The Lotus Palace

The Pingkang Li Mysteries #1

by Jeannie Lin

It is a time of celebration in the Pingkang Li, where imperial scholars and bureaucrats mingle with beautiful courtesans. At the center is the Lotus Palace, home of the most exquisite courtesans in China...

Maidservant Yue-ying is not one of those beauties. Street-smart and practical, she's content to live in the shadow of her infamous mistress—until she meets the aristocratic playboy Bai Huang. 

Bai Huang lives in a privileged world Yue-ying can barely imagine, yet alone share, but as they are thrown together in an attempt to solve a deadly mystery, they both start to dream of a different life. Yet Bai Huang's position means that all she could ever be to him is his concubine—will she sacrifice her pride to follow her heart?

Genres: Romance, Historical Fiction, Historical Romance, Mystery, Historical, China, Fiction

378 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published August 13, 2013

About the author

USA TODAY Bestselling author Jeannie Lin grew up fascinated with stories of Western epic fantasy and Eastern martial arts adventures. When her best friend introduced her to romance novels in middle school, the stage was set. Jeannie started writing her first romance while working as a high school science teacher in South Central Los Angeles. After four years of trying to break into publishing with an Asian-set historical, her 2009 Golden Heart Award–winning manuscript, Butterfly Swords, sold to Harlequin Mills & Boon. Her books have received starred reviews in Publishers Weekly and Library Journal with The Dragon and the Pearl listed among Library Journal's Best Romances of 2011.

Titles by Jeannie Lin:
Gunpowder Alchemy (Gunpowder Chronicles #1)
The Jade Temptress (The Lotus Palace #2)
The Lotus Palace
Butterfly Swords
The Dragon and the Pearl
My Fair Concubine
The Sword Dancer

For updates, sign up for her newsletter at: http://eepurl.com/42oZL
Find out more about Jeannie Lin online at http://www.jeannielin.com

Reviews

[Khanh, first of her name, mother of bunnies · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I’ve heard my face described as flawed, ruined, unfortunate. A bad omen. People avert their gazes and move away from me as if it’s a disease they might catch. But after being separated for so many years, my sister was only able to find me because my face was so recognizable. The red-faced whore.” A tear slid down her cheek, but she ignored it. “I don’t wish to be owned ever again.”

I just have a lot of feelings right now. Tears may have been shed during the reading of this book.

Jeannie Lin is one of the best HR authors today. She is not only a compelling, wonderful writer, but she delves into an era that has long been neglected in Western Fiction. Her historical Chinese romances have become among my favorites of any I've read in the past few years. I loved her older HR series, and this newer series just shows how much she has grown as a writer.

I have to admit, I abandoned this book at first. It didn't catch me upon the first glimpse. But all books take a certain time, a certain mood, and the past week, sick of abandoning books, I returned to this one. I resumed. I couldn't stop.

The setting is beautiful, mysterious...dare I say it? Exotic. It takes place within the Pingkang Li, a district of courtesans. These are not merely prostitutes. There is a difference between a prostitute and a courtesan. It has to do with intelligence, allure. The ability to hold a man's attraction long after he's had his screw.

Our heroine is not one of those courtesans. She is scarred, physically and mentally. Yue-Ying is ugly. At least, that's how she views herself. She was born with a disfiguring red mark that renders her unloveable, unwanted. She and her sister, the spectacularly beautiful Ming-Yu were sold as children to slave traders.

Ming-Yu became a courtesan. Yue-Ying was forced into prostitution. They somehow found each other again, and you can scarcely find a more complex sisterly relationship than the one within this book.

The Pingkang Li is filled with men of all sorts from high-ranking politicians to wastrels. Bai Huang is somewhere between the two. In Japanese language, one would call him a ronin, as in, one who has failed his exams and is completely fucked. Bai Huang is from a wealthy, noble family. He has to pass his exams in order to become a public official. So far, he is shit out of luck. He is a handsome, wealthy playboy. A fop, if you will. Of course, he's not what he appears. Do we ever read books for one-dimensional heroes?

What transpires in this book? A mystery. A murder. The rediscovering of one's self.

Yue-Ying, a lowly servant. A former prostitute. Will she and the nobleman Bai Huang be able to find love, despite their differences?

Love for another is one thing; self-love, self-realization, is harder to achieve by far. The thing I loved most about this book is the fact that Yue-Ying grows into herself. She does not allow herself to be defined by her lover and his status. She can say no, even when it hurts.

I feel like the overwhelming lesson of this book is: above all, do not settle for anything less than what you deserve.

She leaned toward him and only then would he face her. She had never seen him look the way he did at that moment. Drained of life. He had no more fight in him.
“One last kiss,” he said quietly.
“And then I’ll go. No farewells. Let this be our last memory of each other.”
“Am I the illusion now, Yue-ying?”
She didn’t answer. Instead she kissed him, softly, as she had the first time. He accepted it without moving, as he had the first time. And then she stood to go, just as she had promised.

[MAP · Rating 4 out of 5]

WHAT? A romance/mystery/historical fiction novel NOT set in Regency England? WHAT IS THIS SORCERY? IS THIS EVEN LEGAL?

Needless to say, I was thrilled.

[Alexia · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF 66%

What can I say about this? It was only passable if you completely disregard the romance. The romantic aspect of the book was so off-putting that I seriously considered DNFing it multiple times till I finally did. I can't fathom how anyone could find a male lead appealing when he constantly flirts with other girls, ogles them, and shows clear arousal while supposedly in a relationship(somewhat)with the protagonist. Even if his actions were part of a fake persona, it was utterly disgusting. I genuinely despised the love interest.

Beyond the infuriating flirtation, his entire personality left a lot to be desired. Yue-Ying was somewhat likable until she was with him; together, they brought out the worst in each other.
Also, she constantly fixated on his beauty, and it became quite tiresome. I get that he’s exceptionally attractive, but there’s only so much praise anyone can handle. It’s time to move on from that.

And let's talk about Mingyue—was I really supposed to warm up to her and look forward to her book next? She is a suck-up and completely unbearable.

In summary, this was a disappointing read overall, and I'm giving it two stars for the setting.

[WhiskeyintheJar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tldr: Loved this story, first half more murder mystery, romance comes on in second half, a lot of underlining emotion, it's in the subtitles with this one.
I could have talked about this story forever and I kept having to go back to talk about things I missed, so this probably comes off rambling :/


*This is a TBRChallenge review, there will be spoilers, I don't spoil everything but enough, because I treat these reviews as a bookclub discussion.

The earthquake had dredged up all the hidden secrets of the quarter. Two murders, occurring so close together. One was a stranger who meant nothing to anyone except the grim-faced constable who was ruthlessly dedicated to his duties. But Huilan was well-known and beloved. Or at least she had been.

