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Natural Engines #1
A Palace Near the Wind
From a rising star author, a richly inventive, brutal and beautiful science-fantasy novella. A story of family, loss, oppression and rebellion for readers of Nghi Vo's The Empress of Salt and Fortune, Neon Yang's The Black Tides of Heaven and Kritika H. Rao's The Surviving Sky
Sometimes called Wind Walkers for their ability to command the wind, unlike their human rulers, the Feng people have bark faces, carved limbs, arms of braided branches, and hair of needle threads. Bound by duty and tradition, Liu Lufeng, the eldest princess of the Feng royalty, is the next bride to the human king. The negotiation of bridewealth is the only way to stop the expansion of the humans so that the Feng can keep their lands, people, and culture intact. As the eldest, Lufeng should be the next in line to lead the people of Feng, and in the past, that made her sisters disposable. Thankful that her youngest sister, Chuiliu, is too young for a sacrificial marriage, she steps in with plans to kill the king to finally stop the marriages.
But when she starts to uncover the truth about her peoples' origins and realizes Chuiliu will never be safe from the humans, she must learn to let go of duty and tradition, choose her allies carefully, and risk the unknown in order to free her family and shape her own fate.
A powerfully imaginative, compelling story of a young woman seeking to save her family and her home, as well as a devastating meditation on the destruction of the natural world for the sake of an industrial future.
Sometimes called Wind Walkers for their ability to command the wind, unlike their human rulers, the Feng people have bark faces, carved limbs, arms of braided branches, and hair of needle threads. Bound by duty and tradition, Liu Lufeng, the eldest princess of the Feng royalty, is the next bride to the human king. The negotiation of bridewealth is the only way to stop the expansion of the humans so that the Feng can keep their lands, people, and culture intact. As the eldest, Lufeng should be the next in line to lead the people of Feng, and in the past, that made her sisters disposable. Thankful that her youngest sister, Chuiliu, is too young for a sacrificial marriage, she steps in with plans to kill the king to finally stop the marriages.
But when she starts to uncover the truth about her peoples' origins and realizes Chuiliu will never be safe from the humans, she must learn to let go of duty and tradition, choose her allies carefully, and risk the unknown in order to free her family and shape her own fate.
A powerfully imaginative, compelling story of a young woman seeking to save her family and her home, as well as a devastating meditation on the destruction of the natural world for the sake of an industrial future.
192 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 15, 2025
93 people are currently reading
4579 people want to read
About the author
Ai Jiang
104 books436 followersAi Jiang is a Chinese-Canadian writer, Ignyte, Nebula, Bram Stoker Award winner, Hugo, Astounding, Locus, Aurora, and BFSA Award finalist, and an immigrant from Changle, Fujian currently residing in Toronto, Ontario. Her work can be found in F&SF, The Dark, The Masters Review, among others. She is the recipient of Odyssey Workshop's 2022 Fresh Voices Scholarship.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 409 reviews
March 31, 2025
In a Nutshell: A high-fantasy novella about a Tree-like girl seeking revenge against a human. The first of a duology. Grand world-building, okay character development, amazing themes, slow pace, lyrical writing. This could have been a single novel instead of a pair of novellas.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
For a book of just 192 pages, it sure packs in a lot. With various types of character species, a number of characters, multiple distinct localities, allegorical themes, and ambitious worldbuilding, the novella collapses somewhat under its own weight.
The allegorical content is fabulous. In a very subtle yet impactful way, the plot covers the modern obsessions with commercialism, technology, and human development, all of which are often at the cost of the natural world. The limitless human greed, which doesn’t think twice about anything except itself, is depicted strongly.
The writing is equally excellent. The author’s prose is quite lyrical and vivid, so every single scene comes alive with richness. So much energy has been put in the worldbuilding! However, think of the world building as Google Maps without the ability to zoom in. You can see its immense scope but not the micro-level view of the characters and places except for a few hazy details. Maybe this is revealed in the sequel.
The imaginative characters are also the novel’s strength. The residents of Feng, also called Windwalkers for their ability to command the wind, are strange tree-like humanoids. I am stunned by how true-to-life they felt, which is such an odd thing to say about characters who seem like pseudo-Ents in their appearance.
That said, actually picturing these beings was a big challenge, especially considering the misleading cover art. The blurb clearly says: “The Feng people have bark faces, carved limbs, arms of braided branches, and hair of needle threads”, and this is further confirmed multiple times in the book. Now look at the picture of Lufeng on the cover and tell me if any part of this description matches the woman there. It is a stunning cover, no doubt. But it seems to indicate some exotic East-Asian fantasy, which this book isn't.
The pacing is very much on the slower side. It took me ages to get going as the worldbuilding was too dense, but I did go slightly faster towards the end. On the whole though, the content doesn’t allow you to zoom.
Throughout the book, there are plenty of whats and not enough hows or whys. I was hoping at least some of these would be clarified by the ending. But it is rushed, and it leaves us with too many questions. (Heck, I still don’t know why this series is called “Natural Engines”.) The core story arc is not complete by the ending; bad news for those who don’t like cliffhangers.
There’s no doubting the imagination and the writing talent of this author. I had first encountered her writing in Linghun, which was also an allegorical story. But unlike Linghun, this book is a proper high-fantasy. And as we know, high fantasy needs space to create the world and fit in its characters.
The biggest injustice to this plot was done by whoever decided to make it a novella duology instead of a single novel. Such a complex world and varying character types is too hefty for a short work to do justice to. This novella could easily been doubled in length, such that the plot, the characters, as well as the intricacies of the Feng and other worlds could have had more page space to be crafted in detail.
Regardless, I was still captivated by the core plot, the poetic writing, and the allegorical content. I also am curious to see how the story continues and reaches its finale. I’ll probably need to reread this first book when the sequel comes out as it is too convoluted to remember. I just hope the series does end with Book Two and there are no further extensions.
Recommended to high fantasy fans who enjoy lyrical writing and don’t mind a slow pace, unanswered questions, or a cliffhanger ending.
3.5 stars, rounding up for the fabulous allegory and the description of the Wind Walkers.
