During China's infamous Tang Dynasty, a time awash with luxury yet littered with deadly intrigues and fallen royalty, betrayed Princess Ai Li flees...
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reviews
Oct 03, 2010
Tara
rated it: 
I rarely read romances, but when I caught the words "Tang dynasty, butterfly swords, and woman warrior," I decided to give this a go. And thankfully, there were no damsels in distress in this one. Well, the damsel has distress, but nothing she can't handle with her butterfly swords and just a little bit of help of a blonde barbarian.
Ai Li (aka Ailey)is on her way to marry Li Tao when she discovers that her fiance is planning an uprising against her own father. She run More...
Ai Li (aka Ailey)is on her way to marry Li Tao when she discovers that her fiance is planning an uprising against her own father. She run More...
6 comments
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Feb 08, 2011
Nikki
rated it: 
Given that this was published by Harlequin, I wasn't really holding out very much hope of it being a good book. Still, when it was mentioned during the discussions of the cover of Cindy Pon's Silver Phoenix, I decided I'd give it a try when it was out, and have finally got round to it. It does have an Asian woman on the cover, and she is indeed holding a butterfly sword (though she should have two, I'm told). So it's winning there, at least.
From her author bio on Goodreads, though:
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From her author bio on Goodreads, though:
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May 23, 2011
Dhympna
rated it: 
I have been trying to write this review for days. This book is one of those books that I really wanted to like--I mean really, really wanted to fall in love with...but (ah, but there is the but) the truth is that it just fell flat. I struggled to get a third into the book and ended up skimming the rest. I hesitate to call that "reading the book" and thus will label it as a DNF.
The Good:
It is set in a different setting/country. The premise is very interesting--gi More...
The Good:
It is set in a different setting/country. The premise is very interesting--gi More...
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Jul 03, 2011
Jasmyn9
rated it:
45. Butterfly Swords by Jeannie Lin
Genre: Romance
Pages: 288
Acquired: 5/20/2011
Book of Your Shelf? No
Why I have it: NetGalley
Series: Harlequin Historical
Princess Ai Li is doing the unthinkable. She is running away from the mam she is supposed to marry. A marriage that was arranged by her father, her actions could bring shame to her entire family. But she has good reason for doing so. She has discovered that her future husband played a part in the sl More...
Genre: Romance
Pages: 288
Acquired: 5/20/2011
Book of Your Shelf? No
Why I have it: NetGalley
Series: Harlequin Historical
Princess Ai Li is doing the unthinkable. She is running away from the mam she is supposed to marry. A marriage that was arranged by her father, her actions could bring shame to her entire family. But she has good reason for doing so. She has discovered that her future husband played a part in the sl More...
Mar 14, 2011
Donna
rated it:
Maybe it was my frame of mind when I started reading but I wasn't quite as gripped as I expected. I think I felt that there was a certain amount of set up and action going on, but it didn't take long for that to change. You know what sticks out for me with this book? Pacing. The pacing was really well done. There was a lot of traveling - really this was one big old road trip for Ai Li and Rayam - but because of the changing situation and locations it didn't feel monotonous. In fact, each leg of
More...
Dec 27, 2010
K.
rated it:
Ryam, a mercenary barbarian returning from a failed mission in Tang Dynasty China, jumps into the fray when he sees Ai Li (dressed as a boy, but Ryam knows she's a girl) being attacked by her bodyguards.
Together they run from her intended bridgroom, Li Tao, and his army as they race to reach the capital, Changan, and safety before Ai Li is recaptured.
Butterfly Swords is a historical Harlequin romance between a Western mercenary and a Han Princess set in Tang Dynasty China. Ai More...
Together they run from her intended bridgroom, Li Tao, and his army as they race to reach the capital, Changan, and safety before Ai Li is recaptured.
Butterfly Swords is a historical Harlequin romance between a Western mercenary and a Han Princess set in Tang Dynasty China. Ai More...