This month's TBRChallenge theme was Location, Location, Location and I immediately thought of this book that has been on my tbr since 2016. It takes place 847 AD in Tang Dynasty China and with how fascinating this story was, I need to read more books taking place during this time and place and historical romance needs to get with the program and published more. Thank you to the author for including and incorporating so much of this world. As an overall story, this is 5 stars, if I was just rating on romance, I'd probably give it 4 stars. The first half is more about setting up the murder mystery and the romance doesn't really start to get more focus until around 45%. We enter the story when an earthquake has just hit and this dislodges a small boat that has a dead body in it, no one recognizes the body and then Huilan, a favored courtesan, is strangled to death and the mystery is on.

Her fate had been decided from birth by a bright red birthmark that curved along her left cheek. The stain rendered her unsuitable for the pleasure houses, for who wished to invest time and money to train a courtesan with a ruined face? A prostitute required no such training.

The emotion in this is more underlining, subtle and not verbally spoken at times. I struggled with feeling like this had the emotions but they weren't quite reaching the depth I wanted; I kept thinking the strength of a Courtney Milan but a more surface Milan, better than the average but not hitting that peak for me. The latter second half delivered on this better for me and maybe this was planned because I started to feel them more as our lead Yue-ying started to warm up too. Yue-ying is the maidservant to Mingyu, one of the Four Beauties of the North Hamlet, also known as Pingkang Li, a pleasure district. I think it was around 40-50% that we learn that Mingyu is actually Yue-ying's older sister and that when Yue-ying was 8yrs old, a man came to their home and said that Mingyu was so gorgeous, that a nobleman would want to marry her and even though Yue-ying has a large red moon-shaped birthmark on her face, he took her too, or rather, her parents sold them to him. The sisters get separated when Mingyu goes to be taught how to be a courtesan (While scholar-gentlemen professed to be enthralled by the courtesans, ultimately these women were slaves. Despite their elevated status and illusion of independence, they were bought and sold as commodities.) and Yue-ying is put in a brothel to be forced to be a prostitute. Mingyu eventually is able to find her and buys her freedom and for the last four years Yue-ying has been her maidservant at Mingyu's place of work, The Lotus Palace. There's some vague flashbacks to this time of Yue-ying's life but it's more about the PTSD she developed, how she's more closed off, and how this affects intimacy between her and Lord Bai Huang.

Bai Huang was a well-known fixture of the entertainment district. He was a night owl, a flirt, a spendthrift and an eternal student, having failed the imperial exams three times.

Lord Bai Huang is an often visitor to Lotus and while he makes a good show of trying to win Mingyu's affections, his eyes follow Yue-ying. We kind of come in after his fascination is already developed for her, which I missed a little bit but the getting to know her and the growth with how he treats her once he keeps learning about her, more than makes up for it. Reader's learn (about 30%) before Yue-ying that his jester attitude is a bit of a put-on as he's really spying for his father, a high-ranking official in the Ministry of Defense, he's trying to get information about a General Deng (I feel like this was a character that we didn't get a great handle on) and keep a general ear to the ground as there is a new emperor and he has appointed a new magistrate, Li. People accept this role from Huang because he is a gambling addict and a couple years ago, he ran up a huge debt. His father ended up paying it for him but with some tough love, Huang ended up on a naval ship and learning some hard work. The courtesan, Huilan, who ends up being strangled had previously went to Huang and asked for his help, because of his rich nobleman status, in getting out of the North Hamlet in exchange for some important information she had but she ends up dead before he can help her. So we have secretly trying to be redeemed Huang while he is trying to figure out who murdered Huilan, spying for his father, and studying to pass the palace exams because without a jinshi degree, Huang can't hold an imperial appointment, which failure of this would be shaming his family.

The fool Bai Huang lacked shame or manners, but he made up for it with good looks and money, so he was tolerated. The girl had treated him like a sack of potatoes that night. After that, Huang had made a point of trying to catch her eye, but she couldn’t be charmed. She couldn’t be bribed. He was fascinated.

Because Yue-ying lives and works in Pingkang-Li, Huang asks for her to work with him to ferret out information and find out what had Huilan scared, wanting to leave, coming to Huang for help, and what important information she wanted to tell him. This is around 15% when they start to work together and you'll feel Huang's fascination for Yue-ying right away, he's the more lighter and open one but because of Yue-ying's past, she doesn't trust in his or her emotions. It hurts in the only way reality can with every thought Yue-ying has about their class differences and how they don't have a future, her shame of her past, and her disbelief in her physical attraction. I think because of her true relationship with Mingyu (remember, sisters) wanting to be a story secret, we don't get a feeling for their relationship in the first half. Mingyu warns Yue-ying in a protective feeling manner to be wary of Huang's feelings, she of course has her own past PTSD and experiences with men's natures but after working slightly to keep them apart, she tells Yue-ying to make her own choices and almost seems to push Yue-ying towards Huang. It begins to look like Mingyu knows something about Huilan's death and now she is scared for her and Yue-ying's safety.

“An arrest warrant has been issued for Lady Mingyu,” Wu reported. “She is to be brought in on suspicion of murder.”

After Yue-ying returns to the Lotus after a night with Huang, she discovers Mingyu gone and is obviously worried and Huang reveals that he was attacked, warned to stay out of Huilan's death, and the men threatened Yue-ying but using a nickname she had when she was a prostitute. Yue-ying agrees to stay with Huang and this is when the romance part gets more of a focus. It's hurtful emotional but I liked how the author showed Yue-ying's disconnect in the beginning of her and Huang's intimacy, she doesn't immediately accept sex just because it's Huang but it becomes a process and learning, growth, and connection for both of them (even then I thought there was a little gliding over painful pasts). Around 65% is when Yue-ying starts to be able to connect with herself and Huang in this regard.

“You’re always trying to hide this.” He stroked her cheek with his thumb and she fought hard not to flinch. People always asked if it hurt. No, it doesn’t, she’d answer. But yes. Yes, it did.


“That’s the problem with men like you. This sort of thing is a game, as if you had a right to everything in the world for your amusement.”
“I didn’t mean—”
“You only meant to tease. You have the privilege of turning everything into a jest when I’ve never had the privilege to even refuse such an act.” She hadn’t intended to become so aggravated. Bai Huang was silent beside her while she tried to calm herself.
“I didn’t consider it that way,” he said finally. She didn’t acknowledge his words. If it was an apology, and it didn’t sound like one, she wouldn’t accept it. “Have you never—?” To his credit, he continued past her cold stare. “Have you never had a kiss that you actually wanted?”
“Why would I ever want such a thing?” she replied sharply. Any man who had ever touched her had held something over her. Money or status and usually both. And always the threat of his physical strength. They hadn’t all been brutes or drunks. A few were even kind, in their own way. Most were indifferent. In many ways, a kiss was more of an invasion than a body pressing over her. It was the touching of mouths, the exchange of breath. Too much was woven into a kiss; all the senses of touch, taste and sound. There was no way for her to explain how she had been overwhelmed by it all.

