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Empty Crown
Once there was a deity that gave everything to the humans she loved. She granted their every wish, every whim without a care of her own well being. Each wish made her weaker, until she no longer has any power left and the humans who once worshipped her left one by one.The once grand temple was soon abandoned and nature took over.No longer was she remembered, yet the deity stayed.She continued to overlook her favorite humans.What will be her ending?Will one demon come and destroy it all for her?A story of humans, deities and demons. Who is the actual demon?Read to find out!Original Story***
249 pages, Paperback
Published December 1, 2023
9 people want to read
About the author
Serein Choo
3 books14 followersHello ALL, all those who visited this page. I thank you for coming.
I am a nobody but I like to write as writing gives me joy and that I have left something behind. Something solid,, something which came from my mind as a person.
The famous quote inspired me.
Cogito, ergo sum
"I think therefore I am,"
-René Descartes-
I like to interpret is as "I write therefore I am".
And if you have any comments/suggestions/recommendation. Please do tell me. I am open to criticism as well. Drop me a message if you are shy XD or find me through >>> Discord : serein.choo#0271
If you are interested in following/contacting me: please visit/follow Instagram#@sereinchoo.author
https://www.instagram.com/sereinchoo....
Tiktok: @sereinchoo
By the way, all covers and art attached in my profile are all my original works
Support me - buy me some coffee at
kofi.com/serein.choo (Follow are great too) XD
Link > https://ko-fi.com/K3K16RVH5
Very much appreciated (muacks muacks)
#grateful#support#love
Will follow if you follow me too ~
🌟 Main Novel : ZuoMeng: To Dream
(Prequel complete/editing) (Sequel editing)
https://www.wattpad.com/story/2770967...
🌟Story (50k words) :
- Empty Crown (Published)
https://www.amazon.com/Empty-Crown-Se...
- Flower and Coin (for ONC 2023) (WIP)
https://www.wattpad.com/1311959580-fl...
🌟 Short Stories (<50k) Completed :
- Princess YuanMing
- Wishing Well
- Cassette
- Carousel
🌟 Children Book : What Will I Be When I Grow Up? (Published)
https://www.amazon.co.jp/What-will-wh...
Other related links > click on linktree below
https://linktr.ee/serein.choo
I am a nobody but I like to write as writing gives me joy and that I have left something behind. Something solid,, something which came from my mind as a person.
The famous quote inspired me.
Cogito, ergo sum
"I think therefore I am,"
-René Descartes-
I like to interpret is as "I write therefore I am".
And if you have any comments/suggestions/recommendation. Please do tell me. I am open to criticism as well. Drop me a message if you are shy XD or find me through >>> Discord : serein.choo#0271
If you are interested in following/contacting me: please visit/follow Instagram#@sereinchoo.author
https://www.instagram.com/sereinchoo....
Tiktok: @sereinchoo
By the way, all covers and art attached in my profile are all my original works
Support me - buy me some coffee at
kofi.com/serein.choo (Follow are great too) XD
Link > https://ko-fi.com/K3K16RVH5
Very much appreciated (muacks muacks)
#grateful#support#love
Will follow if you follow me too ~
🌟 Main Novel : ZuoMeng: To Dream
(Prequel complete/editing) (Sequel editing)
https://www.wattpad.com/story/2770967...
🌟Story (50k words) :
- Empty Crown (Published)
https://www.amazon.com/Empty-Crown-Se...
- Flower and Coin (for ONC 2023) (WIP)
https://www.wattpad.com/1311959580-fl...
🌟 Short Stories (<50k) Completed :
- Princess YuanMing
- Wishing Well
- Cassette
- Carousel
🌟 Children Book : What Will I Be When I Grow Up? (Published)
https://www.amazon.co.jp/What-will-wh...
Other related links > click on linktree below
https://linktr.ee/serein.choo
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 3, 2023
I loved everything about the story I can't wait to read more from this amazing author if you like stuff about goddesses then you will absolutely love this I enjoyed every minute of this and if I could I would give her 30 Stars she absolutely deserves it
October 26, 2023
Very special plot and storyline. It's rare to have a Chinese deity and human plot. I love the ease of the storyline and Serein wrote her characters effortlessly that you feel for them!
I read this in one go and thoroughly enjoyed it. <3
I read this in one go and thoroughly enjoyed it. <3
November 29, 2023
- Empty Crown was such a surprise -
Serein Choo has an incredible talent for storytelling and this book gripped me from the very first page. I couldn’t put it down which I think is very telling of how good this story is!
