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Tang Dynasty #2
The Dragon and the Pearl
***Library Journal Best Romance of 2011***
Former Emperor's consort Ling Suyin is renowned for her beauty; the ultimate seductress. Now she lives quietly alone--until the most ruthless warlord in the region comes and steals her away....
Li Tao lives life by the sword, and is trapped in the treacherous, lethal world of politics. The alluring Ling Suyin is at the center of the web. He must uncover her mystery without falling under her spell--yet her innocence calls out to him. How cruel if she, of all women, can entrance the man behind the legend....
Former Emperor's consort Ling Suyin is renowned for her beauty; the ultimate seductress. Now she lives quietly alone--until the most ruthless warlord in the region comes and steals her away....
Li Tao lives life by the sword, and is trapped in the treacherous, lethal world of politics. The alluring Ling Suyin is at the center of the web. He must uncover her mystery without falling under her spell--yet her innocence calls out to him. How cruel if she, of all women, can entrance the man behind the legend....
366 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2011
About the author
Jeannie Lin
53 books1,064 followersUSA TODAY Bestselling author Jeannie Lin grew up fascinated with stories of Western epic fantasy and Eastern martial arts adventures. When her best friend introduced her to romance novels in middle school, the stage was set. Jeannie started writing her first romance while working as a high school science teacher in South Central Los Angeles. After four years of trying to break into publishing with an Asian-set historical, her 2009 Golden Heart Award–winning manuscript, Butterfly Swords, sold to Harlequin Mills & Boon. Her books have received starred reviews in Publishers Weekly and Library Journal with The Dragon and the Pearl listed among Library Journal's Best Romances of 2011.
Titles by Jeannie Lin:
Gunpowder Alchemy (Gunpowder Chronicles #1)
The Jade Temptress (The Lotus Palace #2)
The Lotus Palace
Butterfly Swords
The Dragon and the Pearl
My Fair Concubine
The Sword Dancer
For updates, sign up for her newsletter at: http://eepurl.com/42oZL
Find out more about Jeannie Lin online at http://www.jeannielin.com
Titles by Jeannie Lin:
Gunpowder Alchemy (Gunpowder Chronicles #1)
The Jade Temptress (The Lotus Palace #2)
The Lotus Palace
Butterfly Swords
The Dragon and the Pearl
My Fair Concubine
The Sword Dancer
For updates, sign up for her newsletter at: http://eepurl.com/42oZL
Find out more about Jeannie Lin online at http://www.jeannielin.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 218 reviews
January 19, 2024
HOLY CRAP HOW DO YOU EVEN WRITE A BOOK THIS GOOD?!?!?!?! 😭😭😭😭😭
September 20, 2011
No true fan of romance can read Butterfly Swords by Jeannie Lin and escape without wanting to find out more about General Li Tao. And Jeannie Lin certainly doesn’t disappoint fans of her ultra unique historical romances set in the Tang Dynasty, China with this installment. Towards the end of my review for Butterfly Swords I mentioned my utter and at times reluctant fascination with Li Tao who served to be at first the villian and then somehow turned the tables around on me. Little did I know that Li Tao’s character was one that intrigued the author herself so much that she just had to write his story, a fact for which I am eternally grateful.
It is 759 AD and a period of political upheaval in China during which time the military governors known as the jiedushi, commanded their own regional forces independent of the Emperor’s army. It is during this period of turmoil that Lady Ling Suin, an accomplished courtesan who had been favored by the previous emperor finds herself being taken away from her home by none other than one of the most feared generals in China, General Li Tao.
Li Tao’s only intention at first is to remove her from harm’s way though he cannot deny the lure of her beauty anymore than he can deny the rising sun. Though every elegant move on Ling Suin’s part speaks of seduction and half truths that hides the real woman inside, Li Tao cannot help but be ensnared by the desire that races through him for a woman who could prove to be as lethal as that a sword plunged deep into his heart.
Both Li Tao and Ling Suin’s characters are shaped up by less than ideal childhoods, one having grown up on the streets fending for himself whilst the other had been bartered off for a pretty coin for the family’s next meal. Being the Emperor’s concubine for fifteen years meant that Ling Suin was resigned to a life of loneliness until death comes calling. But in Li Tao’s embrace, Ling Suin finds a man who would bend heaven and earth for the taste of a woman whose legend precedes her, the reality of it all when it comes to light manages to not only send Li Tao but the reader as well into a tailspin.
Once again, I am rendered speechless by Jeannie Lin’s ability to create such a riveting and poignant story, her ability to create strong and endearing characters that just demands nothing less but one’s total surrender as the reader. The way Jeannie spins her story weaving one word with another to create sheer magic that just pulls in the reader amazes me. And the tone she sets throughout is so in tune with the time period and the culture of a race shrouded in so much mystery that one cannot help but want to learn more.
Li Tao is a wonderful hero. The silent, tattooed, merciless assassin variety that I can sit around and dream about all day long. A man who thinks honor is no part of him when he wears it like his own skin, inseparable from the essence of who he is. His reluctant fascination with Ling Sui which penetrates through the emptiness that shrouds his heart is one of the most fascinating aspects of the story, his interactions with Ling Suin an intricately woven dance that serves many a time as the most sensual forms of foreplay on which Jeannie certainly delivers.
Ling Suin serves to be his exact opposite, and yet the similarities between them astounds as well as you read along. Having being forced to use her wits, her beauty and seductive viles for so long, Ling Suin at first knows not what to expect from a man who surrounds himself with men of the highest calibre, loyal to the bone and yet remains a lone wolf who doesn’t even realize the fact. Even though every survival instinct within her tells her to step away and leave Li Tao’s alluring form behind, she cannot help but yearn fiercely for the emotions that courses through her whenever Li Tao takes her in his arms. And it is not long before their arrangement brings forth emotions and feelings neither expects to feel for the other and it is a wonderful, wonderful way to pass the time by being a part of their journey towards happily ever after.
I loved how Li Tao and Ling Suin’s pasts are shared with the reader throughout, making both of them more appealing with each flashback. The sensuality and sexual tension between Li Tao and Ling Suin is off the charts hot, and underneath all that taut sensuality, Jeannie manages to tell a tale of political treachery and war not unlike what we see in the world today.
If you haven’t already read a Jeannie Lin book, you should definitely remedy the fact, especially if you are a fan of historical romances in exotic and unusual settings. This is as exotic and unusual as they come and one thing is for sure; none can fault Jeannie’s way with the words that captures you right from the very start. And I would recommend that if you are planning on reading The Dragon and the Pearl, better start off with The Butterfly Swords; just to embrace and enjoy the full impact of Li Tao’s character, which otherwise you might miss out on!
Truly remarkable and utterly fascinating, this one makes a beeline towards my favorites shelf for 2011.
My quotes included below the review.
Rating=5/5
Original review posted on MBR's relam of Romance
Re-Read Review in 2026:
Some books call to you while it gathers dust on a shelf and refuses to be forgotten. The Dragon and the Pearl is one of those rare stories for me. It has been almost fifteen years since I first read it upon its release in 2011, and returning to it now has been an altogether different experience. Jeannie Lin has long been one of my favourite historical romance authors, largely because her stories possess a lyrical quality that often reads like sheer poetry.
Yet it was only after falling completely in love with Chinese historical dramas over the past couple of years that I truly appreciated the richness of what she was creating. Watching sprawling forty-plus episode costume dramas, steeped in court politics, layered symbolism, and restrained emotion, has given me an entirely new lens through which to experience her work. Only now do I realise how vividly she paints the Tang Dynasty, how effortlessly she captures its customs and sensibilities, and how beautifully her prose mirrors a culture where meaning often lies as much beneath the words as within them.
At its heart, The Dragon and the Pearl is the story of two people who have spent their lives surviving dangerous worlds rather than allowing themselves the luxury of truly living. Lady Ling Suyin, once the former Emperor’s famed consort, carries a reputation that follows her long after the palace has fallen silent, while Li Tao is a legendary warlord whose name alone commands fear and respect.
Their paths collide amidst political uncertainty, hidden agendas, and shifting loyalties, forcing them into each other’s orbit when neither is willing to trust the other completely. What begins as cautious negotiation slowly evolves into something infinitely more dangerous, because feelings have a way of complicating even the most carefully constructed bargains.
One of my favourite aspects of the novel remains the way Jeannie Lin unfolds the story. The narrative moves seamlessly between the present and carefully placed glimpses into the past, revealing each new piece of the puzzle at precisely the right moment. Rather than disrupting the pace, these transitions enrich the emotional weight of every revelation and deepen our understanding of both protagonists.
The political intrigue never overshadows the romance, nor does the romance diminish the high stakes surrounding them. Instead, each strengthens the other until separating the two becomes impossible. It is storytelling that feels elegant, deliberate, and utterly immersive.
