The Moon in the Palace

Empress of Bright Moon #1

by Weina Dai Randel

There is no easy path for a woman aspiring to power. . . .

A concubine at the palace learns quickly that there are many ways to capture the Emperor’s attention. Many paint their faces white and style their hair attractively, hoping to lure in the One Above All with their beauty. Some present him with fantastic gifts, such as jade pendants and scrolls of calligraphy, while others rely on their knowledge of seduction to draw his interest. But young Mei knows nothing of these womanly arts, yet she will give the Emperor a gift he can never forget.

Mei’s intelligence and curiosity, the same traits that make her an outcast among the other concubines, impress the Emperor. But just as she is in a position to seduce the most powerful man in China, divided loyalties split the palace in two, culminating in a perilous battle that Mei can only hope to survive.

The first volume of the Empress of Bright Moon duology paints a vibrant portrait of ancient China—where love, ambition, and loyalty can spell life or death—and the woman who came to rule it all.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction, China, Romance, Asia, Asian Literature

395 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2016

About the author

Weina Dai Randel is the critically acclaimed, award-winning author of five novels, including The Master Jeweler (June, 2025); The Last Rose of Shanghai, a Wall Street Journal bestseller; and Night Angels, longlisted for the Massachusettes Book Awards.

Weina is the winner of the RWA RITA® Award, a National Jewish Book Awards finalist, and a two-time Goodreads Choice Award Best Historical Fiction nominee. Her books have been translated into seventeen languages, including French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, and Hebrew. Her novels have received starred reviews from Booklist, Library Journal, and Shelf Awareness and rave reviews from other publications such as RT Book Reviews, Bookbub, and Book Reporter. Her debut was also recommended by Texas Library Association’s 2017 Lariat Reading List and was a San Francisco Book Festival Honorable Mention.

Born in China, Weina came to the United States at twenty-four. She holds an MA in English from Texas Woman’s University; she has worked as the subject-matter expert for Southern New Hampshire University’s MFA program and as an adjunct professor. Interviews with Weina have appeared on WFAA’s Good Morning Texas and in such publications as World Literature Today, Texas Jewish Post, The Wall Street Journal, Huffington Post, Los Angeles Review of Books, and RT Book Reviews. Weina resides in Massachusetts with her family.

Find more about Weina and her writing career on her website: www.weinarandel.com.

From Weina: "I love to see how words form an image that transcends the banal reality or how words join together to create a morsel of wisdom that tickles your mind."

Connect with Weina on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/weinadairandel

Reviews

[Weina]

Ten years of writing.
Eighty-two rejection letters.
Two years of waiting to publication.

Here she comes,
from the bottom of my heart.

[Angela M · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 , The Empress of Bright Moon.


Thanks to SOURCEBOOKS Landmark and NetGalley.

[Maria Espadinha · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Guerreira da Lua Brilhante


Na China de tempos imemoriais, numa sociedade onde a mulher pouco mais fazia que procriar, nasceu uma criança encantadora — uma menina de rosto perfeito, que brilhava com a intensidade da Lua.
Reza a história que um monge profetizara que tal beleza reinaria sobre os homens. Estava escrito que Mei — a menina que encarnara a beleza da Lua — seria Imperatriz, e não haveria nenhuma antes, nem outra depois!...

Mei nascera num meio privilegiado. O pai era governador e vivia com a família numa casa palaciana com jardim e numerosos criados. Mei era uma menina rica, amada, mimada e a preferida do pai!
Contudo, essa infância paradisíaca cedo lhe foi roubada. O pai pereceu subitamente, vítima de acidente, deixando vago um cargo que não poderia ser preenchido pela mãe, por ela ou pelas irmãs, pois governar era apanágio dos homens.
Assim, foram simplesmente chutadas para a rua!

Despojada de toda a riqueza, de todos os bens materiais que num ápice se esfumaram, Mei agarrara-se ao único bem que ainda possuía e era seu por direito — aquele que albergava dentro de si e clamava por emergir — a profecia do monge.
Mei era uma guerreira determinada, e no dia da morte do pai colara-se ao destino que lhe fora profetizado, pois era tudo o que lhe restava...
A sua vida parecia ter acabado, quando afinal... simplesmente começara!