The characters were brilliant and I felt attached to every single one, especially ShiWu and HeHaun and the amazing relationship they had. The emotions and feelings evoked during the story was remarkable and even after finishing the book, I can still feel the bond with these characters.
The plot was such a great surprise!! There were so many twists and turns that I never saw coming. The author’s writing is so clever and she kept be wondering and guessing throughout.
This book was an absolute joy to read and the ending was so well thought out and executed!!
Ultimately I found Empty Crown to be tragic, brilliant, enticing and shocking.
IT IS A MUST READ!!
Serein Choo has an incredible talent for storytelling and this book gripped me from the very first page. I couldn’t put it down which I think is very telling of how good this story is!
The characters were brilliant and I felt attached to every single one, especially ShiWu and HeHaun and the amazing relationship they had. The emotions and feelings evoked during the story was remarkable and even after finishing the book, I can still feel the bond with these characters.
The plot was such a great surprise!! There were so many twists and turns that I never saw coming. The author’s writing is so clever and she kept be wondering and guessing throughout.
This book was an absolute joy to read and the ending was so well thought out and executed!!
Ultimately I found Empty Crown to be tragic, brilliant, enticing and shocking.
IT IS A MUST READ!!
March 20, 2026
I have so many things to say about this book, so I’m going to start with the positives!
I really loved the front cover; the colours and artwork are beautiful and fit the theme so well. The blurb is very intriguing, especially since I’ve never read a Chinese fantasy book quite like this before (I’ve previously only read Sue Lynn Tan). This story follows a deity, her journey, and her love for humans. There is also a thriller aspect centered on discovering the Demon's identity, which I really enjoyed being a "thriller girly." A friend recommended this author to me, and I’m glad I read it despite my "mid" rating. I also appreciated that the author included a character list; there aren't many characters, but it provided helpful information, and it was easy to flick to the front for a quick reminder.
This story is special and could have easily been a 5-star read, but sadly it landed in the middle for me. I believe this is the author's first book, which I took into consideration. It was an enjoyable story that I finished in two days, so I can see the immense potential here. A few quotes really stood out to me:
"It's not easy to help oneself. People need a little encouragement from others."
"Humans have to suffer hardships for their souls to grow into better beings."
"There is no one who is born evil. It's all about the choices that you made."
Finally, I loved the relationships between ShiWu and HeHuan, as well as ShiWu and Ah Ke. While I did guess the Demon's identity, I didn't expect the plot twists! It started a little slow, but the pace soon picked up.
Now... for the things I didn't like.
Firstly, the cover and blurb on the physical copy seem a bit blurry, as if the image was expanded and lost quality. However, that wasn’t a major issue for me. More importantly, the book lacks typical fantasy world-building; it provides the character list and then jumps straight into the story. I also found the perspective changes confusing. I don't feel the POVs were executed as well as they could have been; it would have flowed much better if it were more obvious who was speaking (for example, using clearer dialogue tags like "ShiWu said" or "HeHuan said").
The formatting was also questionable. It doesn't seem like the book had a proofreader or editor, as it is littered with typos. This made it a bit painful to read and is a big reason why I’m only rating it 3/5 stars. I understand it is a debut, but it desperately needed an editorial eye. Since the book was released in 2023, I’m surprised these issues haven't been rectified yet. I’m not sure if the high average rating has kept these issues from being addressed, but I’m just being honest.
I really hope Serein can take this constructive criticism and make changes so the book can reach its full potential! I would read more from this author in the future if these issues are resolved. As it stands, I wouldn’t recommend this book yet, but if the errors are ironed out, I definitely would—the storyline truly is special.
I really loved the front cover; the colours and artwork are beautiful and fit the theme so well. The blurb is very intriguing, especially since I’ve never read a Chinese fantasy book quite like this before (I’ve previously only read Sue Lynn Tan). This story follows a deity, her journey, and her love for humans. There is also a thriller aspect centered on discovering the Demon's identity, which I really enjoyed being a "thriller girly." A friend recommended this author to me, and I’m glad I read it despite my "mid" rating. I also appreciated that the author included a character list; there aren't many characters, but it provided helpful information, and it was easy to flick to the front for a quick reminder.
This story is special and could have easily been a 5-star read, but sadly it landed in the middle for me. I believe this is the author's first book, which I took into consideration. It was an enjoyable story that I finished in two days, so I can see the immense potential here. A few quotes really stood out to me:
"It's not easy to help oneself. People need a little encouragement from others."
"Humans have to suffer hardships for their souls to grow into better beings."
"There is no one who is born evil. It's all about the choices that you made."