The romance itself is breathtaking in its restraint. Li Tao and Suyin begin with remarkably similar expectations: companionship with clearly defined boundaries, physical intimacy without emotional entanglement, and the freedom to walk away before either loses themselves. Suyin simply wants safety while she determines her future. Li Tao believes himself disciplined enough to indulge a temporary affair without consequence. Neither anticipates just how profoundly the other will reshape their world.
There is something intensely visceral about the way Jeannie Lin writes desire. The love scenes are not merely sensual; they are beautifully written extensions of the emotional intimacy growing between them, filled with longing, tenderness, and quiet vulnerability. One moment that continues to linger with me is Li Tao’s unexpected tenderness after their first time together, when instinct overrides his legendary composure and he cares for Suyin with a gentleness that surprises even himself. It is in moments like these that the novel quietly reveals the man behind the legend.
Revisiting the story also made me realise that what I found perfect years ago, would have been better with two things. One, for a man so completely captivated by Suyin, whose fascination with her grows more consuming with every passing day, I wanted to see Li Tao finally lose that ironclad control that defines him. There is one memorable moment where his composure cracks, but I found myself longing for the dam to truly burst, to witness all that carefully restrained desire overwhelm the disciplined warrior he has spent his entire life becoming.
And then there is the ending. It is a good ending in the way it ties things up in a more or less neat fashion, but it definitely left me wanting more. This is one of those romances that deserved an epilogue, perhaps even two. One set a few years later, allowing us to glimpse the peace they fought so hard to earn, and another decades into the future, where Suyin’s quiet dream of growing old beside the man she bargained her way into loving has finally become reality. After everything these two endure together, I simply was not ready to let them go.
Perhaps that is the greatest compliment I can give this novel. Fifteen years later, I still wanted more. More of Li Tao’s quiet devotion. More of Suyin’s gentle resilience. More of the poetic prose that has become Jeannie Lin’s signature. More of the beautifully realised world she created. Few books manage to leave that kind of lasting impression, and even fewer retain their magic upon a reread. The Dragon and the Pearl not only lived up to my memories—it deepened them.
Recommended for: Readers who love Chinese historical romance, richly layered political intrigue, lyrical prose, slow-burning passion, and emotionally restrained heroes whose love speaks loudest through their actions.
Final Verdict: Like the dragon forever chasing its pearl, this is a love story that lingers long after the final page, enough to make you revisit the story and relive it all over again.
Rating = 4.75/5
For more reviews and quotes, please visit A Maldivian's Passion for Romance
It is 759 AD and a period of political upheaval in China during which time the military governors known as the jiedushi, commanded their own regional forces independent of the Emperor’s army. It is during this period of turmoil that Lady Ling Suin, an accomplished courtesan who had been favored by the previous emperor finds herself being taken away from her home by none other than one of the most feared generals in China, General Li Tao.
Li Tao’s only intention at first is to remove her from harm’s way though he cannot deny the lure of her beauty anymore than he can deny the rising sun. Though every elegant move on Ling Suin’s part speaks of seduction and half truths that hides the real woman inside, Li Tao cannot help but be ensnared by the desire that races through him for a woman who could prove to be as lethal as that a sword plunged deep into his heart.
Both Li Tao and Ling Suin’s characters are shaped up by less than ideal childhoods, one having grown up on the streets fending for himself whilst the other had been bartered off for a pretty coin for the family’s next meal. Being the Emperor’s concubine for fifteen years meant that Ling Suin was resigned to a life of loneliness until death comes calling. But in Li Tao’s embrace, Ling Suin finds a man who would bend heaven and earth for the taste of a woman whose legend precedes her, the reality of it all when it comes to light manages to not only send Li Tao but the reader as well into a tailspin.
Once again, I am rendered speechless by Jeannie Lin’s ability to create such a riveting and poignant story, her ability to create strong and endearing characters that just demands nothing less but one’s total surrender as the reader. The way Jeannie spins her story weaving one word with another to create sheer magic that just pulls in the reader amazes me. And the tone she sets throughout is so in tune with the time period and the culture of a race shrouded in so much mystery that one cannot help but want to learn more.
Li Tao is a wonderful hero. The silent, tattooed, merciless assassin variety that I can sit around and dream about all day long. A man who thinks honor is no part of him when he wears it like his own skin, inseparable from the essence of who he is. His reluctant fascination with Ling Sui which penetrates through the emptiness that shrouds his heart is one of the most fascinating aspects of the story, his interactions with Ling Suin an intricately woven dance that serves many a time as the most sensual forms of foreplay on which Jeannie certainly delivers.
Ling Suin serves to be his exact opposite, and yet the similarities between them astounds as well as you read along. Having being forced to use her wits, her beauty and seductive viles for so long, Ling Suin at first knows not what to expect from a man who surrounds himself with men of the highest calibre, loyal to the bone and yet remains a lone wolf who doesn’t even realize the fact. Even though every survival instinct within her tells her to step away and leave Li Tao’s alluring form behind, she cannot help but yearn fiercely for the emotions that courses through her whenever Li Tao takes her in his arms. And it is not long before their arrangement brings forth emotions and feelings neither expects to feel for the other and it is a wonderful, wonderful way to pass the time by being a part of their journey towards happily ever after.
I loved how Li Tao and Ling Suin’s pasts are shared with the reader throughout, making both of them more appealing with each flashback. The sensuality and sexual tension between Li Tao and Ling Suin is off the charts hot, and underneath all that taut sensuality, Jeannie manages to tell a tale of political treachery and war not unlike what we see in the world today.
If you haven’t already read a Jeannie Lin book, you should definitely remedy the fact, especially if you are a fan of historical romances in exotic and unusual settings. This is as exotic and unusual as they come and one thing is for sure; none can fault Jeannie’s way with the words that captures you right from the very start. And I would recommend that if you are planning on reading The Dragon and the Pearl, better start off with The Butterfly Swords; just to embrace and enjoy the full impact of Li Tao’s character, which otherwise you might miss out on!
Truly remarkable and utterly fascinating, this one makes a beeline towards my favorites shelf for 2011.
My quotes included below the review.
Rating=5/5
Original review posted on MBR's relam of Romance
Re-Read Review in 2026:
‘Li Tao has marked you with our symbol. The dragon and the pearl.’
She touched a hand to her shoulder. The tattoo lay just beyond her reach. The memory of the needles made her skin tingle. She had never seen her design. She only knew it was a rough likeness of the symbol inked on to Li Tao’s body.
‘Do you know what the pearl represents?’ Lao Sou asked.
‘No.’
‘It’s a mystery. A powerful mystery. The dragon doesn’t know what it is, but he chases it anyway.’ He nodded with satisfaction. ‘That mark means he will come for you.’
Some books call to you while it gathers dust on a shelf and refuses to be forgotten. The Dragon and the Pearl is one of those rare stories for me. It has been almost fifteen years since I first read it upon its release in 2011, and returning to it now has been an altogether different experience. Jeannie Lin has long been one of my favourite historical romance authors, largely because her stories possess a lyrical quality that often reads like sheer poetry.
Yet it was only after falling completely in love with Chinese historical dramas over the past couple of years that I truly appreciated the richness of what she was creating. Watching sprawling forty-plus episode costume dramas, steeped in court politics, layered symbolism, and restrained emotion, has given me an entirely new lens through which to experience her work. Only now do I realise how vividly she paints the Tang Dynasty, how effortlessly she captures its customs and sensibilities, and how beautifully her prose mirrors a culture where meaning often lies as much beneath the words as within them.
At its heart, The Dragon and the Pearl is the story of two people who have spent their lives surviving dangerous worlds rather than allowing themselves the luxury of truly living. Lady Ling Suyin, once the former Emperor’s famed consort, carries a reputation that follows her long after the palace has fallen silent, while Li Tao is a legendary warlord whose name alone commands fear and respect.
Their paths collide amidst political uncertainty, hidden agendas, and shifting loyalties, forcing them into each other’s orbit when neither is willing to trust the other completely. What begins as cautious negotiation slowly evolves into something infinitely more dangerous, because feelings have a way of complicating even the most carefully constructed bargains.
One of my favourite aspects of the novel remains the way Jeannie Lin unfolds the story. The narrative moves seamlessly between the present and carefully placed glimpses into the past, revealing each new piece of the puzzle at precisely the right moment. Rather than disrupting the pace, these transitions enrich the emotional weight of every revelation and deepen our understanding of both protagonists.
The political intrigue never overshadows the romance, nor does the romance diminish the high stakes surrounding them. Instead, each strengthens the other until separating the two becomes impossible. It is storytelling that feels elegant, deliberate, and utterly immersive.
The romance itself is breathtaking in its restraint. Li Tao and Suyin begin with remarkably similar expectations: companionship with clearly defined boundaries, physical intimacy without emotional entanglement, and the freedom to walk away before either loses themselves. Suyin simply wants safety while she determines her future. Li Tao believes himself disciplined enough to indulge a temporary affair without consequence. Neither anticipates just how profoundly the other will reshape their world.
