The Emperor and the Endless Palace
Ratings6
Average rating3.2
15
Ratings6
Average rating3.2
“What if I told you that the feeling we call love is actually the feeling of metaphysical recognition, when your soul remembers someone from a previous life?”
In the year 4 BCE, an ambitious courtier is called upon to seduce the young emperor—but quickly discovers they are both ruled by blood, sex and intrigue.
In 1740, a lonely innkeeper agrees to help a mysterious visitor procure a rare medicine, only to unleash an otherworldly terror instead.
And in present-day Los Angeles, a college student meets a beautiful stranger and cannot shake the feeling they’ve met before.
Across these seemingly unrelated timelines woven together only by the twists and turns of fate, two men are reborn, lifetime after lifetime. Within the treacherous walls of an ancient palace and the boundless forests of the Asian wilderness to the heart-pounding cement floors of underground rave scenes, our lovers are inexplicably drawn to each other, constantly tested by the worlds around them.
As their many lives intertwine, they begin to realize the power of their undying love—a power that transcends time itself…but one that might consume them both.
Reviews with the most likes.
First of all, I think Huang would appreciate that this is the 69th book I've read this year. (Nice.)
I really enjoyed this but I wish it was a little longer! Usually, I think books should be shorter but I wanted more time with all of the characters. I had originally told a coworker when I started it that it was pretty spicy, but the spice was mostly in the beginning and end. I could have had more but I was mollified by lots of LONGING and PINING. Great stuff.
I think there IS a target audience for this book, it's just not me (and that's okay). I'm not much of a smut/spice seeker and when I requested this book I wasn't expecting A LOT of spice. It took me a minute to get my bearings and Justinian's style of (beautiful) writing and the format of the book. I even had to use the dictionary a few times which is rare for me! Once I did, I enjoyed the story for the most part. I think my biggest issue that was always in the back of my mind was the way that this is being marketed as a Romantasy, with the prognosis hardly mentioning erotica, smut, spice at all. Some of the fellow author review quotes mention it, thankfully. This definitely erotic fantasy with some romance (but mostly lust). I don't think it's fair to the reader to not lead with how sexual the book is. I know the author has been joking on IG about this and There's NOTHING wrong with how sexual the book is; I just think it needs to be obvious from the start so folks know what they're getting into. I think this stands for all authors when you're bordering the line of erotica (and this is far past that line).
So 4 stars for a great story, amazing writing especially for a debut novel, but lack of a star for being mislead. I will definitely keep an eye on this author and would read more of his writing if it was less erotica and more romance and if he never writes that kind of book, that's okay (you do you, boo!) Wish him lots of success as a queer Asian author.