Finally, I loved the relationships between ShiWu and HeHuan, as well as ShiWu and Ah Ke. While I did guess the Demon's identity, I didn't expect the plot twists! It started a little slow, but the pace soon picked up.
Now... for the things I didn't like.
Firstly, the cover and blurb on the physical copy seem a bit blurry, as if the image was expanded and lost quality. However, that wasn’t a major issue for me. More importantly, the book lacks typical fantasy world-building; it provides the character list and then jumps straight into the story. I also found the perspective changes confusing. I don't feel the POVs were executed as well as they could have been; it would have flowed much better if it were more obvious who was speaking (for example, using clearer dialogue tags like "ShiWu said" or "HeHuan said").
The formatting was also questionable. It doesn't seem like the book had a proofreader or editor, as it is littered with typos. This made it a bit painful to read and is a big reason why I’m only rating it 3/5 stars. I understand it is a debut, but it desperately needed an editorial eye. Since the book was released in 2023, I’m surprised these issues haven't been rectified yet. I’m not sure if the high average rating has kept these issues from being addressed, but I’m just being honest.
I really hope Serein can take this constructive criticism and make changes so the book can reach its full potential! I would read more from this author in the future if these issues are resolved. As it stands, I wouldn’t recommend this book yet, but if the errors are ironed out, I definitely would—the storyline truly is special.
December 8, 2023
An absolutely stunning read. It felt like sitting in the sun under a willow tree, closing my eyes as I listened to a nearby stream. So many messages to find in the darkness but also so many messages to find in the light. A therapeutic and poetic book that will leave you in awe.
February 11, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
I would like to thank the author for providing me with a free digital ARC in exchange for a review.
“But within the heart of this mighty deity lay a love that set her apart from her divine brethren—the love for the living beings of the three realms, with humans holding a special place in her heart. She beheld the world with compassion, witnessing both the joys and sufferings of mortal life.”
Empty Crown, a YA Chinese fantasy, narrates the tale of a fallen deity, her immense love for humans, and how her kindness entwines her life with ShiWu, a boy broken by the cruel world. HeHuan’s benevolence regardless of the cruelty of those around her allows her to win ShiWu’s confidence despite his initial skepticism of her. The crux of the story is about the moral battle that ensues as unseen evil forces bring chaos into the peaceful town, which eventually ends up painting HeHuan in a negative light. Will her goodness save her or as always will evil reign?
▪️WHAT I LIKED/ HIGHLIGHTS:
(1)There is no doubt that Serein Choo is an excellent storyteller. The concept of this book is pretty unique with kindness as the central theme.
(2)HeHuan’s pure heart and her unending love for humans. She is a deity and she’s completely capable of destroying them if she wants to, and yet, she chooses to deal with them goodness in hopes that it will make a difference at some point.
(3)The limelight on robbery, slave trade, fraud and the consequences it leaves behind. It goes to show that people aren’t born as villains, rather villains are made by the ugliness of society.
(4)The genuine love and admiration ShiWu has for HeHuan and how that love changed and encouraged him to be someone better.
(5)The ambiguity of the characters made the final plot twist all the more enjoyable.
▪️WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE/ BOTHERED ME:
(1)The conversations, change of POVs, and flashbacks were stilted, awkward, and confusing. The transitions would have felt more natural if there had been additional chapters providing more details about the events, people and backgrounds.
(2)The key element of fantasy is world-building, which unfortunately is nonexistent in this book. Everything is referred to in a generic manner - the temple, the town, the other town, the shopping centre etc. Giving names to places and creating an intriguing fictional realm would have added so much character to this book.
(3)The blunt and sudden shift in the pacing and setting of the book at the midway point threw me off. The first half was serene with things unraveling gradually, and then out of the blue everything turned dark and bloody, which would have been perfectly fine if there had been more chapters giving the readers an in-depth view of what was happening.
Although 28-year-old me is critical of this, I am confident that 14-year-old me would have devoured this book. As I mentioned, the bare bones of the story are brilliant, and the prose is extravagant. Being a fairly new author, Serein has done a great job, but with a little bit of tweaking, additional details, a few more chapters, and an excellent editor, this book has the potential to be arresting and a great hit amongst the younger audience. Of course, this review is for the ARC, so there’s a good chance the final copy is much more refined.
“She was like a lifeboat that appeared in the storming sea; turning the thunderous roaring sea into a serene peaceful existence and he who was on the boat was gently brought to rest.”
I would like to thank the author for providing me with a free digital ARC in exchange for a review.