I thought the author did a great job of showcasing the power dynamic between Huang and Yue-ying, this was the emotional and believable plot keeping them apart, and provided lines (the quote above) that brought some watery-eyes emotion.

The sounds on the other side of the wall had quieted. In the darkness, he touched a hand against the wood, pressing lightly as if he could reach through to the other side. To Yue-ying.

Mingyu ends up showing back up as the murder mystery starts to get unraveled and reveals are made. I feel like, before I forget, I need to quickly talk about Constable Wu, the talk, dark, man who arrests Mingyu and who she likes to push. After Yue-ying visits Mingyu in jail and then asks Wu Kaifeng to look after Mingyu and he clenches his jaw (I'm a sucker for the restrained emotion represented by a clenched a jaw) I raced to GoodReads to see if they are in the series. THEY ARE! I NEED their book, STAT.
Where was I? Oh right, the murder mystery getting unraveled, I'm not going to reveal all, specifically the who, but I am going to reveal that Mingyu was involved because she was recusing a little girl from slavers, the same kind of people who paid for Mingyu and Yue-ying.

“Mingyu didn’t take a stash of silver from the smugglers,” she concluded. “She took this child. That’s why she’s been so secretive—to protect the girl.” Because the girl was a slave. She was property and Mingyu had killed her owner and stolen her. Yue-ying felt a deep ache within her chest. She knew exactly why Mingyu had done such a thing.

Y'all, the watery-eyes at the above quote and all out catch sob at Mingyu saying: “I had to rescue her.”
It's not all blatant emotion but good god is it here. The murder mystery actually (almost) wraps-up around 80% and while this usually has me complaining about the story having a dearth ending feel, the last 20% gives us Yue-ying and Huang working for their HEA.

“I was always aware of who you were. I have to be. Look at Taizhu. Even as well respected as he is, he still feared retribution because of where he came from. One never forgets. The world does not let you forget.”

Yue-ying learns that Huang has been betrothed since childhood, which hammers home even more her belief that they will never be together forever, especially when Huang passes his exams and is about to embark on his future. There's talk of Yue-ying being his concubine but because she loves him too much, she doesn't think she can do it and this gets tied into new information that Huang learns about his mother, father, and his father's concubine; marriage and love, it contains infinite multitudes. This is a romance genre story, so never fear, Yue-ying and Huang do get their happily ever after and even though I would have loved to have seen a conversation between Huang and his mother, I liked how it all came about.

Bai Huang, the most beautiful man in the Pingkang li, was watching her and asking her with his eyes to kiss him.

There was a last second, in the last ten minutes of the story, reveal involving the murder mystery to give this a completed wrap-up feeling but I was still coasting a little high on Yue-ying getting the love she deserved to care too much. Huang was the more light-hearted of the two, obviously because of life experiences but I loved how he learned to grow in how he loved Yue-ying and I loved how the author had him understanding Yue-ying by tying it back to his father and how Huang understood “tough love”.
(Some quotes: - Her eyes were alight with mischief. Huang had the sudden urge to take hold of the trailing end of that red ribbon around her waist and reel her in close.

- He had thought he was finally getting close to Yue-ying, when he was never further away.

- He pressed a hand to his chest, looking on in wonder as she disappeared.)

Yue-ying is the one that will crack your heart and give you that hurt-emotion that romance genre masochists like me love to read; watery-eyes, heart-clenching, but ultimately uplifting in the endurance of humans and love.
(Some quotes: - Yue-ying had no reputation to protect and her virtue was long gone. And she had given up so much more to men who had meant so much less to her. Why not someone who was well mannered and well-spoken? Who was handsome and strong and who she was growing fond of? On some tomorrow, she would be old. Bai Huang would be just a name and a memory. Mingyu had so many admirers, yet she cared little for them. Yue-ying, the girl once cruelly called Half-Moon because of her ruined face, had no such admirers. So let me have this one, she thought with an air of defiance as she returned to the Lotus Palace. Even if it is just a game to him.

- Whereas Mingyu was considered ji, an artist and entertainer, Yue-ying had been chang, nothing more than a vessel, a whore.

- “It’s your decision,” Mingyu said quietly.
“You know that’s not true. There is no decision to make.” A wealthy patron occasionally offered to pay off a courtesan’s debts to her foster mother. But Yue-ying was already free, or as free as a woman without family or means could be. Mingyu had bought her debt from the brothel to bring her here, something that a nobleman like Bai Huang would never have considered.

- “Is this love?” he asked simply. His voice was low and sensual.
“Scholars and their romantic notions,” she chided, though her heart was hammering inside her.

Magistrate Li - the young new appointee, Constable Wu (that clenched jaw currently lives rent free in my mind), Mingyu (“I had to rescue her.” SOB), Wei-wei – Huang's sister who seems headstrong and adventuress, Gao – works for a money-lender, the one who stabbed Huang when he didn't pay his gambling debt but now helps gather/works for him during the murder-mystery solving, and Zhou Dan – the Bai's manservant, were all secondary characters that I demand get their own books. And because I'm thirsty af for their stories, I went and spoiled myself with who future books are about.
- Constable Wu and Mingyu – I NEED
- Wei-wei and Gao – The f-ing way I Gasped. Y'ALL. The privileged headstrong daughter and the guy from the wrong side of the tracks that once stabbed her older brother. WANT
- Magistrate Li and Song Yi – I don't think we meet Song Yi in this? Or wait, was she the one who took Huilan's place?

Anyway, sorry to my book club because the way I'm going to keep nominating these books until we've all read them.

[K.J. Charles]

A wildly enjoyable romance that doesn't soft soap the issues. A dissolute young man with massive self-esteem issues and a gambling problem falls for a former prostitute, sold into the trade as a child and now a courtesan's servant. All that plus class/cultural issues that firmly tell them both to know their place, and into which the hero buys without really noticing for a long time. This is a meaty romance with a lot to get over, but it really works, and the way the two work together and learn is a joy. I didn't find the mystery element quite so satisfying, but it's probably better it wasn't more to the forefront: the MCs needed the space. Beautifully written with a vivid, tangible setting.

[jenny✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was simple but complex, honest and raw, and breath-snatchingly beautiful at times. The characters never try to be anything more than who they are, and hold each other accountable—flaws and all.

Desire and fear felt the same inside.

For the record, THIS is the sort of angst I absolutely revel in. The kind where characters have candid conversations about their emotions, where they fuck up and hurt each other and are called on it.

She was clever without the benefit of flowery words. Brave without the benefit of strength. Generous without the benefit of wealth.

She wanted to look away and hide herself, but she didn’t. And he fell a little bit more for her because of it.

I appreciate a representation of sex and intimacy that isn’t entirely lustful desire and unending pleasure.

I appreciate a story set in a time and place that is not nearly represented enough: ancient China.

I appreciate that the book foregoes wish fulfillment to tell an honest story, even (and especially) when it necessitated the acknowledgement of painful realities.

I appreciate that this book did not apologize for its imperfect, vulnerable characters, and women especially. It celebrated them.