Mei, esta personagem feminina de força carismática, existiu mesmo, e o seu feito arrebatador — foi a única mulher que reinou na China — é digno de todas as estrelas, pois mulheres dessa estirpe não abundam por aí, não!!!🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

[capture stories · Rating 3 out of 5]

Importantly, no nation could claim sovereignty over the moon; thus, the novel titled "𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙈𝙤𝙤𝙣 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙖𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙚" brings together a story of a woman ruler representing the moon, Empress Wu, during the Tang Dynasty. Mei, the main character that is supposed to rise to the position of Empress, has lived life treading on eggshells where the disposition of falling into a foe's trap would lead to death. This nameless young girl overcame hurdles, struggles, and cruelty within the palace where schemes are like relentless flying darts, unavoidable. In a palace story, one would expect that politics between women and men are rampant in dismay. Allies and allegiances were formed in common interests but never a friendship. Not to mention trying to keep up the pretense that everything was fine, to please one man, the Emperor. There was bravery, passion, and ambition at play to win it all.

The author's bold approach to retelling the story of Empress Wu from different perspectives has won my admiration. I learned a few Chinese proverbs and sayings handsomely quoted between chapters.

However, despite the beautiful story, the only mediocrity for me is the language's fluency that has veered towards ambiguity on some parts of depiction. I had lost track of what I was reading a few times. Still, the plot is exciting enough to keep me reading on. I'm halfway through the book, anticipating finishing the read and seeing the end

[Jeannie Lin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book to pieces. All my favorite things -- romance, intrigue, and rich, vivid historical detail. And a glimpse of the complicated hierarchy of power in the imperial palace. It reminded me of the Hong Kong serials I watched about Empress Wu and Princess Taiping when I was young. *happy sigh*

[Thea Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Está muy bien, me ha encantado

[MAP · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh no, it’s Outlander again - another one of those books that literally EVERYONE ELSE loves that thought was meh.

It felt like this book was all world building and no character building. Why did Pheasant fall so hard for Mei? Why did Jewel do 80% of what she did? Why is Plum just an exposition machine? None of the characters’ behaviors or emotions felt natural or motivated - they just did what they did because the story has only one way it can go.

Also the book doesn’t even wrap up it just STOPS because there’s a sequel. Shouldn’t even books with sequels have some semblance of an ending?!

Grumble.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars! Imperial China, courtesans, political intrigue, poisoning, double crossings, secret alliances, beheading, rebellions, jade and jewels, silkworms,prophecies, romance and destiny.

[Panda · Rating 1 out of 5]

The book was in writing for 10 years.

Now keep that in mind, the author needed 10 years of research to write this and 2 years to get it published.

I don't even know what to say...

At first, not knowing who the character was supposed to be historically i thought it was an Alice in wonderland type of tale where the flat and lifeless character is there just so you can see the world through her eyes.

But there is very very VERY little world building here, even I can tell you that in the tang dynasty women did not have bangs! How do I know that? well because they didn't cut their hair up until well into the 19 hundreds.

It seemed that characters spiraled downwards so badly there was no way for the author to course correct and just went with it.

Mei is passive for the woman that became China's power hungry Empress Wu, She does nothing and her head is full of straw... unless we need exposition or a random attempt at wit. Kindda like when you send messages to space, wait long enough and you might get a response.

I don't buy her as Cinderella either. She is not put upon, she chose to be a concubine because they were poor and she needed the money. That could have been shown better but in the book she first hopes to be picked because yay palace! when she is picked she's all woe is me, I must do it for my mother and sick sister... you can't have it both ways, pick a lane!

When she's finally in the palace things happen to her, not by her or because of her. she's just fumbling around and we don't get any cultural context for what's happening because it's her view point and like I mentioned, head full of straw.

The characters are flat, The events are all wrong. Even I know more about china at that time period then was in the book.

I feel cheated by all the positive ratings this book has, it fails on so many levels that it's not even funny.

[Cher 'N Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars - It was great. I loved it.

Prior to reading this, I did not know that much about China’s 7th century dynasty history, or anything of Empress Wu. The history revealed in the novel was fascinating and led me down numerous rabbit holes with Google searches and Wikipedia. The author’s writing style was enjoyable and I look forward to reading the rest of her series.
-------------------------------------------
Favorite Quote: To grow up was also to give up, and to build the future was to dissolve the past.

