EMPRESS OF ALL SEASONS

Kids’ Indie Next List

Empire of All Seasons, best selling author, Emiko Jean

“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…In a genre that is quick to make trilogies and quartets, this is laudable as a standalone that fully tells its story within a single volume.” — Booklist

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 yokai, 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 yokai 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-yokai 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.

REVIEWS

  • “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 yōkai. A narrative that will engage fans of the genre with a much-needed non-Western setting.”

    — Kirkus Reviews

  • “This well-written fantasy will keep teens engaged. Recommended for fans of Victoria Aveyard’s ‘Red Queen’ series and Cindy Pon’s Serpentine. A strong purchase for YA shelves.”

    — School Library Journal

  • “The three protagonists’ efforts to define themselves against family expectations build a compelling narrative framework, and there are many strong, interesting female side characters.”

    — The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books