There is something intensely visceral about the way Jeannie Lin writes desire. The love scenes are not merely sensual; they are beautifully written extensions of the emotional intimacy growing between them, filled with longing, tenderness, and quiet vulnerability. One moment that continues to linger with me is Li Tao’s unexpected tenderness after their first time together, when instinct overrides his legendary composure and he cares for Suyin with a gentleness that surprises even himself. It is in moments like these that the novel quietly reveals the man behind the legend.
Revisiting the story also made me realise that what I found perfect years ago, would have been better with two things. One, for a man so completely captivated by Suyin, whose fascination with her grows more consuming with every passing day, I wanted to see Li Tao finally lose that ironclad control that defines him. There is one memorable moment where his composure cracks, but I found myself longing for the dam to truly burst, to witness all that carefully restrained desire overwhelm the disciplined warrior he has spent his entire life becoming.
And then there is the ending. It is a good ending in the way it ties things up in a more or less neat fashion, but it definitely left me wanting more. This is one of those romances that deserved an epilogue, perhaps even two. One set a few years later, allowing us to glimpse the peace they fought so hard to earn, and another decades into the future, where Suyin’s quiet dream of growing old beside the man she bargained her way into loving has finally become reality. After everything these two endure together, I simply was not ready to let them go.
Perhaps that is the greatest compliment I can give this novel. Fifteen years later, I still wanted more. More of Li Tao’s quiet devotion. More of Suyin’s gentle resilience. More of the poetic prose that has become Jeannie Lin’s signature. More of the beautifully realised world she created. Few books manage to leave that kind of lasting impression, and even fewer retain their magic upon a reread. The Dragon and the Pearl not only lived up to my memories—it deepened them.
Recommended for: Readers who love Chinese historical romance, richly layered political intrigue, lyrical prose, slow-burning passion, and emotionally restrained heroes whose love speaks loudest through their actions.
Final Verdict: Like the dragon forever chasing its pearl, this is a love story that lingers long after the final page, enough to make you revisit the story and relive it all over again.
Rating = 4.75/5
For more reviews and quotes, please visit A Maldivian's Passion for Romance
November 7, 2023
Bulgarian review first, followed by the English translation below
Китай от времето на династията Тан през 8 век е просто перфектния фон за любовен роман, и то на днешния “Арлекин”. Още повече, когато са намесени бивша императорска наложница с ранг “скъпоценна”, дворцови интриги, високопоставен генерал, гражданска война, секта убийци и една татуировка с дракон. Истински китайски сериал, но без дразнещите цензура и пропаганда на партията-майка, налагани на всички китайски продукции. Чудесна отмора.
П.П. Пак прочетох финалната сцена със срещата на двамата генерали, където единият е отишъл да убие другия. Разкош, вдигам звездите - така се пишат любовни романи: стегнато и кратко, с уважение към интелекта на читателите, с добри познания за история и психология, другото е пропиляна хартия!
4,5⭐️
Китай от времето на династията Тан през 8 век е просто перфектния фон за любовен роман, и то на днешния “Арлекин”. Още повече, когато са намесени бивша императорска наложница с ранг “скъпоценна”, дворцови интриги, високопоставен генерал, гражданска война, секта убийци и една татуировка с дракон. Истински китайски сериал, но без дразнещите цензура и пропаганда на партията-майка, налагани на всички китайски продукции. Чудесна отмора.
П.П. Пак прочетох финалната сцена със срещата на двамата генерали, където единият е отишъл да убие другия. Разкош, вдигам звездите - така се пишат любовни романи: стегнато и кратко, с уважение към интелекта на читателите, с добри познания за история и психология, другото е пропиляна хартия!
4,5⭐️
China during the Tang Dynasty in the 8th century is simply the perfect backdrop for a romance novel, and a modern-day "Harlequin" at that. Even more so when a former imperial concubine of "precious" rank, court intrigue, a high-ranking general, civil war, a sect of assassins, and a dragon tattoo are all thrown into the mix. A true Chinese drama series, but without the annoying censorship and mother-party propaganda imposed on all contemporary Chinese productions. A wonderful relaxation.
P.S. I re-read the final scene with the meeting of the two generals, where one went to kill the other. Splendid, raising the stars — this is how romance novels should be written: tight and brief, with respect for the reader's intellect, and with a solid knowledge of history and psychology; anything else is just wasted paper!
4.5⭐️
August 12, 2020
2020 Ripped Bodice Summer Bingo: Protagonist plays an instrument that’s not the guitar or piano
Not my favorite of Lin’s backlist but still damn good.
Not my favorite of Lin’s backlist but still damn good.
February 11, 2022
Very enjoyable, & up until the final quarter I expected to award 4.5/5 stars—a rarity for yours truly + Harlequins. Alas, the plots & counterplots of the final scenes were a bit confusing and/or rushed through en route to the HEA (tho maybe it was just my tired brain?), so I rounded down to 4/4.5.
…But no matter. This was still a fun Harley—unique setting, strongly-drawn MCs (complete with a bit of Old Skool vibe in their romance 😈), legit plot arc, dimensional prose. Well done! 🙃 I’ll def be trying more Jeannie Lin books in the future.
…But no matter. This was still a fun Harley—unique setting, strongly-drawn MCs (complete with a bit of Old Skool vibe in their romance 😈), legit plot arc, dimensional prose. Well done! 🙃 I’ll def be trying more Jeannie Lin books in the future.
August 26, 2019
3.5 Stars - rounding up because the narration didn't enhance this story.
The biggest con to this story was the flashbacks that were hard to follow in narration. It would have went smoother reading. However, interesting story and setting. Impossible obstacles overcome. A bad guy misunderstood. A concubine with many secrets. A fun HR outside the common English setting.
The biggest con to this story was the flashbacks that were hard to follow in narration. It would have went smoother reading. However, interesting story and setting. Impossible obstacles overcome. A bad guy misunderstood. A concubine with many secrets. A fun HR outside the common English setting.
May 28, 2013
Wow. Well, apparently I was wrong to be excited to read this book, because it is one hell of a disappointment. Let's go ahead and get the good stuff out of the way: Jeannie Lin's prose is gorgeous, always understated and rarely given to elaborate metaphor. Her skill at evoking emotion and atmosphere in a few, sparing sentences is always a delight, and this book is especially well-written (in this sense). And Li Tao, the villain of Butterfly Swords, did make for an interesting hero. But.
This book is an absolute mess, from its pace (so slow, so so so slow) to the ridiculous reappearance of Ru Shan at the very end; but my greatest complaint is the book's greatest weakness, a weakness that just broke it for me: Suyin isn't allowed to do shit. She is supposedly a masterful manipulator, well-versed in court politics; we very, VERY rarely see her use any of these skills, and in fact something like 95% of the book takes place in situations where she either can't use her unique skills or someone prevents her from using them. She is, of course, a virgin, because I guess you can't have a sexually experienced heroine. She gets a grand total of one (1) flashback, and that flashback is all about how she had to kill another woman because a man made her do it. She spends most of the book languishing in various houses, thinking about how much she loves Li Tao and how sad she is (because she loves Li Tao) and how she wishes Li Tao would come back, etc., etc., etc. While Li Tao's actions are driven in at least equal part by his genuine concern for and investment in the empire (and his relationship with Suyin), Suyin's actions are driven entirely by her relationship with Li Tao. Like, entirely. She basically gets to do one thing at the end to save Li Tao, and I'm glad she got to do that, but at the same time, that doesn't make up for the entire rest of the book where she's passive.
I just found it incredibly galling, not to mention boring, not to mention WOW @ how Li Tao gets to have all sorts of complicated anguish about his past and his duty to the emperor and all this stuff not related to Suyin (while ofc Suyin's just about Li Tao). Gross. I expected a lot more from this book and I think that's really why I'm so angry.
This book is an absolute mess, from its pace (so slow, so so so slow) to the ridiculous reappearance of Ru Shan at the very end; but my greatest complaint is the book's greatest weakness, a weakness that just broke it for me: Suyin isn't allowed to do shit. She is supposedly a masterful manipulator, well-versed in court politics; we very, VERY rarely see her use any of these skills, and in fact something like 95% of the book takes place in situations where she either can't use her unique skills or someone prevents her from using them. She is, of course, a virgin, because I guess you can't have a sexually experienced heroine. She gets a grand total of one (1) flashback, and that flashback is all about how she had to kill another woman because a man made her do it. She spends most of the book languishing in various houses, thinking about how much she loves Li Tao and how sad she is (because she loves Li Tao) and how she wishes Li Tao would come back, etc., etc., etc. While Li Tao's actions are driven in at least equal part by his genuine concern for and investment in the empire (and his relationship with Suyin), Suyin's actions are driven entirely by her relationship with Li Tao. Like, entirely. She basically gets to do one thing at the end to save Li Tao, and I'm glad she got to do that, but at the same time, that doesn't make up for the entire rest of the book where she's passive.