“But within the heart of this mighty deity lay a love that set her apart from her divine brethren—the love for the living beings of the three realms, with humans holding a special place in her heart. She beheld the world with compassion, witnessing both the joys and sufferings of mortal life.”
Empty Crown, a YA Chinese fantasy, narrates the tale of a fallen deity, her immense love for humans, and how her kindness entwines her life with ShiWu, a boy broken by the cruel world. HeHuan’s benevolence regardless of the cruelty of those around her allows her to win ShiWu’s confidence despite his initial skepticism of her. The crux of the story is about the moral battle that ensues as unseen evil forces bring chaos into the peaceful town, which eventually ends up painting HeHuan in a negative light. Will her goodness save her or as always will evil reign?
▪️WHAT I LIKED/ HIGHLIGHTS:
(1)There is no doubt that Serein Choo is an excellent storyteller. The concept of this book is pretty unique with kindness as the central theme.
(2)HeHuan’s pure heart and her unending love for humans. She is a deity and she’s completely capable of destroying them if she wants to, and yet, she chooses to deal with them goodness in hopes that it will make a difference at some point.
(3)The limelight on robbery, slave trade, fraud and the consequences it leaves behind. It goes to show that people aren’t born as villains, rather villains are made by the ugliness of society.
(4)The genuine love and admiration ShiWu has for HeHuan and how that love changed and encouraged him to be someone better.
(5)The ambiguity of the characters made the final plot twist all the more enjoyable.
▪️WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE/ BOTHERED ME:
(1)The conversations, change of POVs, and flashbacks were stilted, awkward, and confusing. The transitions would have felt more natural if there had been additional chapters providing more details about the events, people and backgrounds.
(2)The key element of fantasy is world-building, which unfortunately is nonexistent in this book. Everything is referred to in a generic manner - the temple, the town, the other town, the shopping centre etc. Giving names to places and creating an intriguing fictional realm would have added so much character to this book.
(3)The blunt and sudden shift in the pacing and setting of the book at the midway point threw me off. The first half was serene with things unraveling gradually, and then out of the blue everything turned dark and bloody, which would have been perfectly fine if there had been more chapters giving the readers an in-depth view of what was happening.
Although 28-year-old me is critical of this, I am confident that 14-year-old me would have devoured this book. As I mentioned, the bare bones of the story are brilliant, and the prose is extravagant. Being a fairly new author, Serein has done a great job, but with a little bit of tweaking, additional details, a few more chapters, and an excellent editor, this book has the potential to be arresting and a great hit amongst the younger audience. Of course, this review is for the ARC, so there’s a good chance the final copy is much more refined.
“She was like a lifeboat that appeared in the storming sea; turning the thunderous roaring sea into a serene peaceful existence and he who was on the boat was gently brought to rest.”
February 28, 2024
Deity & demons
Darkness & light
Power & balance
Magic
Chinese
“It’s not easy to help oneself. People need a little encouragement from others. Other people who believe that they could change. Show them that they could be good too.”
Empty Crown follows forgotten deity HeHuan and human boy ShiWu. HeHuan loved humans and gave them everything, granting all of their wishes until she had no power left. The people who once worshipped her left one by one abandoning her and her temple.
The book had a unique storyline with some heavy / dark elements. The characters were well developed with interesting backgrounds.
The plot had some tragic, heartbreaking moments and also twists & turns I didn’t see coming.
Overall a well written and interesting story. Not something I usually read but I enjoyed reading it.
I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. Receiving ARC didn’t affect my opinion of the book.
Darkness & light
Power & balance
Magic
Chinese
“It’s not easy to help oneself. People need a little encouragement from others. Other people who believe that they could change. Show them that they could be good too.”
Empty Crown follows forgotten deity HeHuan and human boy ShiWu. HeHuan loved humans and gave them everything, granting all of their wishes until she had no power left. The people who once worshipped her left one by one abandoning her and her temple.
The book had a unique storyline with some heavy / dark elements. The characters were well developed with interesting backgrounds.
The plot had some tragic, heartbreaking moments and also twists & turns I didn’t see coming.
Overall a well written and interesting story. Not something I usually read but I enjoyed reading it.
I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. Receiving ARC didn’t affect my opinion of the book.
March 27, 2024
A stunning fantasy calling into the duality of the human experience: good and evil, life and death, hope and despair. This story will take you on a journey as you follow life through each character’s eyes. There are twists and turns that will have you believing you know where the plot is taking you until it twists again! Ultimately the ending was beautiful and the moral of the story left my heart feeling hopeful. Definitely recommend!
May 7, 2024
A grand adventure of the read! And so glad to be able to experience this first novel of a beginning author!! 😊
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews