The emperor and the endless palace / Justinian Huang.

By:

Huang, Justinian

Material type: Text

TextPublisher: Toronto, Ontario : Mira, [2024]Description: 312 pages ; 24 cmContent type:

text

Media type:

unmediated

Carrier type:

volume

ISBN:

9780778305231

Subject(s):

Genre/Form:

DDC classification:

813/.6 23

Summary: "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."-- Provided by publisher.

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Average rating: 0.0 (0 votes)

Holdings
Item type	Current library	Collection	Shelving location	Call number	Status	Date due	Barcode	Item holds
Adult Book	Phillipsburg Free Public Library	Adult Fiction	New Books	FIC HUANG	Available		36748002554337

Total holds: 0

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

"A sweeping triumph in queer romance." -Booklist

"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.

An unpredictable roller coaster of a debut novel, The Emperor and the Endless Palace is a genre-bending spicy romantasy that challenges everything we think we know about true love.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: The Emperor and the Endless Palace is a heart-pounding romantasy, full of shocking twists, morally shifty characters, and erotic thrills. When it comes to the romance within this novel, you can expect equal parts mess and swoon, but its central thread is an epic tale of true love against all the odds.

"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."-- Provided by publisher.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Library Journal Review

DEBUT In the year 4 BCE, during the Han dynasty, a lowly but ambitious court clerk is manipulated by the Grand Empress Dowager into seducing her grandson, the emperor. Calculated seduction turns into true love, but their relationship may not survive court politics. In 1740, an innkeeper unknowingly hosts a fox spirit in human form who is searching for a rare medicine. The innkeeper agrees to help find this medicine and in the process discovers the mutable line between love and betrayal. In present-day Los Angeles, a medical student meets a gorgeous artist at a circuit party. They're complete strangers, and yet something between them feels familiar and true. Each timeline is well developed, although three plots in a short novel means that the ending roars up quite suddenly and all at once. VERDICT Huang's opulent debut novel is a queer m/m reimagining of Chinese folklore that tells a mystical story of star-crossed lovers who chase true love and atonement across thousands of lifetimes.--Maria Martin

Publishers Weekly Review

At once page-turning and deeply thoughtful, Huang's excellent debut conjures a sweeping gay love story that unfolds across multiple timelines. In 4 BCE China, a low-ranking clerk is tasked with capturing the young emperor's attention. The assignment initiates a story of love and betrayal, destined to echo through centuries. In 1740 China, an isolated and curious innkeeper is drawn to assist an intriguing young man and his grandmother, which requires bringing in the help of a former lover. Finally, present-day L.A. sees a semi-closeted college student drawn into queer high society by a mysterious artist who has, somehow, captured the student's face over the ages. As Huang toggles between periods, these seemingly unrelated narratives intricately weave together, revealing a powerful story of romance reincarnated that feels impressively epic in scope, given the limited page count. Drawing deeply from Chinese history and myth to create a central couple readers will have no choice but to root for, this mesmerizing debut is not to be missed. Agent: Dan Milaschewski, UTA. (Mar.)

Booklist Review

Huang's debut novel is a sweeping triumph in queer romance. Mixing aspects of historical fiction, folklore, erotica, and fantasy, this reincarnation romance beautifully weaves together three stories across three time lines, from ancient China to modern-day Los Angeles. At first, the stories are seemingly unrelated. A lascivious courtier in 4 BCE is hired to seduce the emperor. An innkeeper in the eighteenth century is haunted by spirits. A medical school student has finally come out and is exploring his sexuality. Each engrossing time line propels readers forward as the pieces slowly fall into place and the connections across time are revealed. The first of a planned trilogy, The Emperor and the Endless Palace is an M/M romance with a unique style that is both lyrical and contemporary, and that perfectly conveys the themes of love, power, betrayal, and loyalty that resonate throughout.