(If you DON'T want to get even more into your feels about Yue-ying and Bai Huang's star-crossed romance, whatever you do don't listen to Niykee Heaton's song to her husband, Finally, while you read. If you do, I swear you'll be a sobbing mess just like I was.)

[Greekchoir · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just a truly spectacular novel.

A practical maidservant and a romantic scholar must work together to solve the murder of a high-ranking courtesan. Lin has done the research to make Tang Dynasty China feel rich and believable, with the sense that we’re seeing one slice of a world that has dozens of interesting stories.

It took me a bit to get in The Lotus Palace, mainly because it’s so different from what I’ve come to expect from the tropes of contemporary romances. The writing is simple and direct, more akin to classic fantasy novels than the florid or quirky prose styles I’m used to seeing in this genre. But wow, once it gets going, Lin’s dialogue and courtly intrigue just keeps you hooked. I love how this story never forgets the interlacing class dynamics; I love how it explores the roles of women in a society that sees them as servants or entertainment; I love Yue Ying’s stubbornness and navigation around her own feelings towards intimacy.

40% romance, 40% murder mystery, and 20% politics is the perfect balance for a story that feels equally sweet and bracing.

[Allison E · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve put off reviewing The Lotus Palace because I really wanted to take the time to pick apart what exactly I loved about it so much. Get cozy I have Things To Say.

The basics first. This story takes place in 8th century Tang Dynasty China. Mostly and specifically in the pleasure district of Pingkang Li. Here we meet Yue-Ying, a maidservant to the famed courtesan Mingyu, who had me from the start. She’s an unassuming, observant and industrious type who you just know is going to get tangled into the scandalous murder mystery that pulls this story along. I think it’s fair to say the plot here unfurls slowly, but I was pretty engaged from the start because the setting was so unique (I was admittedly picturing The Apothecary Diaries the entire time, albeit that’s the Ming Dynasty).

I spent a long time trying to understand why a book like this which I found to be so good had such a low rating on here. I think part of that is because The Lotus Palace exists in an interesting place between genres. There’s mystery, a touch of historical fiction and romance of course. When you try to shove it entirely in one of these boxes, it doesn’t quite fit. I can imagine that if you looked at it as a murder mystery, you’re going to feel constantly interrupted by its romantic turns. If you’re reading it for its historical nature, you might think the rich setting is only being half explored, but obviously, I’m a romance reader… so I’m going to talk about the romance.

Even if you read this for the romance, which is arguably the majority focus, you’re in for an experience that’s pretty unconventional for the genre. The love interests live in a time period where gender and class is particularly ridged. I’m not going to mansplain a historical setting to you, but you can imagine how a modern day reader might feel about the patriarchal, classist and sexist views that are more of a societal norm in this story. This sounds harsh, but I think a less curious reader would be turned off pretty early on with the reality of this world and how its characters are shaped by it.

There is something really cool about a historical romance that’s not interested in pretending like the male love interest wouldn’t be affected by the prejudices of his time. I think a lot of modern day romance readers have no room to read about a love interest who has antiquated / traditional views. Yue-Ying’s general bluntness around her circumstances was key for making this palatable to me.

I guess it’s time I talk about the love interest. Meet harmless playboy, nobleman, and apparent fool: Bai Huang. Huang may be a ridiculous flirt and occasional disgrace to his family, but he’s also the love interest, so you know there’s more than meets the eye. Is he really as careless and idiotic as he appears?

I want to be clear, Huang isn’t like, a sexist pig to Yue-Ying. Both him and her have a gaping class and gender divide that The Lotus Palace doesn’t once let you forget. And they have to actually navigate this to get to a healthy relationship. I really appreciated the nuance there.

And another thing I loved… I am a well documented and longtime lover of awkward intimacy. I think intimacy where characters stumble, where it’s not quite right for one party, where miscommunication has to be physically worked through, where pleasure isn’t reached because the emotional potion isn’t right is infinitelyyy more interesting than a perfectly blocked sex scene that’s all fireworks. The way Lin uses “awkward intimacy” in TLP, is what makes the romantic progression feel so unconventional. This book reminded me of A Lady Awakened a bit in that regard (basically my favorite historical romance).

I feel like I need to give you something a little more tangible here re the romance. Huang is a flamboyant, persistent, sopping wet romantic. Yue-Ying is strung tight and no nonsense (dry humor check though). I love to see when a fast moving object hits a brick wall. A romance where he pines and she gives him nothing !!

“The girl had treated him like a sack of potatoes that night. After that, Huang had made a point of trying to catch her eye, but she couldn’t be charmed. She couldn’t be bribed. He was fascinated.”

:3

A few other things. I might have lost you already, this review is kind for me at this point anyway.

I really liked the writing. It’s almost… dry I want to call it? At first glance I thought it was a straight forward / bare bones style, but as I read, it really just felt more and more like Lin simply trusted the reader to pick up what she was putting down. And she puts down a strong foundation for your imagination to run wild with (at least for me, I’m a full 3D shaded apple on the spectrum lol).

Yus-Ying’s relationship with Mingyu was also fascinating. It took me a while to figure her out and I won’t say much more than that. The hint at a romance though for her in the next book in this series? Heheheheheheh

Cutting myself off. I loved this book. I don’t think it’s “booktok mass marketable” though (gags).

[Dina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read romance books for the HEA and I've been known for trashing a book for a less than satisfying ending, but I have to say that the HEA in this particular romance felt "wrong" to me. Not that Bai Huang and Yue-ying didn't deserve it. I loved them and they certainly deserved to live happily ever after, but...

I don't know how to explain it, I just know that I'd be giving this book a higher rating - and let's not forget that I gave it 4 stars! - if the HEA was nowhere in sight. I'd be sobbing like a ninny, but I'd be loving every minute of it. Go figure. ;)

Note 1: Note: I received this eARC from Harlequin via NetGalley. That had no influence on my review/rating.

Note 2: AAR Best 2013 Historical Romance Not Set in the U.K.

[Crystal's Bookish Life · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unique, soft, a bit tragic, and absolutely beautiful

[PlotTrysts · Rating 4 out of 5]

We were super impressed by this novel! The character building is top-notch, the writing makes the setting come alive, and the romance is incredibly touching. The conflict really makes you wonder how Jeannie Lin is going to deliver on the HEA - but don't worry, she does!⁠
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Before you dive in, keep in mind that the book also deals with some incredibly difficult subjects. The heroine, Yue-Ying, is a survivor of human trafficking and forced prostitution, and she's still dealing with the trauma. The hero, Bai Huang, has a gambling addiction that he definitely hasn't beaten (no matter what he might think about it).⁠
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48-Word Summaries:

Meg: This hot guy is courting your employer but also paying a lot of attention to you. He’s kind of a doof but maybe also smarter than he seems? Oh yeah and you also live in a high-class brothel in Tang Dynasty China.⁠
⁠
Laine: Yue-ying has no choice but to shack up with the cute but dumb bureaucrat's son who she is NOT FALLING IN LOVE WITH when her lady is accused of murder. Her life SUCKED and he's a privileged son with a vice and a desire to protect the downtrodden.⁠

[Sam I AMNreader · Rating 4 out of 5]

This hero was so sweet, and the interactions super lovely and satisfying.

