Empress of All Seasons, by Emiko Jean
Each generation, a competition is held to find the next
empress of Honoku.
The rules are simple. Survive the palace’s enchanted
seasonal rooms. Conquer Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall. Marry the prince. All
are eligible to compete—all except yōkai, supernatural monsters and spirits
whom the human emperor is determined to enslave and destroy. Mari has spent a
lifetime training to become empress. Winning should be easy. And it would be,
if she weren't hiding a dangerous secret. Mari is a yōkai with the ability to
transform into a terrifying monster. If discovered, her life will be
forfeit. As she struggles to keep her true identity hidden, Mari’s fate
collides with that of Taro, the prince who has no desire to inherit the
imperial throne, and Akira, a half-human, half-yōkai outcast. Torn between duty
and love, loyalty and betrayal, vengeance and forgiveness, the choices of Mari,
Taro, and Akira will decide the fate of Honoku in this beautifully written, edge-of-your-seat
YA fantasy.
Jean's world building is incredible and reflects her
Japanese heritage, from the richly described landscapes of the animal wives'
home to the city of Honoku to the seasonal rooms. Action, romance, family, and
self-discovery are all parts of Mari's journey"
-- Booklist
"The author uses Japanese folklore elements to effectively craft an engaging story that also questions the power structures of heaven and earth, male and female, human and yokai. A narrative that will engage fans of the genre with a much-needed non-Western setting."
-- Kirkus