First Sentence: The day my future was foretold, I was just five years old.

[TL *Humaning the Best She Can* · Rating 5 out of 5]

But I understood it now. Somehow, sometime in our lives, we all needed to find a path through the clouds of our destinies and walk down, Alone."

"I knew now: love and destiny were two wild horses that could not be curbed. They galloped in different directions and ran down different paths where streams of desire and hope would not converge. To follow one was to betray the other. To make one happy was to break the other's heart. Yet I supposed that was part of life, a lesson we had to learn. To grow up was to give up, and to build the future was to dissolve the past.The only thing we could do was hope for the best, to believe that the horse we chose would find us a safe destination."

[Minni Mouse · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this book up because Kate Quinn gave this a four-star review and we all know Kate Quinn is queen of historical fictions. Oh, and China. Whaddup, my people.

THE GOOD
This story spans nine years so there's a lot of development in Mei's initial status from an initial Select concubine to her eventual one-step-away-from-Most-Adored status. Good for you, homegirl.

And Pheasant. Good for you, sweet face.

THE BAD
Bad book chemistry, perhaps? The narrative wasn't nearly as flat as The Course of Honor but it also wasn't nearly as vivid and engaging as Mistress of Rome, which is probably one of my favorite historical fictions.

Instead with this book, we never truly get to know Mei or empathize too much with her because all we are exposed to are her basic, logical thoughts. "How do I get noticed by the Emperor? Oh, drat, that mean spinster betrayed me -- oh, well. Golly, the Emperor has no clothes. I'm about to get my cherry popped. Look yonder! An attractive boy!" Where is the feeling throughout this? The emotional turmoil? The horror and disgust and fear and desperation? The character?

THE VERDICT
This book was LONG so if I finish the duology, I'll probably skim it just as I did this.

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew nothing about 7th Century China. This story begins when a prediction is made that a 5 yr old girl will one day rule China. This novel brings us to the early years of Empress WU.
This book was an eye opener. I love to read about things I do not know. It was very interesting how the women in this novel had to compete to be the best. The competition to be the Most Adorned was fierce. I loved the characters of Mei and Pheasant and look forward to seeing what happens next This book is rich in history, much of which I was not aware of and how families lived in that time to survive. I would highly recommend this book. I look forward to the next book.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

How gorgeous is that cover? Honestly, even if the book hadn’t been about Wu Zetian, I would have picked up this book based on the cover alone.

But thankfully the book is also very good. I really enjoyed the story that Randel told here. She did a great job of creating the character of Wu Zetian, especially the young woman we don’t really know much about. Wu is often portrayed as a villainess in history, but here, she is a sympathetic protagonist. Randel did a great job humanizing the character of Wu.

She also did a good job of taking us inside Tang Dynasty China, an era I don’t know a lot about (I usually focus on Qing Dynasty China). While this is a work of fiction, it is clear a lot of research went into her descriptions and it was interesting to see what life was like inside the palace at that time.

Unfortunately, the book is part of a two-book set, and I haven’t read the second one yet. I’m dying to know what happens from Wu’s point of view! I mean, I know from history the basic outline of events, but reading about this from a first person perspective will be very interesting. My suspicion is that Randel actually wrote one book, but it was too long so the publisher divided it into two. I really can’t wait to get my hands on the second half!

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this novel of ancient China in the same way I loved Anita Diamond's The Red Tent, both for the evocative language and the story of a time when lovers and wives were sisters, and jealousies and scheming were rampant. Even when women had few rights—I would not want to be one of them!—this story shows its female characters were not powerless, and somehow found the inner strength to improve their lot in life. The book has left me thinking about marrying for love vs marrying for influence, and how each affects our lives. The Chinese folk wisdom, superstitions, and quotes from The Art of War scattered throughout enriched the story. I'm eager to read the second book, taking a break only because I don't want it to be over! Highly recommend.