But the external factors lined up against yue-ying & Bai Huang were... a lot. So why the mystery, essentially because it just pulled me out of their little cocoon every time.

3.5, rounded up. I should not have waited so long to read Jeannie Lin.

[Jenn (The Book Refuge) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewing for Rake Appreciation Society October Read

This was a beautiful, quiet romance. Set in 9th century China with a murder mystery and other secrets all around.

I really loved how soft yet persistent the hero was. He slowly helped the heroine come out of her shell and know her worth. I also loved the beautiful sister relationship.

This was very equally split between historical and romance. I was really won over by it all in the end. I want to read more.

5 stars
2 on the spice scale

CW: sexism, mysogeny, lots of sex worker terms

[new_user · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read any romances about secretive courtesans and dashing, young lords during golden-age China lately? Then read Jeannie Lin's Pingkang Li Mysteries. The Lotus Palace isn't simply a romance, it's a Romance, an epic that embroils six characters- no, an entire district. While we read 99% of the narrative through the hero and heroine's perspectives, Lin captures the throb and glitter of the capital's pleasure quarter, as well as the poetry, the intelligent, subtle women. Lin evokes the beauty of protocols and art(ifice) and filters them through a modern grasp of class and sex without Orientalism, slowing pace, breaking the fourth wall, or sacrificing evocative, spare prose (e.g. "Mingyu drew the entire world around her like stars circling the Earth. If she was upset, then no one else was allowed their happiness.") Her characters speak for her.

Yue-ying will stand as one of my favorite characters. Strong precisely because she chooses to see the world, eyes uncovered, in all its cruelty- and remains standing, believes herself, a maidservant, deserving of -and pursues- happiness, though moments of doubt ensure she stays human. Contrast her with wealthy love interest Bai Huang, earnest, charming, and unwitting of his privilege.

I've never seen a romance engage privilege so directly and deftly. Yue-ying cannot lecture or rail at Huang, above her station, so she comments only occasionally, casual and profound, on the differences between them, leaving Huang to snatch at these pearls of wisdom because he has no other key to the inscrutable, private Yue-ying who draws him and whom he convinces to help him solve a murder. He must reorder his views and approach as each pearl offers a glimpse into Yue-ying. To understand her, he must understand her world.

To some extent.

Palace repeatedly questions whether aristocrat Bai Huang can understand or love a servant. Bai Huang, himself enlightened by disillusionment and ridden by demons, also demonstrates repeatedly a willingness to learn and adjust, so that Yue-ying, theoretically at the mercy of many in society, including him, need never feel threatened or powerless. (He doesn't save her. Yue-ying's free. In fact, I wondered if marriage would be less free for her, given that Huang and his family would have rights over her then.) Lin excels at conveying these power differentials, drawing parallels between lord-servant and husband-wife dynamics most clearly when Huang reprimands Yue-ying for talking back to him and criticizing him. Many may yet relate to this dynamic or the sanctions against discussing certain subjects between the sexes.

I loved Lin's deep characterizations, her insight, and humor. I know I made this sound like srs bsns, but much of Palace is poignant and sweet. However, Lin's respect for -and realism with- conflicts of class and sex caused me to believe her more than I would a historical romance that ignores these questions. You know, all those governess-Earl romances. Lin borrows familiar tropes, rich/poor and a Scarlet Pimpernel disguise, reshapes them like a Potato Head, injects fascinating themes, freedom vs. dependency, sisterhood, etc., and dresses them with all the romance and glamor of a Tang Dynasty China film. I am totally reading the sequel The Jade Temptress and whatever else she writes! And now for funzies and as a tribute to those films, let's dreamcast who would play charming Bai Huang and hero #2, broody Constable Wu Kaifeng! Pics (clean, of course!) in spoiler:

[Kate♡ · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.25/5stars

Meh. The mystery was meh, the sex scenes were meh, the romance was entertaining but that was about it. I definitely want to try more by this author but this one was just meh

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a hybrid romance/mystery set in the Pingkang li pleasure quarter in Changan, during the Tang dynasty. The main couple are Yue-Ying, servant to a courtesan in the Lotus Pavilion, and Bai Huang, a noble studying for the imperial civil service exams. The mystery involves the death of a courtesan in another house.

The setting of this book is really well done, and the scenes involving it were some of the most vivid in the book. The Pingkang li is much like entertainment districts like Las Vegas are today, with plenty of drink and sex to be had, and with a gambling quarter within easy walking distance. The courtesans are literate and well-spoken, able to guide conversations so that their patrons are comfortable, flattered, and enjoying themselves (and buying more drink). However, as has happened throughout history, there's sexual slavery lying none-too-far below the quarter's glittering exterior. Jeannie Lin makes this clear, both in the author's foreword and in the main text of the story.

Surrounding our H/h are an interesting cast of characters from various walks of life. Mingyu is the courtesan Yue-Ying serves. She also redeemed Yue-Ying--literally with cash--from her life as a prostitute in a lower-class part of Changan, and the two have a tense relationship, especially after Bai Huang's attraction to Yue-Ying becomes more evident. Wei-Wei is Huang's sister who chafes against the restricted life of a noble young lady and takes any opportunity she can to visit her brother in his scholar's residence (basically an apartment). Constable Yu is a reserved, stoic man whose facade cracks ever-so-slightly around Mingyu. Often it's pretty easy to tell which characters will end up being central romance characters in later books of a series; in The Lotus Palace they are distinctive, appealing, and integrated well into the story.

Around the halfway mark, things slowed down a bit. I don't think it was a killing slowdown, but at times it was pretty evident where scenes were included to keep the plot going, as opposed to being mostly focused on the characters' interactions. There were a good number of pauses for characters to present their life stories, which felt artificial every time, especially when it came to Bai Huang's. There were enough said-bookisms to be intrusive. And both the romance and the mystery were resolved abruptly, and unconvincingly, in the last couple dozen pages of the book. An off-screen manipulation by Wei-Wei clears the way for Yue-Ying and Bai Huang to be married, and the mystery is solved when a clue that's been out in the open for the entire book is finally noticed.

I'm not a big fan of either category romance or mystery, and read maybe two or three of either genre every couple of years. Despite my fairly deeply entrenched resistance to them--and I keep trying now and then despite that--this story really captured my attention with its setting and with its cast, and there were enough unique elements to overcome my muted-at-best enthusiasm for its central genres. I tried to read Lin's Butterfly Swords a few years ago and got bored early on, and this one did far better at keeping me turning the pages. I'm up for reading more of this series, which is a first for romance. Usually one is enough. Good going, The Lotus Palace!