Nov 18, 2010
Liz
rated it:
Very nicely done. The heroine was easy to fall in love with, and I easily identified with her predicament. The opening was fast-paced and I thought her generosity to the hero (who was obviously nearly starving) very endearing. The fight scenes were well-paced and the ones between the hero and heroine were both sensual and flirty. I think I enjoyed the sweeping scenery the best. I felt as if I were right beside them as they traveled the roads and rivers of China. Ms. Lin certainly knows how to bu
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Nov 15, 2010
Joanna
rated it: 
Erotic romance adventure set in Ancient China.
During the journey to her arranged marriage ceremony, Ai Li learns outrageous secrets about her betrothed, Li Tao. A powerful governor and war hero. A man she has never seen, but to who she belongs now. Unable to become the wife of a warlord, who is plotting against her father and probably murdered one of her brothers. Ai Li needs to inform her father about Li Tao's betrayal. She escapes, breaking up with tradition. Disobeying her parents More...
During the journey to her arranged marriage ceremony, Ai Li learns outrageous secrets about her betrothed, Li Tao. A powerful governor and war hero. A man she has never seen, but to who she belongs now. Unable to become the wife of a warlord, who is plotting against her father and probably murdered one of her brothers. Ai Li needs to inform her father about Li Tao's betrayal. She escapes, breaking up with tradition. Disobeying her parents More...
Oct 13, 2010
Pamela
rated it:
Jeannie Lin has written a historical romance set in 758 CE China during the Tang Dynasty. Shen Ai Li, daughter of the Emperor, has been betrothed to Li Tao to seal an alliance between the Emperor and his rival. Before she can be married, however, she learns that Li Tao was responsible for the death of one of her brothers and that he is amassing a large army to usurp the throne from Ai Li’s father.
Ai Li is determined to warn her father of Li Tao’s perfidy. First, though, she must travel More...
Ai Li is determined to warn her father of Li Tao’s perfidy. First, though, she must travel More...
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Sep 22, 2010
Sela
rated it:
I actually bought this at the beginning of the month, but haven’t had much time to read until last night, when I plopped myself in my reading chair after dinner and told my family that I wasn’t moving until I’d finished the book.
OMG. Who needs to move? What could possibly be more interesting than watching a princess and a barbarian fall in love in Tang dynasty China?!?
I had to sort through a couple of things as I read.
First, Jeannie’s a friend of mine. Was that colo More...
OMG. Who needs to move? What could possibly be more interesting than watching a princess and a barbarian fall in love in Tang dynasty China?!?
I had to sort through a couple of things as I read.
First, Jeannie’s a friend of mine. Was that colo More...
Sep 21, 2010
April
rated it:
BUTTERFLY SWORDS by Jeannie Lin is a historical romance set in 758 AD China- Tang Dynasty. It is well written with depth, details, fast paced and a page turner. It has sensuality, honor, betrayal, tradition, sword play, family, a princess, barbarians, adventure and a true love story. The hero, Ryam, is a barbarian, powerful swordsman, noble, trustworthy, stubborn and honorable. The heroine, Ai Lin, is a princess, daughter of an emperor, betrothed to Li Tao, the sixth child, stubborn, honorable,
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Sep 09, 2010
Jane
rated it:
Excellent prose carries this Tang Dynasty historical romance featuring a female warrior trying to avenge the death of her brother while coping with the family's devotion to honor, face and duty. A barbarian from another land comes to her aid and together they make a journey to the capital for Al Li to carry back news of her betrothed's betrayal of her family.
Ryam believes he has no honor and Al Li is weighted down by it thus they balance. Ryam is not without honor, he just percei More...
Ryam believes he has no honor and Al Li is weighted down by it thus they balance. Ryam is not without honor, he just percei More...
Nov 11, 2010
DNF - Please note that I skimmed the latter half, and thus, feel wrong giving this book a rating.
I wanted to love the world and the characters in BUTTERFLY SWORDS. Because of the setting, I believed the story had a lot of potential to be rich and the adventure exciting. Instead, the story fell flat; the writing did not fully draw me in -- which I think was one of the primary problems for me -- and the hero was not all that impressive.
Usually with adventure stories More...