[Natasa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was everything I expected. It lyrically portrays all the violence and beauty of one of China’s most cosmopolitan eras. I enjoyed the inclusion of harem politics and plots. While this is a fictional account, I am sure many similar events happened. It is about duty, friendship, love, loyalty, choices, loss, and sacrifices. This novel is about a woman who is searching to find her happiness. Full of court intrigue, action, danger, and a forbidden romance. Moon in the Palace left me breathless and utterly captivated. Full review you can find on my blog: https://poetryofreading.blogspot.com/...

[Ana Stanciu-Dumitrache · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eu nu sunt o fana a romanelor despre cultura chineza sau japoneza, nu m-a atras niciodata istoria lor, dinastiile si traditiile si recunosc ca nu stiu foarte multe despre aceasta parte a lumii. Insa am citit cateva romane bune, care m-au adus mai aproape de aceasta cultura atat de diferta de a noastra si trebuie sa recunosc ca imi plac. Si romanul de fata mi s-a parut o lectura frumoasa, o poveste bine construita, cu personaje vii, cu suficienta istorie cat sa te familiarizezi cu contextul si cat sa nu strice povestea cu detalii. Nu a fost o poveste impresionanta, am citit altele mai bune si, in acest context, trebuie sa mentionez Imparateasa orhidee, care trateaza acelasi subiect si care mi s-a parut mai complexa si mi-a transmis mai mult, insa a avut ce trebuie si cred ca a reusit sa contureze atmosfera acelor vremuri si viata de la palat.
Romanul surprinde povestea lui Mei, o tanara de numai 12 ani care, dupa ce tatal ei moare si isi pierde locuinta, ajunge la palatul regal mai intai ca servitoare si apoi ca una dintre sutele de concubine ale imparatului. Nevoita sa isi intretina mama si surioara mai mica, Mei se maturizeaza foarte repede si realizeaza ce trebuie sa faca pentru familia ei si prin ce mijloace. Incepe astfel viata ei la palat, pe care eu l-am vazut ca o adevarata jungla. Toate concubinele imparatului se bat, atat la propriu, cat si la figurat, pentru un loc in patul celui mai important om din regat, om care, daca se uita la ele, le face imparatese si le asigura supravietuirea, atat a lor, cat si a familiilor. Despre asta este vorba de fapt: despre supravietuire. Multe intrigi, barfe, tradari, rautati, sacrificii si aliante au loc intre aceste fete atat de mici, si totusi atat de mature si puternice, care se adapteaza repede si devin ca niste papusi pe marea scena de la curtea regala. Desi din exterior situatia e amuzanta si cumva nebuneasca, pentru fete e o adevarata lupta de care pe care, iar autoarea a reusit sa surprinda aceasta atmosfera foarte bine. Nu pot spune ca mi-a placut in mod deosebit de Mei, pentru ca mi s-a parut doar una dintre sutele de fete in aceeasi situatie, insa intr-adevar s-a remarcat prin istetimea ei, prin puterea de a se adapta la orice situatie, prin intelepciune si creativitate. Drumul ei a fost pavat cu multe momente grele, insa norocul i-a suras, pentru ca a intalnit dragostea adevarata in mijlocul iadului. Aici povestea a devenit previzibila, lucru care nu m-a deranjat foarte tare, pentru ca era de asteptat in genul acesta de roman: Mei descopera ca s-a indragostit de nimeni altul decat fiul imparatului, urmatorul la tron.
Probabil voi citi si urmatorul volum, pentru ca sunt curioasa cum va fi aceasta noua etapa din viata lui Mei, asa ca revin cu o impresie la finalul povestii :)

[Bridgett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mei - She begins the book as a child, and by the end of it, she has blossomed into a courageous, captivating woman who stays true to her heart, and her loyalties take her beyond her own expectations. She was truly mesmerizing.

Pheasant - His gentleness, and kindheartedness circled my heart like a ray of sunshine. He's a man of honor and distinction. I look forward to reading more about him in the next novel.

The other characters were very well developed. Some I loved, and others I loved to hate, all making for a sensational read.

It is the first book that I have read that takes place in China. A while back I watched a documentary about The Forbidden City, which sparked my interest in China's traditional past, and then when searching for my next book to read, The Moon in the Palace enticed me with its beautiful cover. I am so thankful it did, because this is, by far, the best book I have read all year. No lie.