[D.G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

As soon as I learned The Lotus Palace was a historical romance/mystery set in Ancient China, with actual Chinese people as main characters, I knew I HAD to read it. When you have read as much historical romance as I have, you don’t find many new things. Even with the known trope - rich playboy falls for servant girl – I found the culture and setting so different that half the time I didn’t know how characters would react to things. It made for a fascinating read.

The Pingkang Li is the City’s pleasure quarter, full of beautiful, educated, sophisticated courtesans who compose poetry, act as hostesses in events and generally trade wits with scholars. It wasn’t clear to me if selling their bodies was part of the bargain, but it seemed they had the liberty of choosing their own lovers. Yue-ying, our heroine, is the servant of a famous courtesan in the Lotus Palace. She’s practical, hard working, tough and has a port-wine stain that mars her face. Bai Huang, the hero, is a rich, charming, extremely attractive, good for nothing scholar who has been “courting” Yue-ying’s mistress for a while. But everything is not as it seems with Bai Huang – he’s been exaggerating his reputation as a fool to spy for his father, who’s a powerful government official. For a while, he’s been noticing Yue-ying because she feels real to him as compared to the illusions of the Pingkang Li.

Yue-ying’s past was horrific. I won’t go into details because I don’t want to give spoilers but although she doesn’t dwell in the past, it’s clear that it damaged her deeply. Bai Huang, for his part, hasn’t had as charmed a life as you would expect, but it’s mostly of his own doing. When he meets Yue-ying, he’s desperately trying to redeem himself in the eyes of his father, who he disappointed terribly.

It takes a long time for Yue-ying to give in to the advances of Bai Huang. Practical creature that she is, she suspects his motives and it’s not taken by his pretty face. She can’t believe that a man like him – who could have any woman he wanted – would be interested in her, with her marked face, her situation in life and her past. But Huang crumbles her defenses slowly, with his love and persistence. Their relationship is not only about the physical but it’s about trust and understanding. I was very touched when Huang acknowledged:

He had never trusted anyone else with the worst parts of himself.

The mystery was just somewhat disjointed with clues all over the place. Half the time I thought they were chasing red herrings and I didn’t even recognize the murderer when he was unveiled. Definitely not the stronger part of the story.

I was fascinated by the cultural aspects of the book. I know next to nothing about Ancient China so I loved the descriptions of places, clothes, customs, etc. It amazed me how concerned people were with each other’s privacy, to the point that they wouldn’t share important thoughts or feelings because “you don’t talk about those things.” I was surprised by the way the final hurdle between Bai Huang and Yue-ying was overcome and it was only possible due to the differences in culture.

I’m definitely reading the next book – Constable Wu and Mingyu sound like a very intriguing couple. If you are looking for a different read, this book will definitely be for you!

[Lover of Romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Lotus Palace was such an solid romance and I am so glad that I finally took a chance on this author. I have had this book and this author on my watchlist for almost a decade, but when I saw some book friends really enjoy it recently, I became in a mood for this one. I am glad that I finally picked this one up though, I have loved seeing the covers from this authors books, the publishers do so well with it. I love that this was set in historical tang dynasty of China. I feel like this is a setting we rarely see. (although my high school had some historical fiction romances set in China which was neat)

The Lotus Palace is a mystery romance and has a bit of a forbidden taste to it as well. The heroine, is a servant to her sister who is a concubine. But she falls for an Aristocrat's son and there relationship is forbidden where marriage is concerned. This is historical China, and we get quite a bit of historical culture and references which will be tough for some to see. But I am happy that this author chose this type of dynamic and to see this portion of the culture of the Tang Dynasty culture. It was so vividly portrayed.

The romance was very beautifully done and I was very intrigued by the mystery that they solve together. I was intrigued to see where the author was taking this one and how our pair would find a way to their HEA but yeah she made it work in a believable way. Now this one didn't quite make it to a five star read for me, to be honest I couldn't quite connect with the romance fully. I am not sure if it was a "me" thing or an element ot the writing style. I will read more of this authors work and maybe try it in audiobook to see what her other works are like.

Overall I fell deeply entrenched into this beautiful read and eager for more from this author!

[chichi · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This book had a slow start but I'm glad I stuck with it! The two main characters really ended up winning me over, especially as their backstories and layers started to show. I loved how both Yue-ying and Bai Huang had trauma and complicated family dynamics that was thoughtfully worked through. The way their class difference was handled was reminiscent of the KJ Charles books I've read: nuanced and realistic. Both characters had some work to do, particularly Bai Huang coming to terms with the societal power he held over Yue-ying, and their romance really felt earned. Also, the writing was beautiful and really showcased the setting and tone so well.

If it wasn't for the first 30%-40% of this book, this would've been a 4-4.5 star read. But man, the beginning was slow for me, and I briefly thought about DNFing. Still glad I finished but it was rough. Felt like it was taking me forever to read, I wasn't initially into the characters or the romance, and the central mystery wasn't engaging at all. Overall, the mystery element was just ok, which made the pace drag. Also, the ending was a little convenient, especially after the thoughtful way the class difference was handled in the bulk of the story, but I'm ultimately glad they got their HEA.

My issues aside, I definitely want to keep reading in this series and exploring this author. As someone who only reads diverse/queer historical romances, I'm glad to have a non-Western option.

[Aoi · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are reasons why Jeannie Lin makes my most-awaited-books list time and time again. The unusual timeline (Tang dynasty China!) aside, she constantly reinvents her settings, plots and characters making each of her books a new discovery. Here, we foray once more into the imperial capital of Changan, into the pleasure district of Pingkang Li.

One of the highlights of the Tang Dynasty series is the sheer amount of intricate historical detail interwoven in the stories. I was completely fascinated by Li Bai Shen's world in My Fair Concubine- the world of glamour, sophistry and romance, hiding a complex web of politics, crime and illegal activities. Ms. Lin's style of writing immersed me into this strange and fascinating world- the vivid descriptions of the opulent teahouses, open air pavilions and richly coloured garments. The language is elegant and flowing- imbibing the restraint of the formal setting, yet conveying romance and sensuousness when due.

Yue-ying is the servant to one of the illustrious beauties of Pingkang Li, the courtesan Mingyu. Due to her mistress' fame, she is a central observer of all the political machinations and soliciting of favours that take place beneath the veneer of entertainment. Quietly going about her duties, she blends into the background and dutifully serves Mingyu. Her life is thrown out of gear when the Bai Huang, the handsome and affable fool of Pingkang Li sets his attentions on her.

Bai Huang is the privileged son of a prominent noble family- infamous for his wastrel ways. The 'flower prince' of Pingkang Li, he is known for his spendthrift ways and drinking his way around the pleasure district. Yueying is discomfited when he tries to woo her; because she doesn't for once believe he is as he seems. Things get further complicated when a murder takes place and Yue-ying is forced to co-operate with him to protect the ones she loves.