My thanks to author Ai Jiang for providing me with a complimentary copy of “A Palace Near the Wind” at my request. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Threads || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
Liu Lufeng is the eldest princess of the Feng, nature-loving and tree-resembling forest dwellers. Because of her grandmother’s insistence on her duty, Lufeng is the next bride of the human king. The bridewealth of their proposed wedding is the only way to ensure a future for Feng by stopping the unbridled human expansion into Feng land. Feng has already lost four family members to the king. So Lufeng has a secret agenda – she will kill the king to stop his devious plans. But when she reaches the palace of the human king, she realises that there are many more secrets hidden inside its bone walls, and her earlier plan might not work. How can she save herself, her remaining family members and Feng itself from destruction?
The story comes to us in Lufeng’s first-person POV.
For a book of just 192 pages, it sure packs in a lot. With various types of character species, a number of characters, multiple distinct localities, allegorical themes, and ambitious worldbuilding, the novella collapses somewhat under its own weight.
The allegorical content is fabulous. In a very subtle yet impactful way, the plot covers the modern obsessions with commercialism, technology, and human development, all of which are often at the cost of the natural world. The limitless human greed, which doesn’t think twice about anything except itself, is depicted strongly.
The writing is equally excellent. The author’s prose is quite lyrical and vivid, so every single scene comes alive with richness. So much energy has been put in the worldbuilding! However, think of the world building as Google Maps without the ability to zoom in. You can see its immense scope but not the micro-level view of the characters and places except for a few hazy details. Maybe this is revealed in the sequel.
The imaginative characters are also the novel’s strength. The residents of Feng, also called Windwalkers for their ability to command the wind, are strange tree-like humanoids. I am stunned by how true-to-life they felt, which is such an odd thing to say about characters who seem like pseudo-Ents in their appearance.
That said, actually picturing these beings was a big challenge, especially considering the misleading cover art. The blurb clearly says: “The Feng people have bark faces, carved limbs, arms of braided branches, and hair of needle threads”, and this is further confirmed multiple times in the book. Now look at the picture of Lufeng on the cover and tell me if any part of this description matches the woman there. It is a stunning cover, no doubt. But it seems to indicate some exotic East-Asian fantasy, which this book isn't.
The pacing is very much on the slower side. It took me ages to get going as the worldbuilding was too dense, but I did go slightly faster towards the end. On the whole though, the content doesn’t allow you to zoom.
Throughout the book, there are plenty of whats and not enough hows or whys. I was hoping at least some of these would be clarified by the ending. But it is rushed, and it leaves us with too many questions. (Heck, I still don’t know why this series is called “Natural Engines”.) The core story arc is not complete by the ending; bad news for those who don’t like cliffhangers.
There’s no doubting the imagination and the writing talent of this author. I had first encountered her writing in Linghun, which was also an allegorical story. But unlike Linghun, this book is a proper high-fantasy. And as we know, high fantasy needs space to create the world and fit in its characters.
The biggest injustice to this plot was done by whoever decided to make it a novella duology instead of a single novel. Such a complex world and varying character types is too hefty for a short work to do justice to. This novella could easily been doubled in length, such that the plot, the characters, as well as the intricacies of the Feng and other worlds could have had more page space to be crafted in detail.
Regardless, I was still captivated by the core plot, the poetic writing, and the allegorical content. I also am curious to see how the story continues and reaches its finale. I’ll probably need to reread this first book when the sequel comes out as it is too convoluted to remember. I just hope the series does end with Book Two and there are no further extensions.
Recommended to high fantasy fans who enjoy lyrical writing and don’t mind a slow pace, unanswered questions, or a cliffhanger ending.
3.5 stars, rounding up for the fabulous allegory and the description of the Wind Walkers.
My thanks to author Ai Jiang for providing me with a complimentary copy of “A Palace Near the Wind” at my request. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Threads || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
May 5, 2025
re-read 05/04/2025
It's a little more and vegan propaganda this time around, but I still enjoyed it just as much. This is one of those stories that makes more sense the second go around, so I'm glad I re-read it so I can beta read A RIVER FROM THE SKY. Are you jealous?
--
Upon receiving my physical ARC, I will need to re-read and annotate. There is a small bit of confusion, but I'm very into the story, just like I've been into Ai's other stories, I AM AI and LINGHUN.
I pictured the Wind Walkers as Ents. My other buddy readers picture them differently. Liu Lufeng, eldest princess of the Feng, is the next bride to the human king. Why? What happened to his other brides? Her sisters? Her mother?
This is a beautifully woven tale that I'll be happy to explore again. I think it's one of those that will make more sense upon re-read. Looking forward to the second part of the duology.
🥃 Take a shot every time you picture an Ent
🥃 Take a shot every time Zana says tree fucker
🥃 Take a shot every time you want to steal the earth-toned clothes and jewelry
📖 Thank you to Titan Books
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Titan Books
It's a little more and vegan propaganda this time around, but I still enjoyed it just as much. This is one of those stories that makes more sense the second go around, so I'm glad I re-read it so I can beta read A RIVER FROM THE SKY. Are you jealous?
--
Upon receiving my physical ARC, I will need to re-read and annotate. There is a small bit of confusion, but I'm very into the story, just like I've been into Ai's other stories, I AM AI and LINGHUN.
I pictured the Wind Walkers as Ents. My other buddy readers picture them differently. Liu Lufeng, eldest princess of the Feng, is the next bride to the human king. Why? What happened to his other brides? Her sisters? Her mother?
This is a beautifully woven tale that I'll be happy to explore again. I think it's one of those that will make more sense upon re-read. Looking forward to the second part of the duology.
🥃 Take a shot every time you picture an Ent
🥃 Take a shot every time Zana says tree fucker
🥃 Take a shot every time you want to steal the earth-toned clothes and jewelry
📖 Thank you to Titan Books
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Titan Books
April 14, 2025
★★★★(4.5 Stars)
Princess Liu Lufeng, a member of the Wind Walkers, humanoid beings made of wood who live in harmony with nature. She’s chosen to become the next bride of the human king as part of a deal to save her homeland. Lufeng enters the palace with one mission: kill the king and save her people and home. However, nothing is as it seems inside the palace walls, the truth, deception, and difficult choices await Lufeng...
This novella completely swept me away. In less than 200 pages, Ai Jiang covered so many heavy themes such as environmentalism, colonialism, and the eternal clash between nature and industrial progress. In Lufeng’s eyes, we witness the closing in of her home, the strength of a people to do what it takes to protect their homeland, and the delicate balance of preservation and change.