The emperor in this book makes Henry VIII look like a saint. The intricate details within the pages are woven together so eloquently. It amazed me to find such deep seeded deceit, and harsh betrayals among the palace walls. I was completely consumed from the very first page. It took me two and a half days to read, and this is a long book. I didn't want to put it down.

The ending caught me a little off guard though, as I expected something a little more gratifying, but it ended the way it did because the next book will pick up where it left off. I will be thrilled to get my hands on a copy of the remainder of the story.

There was a lot of action, and the plot was well paced. There is a lot of philosophy, and meaning to be taken from the book. There wasn't a lot of romance, but just enough to warm my heart. It's kind of hard to get caught up in a romantic relationship with an emperor breathing down your neck. I do hope the next has a little more love sprinkled through the pages though. I'm a romantic at heart.

The author is brilliant and writes like she was born to. I hope she writes many more books, as I can see her becoming a favorite, without question.

This book was given as an advanced copy to review by NetGalley, my review is written with honesty and without any ties to the author. I did not receive any monetary gain from doing so.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Prava Mei (Wu) je bila nemilosrdna... Dana 17. veljače davne 624. godine rođena je kineska carica Wu Zetian, jedina žena koja je ikad zasjela na kinesko prijestolje. Wu Zetian rođena je u bogatoj plemićkoj obitelji te je kao dijete naučila pisati, čitati i svirati, što je bilo neobično za ženu u to doba. Već s četrnaest godina postala je konkubina cara Taizonga, kojeg je oduševilo njeno znanje o književnosti i povijesti, pa ju je postavio da radi administrativne poslove na carskom dvoru. Nakon što je car umro naslijedio ga je njegov sin Gaozong, a Wu je poslana u budistički samostan, što je bila tradicionalna sudbina carevih udovica. No, Gaozong je bio fasciniran njenim sposobnostima i ljepotom, te ju je za nekoliko godina vratio na dvor i uzeo za svoju konkubinu.

Nakon što je rodila dva sina i zadobila carevo povjerenje, postala je suparnica carice Wang. Wu je ovom prilikom prvi puta pokazala nemilosrdnost po kojoj je kasnije postala notorna – navodno je ubila vlastitu kćer i za to okrivila caricu Wang. Car nije saznao za prijevaru te je 655. godine uzeo Wu za svoju novu caricu umjesto Wang, koja je uskoro nakon toga smaknuta.

.... U knjizi je prikazana mekšom, nježnijom, ponekad naivnom.... Uglavnom interesantna knjiga za opuštanje.

[Ariana Fae · Rating 4 out of 5]

The MOON IN THE PALACE was reminiscent of the tale CINDERELLA but with an Asian twist and more conniving women in it. Weina Dai Randel creates a captivating story about the rise of the young Empress Wu, known as Mei in this book, and her struggles in the ruthless court of Emperor Taizing of the Tang Dynasty.

I loved how Randel showed Mei’s determination and battle against impossible odds to achieve her dream. The author did a wonderful job of keeping my interest with Mei having her wish just a grasp away and then ripped away, causing her to be further away from her goal each time. Although there is intrigue, court politics, conniving foes, betrayal, and great losses, there is also love and friendship with a prince.

If you love stories about strong women who are determined to create their own destiny, then I think you will enjoy THE MOON IN THE PALACE.

[Maria Roxana · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Cumva, la un moment dat în viață, cu toții avem nevoie să găsim o potecă printre cețurile destinelor nostre și să coborâm. Singuri."

[Učitaj se! | Martina Štivičić · Rating 4 out of 5]

Volim čitati povijesnu fikciju, pogotovo kada se radi o likovima, dobima i civilizacijama o kojima do sada nisam znala baš puno. A još kada je u središtu priče jedna iznimna žena, ne može bolje!