Both the lead characters are multilayered, and that works well to support the elaborate plotline. Yue-ying, though having had a harsh life, is direct, practical and resourceful. Although self-conscious about her 'marred' face and her lack of education within the company she keeps, she takes it in stride. Her independent and no-nonsense outlook is a wonderful foil against Huang's often naïve outlook in the pairing that crosses societal backgrounds and vastly different upbringings.

I was pleasantly surprised to see the way their relationship issues have been tackled. The barriers that they had to overcome were formidable and well justified. For a relationship transcending social classes, tacking on the marriage vs concubine issue has become the norm- yet again, Yue-ying had very solid reasons not to settle for being a concubine. The way Ms. Lin brought out Yue-ying's intimacy issues, given her harsh and neglected past deserves more plus points.

I absolutely devoured this one. It also set up things nicely for the next novel- the unbending and intimidating Constable Wu Kaifeng, yet those fleeting moments when he lets that façade slip- the chemistry is going to be off-the-charts!

[Lynn Spencer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave this a B+ on AAR, so 4.5 stars here. I've enjoyed Jeannie Lin's China-set historicals for the Harlequin Historicals line so far and I was thrilled when I heard she would be writing single title as well. I went into The Lotus Palace expecting some element of suspense in the plot, but otherwise I had no idea what I would be getting into. As it turns out, it was quite a treat.

First of all, if you've never read Jeannie Lin, you are missing out. She is one of those increasingly rare authors who works great historical and cultural details into her stories without it ever feeling forced. And that's exactly the type of worldbuilding readers get here. The story takes place in the Pingkang Li, the entertainment district of the Tang Dynasty capital of Changan. The heroine, Yue-Ying, is maidservant to Mingyu, a legendary beauty among the courtesans of the district. Yue-Ying is used to living in the shadows, so when she is noticed by Bai Huang, one of the men who hangs around the Lotus Palace and other pleasure houses of the quarter, it's an unsettling experience for her.

Though somewhat in disgrace with his family, Bai Huang still comes from a very privileged world while Yue-Ying was the child of a peasant farmer who sold her when she was young. The differences in their worlds likely would have kept them apart were it not for a murder in the Pingkang Li. Yue-Ying fears someone she knows may be implicated in the crime, while Bai Huang has his own reasons for wanting to see it solved. Given their respective positions, it soon becomes obvious that each can access portions of society that the other cannot and so they are thrown together in an attempt to share information and solve the crime.

This book truly stands out because not only is the worldbuilding well done, but the cast of characters works very well also. Yue-Ying has some insecurities related to her past and her appearance, but she does not wallow in them. Instead, she comes across as a strong, intelligent and rather no-nonsense heroine. She behaves in a way that appears believable given her time and place in history, but she's also not inclined to put up with any shenanigans from the hero. Likewise, Bai Huang is not the rakish buffoon he initially seems and he certainly has some issues of his own. However, over the course of the story, we see him learning to deal with the hand life deals him like an adult, and by the end of the book, it's easy to see why so many in the Pingkang Li like him.

This is a partial review. You can find the complete text at All About Romance: https://allaboutromance.com/book-revi...

[Mrs Giggles · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Lotus Palace is one of the more upscale houses of pleasure in Pinkang li, the red light district of Changan. It's 847 AD, and our heroine Yue-ying is the maidservant of the popular courtesan Mingyu. She shouldn't attract attention, but somehow, Lord Bai Huang decides that she's clever and feisty. When someone starts killing the courtesans in the district, and Lord Bai starts poking his nose into the matter, Yue-ying finds herself swept up in the mess.

That's basically the plot of Jeannie Lin's official single title debut with HQN - her last few books were with the Harlequin Historical line - and, I'm not sure whether this heralds a change in direction, but this one has a mystery subplot that puts the romance to the backseat considerably. I personally find the mystery pretty dry and uninteresting, so I find The Lotus Palace too easy to put down.

The romance isn't much of a diversion. I don't see why Bai Huang should be attracted to Yue-ying, I'm just told that he finds her refreshing, clever, et cetera. This is a romance that started with the author going "I tell you, it's like this!" and I keep waiting to be shown that this is the case. Eventually, Yue-ying talks about her sad past and her looks that made life hard for her, but Bai Huang's reaction is basically, "Aw, that's so sad, but it only reinforces why I think you are awesome. You are so strong, on top of being awesome!"

Because he is of the upper class and, therefore, unable to just marry Yue-ying without facing some repercussions to his social standing, I need to see why he's so much into her. I can't, so there's a problem right there. Also, the author wraps the story up a bit too neatly after having the main characters, especially Yue-ying, mope and whine a lot about the issues between them. The obstacles standing between the hero and the heroine ring true, so the author casually sweeping aside these issues in the end and having the characters achieve a happy ending without even a small taint of social repercussion trivialize these obstacles and make the characters seem like big babies all this while foer moping so melodramatically about them.

Simply put, The Lotus Palace is a readable book, but I find it rather boring compared to the author's previous books.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yue-ying lived life the way she was expected to, as a servant she does not take for granted what her Courtesan employer has done for her. Yue-ying makes a habit of studying the patrons who are trying to win her Courtesan's favors, she pays attention to all of her surroundings in order to have knowledge in case it is ever needed.

When Bai Huang, a privileged playboy begins to pay Yue-ying attention, she quickly puts him in his place, after all they both have their stations in life and there are lines you do not cross. However, Bai doesn't see it that way, he finds Yue-ying's direct manner refreshing and when a murder of one of the Courtesan's leads to an investigation, Bai joins forces with Yue-ying. Although Yue-ying plans to keep Bai at a comfortable distance, her heart becomes involved and when Bai offers to have her become his concubine, Yue-ying is torn on wanting a life with Bai and doing what is right for Bai.

Majestic, mysterious, and sensual story. I thought this was written with a richness that flows throughout the story. Yue-ying is a captivating heroine, she is not educated in one sense, but her intellect in observation is remarkable. Bai is initially a poofed up playboy who gets what he wants, but when Yue-ying calls him on it, his humility brings him back down to earth. There are layers to this story that magnify everything that happens between Yue-ying and Bai. High praise for Jeannie Lin and her ability to pen such a beautiful story.

[Taryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the book you want if you like your romance with a side of murder. *creepy organ music* It’s also the book you want if you like historicals set outside of England. It’s also ALSO the book you want if you groove on complex power dynamics between lovers and appreciate nuanced portrayals of sex work. That is a lot going on for one book! In Tang Dynasty China (847 AD), Yue-ying is a maid to a renowned courtesan. She will never be a sought after companion in her own right because of a bright red birthmark on one side of her face, so she is baffled when Bai Huang, a privileged playboy scholar, starts paying her lots of attention. Huang is fascinated by Yue-ying because she is the only one who sees through his hapless demeanor (which is largely put on), but he doesn’t understand at first why his regard could cause her problems. When one of the courtesans in the neighborhood is murdered, Yue-ying agrees to work with Huang to find the killer. I personally found the romance more compelling than the murder plot, but I think this book would work very well for readers who enjoy mysteries.

