The Forbidden City Series

The Forbidden City #1-4

by Melissa Addey

Chosen for imperial service, some concubines rise to power. Others fall to madness.

18th century China. All girls aged thirteen to sixteen must attend the Imperial Daughters’ Draft, so that the Emperor can have the first choice of every woman in his empire as a possible concubine. Once chosen, some rise to power. Some even forge friendships. But for some concubines, there are whispers of forbidden loves, dangerous secrets and even madness.

Four women’s lives intertwine as their destinies unfold within the high red walls of the Forbidden City. Lady Qing has been forgotten by the Emperor, but dares to make one last bid for love. Lady He finds herself out of her depth as secrets pile up around her. Lady Niuhuru is torn away from everything she loves as she ascends to ever-greater power. And Lady Ula Nara teeters on the brink of madness as she desperately tries to find happiness amongst the rituals and rivalries of the Forbidden City.

Based on four real women who became concubines to emperors of the Qing dynasty and spent their lives in the Forbidden City, this is historical fiction at its most intriguing, gripping and romantic.

Immerse yourself in an extraordinary lost world of exquisite beauty, hard-won power and deeply emotional choices. Buy the complete Forbidden City series today.

Please note that the paperback copy comes as one single large volume.

Kindle Edition

Published July 1, 2022

About the author

I mainly write historical fiction: my first novel, The Fragrant Concubine, was Editor’s Choice at the Historical Novel Society, my latest, The Cold Palace, won the 2019 Novel London award.

I was the Leverhulme Trust Writer in Residence at the British Library and now run regular workshops there. I have a PhD in Creative Writing and have self-published 13 books.

I live in London with my husband and two children.

If you’d like to try my writing, visit my website www.melissaaddey.com to pick up a free novella, The Cup.

Reviews

[Janet Graham]

Women in 18th Century China
This series is a well researched and well written historical fiction that explores the lives of several women living during the same time frame. I am a big fan of Pearl S. Buck and fell in love with this series. The author paints such a vivid word picture that it is no effort to imagine yourself in this book. I strongly recommend this set of books. I received this book for free and voluntarily chose to post my honest review.

[Jan Cater]

I really enjoyed this series. I have studied Chinese and once spoke it reasonably well. I have also studied Chinese history. The stories all seem well researched and are compelling. I encourage you to enter the world of the Manchu dynasty women.

[Maryanne Murphy Raygor]

Breathtaking

Beautifully written using words to form historical images and magnificent scholarship. Everything described so vividly. Gardens, palaces, fear, love and loneliness. All the grandeur and heartbreak of life.

[Rocio]

amazing read!!

Love this series so much! Made my heart go through a roller coaster of emotions! The author’s description of the palace and gardens feed your imagination and takes u to a different world!

[Lynnda]

excellent

[Susan L. Barker]

Enjoyable read with interesting characters and plot.

[Ellenbrooke]

I absolutely LOVE this author and her captivating historical fiction novels. Each book is simply and beautifully written, making them accessible and enjoyable for readers of all backgrounds. What I appreciate most is that these stories don't demand too much from you; they aren't unnecessarily heavy or complex. Instead, they offer a refreshing take on history, reimagining past events with a modern twist.

The author skillfully employs familiar contemporary language, using familiar language and phrases that resonate with even a casual reader. A perfect blend of historical context and modern vernacular creates a vibrant atmosphere that pulls you into the narrative, allowing you to connect with the characters and their experiences.

I often found myself pausing to look up visuals online—searching for hairstyles, outfits, and architecture from the time periods depicted. This added layer of exploration enhanced my reading experience and deepened my appreciation for the vivid world she creates and the real history behind it . I highly recommend for a delightful literary journey that feels both enlightening and relatable!

I'm honestly getting ready to reread this series. I love how each book in the collection tells a different story but follows the same general timeline or overlapping timeline. You get to see some of the same events but from various perspectives--and it's like a completely different reality. So very interesting.