Mlada Mei kći je kineskog guvernera, koja nakon smrti oca ostane bez svega. Jedini izlaz iz bijede i način da pomogne svojoj obitelji Mei vidi u prilici da dođe na dvor kineskog cara kao jedna od njegovih odabranica. Zahvaljujući očevom položaju, Mei vrlo brzo doista bude pozvana na dvor, ali tu tek počinje njen trnovit put do pravog položaja - i, možda, carevog srca. Naime, carevih je odabranica puno i svaka je od njih na svoj način lijepa i darovita, te se u tom moru ljupkih (i ambicioznih) djevojaka teško istaknuti. Mei će morati pomno odabrati svoj put i pažljivo iskoristiti svaku priliku koja joj se pruži da bi uopće došla do cara. Put je to koji joj može donijeti nezamislive nagrade i ostvariti joj životnu želju, ali i odvesti ju u propast ako učini i najmanju pogrešku.

Meina priča zapravo je priča o legendarnoj kineskoj carici Wu Zetian, jedinoj poznatoj i službeno priznatoj ženskoj carici Kine u više od dva tisućljeća kineske povijesti. Carica Wu započela je svoj put kao jedna od konkubina cara Taizonga, nakon čije se smrti udala za njegovog nasljednika, cara Gaozonga. Čitavo to vrijeme carica Wu stjecala je značajnu političku moć i utjecaj, te je, nakon iznenadne smrti supruga, praktički preuzela položaj koji je u ono vrijeme bio istovjetan onome cara, čineći ju prvom ženskom caricom.

Ponekad pomislim kako će mi činjenica da znam kako se priča nekog lika, koji je postojao kao stvarna povijesna ličnost (poput carice Wu u ovom slučaju), nekako umanjiti užitak čitanja i oduzeti onu neizvjesnost i vječno zdvajanje nad sudbinom lika o kojem čitam. No to gotovo nikada ne bude slučaj, pa tako nije ni ovdje. Meina priča bila mi je zanimljiva, a na trenutke i napeta, iako sam znala da će se za nju na kraju sve dobro posložiti. Možda je baš u tome posebna zanimljivost ove priče: to kako mi je ona dala priliku upoznati nesigurnu i plahu, iako veoma odlučnu, djevojku koja će kasnije postati jedna od najmoćnijih ljudi sedmostoljetne Kine, te pratiti tu djevojku na njenom putu od 'samo' Mei do carice Wu.

U jednakoj mjeri u kojoj mi je bila zanimljiva Meina priča, bilo mi je zanimljivo i čitati o običajima, događajima i prilikama koje su se odvijale na carskom dvoru u Kini u 7. stoljeću. Iako ovdje možemo vidjeti tek malen djelić bogate kineske povijesti, taj djelić veoma je fascinantan i autorica je uložila izniman trud kako bi nam ga u detalje opisala. Unatoč poznatoj činjenici da su kineski carevi običavali imati mnogo priležnica, zapanjili su me podaci o njihovom broju i položaju na dvoru, kao i činjenica da su sve te žene, jednostavno zbog svoje brojnosti, cara zapravo prilično rijetko viđale, a ponekad mu čak godinama ne bi imale prilike ni prići. Jednako su zanimljivi i podaci o uzgoju svile i gotovo pobožnom odnosu prema dudovim svilcima, kao i općenite zanimljivosti koje čine život na dvoru - dvorske intrige, spletke, urote i zakulisne igre moći.

Ova je priča, za mene, jedno veoma zanimljivo povijesno-romantično djelo, koje na fascinantan način opisuje uspon jedne djevojke na položaj u društvu, sve prepreke koje su joj pokušale taj uspon prepriječiti i sve sretno-dovitljive načine na koji je ona te prepreke uspjela savladati. Romantični dio priče mi možda i nije bio toliko fascinantan, ali pomogao mi je da bolje upoznam mladu Mei i dobijem potpuniji uvid u njenu priču.

Carica Wu žena je koja postigla nešto iznimno u jednom iznimno patrijarhalnom društvu, što ju čini jednom od iznimnih snažnih žena o kojima volim čitati i o kojima bih voljela da svi imamo prilike čitati još više. Svim ljubiteljima povijesne fikcije i lijepog pisanja, kao i svima koji vole čitati o snažnim ženama koje su na svoj način uspjele promijeniti svijet, velika preporuka!

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

In an interview at the end of this novelization of the early life of ancient Chinese Empress Wu (AD 624-705), the author notes that in reaction against Maxine Hong Kingston's The Woman Warrior: Memoirs of a Girlhood amongst Ghosts, she decided to tell stories about "Chinese women who succeeded in controlling their destinies." Though Wu is noted for being the only woman to be given the title "emperor" of China, her early days as fictionalized by Randel (and no doubt in actual life, too) do not show her enjoying much control over her life.

