This book is a rich tapestry of the intrigues that led to the rise of Empress Wu. It elaborates on her early life as a daughter of the Wu clan, through their fall and her eventual rise into the inner court of the Emperor. The detail and knowledge of the forbidden city is truly impressive. Mei, the main character, is truly impressive in her ability to control her own fate. Rather than waiting for the intrigues of court to raise or lower her station, she takes an active role in changing her circumstances. While in real life she must have been a bit more scheming, here she is portrayed sympathetically and well. I am anxious to read the next in the series. For lovers of historical fiction, this is a must-read.

Before I start this review I want to say that this book, and it's sequel, and the most incredible and stunning books of this kind that I have ever read. They tell a story I didn't know and had never heard of and that made reading these books a sheer joy and ultimate pleasure.

The book tells the beginning of the life of Empress Wu, during the Tang Dynasty, when she first joins the palace women under the name of Mei and begins a life she could never have dreamed of and would maybe have horrified her if she'd been told what her life had in store for her. What a terribly intriguing life she led if this book is to be believed too intriguing and dangerous to boot. To live in the way Mei does is heartbreaking to read, never knowing which way things will go for you, will you be accepted and loved or shunned and hated. Seems like a terrible way to live but Mei does it with calm aplomb, knowing what she wants without any real clue how to get there without sheer luck. Mei is a curiously fascinating girl/woman and one that I really wanting to learn more about so when the sequel appeared on my radar it was a must read as I felt I needed to know what happened next in her life and where her love affair with the enigmatic Pheasant would progress next. The romantic side of this book doesn't overshadow the underlying story at all and lies peacefully with the rest of Mei's tale.

This book is so very detailed and I put my hands up to the author for bringing such incredible detail and depth to the story. The characters are all very deep, intense and credibly realistic, they evoke love and hatred within the reader in equal amounts which is the way a reader needs the character to be to keep the book interesting and evocative. The evolution of the character over the course of the book is also wonderfully constructed giving each one extra depth and making each of them even the more remarkable. The world-building is also perfectly done, the vibe for the time is brilliant and the descriptive work on the scenery and architecture is also well crafted and evokes the images in detail within your mind's eye which only adds to the overall feel of the book. The pacing within the story is also well done with the perfect ebb and flow that keep the story evolving in the way that keeps you hooked and makes the book almost impossible to put down, which I suffered from seeing as I read the book in just two sittings myself.

In all seriousness if you enjoy historical fiction and are intrigued by Asian culture then this book is one to consider as it truly is a scenic and evocative tale full of beautiful elements structured into one of the most stunning tales I have ever read, as is the sequel. It's definitely worth trying in my opinion as this is a sensational air of books that deserve every accolade they receive.

I didn't know anything about the history of 7th century China but was intrigued from the beginning with Mei and her story . The author successfully transported me there and for two days I found it difficult to come back . I was intrigued by the emperor and by the complex political atmosphere of the palace as well as the fierce competition among the women and girls wanting to be "the Most Adored" of the Emperor, as they fall in and out of favor by deceit and lies. The hierarchy of concubines, the promise of a better life , of being closer to the Emperor and perhaps bearing him son , breeds deceit and schemes to move others out of the way, conspiracies and bribery.

There are lovely descriptions of the palace , the royal attire and so much more without going overboard in this fast paced story of the power struggles among the women of the court and the politics of the palace. Watching Mei move closer and further away from the Emperor and then closer again, I read these 400 pages pretty quickly.

In a Q&A at the end of the book, Weina Dai Randel tells how she wanted to write about "Chinese women who succeeded in controlling their destinies" , so she chose to write about Empress Wu and began in this book with her early life . She has done extensive research for years even reading ancient Chinese texts. I'm very much looking forward to the second book , [book:The Empress of Bright Moon|26145762].

Thanks to SOURCEBOOKS Landmark and NetGalley.

interesting read

Wu Zetian is China’s female emperor. The Moon in the Palace chronicles the early life of Empress Wu. Mei, as Wu is called in this novel, receives a prophecy at five years old that she will be the mother of emperors and an emperor in her own name. Her fate pleases her father, and believes that Mei will bring her family honor. When she enters the palace at thirteen, she believes that she will immediately lead a good life. However, she soon finds that there is treachery in the court, as hundreds of women are fighting to receive the Emperor’s affection. Mei realizes that she must stay ahead of her enemies so that she can survive and bring her family honor.

Mei is a woman who is devoted to her family. She wants her parents to be proud of her. She is very intelligent and likes to read. When she goes to the palace, she is very naive and trusting. She soon realizes that she cannot trust anyone in the harem because they too have the same ambition as Mei. Mei becomes more observant. She is always planning for her survival. She finds a few friends and is very loyal to them. She is also very compassionate. Even though she does not like her enemies, she still feels some pity for them. She also yearns to live the life she wants and fights for her happiness. She does not want to be someone’s pawn. Thus, throughout the course of the novel, Mei develops into a mature and capable young woman.

Overall, this novel is about duty, friendship, love, loyalty, choices, loss, and sacrifices. This novel is about a woman who is searching to find her own happiness. I liked how Mei grew as a character, and I look forward to reading the sequel to see how she has grown. I loved how the author portrays the danger and cruelty within the Tang court. This novel is full of court intrigue, action, danger, and a forbidden romance. Moon in the Palace left me breathless and utterly captivated, and I cannot wait to read Empress of Bright Moon. This novel is sure to appeal to fans of soap operas and to fans of the historical dramas, The Tudors, Marco Polo, and The Borgias. This novel will also delight fans of C.W. Gortner, Philippa Gregory, Michelle Moran, and Stephanie Dray.

4.5 stars. This book was wonderful. The pacing was fabulous. I have never read anything about this era and I was intrigued from the very beginning. It kept me enthralled in the story the entire time and I found myself struggling to put it down. It had everything you could want, intrigue, a touch of love, intricate detail, deceit, betrayal....it has it all. I would definitely recommend this book to a friend who loves historical fiction.

A lovely book that will appeal to readers who enjoy the works of Lisa See, "The Moon in the Palace" is the fictionalized account of the woman who became Empress Wu of the Tang Dynasty. Randei's research is immaculate, and she thoroughly immerses you in the world of 7th century China. Wonderful.