I just found it incredibly galling, not to mention boring, not to mention WOW @ how Li Tao gets to have all sorts of complicated anguish about his past and his duty to the emperor and all this stuff not related to Suyin (while ofc Suyin's just about Li Tao). Gross. I expected a lot more from this book and I think that's really why I'm so angry.
January 3, 2026
Note: Some of my goodreads shelves can be spoilers
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥(at least but I think there was more, I stopped taking notes)
Humor: Not much
Perspective: third person from the heroine
More character focused or plot focused? a mix...maybe plot?
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: Almost immediately
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever for the mains
Epilogue: No
Format: listened to an audiobook from the library (Hoopla)
Why I chose this book: I have been meaning to come back to this series for a long time!
Mains: Li Tao and Ling Suyin – This is a M/F relationship between a cishet hero and heroine
(Descriptions found at end of my review)
Should I read in order?
Maybe? This hero is a villain-ish character from book 1 (which I barely remember because it’s been so many years since I read book 1)
Basic plot:
Li Tao knows he must secure Ling Suyin to secure all this political dreams, but she turns out to be so much more than he was expecting...
Give this a try if you want:
- 759 AD – Tang Dynasty
- China setting
- former emperor consort
- warlord hero
- he kidnaps her
- bit of enemies to lovers feel – he kidnaps her and she tries to escape him
- higher steam – I think there was like 4+ scenes...I stopped taking notes. The scenes weren’t overly long but there was quite a few of them
Ages:
- heroine near 30 (? I think), didn’t catch hero
First line: Taken from audio
Lady Ling Suyin waited in the parlor at the edge of snake hour
My thoughts:
I was so disappointed in this one sadly! It had so many of my usual favorite things. I should love the Tang Dynasty back drop and kidnapped heroine with a warrior hero??? Yes please….and surprise virgin! But this one just fell so flat for me. I listened to this on superspeed and just wanted it over :(
I’m not sure if I just never connected with the hero and found the heroine a bit boring how she was just moping around his house the whole time. The sex was a let down to me. Maybe I was just burnt out from the holidays and grumpy, I don’t know 😂
I liked the narration by Sarah Lam but I didn’t like her male voice so that was a downer for me here.
EDIT: I remembered something that annoyed me here - the amount of flashbacks. I didn't like that they were happening so often and most of them were about the hero when I didn't feel as connected to him in the story.
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: 2
Average rating from me: 3.5 stars
Favorite book: Butterfly Swords
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:
Extra stuff like what my review breakdown means, where to find me, and book clubs
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥(at least but I think there was more, I stopped taking notes)
Humor: Not much
Perspective: third person from the heroine
More character focused or plot focused? a mix...maybe plot?
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: Almost immediately
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever for the mains
Epilogue: No
Format: listened to an audiobook from the library (Hoopla)
Why I chose this book: I have been meaning to come back to this series for a long time!
Mains: Li Tao and Ling Suyin – This is a M/F relationship between a cishet hero and heroine
(Descriptions found at end of my review)
Should I read in order?
Maybe? This hero is a villain-ish character from book 1 (which I barely remember because it’s been so many years since I read book 1)
Basic plot:
Li Tao knows he must secure Ling Suyin to secure all this political dreams, but she turns out to be so much more than he was expecting...
Give this a try if you want:
- 759 AD – Tang Dynasty
- China setting
- former emperor consort
- warlord hero
- he kidnaps her
- bit of enemies to lovers feel – he kidnaps her and she tries to escape him
- higher steam – I think there was like 4+ scenes...I stopped taking notes. The scenes weren’t overly long but there was quite a few of them
Ages:
- heroine near 30 (? I think), didn’t catch hero
First line: Taken from audio
Lady Ling Suyin waited in the parlor at the edge of snake hour
My thoughts:
I was so disappointed in this one sadly! It had so many of my usual favorite things. I should love the Tang Dynasty back drop and kidnapped heroine with a warrior hero??? Yes please….and surprise virgin! But this one just fell so flat for me. I listened to this on superspeed and just wanted it over :(
I’m not sure if I just never connected with the hero and found the heroine a bit boring how she was just moping around his house the whole time. The sex was a let down to me. Maybe I was just burnt out from the holidays and grumpy, I don’t know 😂
I liked the narration by Sarah Lam but I didn’t like her male voice so that was a downer for me here.
EDIT: I remembered something that annoyed me here - the amount of flashbacks. I didn't like that they were happening so often and most of them were about the hero when I didn't feel as connected to him in the story.
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: 2
Average rating from me: 3.5 stars
Favorite book: Butterfly Swords
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:
Extra stuff like what my review breakdown means, where to find me, and book clubs
July 16, 2011
02
Main characters:
Ling Suyin
Li Tao
What I Liked: The author has created a wonderful world, this is so much better then the other books that I've read by her, it doesn't even compare! I loved reading about China in the Tang dynasty, and then researching it on my own. Chinese traditions and history are very... complex and fascinating and Ms. Lin wrote about them beautifully. Her characters are believable and have hopes and dreams and problems, her story line is mysterious and manages to make you ask yourself if you really understand all that you're reading about, or if you're only understanding the suffice actions. Above all, I loved that she didn't leave the story open and delivered a satisfying end to the story.
Favorite character: Suyin was the bast character in this book. She's just amazing! I just don't know how to describe her.
Favorite scene: The festival with the lanterns, forgot the name, it had a surreal quality to it.
Would I recommend the book: I recommend it with all my heart! It was a break from what I mostly read and I enjoyed every minute of it.
Final rating: 5*
PS: The cover is just gorgeous! The woman looks exactly like I imagine Suyin would.
Main characters:
Ling Suyin
Li Tao
What I Liked: The author has created a wonderful world, this is so much better then the other books that I've read by her, it doesn't even compare! I loved reading about China in the Tang dynasty, and then researching it on my own. Chinese traditions and history are very... complex and fascinating and Ms. Lin wrote about them beautifully. Her characters are believable and have hopes and dreams and problems, her story line is mysterious and manages to make you ask yourself if you really understand all that you're reading about, or if you're only understanding the suffice actions. Above all, I loved that she didn't leave the story open and delivered a satisfying end to the story.
Favorite character: Suyin was the bast character in this book. She's just amazing! I just don't know how to describe her.
Favorite scene: The festival with the lanterns, forgot the name, it had a surreal quality to it.
Would I recommend the book: I recommend it with all my heart! It was a break from what I mostly read and I enjoyed every minute of it.
Final rating: 5*
PS: The cover is just gorgeous! The woman looks exactly like I imagine Suyin would.
April 10, 2026
Audiobook
I didn't love the narration as much in this one. Same narrator, idk what changed 🫠.
The story was all of my kryptonite: he was the villain in book one! He kidnaps the heroine as one who is villainous does and some delicious forced proximity ensues.
Like the first book, I felt the pace started to drag over halfway and in this one the external plot and politicking took over the last third and made the romance feel rushed. Overall, a good read.
⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
🔥🔥/5
Tropes:
Kidnapping
Forced Proximity
Mistress
Morally Grey
CW: some mentions of suicide
I didn't love the narration as much in this one. Same narrator, idk what changed 🫠.
The story was all of my kryptonite: he was the villain in book one! He kidnaps the heroine as one who is villainous does and some delicious forced proximity ensues.
Like the first book, I felt the pace started to drag over halfway and in this one the external plot and politicking took over the last third and made the romance feel rushed. Overall, a good read.
⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
🔥🔥/5
Tropes:
Kidnapping
Forced Proximity
Mistress
Morally Grey
CW: some mentions of suicide
January 7, 2012
I reviewed this book on my blog at www.bookworm2bookworm.wordpress.com
This book comes highly recommended by some of my friends and authors that I highly respect, so there was no way in hell I was going to skip on reading it. Besides, I just love all those martial arts movies with sword fights and leaping warriors.
Before I sank my teeth into this story, I thought I should read ‘Butterfly Swords’ first as the hero of ‘The Dragon and the Pearl’ makes his début in it. Just a side note, you really don’t have to read it as the author did a magnificent job of having this one stand on its own. I can assure you that you will love this one so much, that you’ll want to get your hands on the other as soon as you read the last page. It is exactly what I did when I was done with ‘Butterfly Swords’. I went and made sure to buy ‘The Taming of Mei Lin’ and I’ve still to read it.
I honestly don’t know where to start in telling you how much I loved this story. Between the unique setting and this authors prose, I was transported to an era that was pure magic.
759 AD. China. Tang Dynasty. Court intrigue and political upheaval is the order of the day, and the military governors (jiedushi) had their own regional armies independent of the Emperor Shen’s army and one of those is General Li Tao.
Li Tao is one of the most feared generals in China, and his star rose fifteen years ago when he saved the life of the previous Emperor. He was also betrothed to Emperor Shen’s daughter (Butterfly Swords), who spurned him and ran away from him the year before.