The worldbuilding is stunning and the concept of the Feng people is both fresh, unique and original. This story felt like something new. Something necessary that will leave you consumed in thought long after you’ve closed the book.
Overall this was a refreshing and thought provoking read, and I can't wait for book two.
Thank you Titan Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Princess Liu Lufeng, a member of the Wind Walkers, humanoid beings made of wood who live in harmony with nature. She’s chosen to become the next bride of the human king as part of a deal to save her homeland. Lufeng enters the palace with one mission: kill the king and save her people and home. However, nothing is as it seems inside the palace walls, the truth, deception, and difficult choices await Lufeng...
This novella completely swept me away. In less than 200 pages, Ai Jiang covered so many heavy themes such as environmentalism, colonialism, and the eternal clash between nature and industrial progress. In Lufeng’s eyes, we witness the closing in of her home, the strength of a people to do what it takes to protect their homeland, and the delicate balance of preservation and change.
The worldbuilding is stunning and the concept of the Feng people is both fresh, unique and original. This story felt like something new. Something necessary that will leave you consumed in thought long after you’ve closed the book.
Overall this was a refreshing and thought provoking read, and I can't wait for book two.
Thank you Titan Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Read
May 20, 2025A PALACE NEAR THE WIND is officially out!! If you’ve read the smol thing, please do leave a review if you have a moment or refer it to a friend if you’ve enjoyed it 🤍🙇🏻♀️
For those curious, this is indeed a part of a duology: Natural Engines. The second in the series is forthcoming April 21, 2026—titled A RIVER FROM THE SKY.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
For those curious, this is indeed a part of a duology: Natural Engines. The second in the series is forthcoming April 21, 2026—titled A RIVER FROM THE SKY.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
March 15, 2025
3.5 rounded up for Goodreads
Title/Author: A Palace Near the Wind by Ai Jiang
Page Count: 192 pages
Publisher: Titan Books
Format: Hardcover novella
Other Books I Enjoyed by This Author: Linghun
Affiliate Link: https://bookshop.org/a/7576/978180336...
Release Date: April 15th, 2025
General Genre: Sci-fi, Eco-Fantasy, High fantasy
Sub-Genre/Themes: Industrialim, nature, arranged marriage, colonization, culture, identity, climate change and the preservation of natural resources, family, royalty
Writing Style: thought-provoking, imaginative, unique
What You Need to Know: "a richly inventive, brutal and beautiful science-fantasy novella. A story of family, loss, oppression, and rebellion."
My Reading Experience: I typically don't venture out into the SFF territory too often, but I'm a big Ai Jiang fan, and she has written some speculative horror fiction too, so I had to check this one out. The main character, Liu Lufeng, is a princess with bark skin and braded branches for limbs. She also has "hair made of needle threads".
It was hard for me to picture this unless I allowed it to play out like an animated movie, so once I let go of live-action visuals and went with a more Studio Ghibli vibe, I settled in.
"We are the people of Feng and Feng itself—a part of the trees, a part of the wind. Just as we borrow the wind, the wind also borrows us."
Still, I think there could have been more intentional scenework where the author could describe the Feng, "Wind Walkers," more cinematically.
A lot of attention is given to world-building and setting which does slow down the pacing and the sense of urgency. The story revolves around a pivotal time for the main protagonist, who has arrived at her new home, a palace, to marry the King, who is responsible for treating her people and the land as resources to use up and spit out in the name of industry and progress. The marriage is just a business arrangement.
"I’d thought the Land Wanderers wanted to convert us all. But no, what they wanted to do was steal all that made us who we were, use us, then toss us away."
There is a huge cast of characters for such a small book and I feel like they don't get enough page-time to make them special or people I could emotionally invest in. Perhaps this will be taken care of in later installments since this is only book one in the scope of a larger project.
I am out of practice and out of my element jumping into high fantasy--so I feel a little rusty. I was confused a lot of the time but I always enjoy Jiang's imagination and storytelling voice.
Final Recommendation: For fans who enjoy colorful, whimsical high fantasy about destiny/fate and a strong female protagonist willing to rebel against choices that have been made on her behalf.
"Yet the need to rebel, to break the agreement, simmered within me."
Comps: Green Teeth by Molly O'Neill
Title/Author: A Palace Near the Wind by Ai Jiang
Page Count: 192 pages
Publisher: Titan Books
Format: Hardcover novella
Other Books I Enjoyed by This Author: Linghun
Affiliate Link: https://bookshop.org/a/7576/978180336...
Release Date: April 15th, 2025
General Genre: Sci-fi, Eco-Fantasy, High fantasy
Sub-Genre/Themes: Industrialim, nature, arranged marriage, colonization, culture, identity, climate change and the preservation of natural resources, family, royalty
Writing Style: thought-provoking, imaginative, unique
What You Need to Know: "a richly inventive, brutal and beautiful science-fantasy novella. A story of family, loss, oppression, and rebellion."
My Reading Experience: I typically don't venture out into the SFF territory too often, but I'm a big Ai Jiang fan, and she has written some speculative horror fiction too, so I had to check this one out. The main character, Liu Lufeng, is a princess with bark skin and braded branches for limbs. She also has "hair made of needle threads".
It was hard for me to picture this unless I allowed it to play out like an animated movie, so once I let go of live-action visuals and went with a more Studio Ghibli vibe, I settled in.
"We are the people of Feng and Feng itself—a part of the trees, a part of the wind. Just as we borrow the wind, the wind also borrows us."
Still, I think there could have been more intentional scenework where the author could describe the Feng, "Wind Walkers," more cinematically.
A lot of attention is given to world-building and setting which does slow down the pacing and the sense of urgency. The story revolves around a pivotal time for the main protagonist, who has arrived at her new home, a palace, to marry the King, who is responsible for treating her people and the land as resources to use up and spit out in the name of industry and progress. The marriage is just a business arrangement.
"I’d thought the Land Wanderers wanted to convert us all. But no, what they wanted to do was steal all that made us who we were, use us, then toss us away."
There is a huge cast of characters for such a small book and I feel like they don't get enough page-time to make them special or people I could emotionally invest in. Perhaps this will be taken care of in later installments since this is only book one in the scope of a larger project.
