historical romance book was right up my alley. Ling Xin and Zhi Hao were great main characters. I loved their chemistry and how they were drawn together. The staked were high with Ling Xin being meant for the emperor and Zhi Hao being about to take the imperial exam but we got our happy ending! I love the sex lessons and also Ling Xin learning the truth of the forbidden palace and being able to make an informed decision on whether that was actually something she wanted. Some people might be put off by the language of "pearl" and "dragon" but I didn't mind it, probably because I'm used to chinese webnovels using similar euphemisms.


<b>Horn Level:</b> 4/5🌶️
<b>Format:</b> Ebook

<b>The Rating</b>
I give this book a <b>4/5🌟 rating.</b> This was short, spicy and fun! I need to go through Jade Lee's back catalog!

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