We met Ling Suyin in ‘Butterfly Swords’ when she briefly appeared and gave safe haven to the hero and heroine, but even there I had a feeling that there was so much more to her then just a pretty face. She was known as Precious Consort of the August Emperor Li Ming, and after his death she was removed by Emperor Shen to a remote home that was built just for her by her lover. She has resigned herself to a lonely and barren life never knowing when or who might come to end it, literally and figuratively.
When Li Tao shows up at her door, she’s not sure if he’s there “to bed her or kill her”, so while she trembles inside, her training as a courtesan comes in handy and she doesn’t even flinch as Li Tao takes her to his home, not telling her the reasons behind his ‘abduction’.
Li Tao knows only that an anonymous message arrived warning him of the threat to Ling Suyin’s life while residing without protection and all alone in her home. He wastes no time in coming to her rescue, but all his military discipline and his ‘gutter rats’ instincts are on alert and showing any emotion to anyone is something he is not good at.
As the author takes us deeper into the past of both, Tao and Suyin, we become aware of their similarities; both did what they had to in order to survive in Luoyang and both share the past with Gao Shiming, a man whose court intrigues run so deep that killing him would mean certain death for both hero and heroine.
As we follow and watch Tao and Suyin slowly come to realization that the sins of the past have finally caught up to both, we can’t help but wonder whose method of extricating them from it will work best: Tao’s ‘in for the kill’ or Suyin’s ‘cunning negotiation’.
The author clearly did her homework in researching the setting and because of it my imagination soared. The plot gives this story its perfect pace which in turn brought the characters of Tao and Suyin to life. Jeannie Lin’s talent in ‘tale telling’ shines through and you’ll be enchanted while she takes you on a journey to a place of beauty, danger and intrigue.
Li Tao is perfect as silent type hero to Suyin’s poised and meddling heroine. The sensuality and sexual tension between the two is palpable, exciting, and just a perfect balance of romance and sensuality.
If you’re looking for a romance with an exotic setting, mostly character driven and extremely well-written, with an intriguing plot and a perfect pace, then this book is just the ‘ticket’.
* I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
This book comes highly recommended by some of my friends and authors that I highly respect, so there was no way in hell I was going to skip on reading it. Besides, I just love all those martial arts movies with sword fights and leaping warriors.
Before I sank my teeth into this story, I thought I should read ‘Butterfly Swords’ first as the hero of ‘The Dragon and the Pearl’ makes his début in it. Just a side note, you really don’t have to read it as the author did a magnificent job of having this one stand on its own. I can assure you that you will love this one so much, that you’ll want to get your hands on the other as soon as you read the last page. It is exactly what I did when I was done with ‘Butterfly Swords’. I went and made sure to buy ‘The Taming of Mei Lin’ and I’ve still to read it.
I honestly don’t know where to start in telling you how much I loved this story. Between the unique setting and this authors prose, I was transported to an era that was pure magic.
759 AD. China. Tang Dynasty. Court intrigue and political upheaval is the order of the day, and the military governors (jiedushi) had their own regional armies independent of the Emperor Shen’s army and one of those is General Li Tao.
Li Tao is one of the most feared generals in China, and his star rose fifteen years ago when he saved the life of the previous Emperor. He was also betrothed to Emperor Shen’s daughter (Butterfly Swords), who spurned him and ran away from him the year before.
We met Ling Suyin in ‘Butterfly Swords’ when she briefly appeared and gave safe haven to the hero and heroine, but even there I had a feeling that there was so much more to her then just a pretty face. She was known as Precious Consort of the August Emperor Li Ming, and after his death she was removed by Emperor Shen to a remote home that was built just for her by her lover. She has resigned herself to a lonely and barren life never knowing when or who might come to end it, literally and figuratively.
When Li Tao shows up at her door, she’s not sure if he’s there “to bed her or kill her”, so while she trembles inside, her training as a courtesan comes in handy and she doesn’t even flinch as Li Tao takes her to his home, not telling her the reasons behind his ‘abduction’.
Li Tao knows only that an anonymous message arrived warning him of the threat to Ling Suyin’s life while residing without protection and all alone in her home. He wastes no time in coming to her rescue, but all his military discipline and his ‘gutter rats’ instincts are on alert and showing any emotion to anyone is something he is not good at.
As the author takes us deeper into the past of both, Tao and Suyin, we become aware of their similarities; both did what they had to in order to survive in Luoyang and both share the past with Gao Shiming, a man whose court intrigues run so deep that killing him would mean certain death for both hero and heroine.
As we follow and watch Tao and Suyin slowly come to realization that the sins of the past have finally caught up to both, we can’t help but wonder whose method of extricating them from it will work best: Tao’s ‘in for the kill’ or Suyin’s ‘cunning negotiation’.
The author clearly did her homework in researching the setting and because of it my imagination soared. The plot gives this story its perfect pace which in turn brought the characters of Tao and Suyin to life. Jeannie Lin’s talent in ‘tale telling’ shines through and you’ll be enchanted while she takes you on a journey to a place of beauty, danger and intrigue.
Li Tao is perfect as silent type hero to Suyin’s poised and meddling heroine. The sensuality and sexual tension between the two is palpable, exciting, and just a perfect balance of romance and sensuality.
If you’re looking for a romance with an exotic setting, mostly character driven and extremely well-written, with an intriguing plot and a perfect pace, then this book is just the ‘ticket’.
* I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
May 19, 2019
It's Pacific Asian Heritage Month so what better way to celebrate than to grab up a historical set during China's Tang Dynasty during an exciting time of shifting alliances and loyalties, intrigue and excitement. The romance is as tumultuous as the time period between two most unlikely people- a warlord and a former Imperial consort.
The Dragon and the Pearl is book two in the Tang Dynasty series and acts as a direct follow up to the events in book one when the main pair were introduced as side characters. In fact, Tao was the villain. So, yes, read book one first.
As I just stated, the hero of this story was the perceived villain. He's a ruthless warlord who controls his territory with brute strength and cunning and people are whispering at court into the new emperor's ears that General Tao is disloyal. Tao is making moves and preparing, but in his mind war with a rival warlord and maybe the emperor himself is inevitable. But, what is the significance of the recently dead emperor's breathtakingly beautiful consort? He thwarts assassination attempts on her life and takes her into his keeping as either a viper to his bosom or the key that could take down his enemy if he can pry her secrets from her.
Suyin has been exploited and used all her life from the pleasure houses catering to the wealth and powerful and into the cut-throat world of the imperial court. She had finally earned her reward living isolated on a lonely estate at peace until something she knows makes her a danger to one man and a weapon to be wielded by another. This time, she will not be used. She will take what she wants. Does she want this ruthless, ungentlemanly warlord who is set on self-destruction because he only knows one way to get what he wants? Perhaps what she has learned about subtle methods at court can serve them both well if he will only trust her when she has never been known to be particularly trustworthy.
I have read nearly everything this author has published. This one and a few short stories were all I had left to read. I knew after reading Butterfly Swords last year that I really wanted this story. Both characters appeared in that story and they were vastly more interesting to me than the main characters- not that the main characters were not enjoyable. I am a sucker for political intrigue and a pair of strong, clever and driven characters who have a little larceny in them.
Though both Tao and Suyin have risen from their original gutter rat status as children to be accepted at the height of power, they don't forget the ruthless survival instincts that have kept them alive until now. Their first encounters are memorable as they both try to hold the power position and twist the other to their advantage. The romance was slow burn and had to advance out of their suspicion and dislike even while other events are also in motion. She is a courtesan and trained in a top pleasure palace so the dynamics are different for their coming together.
The end of the book ratcheted up the suspense and excitement so that I was riveted and barely breathing a few times. I loved how this story built to that moment and didn't disappoint with either the romance or suspense.
The historical setting is not neglected, but it doesn't take over and bog down the story. It felt authentic even down to how the characters spoke and acted. I've read all the novels in this series and each is beautiful and takes the reader to that distant era and place. I will miss that.
So, this Asian historical full of colorful characters, intrigue, and excitement was fabulous. I can heartily recommend this author to historical romance lovers who want to leave the ballroom and explore the historical world.
The Dragon and the Pearl is book two in the Tang Dynasty series and acts as a direct follow up to the events in book one when the main pair were introduced as side characters. In fact, Tao was the villain. So, yes, read book one first.
As I just stated, the hero of this story was the perceived villain. He's a ruthless warlord who controls his territory with brute strength and cunning and people are whispering at court into the new emperor's ears that General Tao is disloyal. Tao is making moves and preparing, but in his mind war with a rival warlord and maybe the emperor himself is inevitable. But, what is the significance of the recently dead emperor's breathtakingly beautiful consort? He thwarts assassination attempts on her life and takes her into his keeping as either a viper to his bosom or the key that could take down his enemy if he can pry her secrets from her.