I am out of practice and out of my element jumping into high fantasy--so I feel a little rusty. I was confused a lot of the time but I always enjoy Jiang's imagination and storytelling voice.
Final Recommendation: For fans who enjoy colorful, whimsical high fantasy about destiny/fate and a strong female protagonist willing to rebel against choices that have been made on her behalf.
"Yet the need to rebel, to break the agreement, simmered within me."
Comps: Green Teeth by Molly O'Neill
February 3, 2026
੭୧ 1 star . ۫
“ each piece moved down my throat with a loathsome thickness, leaving a grotesque aftertaste, bits of flesh caught on their way down. ”
the story follows lufeng, the eldest princess of the feng who are tree-like people (?) being slowly dominated by humans. to stop further invasions, she's expected to marry the human king as a political sacrifice. she plans to kill him to protect her family and her land, but as she uncovers hidden truths about her people's origins, everything she thought she knew shifts.
overall thoughts — where to begin?....this book was truly something. the entire concept was very bizarre. the book throws you into this nature based society with barely any explanation. the details never fully click and i found myself trying to understand for half the book what i was reading. the world building never really settles or becomes clearer, it stays vague and chaotic so instead of being invested, i was just confused. it felt like the prose constantly tried to be deep and poetic, but it just came off as overly exaggerated. multiple times i would read a paragraph and stop and think to myself "it's not that serious" or "what the hell did i just read":
“ the juices slid, greasy, down my throat. when i swallowed, the density of the flesh mixed with the unnatural flavours, spices [...], sat like stones at the bottom of my stomach. ”
cmon now it's a piece of meat....the writing started to become irritating.
final thoughts — every time lufeng comes into contact with animals, bones, meat, or really anything vaguely animal-related, she's gagging, vomiting, or having some intense reaction. the pattern was so constant and so exaggerated, it felt like veganism propaganda.
spoilers!
the story is tremendously boring, i could not care less! and, to me this book was also marketed as having a romance which i now understand i was wrong. i personally don't mind, but the entire beginning of the book, the whole "marriage to the king" setup, builds up to a romance subplot, so imagine my confusion when the book reveals that the king — the man she's supposed to marry — is actually her father. oh!
੭୧ㆍcontent warnings: animal death, colonialism, vomiting
⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆
finished: 12/02/25
rip lufeng, you would have loved veganism!
pre read: 11/30/25
i’ve been thinking about this book since 2024 and am only reading it end of 2025. the 3.23 rating scares me 👀
“ each piece moved down my throat with a loathsome thickness, leaving a grotesque aftertaste, bits of flesh caught on their way down. ”
the story follows lufeng, the eldest princess of the feng who are tree-like people (?) being slowly dominated by humans. to stop further invasions, she's expected to marry the human king as a political sacrifice. she plans to kill him to protect her family and her land, but as she uncovers hidden truths about her people's origins, everything she thought she knew shifts.
overall thoughts — where to begin?....this book was truly something. the entire concept was very bizarre. the book throws you into this nature based society with barely any explanation. the details never fully click and i found myself trying to understand for half the book what i was reading. the world building never really settles or becomes clearer, it stays vague and chaotic so instead of being invested, i was just confused. it felt like the prose constantly tried to be deep and poetic, but it just came off as overly exaggerated. multiple times i would read a paragraph and stop and think to myself "it's not that serious" or "what the hell did i just read":
“ the juices slid, greasy, down my throat. when i swallowed, the density of the flesh mixed with the unnatural flavours, spices [...], sat like stones at the bottom of my stomach. ”
cmon now it's a piece of meat....the writing started to become irritating.
final thoughts — every time lufeng comes into contact with animals, bones, meat, or really anything vaguely animal-related, she's gagging, vomiting, or having some intense reaction. the pattern was so constant and so exaggerated, it felt like veganism propaganda.
spoilers!
the story is tremendously boring, i could not care less! and, to me this book was also marketed as having a romance which i now understand i was wrong. i personally don't mind, but the entire beginning of the book, the whole "marriage to the king" setup, builds up to a romance subplot, so imagine my confusion when the book reveals that the king — the man she's supposed to marry — is actually her father. oh!
੭୧ㆍcontent warnings: animal death, colonialism, vomiting
⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆
finished: 12/02/25
rip lufeng, you would have loved veganism!
pre read: 11/30/25
i’ve been thinking about this book since 2024 and am only reading it end of 2025. the 3.23 rating scares me 👀
January 16, 2025
For fans of Princess Mononoke. Magical world building and a moving story packed into a tiny novella.
For fans of T Kingfisher and Nghi Vo.
Liu Lufeng is the eldest princess of the Feng royalty, people who live in the clouds and are known as Windwalkers. She is the next bride, the next sacrifice, to the human king following her sisters and mother.
This wedding gives her people more time to stop the expansion of the humans so that the Feng can keep their lands, people, and culture intact from the crass and cruel Land Wanderers.
Lufeng desperate to return home, to save her mother and sisters, to kill the King if she has to. This is a story about having to learn, unlearn, and relearn everything you think you know. A repositioning of your world view.
The world was rich (bark people, wind talking), however I think too much was packed in and this failed to deliver a coherent, well-rounded story.
it felt too-overcrowded. A full-length novel would struggle to unpack the magic, culture, politics, history of the world that is only hinted at.
The characters did feel slightly flat, but with such a short page count, this is to be expected. However, I did feel empathy for Lufeng and recognised her emotional response and sense of duty and obligations.
A peak into an imaginative mind. I felt satisfied and whisked away by this story but needed more.
Physical arc gifted by Titan books.
Bookstagram
For fans of T Kingfisher and Nghi Vo.
Liu Lufeng is the eldest princess of the Feng royalty, people who live in the clouds and are known as Windwalkers. She is the next bride, the next sacrifice, to the human king following her sisters and mother.
This wedding gives her people more time to stop the expansion of the humans so that the Feng can keep their lands, people, and culture intact from the crass and cruel Land Wanderers.
Lufeng desperate to return home, to save her mother and sisters, to kill the King if she has to. This is a story about having to learn, unlearn, and relearn everything you think you know. A repositioning of your world view.
