The Poet Empress

Written by Shen Tao

A desperate woman must wield forbidden magic to survive a deadly court and looming war.

4.4 Goodreads · 40,087 ratings

389 pages

$32.99Save 5%

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Bookroo's summary

Wei Yin faces starvation and loss, driving her to become a concubine in a perilous palace where poetry holds power. Forbidden to read, she must secretly master this magic to navigate a court on the brink of civil war. Trapped with a violent prince, Wei's survival hinges on crafting a spell that could save her and the nation. Can she transform forbidden words into a force of salvation, or will the court's deadly intrigues consume her? Discover a world where love and death intertwine in a battle for survival and power.

From the publisher

A USA TODAY BESTSELLER!A LIBRARY READS PICK!DELUXE EDITION―featuring gorgeous gilded edges, detailed endpapers, and beautiful case art under the book jacket! Debut author Shen Tao introduces readers to the lush, deadly world of The Poet Empress, a sweeping, epic and intimate fantasy perfect for fans of The Serpent &amp; the Wings of Night, The Song of Achilles and She Who Became the Sun. Wei Yin is desperate. After the fifth death of a sibling, with her family and village on the brink of starvation, she will do anything to save those she loves. Even offer herself as concubine to the cruel, dissolute heir of the blood-gutted Azalea House–where poetry magic is power, but women are forbidden to read. But in a twist of fate, the palace now stands on the knife-edge of civil war, with Wei trapped in its center. . . with a violent prince. To save herself and the nation, she must survive the dangers of court, learn to read in secret, and compose the most powerful spell of all. A ballad of love. . . and death. The Poet Empress is an epic fantasy that explores darker themes, subjects, and scenes that may not be suitable for all readers. Please see the author’s content note at the beginning of the book.

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