Suyin has been exploited and used all her life from the pleasure houses catering to the wealth and powerful and into the cut-throat world of the imperial court. She had finally earned her reward living isolated on a lonely estate at peace until something she knows makes her a danger to one man and a weapon to be wielded by another. This time, she will not be used. She will take what she wants. Does she want this ruthless, ungentlemanly warlord who is set on self-destruction because he only knows one way to get what he wants? Perhaps what she has learned about subtle methods at court can serve them both well if he will only trust her when she has never been known to be particularly trustworthy.
I have read nearly everything this author has published. This one and a few short stories were all I had left to read. I knew after reading Butterfly Swords last year that I really wanted this story. Both characters appeared in that story and they were vastly more interesting to me than the main characters- not that the main characters were not enjoyable. I am a sucker for political intrigue and a pair of strong, clever and driven characters who have a little larceny in them.
Though both Tao and Suyin have risen from their original gutter rat status as children to be accepted at the height of power, they don't forget the ruthless survival instincts that have kept them alive until now. Their first encounters are memorable as they both try to hold the power position and twist the other to their advantage. The romance was slow burn and had to advance out of their suspicion and dislike even while other events are also in motion. She is a courtesan and trained in a top pleasure palace so the dynamics are different for their coming together.
The end of the book ratcheted up the suspense and excitement so that I was riveted and barely breathing a few times. I loved how this story built to that moment and didn't disappoint with either the romance or suspense.
The historical setting is not neglected, but it doesn't take over and bog down the story. It felt authentic even down to how the characters spoke and acted. I've read all the novels in this series and each is beautiful and takes the reader to that distant era and place. I will miss that.
So, this Asian historical full of colorful characters, intrigue, and excitement was fabulous. I can heartily recommend this author to historical romance lovers who want to leave the ballroom and explore the historical world.
May 22, 2020
Gorgeous writing, an intriguing and unique setting, and gripping drama merge to create a captivating read. Full review you can find on my blog: https://poetryofreading.blogspot.com
February 29, 2012
This book has flawed pacing. There's three segments to it: the first part when Li Tao takes Suying from her home and she's trying to work out how to survive and free herself, the second extraordinarily boring interlude of sex scenes and agonizing over feelings, and the last third where the plot picks up and things actually start happening again. All three parts are interspersed with flashbacks to their respective pasts. Out of all this the third section and the flashbacks are the only bits really worth reading. The beginning isn't bad but it quickly devolves into the interminable middle section which is definitely not worth the time. Also: holy heteronormative tropes Batman! The amount of undeveloped cliches in this thing made me want to bang my head against the wall. Virgin heroine whose plotline revolves entirely around her relationship with the dude, ~stonehearted~ military man who gets to have a political plotline alongside his love story, blahblahblah all the men go on about how she's a seductress with a talent for manipulating people. I want to emphasize the bit where I said undeveloped because I would have been so down with that if the story had actually spent time allowing Suying to display her skills. I wanted to see her win Ru Shan over! I wanted to hear about the secrets she dealt in the palace courts! She's in a vulnerable off balance position this whole book and every time she rescues herself it's skimmed over.
Basically this would have worked better for me if Lin had ditched the useless middle section and added on about fifty more pages to develop Suying. And maybe reconsidered all the sentence fragments, there were times when I was distracted by how much I wanted better rhythm in the text. 2.5 stars
Basically this would have worked better for me if Lin had ditched the useless middle section and added on about fifty more pages to develop Suying. And maybe reconsidered all the sentence fragments, there were times when I was distracted by how much I wanted better rhythm in the text. 2.5 stars
May 12, 2018
This was my first time reading Jeannie Lin and I cannot handle how good it is. I need more historical romance like this! Her writing is so atmospheric and her characters really come alive. This is set in China in 759 AD during the Tang Dynasty and I learned so much about palace life and the complicated politics of that time. There were such high stakes between courtesan Ling Suyin and General Li Tao and I didn't know how they would overcome them. My heart really went out to Ling Suyin and how she's been used as a pawn by everyone in her life. She was so close to being able to live out the rest of her life on her own terms, only to be taken by Li Tao. And yes, this may have saved her life but she's still beholden to someone she doesn't believe she can trust. Li Tao carries a heavy burden himself and the political machinations were fascinating, albeit worrisome. I loved watching these two face off against one another and then giving into their attraction. The way their relationship evolved was fantastic and I'm really looking forward to catching up on the first book and then reading the rest of this series.
CW: grief, threat of violence, threat of sexual assault, assassination attempts, war, childhood poverty
CW: grief, threat of violence, threat of sexual assault, assassination attempts, war, childhood poverty
April 22, 2020
No me gustó, creo que tengo problemas con las historias asiáticas, nunca le vi sentido en algunos momentos.
Lady Lin era la famosa consorte del emperador Ming quien nunca durmió con ella, era virgen, Li Tao era un gobernador a quien todos tenían miedo, fue en rescate de la consorte, rescate de que? Si quien la perseguía tuvo infinitas oportunidad de matarla y nunca lo hizo, en fin, la historia en mi opinión es floja, para ser ambientada en la china imperial debió ser más espléndida las descripciones.
Lady Lin era la famosa consorte del emperador Ming quien nunca durmió con ella, era virgen, Li Tao era un gobernador a quien todos tenían miedo, fue en rescate de la consorte, rescate de que? Si quien la perseguía tuvo infinitas oportunidad de matarla y nunca lo hizo, en fin, la historia en mi opinión es floja, para ser ambientada en la china imperial debió ser más espléndida las descripciones.
September 3, 2011
Review coming. More like 4.5 but said five because I loved this book. Was emotionally connected from the first page and the writing was executed beautifully. The style was lyrical and although a different genre reminded me of Zoe Archer. I liked this much better than her first book.
July 31, 2018
I’m totally hooked on this series. I liked this one maybe more than the last one except I finished the last few chapters on a bunch of cold medicine and I don’t know if I really followed what I just read.
August 4, 2024
I read this book because someone on the internet recommended it to be as a complicated romance between actual adults. This, it was not.
Lets start with the good bits; the prose was great. Not flowery nor given to long metaphors, but still able to evoke beauty and emotions. The backdrop of politically unstable Tang dynasty China was a nice change of pace from the usual romance / romantasy novels I read, and the world did come alive on the page.
But the pacing of this book was horrendous! We can divide the novel in 3 acts. The first being when Li Tao takes Suyin from her home and she feels like she has to protect herself in his home. The second is comprised of non-sexy, way to long, mostly unnecessary sex scenes. And the conclusion is way, and I mean way, to short.
The adult characters ARE adults, the heroïne is almost 30 *gasp*. But why is every romance heroïne requires to be a virgin? This woman was trained in a pleasure house and spend years as a concubine to the Emperor, is renowed for her beauty and has multiple stories of how much of a seductress she is, and yet she is a virgin and is deflowered by the main male characters. Why?
Li Tao is my kind of hero though. Strong, silent, believes he knows no honor and yet wears it like armor, hella protective. Him I liked. He had agency. While all of Suyins actions revolved around Li Tao (and we never see her use the skillset she is renowned for), Li Tao makes his decisions based on his loyalty to the Empire, his fear from his past. And yes, some are based on his relationship with Suyin, but those are a small fraction.
But yeah, its a Harlequin romance, what can you really expect?
Lets start with the good bits; the prose was great. Not flowery nor given to long metaphors, but still able to evoke beauty and emotions. The backdrop of politically unstable Tang dynasty China was a nice change of pace from the usual romance / romantasy novels I read, and the world did come alive on the page.
But the pacing of this book was horrendous! We can divide the novel in 3 acts. The first being when Li Tao takes Suyin from her home and she feels like she has to protect herself in his home. The second is comprised of non-sexy, way to long, mostly unnecessary sex scenes. And the conclusion is way, and I mean way, to short.
The adult characters ARE adults, the heroïne is almost 30 *gasp*. But why is every romance heroïne requires to be a virgin? This woman was trained in a pleasure house and spend years as a concubine to the Emperor, is renowed for her beauty and has multiple stories of how much of a seductress she is, and yet she is a virgin and is deflowered by the main male characters. Why?
Li Tao is my kind of hero though. Strong, silent, believes he knows no honor and yet wears it like armor, hella protective. Him I liked. He had agency. While all of Suyins actions revolved around Li Tao (and we never see her use the skillset she is renowned for), Li Tao makes his decisions based on his loyalty to the Empire, his fear from his past. And yes, some are based on his relationship with Suyin, but those are a small fraction.
But yeah, its a Harlequin romance, what can you really expect?
May 22, 2017
Good book. I liked both the hero and the heroine. The story is very character driven, she is trapped in the warlord's house.
The ending was a twist I didn't see coming but I'm glad they get a happy ending.
The ending was a twist I didn't see coming but I'm glad they get a happy ending.