The world was rich (bark people, wind talking), however I think too much was packed in and this failed to deliver a coherent, well-rounded story.
it felt too-overcrowded. A full-length novel would struggle to unpack the magic, culture, politics, history of the world that is only hinted at.
The characters did feel slightly flat, but with such a short page count, this is to be expected. However, I did feel empathy for Lufeng and recognised her emotional response and sense of duty and obligations.
A peak into an imaginative mind. I felt satisfied and whisked away by this story but needed more.
Physical arc gifted by Titan books.
Bookstagram
February 7, 2025
A unique and inventive sci-fantasy novella! A Palace Near the Wind took a bit for me to get into, but but once I understood what was going on I was riveted. The sci-fi elements slowly develop through the book, but they are all seen through the eyes of a woman with no context for technology.
Lufeng is from a group of tree people essentially, with bark-like skin and deep communion with nature, able to harness the wind. Now she follows her mother and two sisters being traded to the King as a bride in exchange for their forests surviving a little longer. She leaves her home and travels to a palace made of bone to prepare for the marriage ceremony. She is deeply disturbed by the palace, and things are not as they seem...
This was fascinating and twisty. Also I'm by no means a vegan or vegetarian but the way the author describes people eating meat etc. is extremely grotesque, and clearly on purpose. It does make sense from the perspective of the main character though. I don't want to say too much and spoil anything, but I found the suspense to be very effective and I'm curious to see where the next installment might go. I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
Lufeng is from a group of tree people essentially, with bark-like skin and deep communion with nature, able to harness the wind. Now she follows her mother and two sisters being traded to the King as a bride in exchange for their forests surviving a little longer. She leaves her home and travels to a palace made of bone to prepare for the marriage ceremony. She is deeply disturbed by the palace, and things are not as they seem...
This was fascinating and twisty. Also I'm by no means a vegan or vegetarian but the way the author describes people eating meat etc. is extremely grotesque, and clearly on purpose. It does make sense from the perspective of the main character though. I don't want to say too much and spoil anything, but I found the suspense to be very effective and I'm curious to see where the next installment might go. I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
March 8, 2025
3.5 stars.
Ai Jiang created the foundations for a strange new world, full of tree-like people who are forced to assimilate or die in a world dominated by humans who depend on machines to survive. The subject matter is heavy, and the science fantasy world is fantastical. While this is a novella, it requires a slower read through to thoroughly understand the worldbuilding and the players within.
But once you grasp the worldbuilding and character motives, it's basically a story about survival in a world that's obsessed with modernity. There are similarities and allusions to Indigenous struggles around the globe (Indigenous land rights, land development, imperialism, etc.) and the core tenet of Indigenous communities' right to self-determination which form the basis for the story.
I wish that this was a novel instead of a novella duology. There really needs to be more time to let everything cook on the page. It's difficult to develop an entirely new world in such a short word count.
The ending feels like hitting the midpoint of the story when all the action happens, then everything clicks into place, but then it just... ends. Talk about a letdown.
Well, we'll see how everything wraps up in the sequel.
Thank you to Ai Jiang and Titan Books for the arc.
Ai Jiang created the foundations for a strange new world, full of tree-like people who are forced to assimilate or die in a world dominated by humans who depend on machines to survive. The subject matter is heavy, and the science fantasy world is fantastical. While this is a novella, it requires a slower read through to thoroughly understand the worldbuilding and the players within.
But once you grasp the worldbuilding and character motives, it's basically a story about survival in a world that's obsessed with modernity. There are similarities and allusions to Indigenous struggles around the globe (Indigenous land rights, land development, imperialism, etc.) and the core tenet of Indigenous communities' right to self-determination which form the basis for the story.
I wish that this was a novel instead of a novella duology. There really needs to be more time to let everything cook on the page. It's difficult to develop an entirely new world in such a short word count.
The ending feels like hitting the midpoint of the story when all the action happens, then everything clicks into place, but then it just... ends. Talk about a letdown.
Well, we'll see how everything wraps up in the sequel.
Thank you to Ai Jiang and Titan Books for the arc.
May 10, 2025
2.5 Stars
On paper, this premise sounded right up my alley but I was disappointed to find that that this one didn't work very well for me. I am biased to love Asian inspired fantasy but this one lacked the elements that would normally hook me in. I wanted to love this one but ultimately found it to be just okay.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
On paper, this premise sounded right up my alley but I was disappointed to find that that this one didn't work very well for me. I am biased to love Asian inspired fantasy but this one lacked the elements that would normally hook me in. I wanted to love this one but ultimately found it to be just okay.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
January 27, 2025
4.5 Stars
“The storm trees behind us shifted in tortured twists. If the natural gods could hear me, I questioned why they continued to make us sacrifice.”
Envisage a race who can walk on the wind, who have bark-like skin, branches as limbs and needle threads for hair and you will see the inhabitants of Feng. For countless years the threat of the destruction of their homeland has hung over them and the only way to hold it back is to sacrifice a bride to the King. Lufeng is the eldest daughter of Feng royalty and like her sisters before her, she too is now bound by tradition and duty to leave Feng, enter the Palace and marry the human King. As part of the marriage negotiations Lufeng will bargain to save Feng from the Palace’s expansions for a certain number of years but to stop the destruction altogether and save her younger sister, Chuiliu from also becoming a sacrificial bride, Lufeng plots to kill the King.
Blending sci-fi, fantasy and a touch of dystopian together, A Palace Near the Wind by Ai Jiang is a beautiful haunting story that is both strange and fascinating. This is a novella which reflects upon the conflict between our natural world and the industrial world with poignancy and inventiveness.
The vivid imagery of nature vs technology and life vs death was a strong occurrence throughout and one which I wholly appreciated. The Feng race, or The Wind Walkers as they are called, live as natural beings, among the soil, the animals, the trees and the wind. Their whole existence is for preserving the earth, for nourishing it and caring for all its elements. Whereas the King inside his Palace and the other humans who work for expansion such as Copper and Zinc, strive for progression, for the use of machines, I mean even their names are that of cold metals. We fully experience this once Lufeng is inside the Palace and she encounters Travelers made of bone and fur which she must ride to carry her across distances, clothes she must wear, meat she must consume, and items such as photographs, comscreens and egg-shaped pods which are completely alien to her. The contrast with Feng is immense and the bewilderment and otherworldliness that Lufeng feels echoes through to our own reactions as we see the world through her eyes. Jiang packs a lot of strange concepts here which I found fascinating and gripping because the overall theme of industry taking over nature has always been important within the fantasy genre. Lord of the Rings is a prime example of this but even in our world today, humans are being replaced by machines. Don’t get me started on Artificial Intelligence.
“If I had the power, if the wind ever allowed—though I knew the natural gods were never in favour of chaos—I would show the King what it was like to have his home threatened, to feel attacked, to be afraid. And I would
mock his terror in silence.”
The story also has a strong theme of family and cultural identity. Jiang creates Lefung’s narrative voice to be poetic, melancholic with a mixture of grief and anger. Her motivation throughout is always to preserve her homeland, rescue her sisters and her mother and to prevent the same bride-fate from happening to her youngest sibling, Chuiliu, who she holds most dearly. Lufeng is a strong character, one who I felt I completely understood and sympathised with. She begins to realise some of her sisters do not share her devotion to preserving Feng and it seems the influences of seeing another way of life, a life of more luxury and conveniences have allured many of the Feng race into seeking a life in the city and even changing their names. The prospect of eradicating the culture, beliefs, customs and way of life for an entire race is a haunting notion, one that understandably causes Lufeng much distress. Though even Lufeng begins to change as she becomes accustomed to certain things like eating meat and wearing shoes, she resists the appeal though and never allows anything to diminish her love for Feng or her family. As more revelations of what is really happening in this new world become revealed, Lufeng knows more than ever that it must be stopped before her people are changed irrevocably.
A Palace Near the Wind was certainly a novella which impressed me. Jiang delivers a tale featuring many twists and turns, with inventive worldbuilding and a main protagonist who will go to any lengths to save the ones she loves.
ARC provided by Bahar at Titan Books in exchange for an honest review - thank you for the copy!
“The storm trees behind us shifted in tortured twists. If the natural gods could hear me, I questioned why they continued to make us sacrifice.”
Envisage a race who can walk on the wind, who have bark-like skin, branches as limbs and needle threads for hair and you will see the inhabitants of Feng. For countless years the threat of the destruction of their homeland has hung over them and the only way to hold it back is to sacrifice a bride to the King. Lufeng is the eldest daughter of Feng royalty and like her sisters before her, she too is now bound by tradition and duty to leave Feng, enter the Palace and marry the human King. As part of the marriage negotiations Lufeng will bargain to save Feng from the Palace’s expansions for a certain number of years but to stop the destruction altogether and save her younger sister, Chuiliu from also becoming a sacrificial bride, Lufeng plots to kill the King.
Blending sci-fi, fantasy and a touch of dystopian together, A Palace Near the Wind by Ai Jiang is a beautiful haunting story that is both strange and fascinating. This is a novella which reflects upon the conflict between our natural world and the industrial world with poignancy and inventiveness.
The vivid imagery of nature vs technology and life vs death was a strong occurrence throughout and one which I wholly appreciated. The Feng race, or The Wind Walkers as they are called, live as natural beings, among the soil, the animals, the trees and the wind. Their whole existence is for preserving the earth, for nourishing it and caring for all its elements. Whereas the King inside his Palace and the other humans who work for expansion such as Copper and Zinc, strive for progression, for the use of machines, I mean even their names are that of cold metals. We fully experience this once Lufeng is inside the Palace and she encounters Travelers made of bone and fur which she must ride to carry her across distances, clothes she must wear, meat she must consume, and items such as photographs, comscreens and egg-shaped pods which are completely alien to her. The contrast with Feng is immense and the bewilderment and otherworldliness that Lufeng feels echoes through to our own reactions as we see the world through her eyes. Jiang packs a lot of strange concepts here which I found fascinating and gripping because the overall theme of industry taking over nature has always been important within the fantasy genre. Lord of the Rings is a prime example of this but even in our world today, humans are being replaced by machines. Don’t get me started on Artificial Intelligence.
“If I had the power, if the wind ever allowed—though I knew the natural gods were never in favour of chaos—I would show the King what it was like to have his home threatened, to feel attacked, to be afraid. And I would
mock his terror in silence.”
The story also has a strong theme of family and cultural identity. Jiang creates Lefung’s narrative voice to be poetic, melancholic with a mixture of grief and anger. Her motivation throughout is always to preserve her homeland, rescue her sisters and her mother and to prevent the same bride-fate from happening to her youngest sibling, Chuiliu, who she holds most dearly. Lufeng is a strong character, one who I felt I completely understood and sympathised with. She begins to realise some of her sisters do not share her devotion to preserving Feng and it seems the influences of seeing another way of life, a life of more luxury and conveniences have allured many of the Feng race into seeking a life in the city and even changing their names. The prospect of eradicating the culture, beliefs, customs and way of life for an entire race is a haunting notion, one that understandably causes Lufeng much distress. Though even Lufeng begins to change as she becomes accustomed to certain things like eating meat and wearing shoes, she resists the appeal though and never allows anything to diminish her love for Feng or her family. As more revelations of what is really happening in this new world become revealed, Lufeng knows more than ever that it must be stopped before her people are changed irrevocably.
A Palace Near the Wind was certainly a novella which impressed me. Jiang delivers a tale featuring many twists and turns, with inventive worldbuilding and a main protagonist who will go to any lengths to save the ones she loves.
ARC provided by Bahar at Titan Books in exchange for an honest review - thank you for the copy!
November 30, 2024
Lufeng is part of a race of tree people called Wind Walkers whose way of life is threatened by modern life. Alone in her family, manipulated by her grandmother, Lufeng enters into a marriage, a business relationship, with the King to save her people, or so she believes. She comes up with a wild idea to kill the King, but is soon trapped in a world far darker than she ever imagined.
I liked the concept of the worldbuilding but I felt this book was so in love with the dense worldbuilding that the story and the characters took a backseat. I didn't emotionally connect with the characters and the pacing was extremely slow; the first five chapters were Lufeng's journey to the palace and she still felt inscrutable to me. I had a hard time caring about the story after that, didn't understand anyone's motivations and I had trouble visualizing what these beings looked like based on the awkward descriptions. It was meant to be immersive but I found myself frequently confused.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I liked the concept of the worldbuilding but I felt this book was so in love with the dense worldbuilding that the story and the characters took a backseat. I didn't emotionally connect with the characters and the pacing was extremely slow; the first five chapters were Lufeng's journey to the palace and she still felt inscrutable to me. I had a hard time caring about the story after that, didn't understand anyone's motivations and I had trouble visualizing what these beings looked like based on the awkward descriptions. It was meant to be immersive but I found myself frequently confused.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 14, 2024
A Palace Near The Wind is unlike anything I have read before. After Linghun, this is a foray into a different genre by Ai Jiang - Sci-Fi/Fantasy. These aren’t genres I read too often, that I would actually like to read more of, so this was a welcomed change. Even though it is a short book, under 200 pages, it feels as though the characters are well-developed and explored. I do hope there may be a follow up planned, as this story will stay with you.
The Feng people, also know as Wind Walkers, are named so because they can command/control the wind; unlike the humans who rule over them.
Lufeng, the eldest, Feng Princess, is due to be the next bride to the human King. She is marrying the King because this is a way for the Feng to keep the land, people, and culture intact from the expansion of humans. Her younger sister, Chuiliu, comes up with a plan… One to put an end to the marriages.
As the story progresses, Lufeng learns that her people will never truly be safe from the humans. Especially her younger sister, Chuiliu. She needs to let go of the duty and tradition that has been instilled in her, choose her allies and who to trust carefully, and risk the unknown in order to shape her own destiny and save her family.
Thank you to the author & publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review ✨🫶🖤
The Feng people, also know as Wind Walkers, are named so because they can command/control the wind; unlike the humans who rule over them.
Lufeng, the eldest, Feng Princess, is due to be the next bride to the human King. She is marrying the King because this is a way for the Feng to keep the land, people, and culture intact from the expansion of humans. Her younger sister, Chuiliu, comes up with a plan… One to put an end to the marriages.
As the story progresses, Lufeng learns that her people will never truly be safe from the humans. Especially her younger sister, Chuiliu. She needs to let go of the duty and tradition that has been instilled in her, choose her allies and who to trust carefully, and risk the unknown in order to shape her own destiny and save her family.
Thank you to the author & publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review ✨🫶🖤
November 12, 2024
I once again really liked the world Jiang created. I think she’s incredibly creative and I’m always excited to explore a new place with her. The contrast of nature versus industry, intertwined with conflicting loyalties, strained family bonds, and distrust, was really neat to read about. Sadly though, the plot and characters both felt… rushed and flat, I think. While I enjoy having shorter stories to read amidst my longer novels, I think this would’ve benefitted from more development in those areas.
November 19, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Titan for the arc! This wasn’t it, and for a multitude of reasons. It sucks ass because this was an anticipated read of mine, but it seems I’ve been let down a lot in this unholy month of November. I mean, my favorite Ghibli movie is Princess Mononoke so I did have high expectations; the result was low below the floor. Here are some of my grievances:
A note to this book: you will never be Princess Mononoke. They fucking tried it, but it lacks basically everything that made Princess Mononoke great. There was absolutely no nuance, the messaging was constantly being dropped on my head like an anvil, it was full of unanswered questions and holes, and was crammed (derogatory) with shit that simply couldn’t be well written in a novella format. Actually, I take that back: it could’ve been decently written by a more talented author. Genuinely, this book reminds me of all the college essays I’d pull out of my ass on the due date at 11:59 PM. The messaging is essentially this: man bad. How fucking powerful.
The mc was horrifically stupid and even worse: annoying. I wanted to throttle her for almost the entire book. Worse still, she basically has no character arc. I can tell the author kind of tried, but they just failed. Just pure stupidity, naivety, and foolishness for the better of 200 pages.
If you’re going into this book expecting revenge, you will be very disappointed
Progression and pacing here were poorly done. I don’t care if it’s a novella, you should still be able to properly pace. Progression was either abrupt or simply not there at all. If you want your book full of Dues Ex Machina bullshit, you will be very happy.
The world building was too ambitious for this author’s current talents in this format. I love an ambitious author, but don’t let your ambition usurp your current skills.
To sum up, if I could describe this book in two words I’d say the following: overcrowded and irritating. This book either should have been a novel, or should’ve been explored much further down the road in this author’s career. Princess Mononoke fans you will unfortunately need to look elsewhere (I will take any recs please please). - 2 oversaturated stars
A note to this book: you will never be Princess Mononoke. They fucking tried it, but it lacks basically everything that made Princess Mononoke great. There was absolutely no nuance, the messaging was constantly being dropped on my head like an anvil, it was full of unanswered questions and holes, and was crammed (derogatory) with shit that simply couldn’t be well written in a novella format. Actually, I take that back: it could’ve been decently written by a more talented author. Genuinely, this book reminds me of all the college essays I’d pull out of my ass on the due date at 11:59 PM. The messaging is essentially this: man bad. How fucking powerful.
The mc was horrifically stupid and even worse: annoying. I wanted to throttle her for almost the entire book. Worse still, she basically has no character arc. I can tell the author kind of tried, but they just failed. Just pure stupidity, naivety, and foolishness for the better of 200 pages.
If you’re going into this book expecting revenge, you will be very disappointed
Progression and pacing here were poorly done. I don’t care if it’s a novella, you should still be able to properly pace. Progression was either abrupt or simply not there at all. If you want your book full of Dues Ex Machina bullshit, you will be very happy.
The world building was too ambitious for this author’s current talents in this format. I love an ambitious author, but don’t let your ambition usurp your current skills.
To sum up, if I could describe this book in two words I’d say the following: overcrowded and irritating. This book either should have been a novel, or should’ve been explored much further down the road in this author’s career. Princess Mononoke fans you will unfortunately need to look elsewhere (I will take any recs please please). - 2 oversaturated stars
April 26, 2025
Review originally on JamReads
A Palace Near the Wind is the first novella in the science-fantasy series Natural Engines, written by the promising Ai Jiang, and published by Titan Books. An imaginative story that is equally strange and fascinating, featuring themes such as family, cultural identity and the price of progress, all enveloped with a great worldbuilding and a memorable main character voice.