I wanted to love the world and the characters in BUTTERFLY SWORDS. Because of the setting, I believed the story had a lot of potential to be rich and the adventure exciting. Instead, the story fell flat; the writing did not fully draw me in -- which I think was one of the primary problems for me -- and the hero was not all that impressive.
Usually with adventure stories More...
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Mar 15, 2011
Maldivianbookreviewer
rated it:
5+ Stars for this breathtaking historical
With only two historical novels published to her name, Jeannie Lin has shot into my list of favorite authors after being totally and utterly captivated by the tale of love, Tang Dynasty politics and the beautiful sensuality that she wields in her stories. I picked up Butterfly Swords right after I was done with The Taming of Mei Ling which was just a teaser into Jeannie Lin's capability in keeping readers enthralled by the magic that she cre More...
With only two historical novels published to her name, Jeannie Lin has shot into my list of favorite authors after being totally and utterly captivated by the tale of love, Tang Dynasty politics and the beautiful sensuality that she wields in her stories. I picked up Butterfly Swords right after I was done with The Taming of Mei Ling which was just a teaser into Jeannie Lin's capability in keeping readers enthralled by the magic that she cre More...
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Nov 06, 2010
Ning
rated it:
ต้องยอมรับว่า หนังสือเล่มนี้น่าสนใจที่ปก เนื่องจากว่ามันเป็น รูปผู้หญิงเอเชีย
ซึ่งเท่าที่อ่านนิยายโรแม้นซ์ฝรั่งมา ยังไม่เคยพบตัวละครที่เป็นเอเชียเลย
แม้แต่ตัวประกอบก็ตาม แต่เล่มนี้เล่นเอาเอเชียมาเป็นนางเอกเลยทีเดียว
ก็ต้องลองซะหน่อย ..
ครั้งแรก ก็ยังคิดว่าสงสัยจะดำเนินเรื่องในดินแดนยุโรปอีกล่ะมั้ง
ประมาณนางเอกเดินโซซัดโซเซ ข้ามน้ำข้ามทะเลมา
แต่ที่ไหนได้ .. กลับกลายเป็นเรื่องที่เกิดขึ้นที่เมืองจีน ในสมัยราชวงค์ถัง
แล้วนางเอกเป็นถึง ลูกฮ่องเต้ ส่วนพระเอก เป More...
ซึ่งเท่าที่อ่านนิยายโรแม้นซ์ฝรั่งมา ยังไม่เคยพบตัวละครที่เป็นเอเชียเลย
แม้แต่ตัวประกอบก็ตาม แต่เล่มนี้เล่นเอาเอเชียมาเป็นนางเอกเลยทีเดียว
ก็ต้องลองซะหน่อย ..
ครั้งแรก ก็ยังคิดว่าสงสัยจะดำเนินเรื่องในดินแดนยุโรปอีกล่ะมั้ง
ประมาณนางเอกเดินโซซัดโซเซ ข้ามน้ำข้ามทะเลมา
แต่ที่ไหนได้ .. กลับกลายเป็นเรื่องที่เกิดขึ้นที่เมืองจีน ในสมัยราชวงค์ถัง
แล้วนางเอกเป็นถึง ลูกฮ่องเต้ ส่วนพระเอก เป More...
Aug 16, 2010
Juli
rated it:
Loved this book! It's wonderful to have a historical romance set in China. The setting is rich and the story and characters are imbued with its essence of honor, loyalty and tradition. Family is important, and so is love, and reconciling the conflict between those seems almost impossible at times. I was almost in tears by the end.
I especially appreciate the strong women in this book. Not just the heroine, although certainly a sword-wielding heroine is wonderful, but the strength of More...
I especially appreciate the strong women in this book. Not just the heroine, although certainly a sword-wielding heroine is wonderful, but the strength of More...
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Jun 01, 2011
Judy
rated it:
Fairly enjoyable and smooth read. I question the authenticity of Jeannie Lin's Tang China, but I didn't really have high expectations of historical accuracies when it comes to these sorts of stories.