February 15, 2025
2.7 stars, maybe? Rounded up for excellent prose. The story started off fine, but began losing steam in the middle. There is a typical romance novel trope which I have long since tired of, and then nothing much was happening besides a recurring pattern of banter, sex, banter. The banter wasn't all that entertaining. I felt like I never got to see what's so special about Suyin other than she's beautiful. The action finally picked up with the ending, but I also hated the ending so .... The descriptions and settings are lovely as always. The story could've just been so much better. I greatly preferred the preceding novel, Butterfly Swords.
July 30, 2026
This was sooooooooo good. The characters, their dynamic, the historical aspects and the romance were beautiful and the smut was very hot. I enjoyed it immensely and read this when I definitely should’ve been studying. Alas, it was worth it.
September 1, 2026
Die Konkubine eines ehemaligen Kaisers und ein Kriegsherr gehen ein widerwilliges Bündnis ein (aka er erhält einen Tipp dass sie ermordet werden soll und bringt sie zu sich nach Hause) und beide versuchen ihr Bestes ihre Machtposition zu behalten.
Ein sehr solides Buch, jedoch gab es ein paar Stellen mit denen ich nicht so klargekommen bin. Diese Stellen sind jedoch vom historischen Setting begründbar.
Ein sehr solides Buch, jedoch gab es ein paar Stellen mit denen ich nicht so klargekommen bin. Diese Stellen sind jedoch vom historischen Setting begründbar.
September 18, 2023
All my favorites in one book. Gorgeous tension and angst, stern “no heart” MMC, clever sex positive FMC, some twists, gifts just to see the other person smile, stunning setting and lovable side characters. Didn’t love the choices for some characteristics for the “villains” but this was a fantastic story. The narration was fantastic.
Did Not Finish
May 31, 2023I am having issues with the audio, the voice is so low. Must be a recording issue.
July 24, 2011
Historical romance is my genre of choice and has been for almost ten years. In that time, I have read my fair share of Regency balls, medieval knights, and Scottish hotties. And I have enjoyed them all...for the most part. But, I do find myself getting a bit tired of the same old historical settings. Therefore, I was ecstatic when I discovered Jeannie Lin's Imperial China-set romances. I read and enjoyed her debut, Butterfly Swords, about two years ago so I had high expectations for the sequel, The Dragon and the Pearl. And I absolutely adored this book with its fascinating historical details, uniquely designed characters, and surprisingly spicy romance.
This story focuses on two people who appear, at first, to have different backgrounds and different goals in life, but they slowly come to realize how similar they are. Ling Suyin is a former courtesan to the late Chinese emperor and became known as the Precious Consort. Suyin's past is mysterious and appears to have been very dark, but she strives not to let it effect her current outlook on life. Her time in the Imperial Palace forced her to be sneaky and clever in order to survive. Now that the August Emperor is dead, Suyin's goal is to live a peaceful life on her own without the intrigue and danger associated with palace life.
Li Tao is a skilled warrior who is gathering troops and supplies in an effort to overthrow the current emperor and bring peace to the kingdom. He is a another character with a mysterious, dark past, but he overcame it by learning to fight and worked his way up the ranks of the Chinese military. He does not trust easily and is determined to meet his ultimate goals no matter the cost to himself or the people around him.
These two intelligent, damaged people meet when Tao arrives at Suyin's home, "kidnaps" her, and takes her to his own secluded palace. There they are forced to interact with one another and their attraction is obvious from the beginning. Tao is trying to finish his war preparations while Suyin tries to convince him why his plan will be a disaster for him and his servants. They started off as enemies, but slowly began to talk and trust each other with their deepest secrets. I loved watching them learn about one another in a way that went beyond their physical relationship.
One of the things I love best about reading historical romance is the opportunity to learn about a different time and place through the main characters' stories. The Dragon and the Pearl takes place during the Tang Dynasty (8th century), an era I know almost nothing about. But, Jeannie Lin does a fantastic job of providing readers with plenty of information to help us understand what is going on without getting bogged down in details. The political intrigue of imperial China fascinated me from beginning to end especially with the way that Tao and Suyin were forced to change from one side to another in order to achieve their goals.
There's much more I would like to say about this book, but I feel like I would either be repeating myself or giving away too much for future readers. So I will just conclude this review by saying that, while the pacing may have been a bit off in the middle, I really enjoyed this unique historical romance. Tao and Suyin are both well-developed and flawed characters who have to go through quite a bit to get to their happy ending. I am definitely going to continue reading Jeannie Lin's historicals and learning more about this fascinating time in history.
This story focuses on two people who appear, at first, to have different backgrounds and different goals in life, but they slowly come to realize how similar they are. Ling Suyin is a former courtesan to the late Chinese emperor and became known as the Precious Consort. Suyin's past is mysterious and appears to have been very dark, but she strives not to let it effect her current outlook on life. Her time in the Imperial Palace forced her to be sneaky and clever in order to survive. Now that the August Emperor is dead, Suyin's goal is to live a peaceful life on her own without the intrigue and danger associated with palace life.
Li Tao is a skilled warrior who is gathering troops and supplies in an effort to overthrow the current emperor and bring peace to the kingdom. He is a another character with a mysterious, dark past, but he overcame it by learning to fight and worked his way up the ranks of the Chinese military. He does not trust easily and is determined to meet his ultimate goals no matter the cost to himself or the people around him.
These two intelligent, damaged people meet when Tao arrives at Suyin's home, "kidnaps" her, and takes her to his own secluded palace. There they are forced to interact with one another and their attraction is obvious from the beginning. Tao is trying to finish his war preparations while Suyin tries to convince him why his plan will be a disaster for him and his servants. They started off as enemies, but slowly began to talk and trust each other with their deepest secrets. I loved watching them learn about one another in a way that went beyond their physical relationship.
One of the things I love best about reading historical romance is the opportunity to learn about a different time and place through the main characters' stories. The Dragon and the Pearl takes place during the Tang Dynasty (8th century), an era I know almost nothing about. But, Jeannie Lin does a fantastic job of providing readers with plenty of information to help us understand what is going on without getting bogged down in details. The political intrigue of imperial China fascinated me from beginning to end especially with the way that Tao and Suyin were forced to change from one side to another in order to achieve their goals.
There's much more I would like to say about this book, but I feel like I would either be repeating myself or giving away too much for future readers. So I will just conclude this review by saying that, while the pacing may have been a bit off in the middle, I really enjoyed this unique historical romance. Tao and Suyin are both well-developed and flawed characters who have to go through quite a bit to get to their happy ending. I am definitely going to continue reading Jeannie Lin's historicals and learning more about this fascinating time in history.
December 28, 2011
This is the first Jeannie Lin book I've read. I can pretty much guarentee that it won't be the last.
The Dragon and the Pearl was what I was hoping it be! The two "lovers" are so different, but so similar. He's a hardened warrior and assassian. She's a lovely flower, but an innocent 'she-demon' (so many characters called her this and it fits all too well). Both characters have gone through so much pain, loneliness, heart-ache, struggle, and dark times, but their love/lust is a becon in the night for them.
I'm sorry to have gone all poetical, but hey, I really adored this couple and this story. The story had me sitting on the edge of my seat the entire time. Even though I'm really good at figuring out what will happen next, I couldn't find my way to the ending result. I must give credit where credit is due...congrats Jeannie Lin, you made a real mystery out of this love story. I also applaud her for making the characters slowly, but surely fall out of the lust stage to the love stage. It was realistic for the characters, because both Tao and Suyin are hard and non-trusting people. When both finally declared their love for each other, I nearly cried, "finally!"
Not only did Jeannie Lin do a wonderful job with the story and the characters, but a wonderful job bringing Ancient China to life. I felt like I was really there. I could imagine the sea of Bamboo and Lio Tao's study. The balance between story-telling and describing the setting was very balanced. I would simply love t if they made this a movie!
The only things I can nick-pick at is the POV balance. I felt most of the story was in Suyin's POV. Yes, Tao did get to have his spotlight, but...not as much as Suyin. I loved Suyin too, but sometimes I would get bored because she was just sitting around waiting, while Tao was having the adventures and preparing for the war that was coming. Tao had about 35% and Suyin 65% of the book. That is my only complaint.
Overall, I really loved this book. I also really loved the author and her writing style. Tao and Suyin were fantastic characters! As many may or may not know, I love my characters complex and original; both characters fit the built. I do wish that Tao had more chances to give his POV, but oh well. Out of five stars I grant this one 5 stars. Woot! Woot!
Favorite Character(s): Li Tao, Suyin, and Auntie
Not-so Favorite Character(s): Gao and Emperor Shen (they are both pains in the rumps)
The Dragon and the Pearl was what I was hoping it be! The two "lovers" are so different, but so similar. He's a hardened warrior and assassian. She's a lovely flower, but an innocent 'she-demon' (so many characters called her this and it fits all too well). Both characters have gone through so much pain, loneliness, heart-ache, struggle, and dark times, but their love/lust is a becon in the night for them.