Our protagonist, known by her childhood name of Mei, loses her wealthy and powerful father when she is only 12. She, her mother, and two sisters are forced out of their home and flee to the home of an unwelcoming half-brother. But Mei's luck turns when, a year later, she is called to court to be one of the emperor's "Selects," 13 and 14-year-old girls who are chosen as potential concubines to the Emperor. Lots of court intrigues follow as Mei works her way up from a Select to a "Talent," a higher-ranking concubine, and then to a favored courtesan (although the emperor doesn't engage in sex with her, or with any other concubine, seemingly having lost his sexual potency due to some combination of age, illness, and guilt). Mei also falls for a stableboy who turns out to be of higher rank than he first appeared.

The writing here is straightforward, not literary in any aesthetically pleasing way. Told in the first person, the narrative is less concerned about character interiority than it is about conveying information about life in the ancient Chinese court. Mei serves as a fairly empty placeholder for the reader to imagine herself in the ancient Chinese court, rather than as a fully developed character. She has few individual character traits besides being a bit curious and a bit prone to breaking the rules, and faces few moral quandaries that would lead her to change or grow over the course of the novel. Her love story is a minor plotline, gaining emotional depth only about two-thirds of the way through the book, so the appeal here isn't great for romance readers. And Mei's ability to control her destiny amounts at most to telling secrets about court intrigues and rebellions to those above her in the hierarchy of power, making it a difficult read for someone hoping to identify with an empowered woman.

Best for readers interested in Chinese history, but who prefer a lighter read than typical history books give.

[Kate Forsyth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I met Weina Dai Randel when I was in the US earlier this year, attending the Historical Novel Society conference in Portland. A gorgeous cover and intriguing premise worked their usual powerful force on me, and I added her novel The Moon in the Palace to the great pile of books I had to lug home.

The story begins when a Buddhist monk predicts that a five-year-old girl named Mei would one day be the mother of emperors and reign over the kingdom of China. From that moment, Mei’s father began to plot to have his beautiful little girl brought to the attention of the Emperor. Her father’s plans are disrupted by his unexpected death, but then Mei – now twelve years old – finds herself summoned to the court as one of fifteen maidens chosen to enter the Inner Court. From this moment, her life changes drastically. Separated from her mother, she must learn to negotiate through the intrigues and dangers of the life at the palace. The Emperor has many hundreds of concubines, most of which he has never seen. If Mei wants to become his Most Adored, she must use her wit as well as her beauty … and be very careful not to fall in love with another man …

The Moon in the Palace brings the claustrophobic world of ancient China to vivid life. Exotic, dangerous, brilliantly coloured and romantic, it’s an astonishingly assured debut and a fascinating story.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend this one. It was hard to put down. This first book of the only woman ruler of China, Empress Wu, deals with the early years of her life in the palace before she was the empress. The palace politics, with successes and downfalls of the women and others surrounding the emperor, was fascinating. I love historical fiction especially when it deals with areas that I know little to nothing about. There were similarities to Memoirs of a Geisha in regards to women trying to make a better life for themselves in a man's world. If you enjoyed that one, I think you will love this as well.

[Stephanie Thornton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love books that dust off the lives of history's forgotten women, so I thoroughly enjoyed Weina Dai Randel's take on Empress Wu's early years. The ten years spent writing The Moon in the Palace show in all the tiny details that whisk the reader back to the Tang Dynasty: scenes set in the silkworm workshop, Mei's trek to a Buddhist monastery, and a behind the scenes glimpse at the cutthroat political machinations of the Emperor's concubines. The love story between Mei and Pheasant sets the stage perfectly for the second book in the series, which I can't wait to read!

[Rosie · Rating 4 out of 5]

"- Se a criança fosse uma rapariga, com este rosto, - o monge, Tripitaka, estudou-me atentamente - ela eclipsaria a luz do Sol e brilharia com mais intensidade do que a Lua. Reinaria sobre o reino que governa muitos homens. Seria mãe de imperadores da terra mas também seria imperador em seu próprio nome. Ela desmantelaria a casa de mentiras mas construiria o tempo do divino. Ela dissolveria o reino dos fantasmas mas fundaria uma dinastia de almas. Ela seria imortal."