Although the story was predicable, I liked the fast pace of the action scenes. The attraction between Ai Li and Ryam sent sparks flying off the page, and there were a few scenes where I had to fan myself from the sheer intensity of their passion.
Ryam as a hero and in general More...
Although the story was predicable, I liked the fast pace of the action scenes. The attraction between Ai Li and Ryam sent sparks flying off the page, and there were a few scenes where I had to fan myself from the sheer intensity of their passion.
Ryam as a hero and in general More...
Jan 19, 2011
Kate
rated it: 
There were quite a few changes made to the romance formula which made me love the book. First off, the girl is a Chinese Princess quite proficient in ripping a man to shreds with her Butterfly Swords. The man is a blond hair blued eyed former soldier, current wanderer from a vague "somewhere over there" in Europe. This interracial couple makes for an especially interesting story when you add in the fact that the story happened about a thousand years ago and the girl is engaged to th
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Sep 02, 2010
Megan
rated it:
Butterfly Swords is set during the Tang Dynasty, but the protagonists and set-up should be familiar to anyone who's read a few romance novels before. Innocent Ai Li is on the run following her resistance of a treacherous arranged marriage, and "barbarian" Ryam is the angsty-backstory-ridden outsider/foreigner who comes to her aid and finds himself shocked at how attached he becomes. At the book's beginning, it was the action (sword fights!) that appealed to me: the romance seemed a bit
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Oct 12, 2010
L. A.
rated it:
Ai Li is the number six child of the family Chang during the Tang Dynasty. Trained in the ancient art of butterfly swords by her grandmother, she is no meek woman, she is a warrior. As with most women of the time she is sent off to be married to Li Tao, to help cement relations between their lands. Ai Li learns of her intendeds duplicity as well as his involvement in the death of her brother and realizes that he is a traitor. She takes the advice of an old lieutenant, Wu, dresses as a young lad
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Aug 21, 2010
Jessica
rated it:
The setting is China during the Tang dynasty. When noblewoman Chang Ai Li (Ailey) discovers on her wedding journey that her betrothed is responsible for killing her brother in an attempt to gain political power, she escapes and flees toward Changam (Xi’an) to warn her family of his betrayal. Before she makes it very far, she finds herself attacked by bandits and rescued by Ryam, a down-on-his-luck barbarian mercenary from somewhere in Europe.
I thought the use of historical elements More...
I thought the use of historical elements More...
Mar 09, 2011
Jennifer
rated it:
I really wanted to like this one more than I did. It's not really only three stars--I'd give it 3 1/2 if I could. I loved the historical detail and the setting, coming from an Asian background myself. I didn't love how the main character, however competent she is with her swords, basically was just a naive virgin who willingly submits to the first man who isn't plotting against her family. Given that it is a Harlequin book, I knew I would be getting some fairly graphic sex scenes, and that's fin
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Sep 22, 2010
Katie(babs)
rated it:
Butterfly Swords is set during a unique time period in the Tang Dynasty in 758 AD China. Ai Li, the daughter of an emperor, is betrothed to marry, Li Tao, a warlord. This is an arranged marriage and one that Ai Li doesn't want because she has found out that her husband-to-be has plotted against her family and may have killed one of her brothers. Ai Li has always been the dutiful daughter, but in this case she will defy her parents' wishes and return to them and tell them what she knows, regardle
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Oct 04, 2010
Yvonne
rated it:
First of all, when I read the blurb and saw the Butterfly Swords cover on Net Galley, I already knew that I was going to read and love this book. This is probably due to the fact that I grew up watching martial arts movies and have developed an infatuation with sword fights and Jet Li. No, I’ve never studied, but it’s just so fun to watch!
I immediately liked Ai Lin. She was very naïve at times, but had enough backbone to control her own destiny and not be auctioned off for the sak More...
I immediately liked Ai Lin. She was very naïve at times, but had enough backbone to control her own destiny and not be auctioned off for the sak More...
Oct 29, 2010
Lydia
rated it:
Hey - romance lovers. Let me introduce you to a nicely priced, fantastic little adventure book. As those of you who visit my blog regularly know, I'm not really a romance reader (although I do tend to read more romance during the fall/winter months). Still, I saw this title on NetGalley and decided to check out it. Warrior girl? Bring it on!