I'm sorry to have gone all poetical, but hey, I really adored this couple and this story. The story had me sitting on the edge of my seat the entire time. Even though I'm really good at figuring out what will happen next, I couldn't find my way to the ending result. I must give credit where credit is due...congrats Jeannie Lin, you made a real mystery out of this love story. I also applaud her for making the characters slowly, but surely fall out of the lust stage to the love stage. It was realistic for the characters, because both Tao and Suyin are hard and non-trusting people. When both finally declared their love for each other, I nearly cried, "finally!"
Not only did Jeannie Lin do a wonderful job with the story and the characters, but a wonderful job bringing Ancient China to life. I felt like I was really there. I could imagine the sea of Bamboo and Lio Tao's study. The balance between story-telling and describing the setting was very balanced. I would simply love t if they made this a movie!
The only things I can nick-pick at is the POV balance. I felt most of the story was in Suyin's POV. Yes, Tao did get to have his spotlight, but...not as much as Suyin. I loved Suyin too, but sometimes I would get bored because she was just sitting around waiting, while Tao was having the adventures and preparing for the war that was coming. Tao had about 35% and Suyin 65% of the book. That is my only complaint.
Overall, I really loved this book. I also really loved the author and her writing style. Tao and Suyin were fantastic characters! As many may or may not know, I love my characters complex and original; both characters fit the built. I do wish that Tao had more chances to give his POV, but oh well. Out of five stars I grant this one 5 stars. Woot! Woot!
Favorite Character(s): Li Tao, Suyin, and Auntie
Not-so Favorite Character(s): Gao and Emperor Shen (they are both pains in the rumps)
January 12, 2024
Malefica81 - per RFS
Bentornate Fenici!
Oggi vi parlerò di un libro diverso dagli altri: mi spiego, sempre genere storico ma questa volta siamo nella Cina medievale, nell’epoca degli imperatori, delle concubine e dei segreti taciuti e mai svelati, che possono cambiare le vite e il destino delle persone.
Ling Suyin è stata la concubina preferita dell’imperatore ormai morto, una donna a conoscenza dei segreti del palazzo imperiale, che fa a gola a tutti e la sua nomea la precede.
Li Tao è un uomo allevato dalla setta di assassini An Ying, che lo ha istruito in qualsiasi campo della vita fino ad arrivare al grado di Jiedushi, ovvero governatore militare: tali uomini avevano un proprio esercito indipendente ed erano più potenti dell’imperatore stesso.
Li Tao preleva Ling Suyin dalla sua casa sul fiume e la porta nella propria nel bosco di bambù, in primo luogo per proteggerla e in seguito per ottenere i suoi segreti, ma poi l’amore si fa strada nel suo cuore.
La giovane subito vuole usare le sue arti di persuasione e la sua bellezza per avere alleati in quella casa, dato che è da sola, ma poi scoprirà i segreti di Li Tao così come lui quelli di lei. In primis, che ciò che si credeva della più bella e desiderata concubina dell’imperatore era falso; la ragazza è vergine e lui è il primo che l’ha avuta, lei, invece, scoprirà pezzetti del suo passato e che hanno un nemico in comune.
“Adesso capisci perché non devi cercare di salvarmi. La morte verrà, in un modo o nell’altro. Per me non esiste via d’uscita.”
L’autrice ci porta in un periodo storico diverso dai soliti a cui siamo abituati; la Cina medievale era molto chiusa, si sapeva poco e quel poco era avvolto dal mistero. L’imperatore aveva una moglie ufficiale, oltre a numerose concubine con cui giaceva e colei che riusciva a dargli un erede maschio, veniva elevata di grado.
Descrizioni accurate, forse a volte un po’ troppo prolisse ma è un libro che si legge senza troppi problemi, intrattiene fino al suo naturale epilogo. Approvato.
Alla prossima
Un saluto dalla vostra Mal
Bentornate Fenici!
Oggi vi parlerò di un libro diverso dagli altri: mi spiego, sempre genere storico ma questa volta siamo nella Cina medievale, nell’epoca degli imperatori, delle concubine e dei segreti taciuti e mai svelati, che possono cambiare le vite e il destino delle persone.
Ling Suyin è stata la concubina preferita dell’imperatore ormai morto, una donna a conoscenza dei segreti del palazzo imperiale, che fa a gola a tutti e la sua nomea la precede.
Li Tao è un uomo allevato dalla setta di assassini An Ying, che lo ha istruito in qualsiasi campo della vita fino ad arrivare al grado di Jiedushi, ovvero governatore militare: tali uomini avevano un proprio esercito indipendente ed erano più potenti dell’imperatore stesso.
Li Tao preleva Ling Suyin dalla sua casa sul fiume e la porta nella propria nel bosco di bambù, in primo luogo per proteggerla e in seguito per ottenere i suoi segreti, ma poi l’amore si fa strada nel suo cuore.
La giovane subito vuole usare le sue arti di persuasione e la sua bellezza per avere alleati in quella casa, dato che è da sola, ma poi scoprirà i segreti di Li Tao così come lui quelli di lei. In primis, che ciò che si credeva della più bella e desiderata concubina dell’imperatore era falso; la ragazza è vergine e lui è il primo che l’ha avuta, lei, invece, scoprirà pezzetti del suo passato e che hanno un nemico in comune.
“Adesso capisci perché non devi cercare di salvarmi. La morte verrà, in un modo o nell’altro. Per me non esiste via d’uscita.”
L’autrice ci porta in un periodo storico diverso dai soliti a cui siamo abituati; la Cina medievale era molto chiusa, si sapeva poco e quel poco era avvolto dal mistero. L’imperatore aveva una moglie ufficiale, oltre a numerose concubine con cui giaceva e colei che riusciva a dargli un erede maschio, veniva elevata di grado.
Descrizioni accurate, forse a volte un po’ troppo prolisse ma è un libro che si legge senza troppi problemi, intrattiene fino al suo naturale epilogo. Approvato.
Alla prossima
Un saluto dalla vostra Mal
October 30, 2013
I've heard wonderful things about this series, and I've been meaning to read it since forever. For some reason I started out with the second one, don't ask me why, not even I know...
I've read a lot of HR, but never any in this particular setting so, hurrah for a non-eurocentric romance with non-white characters!
Jeannie Lin was absolutely masterful when it came to getting the reader into that particular world, every description was incredibly vivid, and that was just so wonderful, since we were exploring a culture and time period not usually seen in this genre!
So, the plot! Li Tao, the ruthless warlord, kidnaps Ling Suyin, the former consort to the now dead Emperor. He claims assassins were out to get her, therefore she must possess vital information. She claims she knows nothing and she doesn't believe him when he says he's saved her life from assassins.
We get dual POVs in this book, and they worked out wonderfully:
- Li Tao cannot trust Ling Suyin, she lived her entire life at court, and survived to tell the story. To escape that serpent's nest of intrigue takes a masterful player when it comes to deceit.
- Ling Suyin cannot trust Li Tao, he's a warlord who has renounced his oath to the Emperor, a man who's killed countless others, a man about to plunge the Empire into war.
Neither can help but be attracted to the other despite this... Is that also part of the other one's plans?
This could have had a much higher rating, but it felt like the romance moved too quickly, the ending was too abrupt. Yes, I know this is a Harlequin romance, but the quality of the writing is above and beyond the usual Harlequin romance, so it kind of tricked me into expecting a more fleshed out story.
Nonetheless, I recommend it, and I can't wait to read the rest of the series!
November 20, 2025
3 sentence synopsis: After the death of the Emperor, concubine Suyin hope to live out her days in peace when she is kidnapped by warlord and governor Li Tao. Suyin relies on her wit and political genius to stay alive and eventually trades one night with Li Tao in promise of her returning to her land. But as the two engage in an epic love affair, Li Tao is preparing for an inevitable war with the Emperor and his enemies while Suyin tries to find an alternative which allows them to be together.
Wow.
This book. THIS BOOK. I started it last night thinking I’d get 50 pages in and next thing I know it’s 1 am, I’ve finished the book, and I’m lying in bed absolutely destroyed (in a good way). The angst is high, the characterization superb, the tension is taught, the political machinations are scheming, the setting is gorgeous, and the stakes are through the roof. The Dragon and the Pearl surprised me at multiple points and I truly don’t know how I’m going to function today. [insert gif of person lying on the floor, crying]
Wow.
This book. THIS BOOK. I started it last night thinking I’d get 50 pages in and next thing I know it’s 1 am, I’ve finished the book, and I’m lying in bed absolutely destroyed (in a good way). The angst is high, the characterization superb, the tension is taught, the political machinations are scheming, the setting is gorgeous, and the stakes are through the roof. The Dragon and the Pearl surprised me at multiple points and I truly don’t know how I’m going to function today. [insert gif of person lying on the floor, crying]
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