[Literary Lusts · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was really surprised how much I liked this. I kinda thought it would be good since I'd seem some glowing reviews of this author and "mystery plus romance set in ancient china" sounded all up my alley. But it's published by Harlequin.... and I mean to each their own but I have never been into any of Harlequin's releases ever. So I gave it a shot anyways and I was kind of blown away. It took a little while to really sink into the story but once I did it was like a breath of fresh air. The story had a lot of depth to it and the characters were very complicated and there was a lot of female characters SUPPORTING EACH OTHER and UGH! <3 Really good. Highly recommend.

[Ben Pim · Rating 3 out of 5]

จบแบบสวยงามอยู่นะ.. แปลโดยรวมพอลื่นไหลอยู่นะ แต่ให้แค่สามดาวครึ่ง
อาจจะเพราะไม่แปลแบบที่เราคุ้นเคย เหมือนแปลจากอังกฤษเป็นไทย
เราเลยไม่คุ้นชิ้นกับบางคำที่เป็นนิยายแปลจีนจะเข้าใจได้ง่ายกว่า
เช่นแปลคำว่า แซ่ ใช้เป็น นามสกุล แทนเวลาอ่านเลยสะดุด
แนะนำตัวแบบไทยโดยใช้ชื่อแนะนำตัวก่อนแล้วค่อยตามด้วยนามสกุล(แช่นั่นแหล่ะ)

[Ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just when I think I'm too jaded for romance novels, I find this book and I meet Yue-ying.

[aarya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Link to Live-Tweeting Thread: https://twitter.com/ardentlyaarya/sta...

I would write a gushing review but I have the next book waiting on my kindle for me. So.

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first time I read a Jeannie Lin book, it brought back memories of when I used to watch historical Chinese television series all the time.  While I still watch the occasional Chinese historical, I don't marathon them like I used to.  Reading The Lotus Palace, I find that that feeling is still there--of course, the television series are a bit more chaste, while this book has a few steamy sex scenes, but that's still the feel.

And of course, because of this, it might make me a bit biased towards this book, with it's historical Tang Dynasty setting, the beautiful descriptions of clothing, the streets, the vendors, the residences... and a lovely sweet romance that makes your heart ache.  Because these are those same elements (once again, minus the sex) that had made my love for Chinese historical, Chinese wuxia series grow with every viewing.

The Lotus Palace may be a mystery, but it is definitely first, and foremost, a romance.  And with that in mind, it's easy to appreciate the silly interactions between Yue-ying and Bai Huang as the two of them amateurishly investigate the death of a famous courtesan.  I'm not entirely certain I would actually describe their interactions, or even their entire relationship as sweet, really.  Between Yue-ying and Bai Huang, their love story hinges more on the young, first love variety, where everything is over-dramatic and angst-ridden and almost dream-like.

I'm not even entirely sure I cared much for their romance, really.  They certainly made a cute pair of friends, that's for sure.  But Bai Huang came off a bit too naive and idealistic for my liking.

And this is where I find I really liked the characters--yeah, I know I contradict myself.

Neither Bai Huang nor Yue-ying are your typical romance novel hero or heroine.  Bai Huang is a flamboyant, flirtatious scholar, who spends his days and nights making light of everything.  Yue-ying is a hardened girl, a maidservant who used to slave away in a low-end brothel as a prostitute, simply trying to survive each day of her life, trapped in a world where she has no freedoms or choices as a woman.  By fortune, she is taken in by the most famous courtesan of the Pingkang Li, Mingyu, and now works as her maidservant, never having to service men with her body as long as she stays with Mingyu.

It's a typical Cinderella romance between our couple where, of all the beautifully adorned and decorated women in the Pingkang Li, Bai Huang happens to notice the quiet maidservant, who all but tries to make herself blend into the wall at all times, whose face is marred by a red birthmark cover one cheek from eye to chin, and becomes intrigued enough by her to pursue her.

The Lotus Palace isn't an entirely memorable experience.  The romance has it's moments, of course, where it strays from the typical tropes.  For instance, I like that Yue-ying doesn't fall for Bai Huang immediately, and reacts in the appropriate fashion, slapping him when he tries to kiss her.  I like that Bai Huang's charms don't really work on Yue-ying, and in fact only serve to make her more annoyed with him.  I like that Yue-ying is always trying to be practical about whatever chemistry is brewing between herself and Bai Huang--tell him that he needs to back off, that they are from different worlds, that his interest in her can only cause trouble for the both of them.

But I also like that Bai Huang is so persistent, knowing that this is a girl he needs to work for in order to court; that she obviously won't just melt in his arms just because he's good-looking, or powerful, or pushes her for more.  However, on the other hand, I also love how flawed he is, and it takes him nearly half the book to realize how naive he is about real life, and it takes Yue-ying's harsh words to make him start looking at things in a more practical sense.

I like that the first sex scene wasn't mind-blowing, and in fact, even touches upon the hardships of Yue-ying's past, which is what makes that first sex with Bai Huang kind of depressing.  I like how it takes the two of them some time to work up to a more intimate relationship, and even after sleeping together, they still have to work on their relationship--sex doesn't fix everything, obviously.

What I wish could have been touched upon more, however, was the base mystery that brings our couple together as an investigative team.  It wasn't like the mystery was forgotten, because it was very much in the foreground of the book, brought up again and again as Yue-ying and Bai Huang continue to search for answers.  But for some strange reason, when thinking about my reading experience, I have to admit, I'm not entirely sure I recall a whole lot about the murder mystery that was really all that intriguing.

It was a fairly standard murder mystery; I had my thoughts on the events that took place surrounding both murders.  But that's about it.

Anyway...

I enjoyed The Lotus Palace a lot.  In fact, I practically devoured it, because it was so beautifully written and easy to follow.  Of course, as I'd already admitted, I have my biases.


***


Halloween Bingo

This book could also count for:
Murder Most Foul:  A murder takes place, and out main characters are out to solve it!
Amateur Sleuth:  Yue-ying is a maidservant, and Bai Huang is a scholar.
Romantic Suspense
Terrifying Women

[Andi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't read many romance novels that aren't clean but, being that this is a c-drama-esque story I knew I had to read it. I actually started reading this early in my c-drama journey, put it on pause, and charged back in when I had more shows under my belt.

This is a good read, guys. It deserves so much more love. It felt more than a romance novel, and it was since it had a mystery. But the mystery was so well written! The sex scenes also were a part of the story and not ness. just thrown in there to be sex scenes (they all came around important times).

I love that this is a series, too, and we see characters in this that end up in later books. I rushed through this to get to book two because the character Kaifeng and the main characters' sister were the next couple and the scenes they had were absolutely like fire.

I gave a star down because the ML in the story was a bit of a so-so dandy and I just feel he could have been better.