Of course, there were all the normal cliches in this book, but that's what makes a romance novel a romance novel. There's the sense of dang More...
Of course, there were all the normal cliches in this book, but that's what makes a romance novel a romance novel. There's the sense of dang More...
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Oct 01, 2010
Cate
rated it:
It's official release day for this book and I'd pre-ordered it so it would be here ASAP. I'd read the author's The Taming of Mei Lin and utterly loved it, so I had high expectations. No disappointment here! What a delicious whirlwind of action, adventure and love.
The setting in Tang Dynasty China dazzles. It's such a wonderful change from the usual, and I loved getting a feel for the country and its landscapes. The culture differences add a wonderful dimension, and honor, family loy More...
The setting in Tang Dynasty China dazzles. It's such a wonderful change from the usual, and I loved getting a feel for the country and its landscapes. The culture differences add a wonderful dimension, and honor, family loy More...
Oct 13, 2010
CuteBadger
rated it:
I haven't read a romance novel since I was in my teens (a long time ago, since you ask)so I really wasn't sure I was going to appreciate Butterfly Swords. However, I really enjoyed it.
It's set in a very convincing historical background (China's Tang Dynasty)with enough detail to convince you of the reality of the place and characters, but not so much that it becomes distracting (a common problem in historical fiction).
Princess and swordswoman Ai Li flees before her arrang More...
It's set in a very convincing historical background (China's Tang Dynasty)with enough detail to convince you of the reality of the place and characters, but not so much that it becomes distracting (a common problem in historical fiction).
Princess and swordswoman Ai Li flees before her arrang More...
Nov 07, 2010
Vixenne
rated it:
I'm not a Harlequin fan by any stretch of the imagination, though I have on rare occasions come across a few of their novels which were actually good. Butterfly Swords stands out because finally, it's a historical NOT set in Europe, NOT about the Regency period (which as much as I like it, am also very tired of dukes and rakes and schoolroom virgins) and which doesn't feature primarily European characters.
It's about time Harlequin, dont'cha think?
Butterfly Swords was a More...
It's about time Harlequin, dont'cha think?
Butterfly Swords was a More...
Oct 01, 2010
Amber (buriedbybooks)
rated it:
FTC: Digital galley from Netgalley
It's a rare thing to have a historical romance that's not set in the American West or in Regency England these days. So in that respect, Butterfly Swords is a breath of fresh air. Set in China during the Tang Dynasty, the book tells the story of Princess Ai Li and a barbarian foreigner named Ryam.
I've read a fair amount of Asian literature, and the beauty and simplicity of the prose always amazes me. Jeannie Lin's writing is deceptively More...
It's a rare thing to have a historical romance that's not set in the American West or in Regency England these days. So in that respect, Butterfly Swords is a breath of fresh air. Set in China during the Tang Dynasty, the book tells the story of Princess Ai Li and a barbarian foreigner named Ryam.
I've read a fair amount of Asian literature, and the beauty and simplicity of the prose always amazes me. Jeannie Lin's writing is deceptively More...
Oct 24, 2010
Victoria
rated it:
Butterfly Swords Review
Butterfly Swords is not the sort of book I think of when I look at Harlequin Romances. I expect lots of hot and heavy breathing, but no whistling blades arcing into flesh. I certainly don’t expect Tang dynasty China. Yet Butterfly Swords carries itself with all the confidence of its warrior class heroine through scenes both sensual and blood-stirring, and all of it set within a tumultuous period of China’s history: the later Tang Dynasty (760s). The story does tw More...
Butterfly Swords is not the sort of book I think of when I look at Harlequin Romances. I expect lots of hot and heavy breathing, but no whistling blades arcing into flesh. I certainly don’t expect Tang dynasty China. Yet Butterfly Swords carries itself with all the confidence of its warrior class heroine through scenes both sensual and blood-stirring, and all of it set within a tumultuous period of China’s history: the later Tang Dynasty (760s). The story does tw More...