A verdade é que se tratava de uma rapariga!


Um imperador, intitulado e tratado por "Único acima de Todos" .

Uma viagem ao séc VII chinês e às suas cortes imperiais.

Uma complacência e subserviência inacreditáveis.

De tradições tão inculcadas que se tornam inquestionáveis.

De formas de vida tão distintas que nos surpreendem incrivelmente.

Uma linha tão ténue sobre a vida e a morte, da ascenção ou queda, do poder obtido ou subtraido, que intimida o mais corajoso.

Este primeiro livro acompanha a nossa protagonista desde tenra idade. Com 13 anos apenas, ingressa na corte do palácio na China. Aí fica à mercê da sua sorte, da sua rara beleza e de alguns rasgos sagazes que vai tendo.

Acompanhamos o seu crescimento, o seu desabrochar como mulher, os meandros e os costumes sociais daquele povo e sua história.

Subentende-se que o segundo livro trará finalmente o destaque do que Mei se tornou e concretizou.

Fiquei com muita vontade de ler a continuação que pelos vistos ainda não tem edição traduzida para português. Lamentável.

[Carla Marques · Rating 4 out of 5]

Este livro foi uma primeira vez para mim em vários pontos e fico contente porque foi uma boa leitura e uma boa experiência.
Opinião completa em:http://aviciadadoslivros.blogspot.pt/...

[Célia | Estante de Livros · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wu Zetian, mais tarde conhecida por Imperatriz Wu (e neste livro por Mei), foi a primeira e única mulher a ocupar o trono imperial da China, entre 690 e 705 d.C. Foi sobre esta personagem que Weina Dai Randel – nascida na China mas atualmente a residir nos Estados Unidos – decidiu escrever, naquela que é a sua estreia nos romances. A Imperatriz da Lua Brilhante, primeiro de dois romances sobre esta importante figura histórica chinesa, cobre o período da juventude e chegada à maioridade de Mei, intimamente ligados à sua entrada na corte do palácio.

Mei nasce num meio privilegiado, tendo o seu pai cargo de governador, o que lhe conferiu desde tenra idade acesso à educação e, consequentemente, a fez desejar chegar longe. Logo no início do romance, um monge profetiza o destino da pequena Mei, dizendo-lhe que no futuro seria imperatriz do reino e mãe de imperadores. Mei nunca esquece essa profecia e, depois da morte do seu pai e com a sua entrada na corte, sente-se na obrigação de fazer os possíveis para cumprir a profecia, deixando o seu pai orgulhoso e providenciando para uma vida confortável da sua mãe.

E é assim que o leitor acompanha a integração de Mei na corte imperial e a sua tentativa de chamar a atenção do Imperador, o que inclui uma série de intrigas palacianas e jogos de bastidores que a autora aqui consegue introduzir de forma bastante dinâmica para o enredo. Gostei da forma como Weina Dai Randel explica ao leitor, sem se tornar cansativa ou demasiado óbvia, o modo de funcionamento da corte, com todos os seus protocolos, e também como contextualiza a situação política e social da China, ainda que a questão social se tenha mantido, basicamente, pelas esferas mais elevadas da população. É também abordada a importância da sericultura (produção de seda através da criação de bichos-da-seda) na economia chinesa, o que achei muitíssimo interessante.

O destino desempenha um papel muito importante no enredo, uma vez que é o motor para praticamente todas as ações de Mei, ainda que por vezes a sua faceta corajosa e apaixonada teime em se intrometer nas decisões que pareciam ser as mais sensatas. Apesar disso, Mei demonstra uma notável maturidade para a idade, que se revela na perceção sobre os meandros da corte e nos desejos de quem a rodeia – em especial, do Imperador – o que contribui decisivamente para a sua ascensão.

A Imperatriz da Lua Brilhante é um romance histórico que cativa e ensina o leitor, pela forma interessante como a autora mistura realidade com ficção. Pessoalmente, gostei bastante de conhecer mais sobre o início da vida da Imperatriz Wu e fico ansiosa para que seja publicada a continuação.