Lufeng is the eldest daughter of the Feng royalty; tradition marks that she will leave Feng, enter the Palace and marry the human King, as it was done by her sisters and mother before her, in exchange for stopping the expansion of the Palace and the destruction of their homeland for a few years. But Lufeng plans to stop the destruction altogether, and spare her younger sister, Chuiliu, from the destiny of becoming a sacrificial bride; Lufeng plans to kill the King.
Jiang's decision to narrate the story through Lufeng's eyes gives her an amazing opportunity to introduce us to the natural beauty of the Feng, and how it contrasts with the progress and industrialization that is symbolized by the Palace; the whole existence of the Wind Walkers (Feng's race) is to preserve nature, in opposite to how the Palace takes the resources from it and use it on their own benefit (something that is even reflected on the names of the different travellers).
Lufeng is a character bound by tradition, who has a strong determination to protect those she has a bond with them; family is at the center of her values. The shock of going outside of the Feng for a first time also serves as a narrative vehicle to introduce us to the particularities of the Palace in comparison with the Feng.
Lufeng's voice is a bit melancholic and also poetic: she wants to preserve her homeland, but also aspires to break the cycle that is slowly breaking down her family; however, she will also discover that not all of her family shares the same devotion to the cause, as other values are captivating her.
We have a rich worldbuilding, partly resorting to Asian inspiration, but which has a bit of an ethereal sensation because of the particular tone of the book. There's so much packed into this novella, and discovering it is part of the experience; a parallel journey to what Lufeng experiences.
A Palace Near the Wind is an excellent genre-blending novella, starting a duology that aims to explore themes such as pain, grief, family duty and cultural preservation against progress. I'm here to see what Ai Jiang delivers with the second book of Natural Engines, because I'm sure it will be an absolute banger.
A Palace Near the Wind is the first novella in the science-fantasy series Natural Engines, written by the promising Ai Jiang, and published by Titan Books. An imaginative story that is equally strange and fascinating, featuring themes such as family, cultural identity and the price of progress, all enveloped with a great worldbuilding and a memorable main character voice.
Lufeng is the eldest daughter of the Feng royalty; tradition marks that she will leave Feng, enter the Palace and marry the human King, as it was done by her sisters and mother before her, in exchange for stopping the expansion of the Palace and the destruction of their homeland for a few years. But Lufeng plans to stop the destruction altogether, and spare her younger sister, Chuiliu, from the destiny of becoming a sacrificial bride; Lufeng plans to kill the King.
Jiang's decision to narrate the story through Lufeng's eyes gives her an amazing opportunity to introduce us to the natural beauty of the Feng, and how it contrasts with the progress and industrialization that is symbolized by the Palace; the whole existence of the Wind Walkers (Feng's race) is to preserve nature, in opposite to how the Palace takes the resources from it and use it on their own benefit (something that is even reflected on the names of the different travellers).
Lufeng is a character bound by tradition, who has a strong determination to protect those she has a bond with them; family is at the center of her values. The shock of going outside of the Feng for a first time also serves as a narrative vehicle to introduce us to the particularities of the Palace in comparison with the Feng.
Lufeng's voice is a bit melancholic and also poetic: she wants to preserve her homeland, but also aspires to break the cycle that is slowly breaking down her family; however, she will also discover that not all of her family shares the same devotion to the cause, as other values are captivating her.
We have a rich worldbuilding, partly resorting to Asian inspiration, but which has a bit of an ethereal sensation because of the particular tone of the book. There's so much packed into this novella, and discovering it is part of the experience; a parallel journey to what Lufeng experiences.
A Palace Near the Wind is an excellent genre-blending novella, starting a duology that aims to explore themes such as pain, grief, family duty and cultural preservation against progress. I'm here to see what Ai Jiang delivers with the second book of Natural Engines, because I'm sure it will be an absolute banger.
January 21, 2025
I was so very excited for this one! The cover is gorgeous, the description is intriguing and the comps are just SO good. Princess Mononoke is one of my favourite films, after all.
First things first: While there are definitely similarities in theme, this does not come close to Mononoke. It doesn't have to, either. It's nature vs. technology, tradition vs. alleged progress, indigineous people vs. colonizing force.
I really liked Ai Jiang's writing. She writes beautifully, lushly and clearly enjoys playing with words and structures. It was a joy to read. I also liked the world this story is set in and especially how different the peoples are, with our protagonist's people having bark skin, for example.
I do feel like there was a little too much of some things and too little of other things, though.
The writing is beautiful, but also very dense and at times I couldn't really picture what she was describing because the prose got a little too flowery and convoluting. The world building is well done, but the world is simply too big for a short novella, so a lot of it lacks complexity. The characters are, on paper, interesting, especially Lufeng. But there is very little time to actually get to know them so I never really warmed up to any of them and didn't care much for the emotional beats pertaining to them. I think this story would have been so, so much better as a full length novel, with more time spent on developing the world and the characters. The plot also moves at breakneck speed at times because of the format and it felt lacking, empty even.
It's still a beautifully written book with a great setting and interesting premise, I just genuinely think the novella length did it a great disservice. There's too much and at the same time too little to really turn this into more than a three star read - but those three stars are well-deserved.
Many thanks to Titan Books and Netgalley for the arc!
First things first: While there are definitely similarities in theme, this does not come close to Mononoke. It doesn't have to, either. It's nature vs. technology, tradition vs. alleged progress, indigineous people vs. colonizing force.
I really liked Ai Jiang's writing. She writes beautifully, lushly and clearly enjoys playing with words and structures. It was a joy to read. I also liked the world this story is set in and especially how different the peoples are, with our protagonist's people having bark skin, for example.
I do feel like there was a little too much of some things and too little of other things, though.
The writing is beautiful, but also very dense and at times I couldn't really picture what she was describing because the prose got a little too flowery and convoluting. The world building is well done, but the world is simply too big for a short novella, so a lot of it lacks complexity. The characters are, on paper, interesting, especially Lufeng. But there is very little time to actually get to know them so I never really warmed up to any of them and didn't care much for the emotional beats pertaining to them. I think this story would have been so, so much better as a full length novel, with more time spent on developing the world and the characters. The plot also moves at breakneck speed at times because of the format and it felt lacking, empty even.
It's still a beautifully written book with a great setting and interesting premise, I just genuinely think the novella length did it a great disservice. There's too much and at the same time too little to really turn this into more than a three star read - but those three stars are well-deserved.
Many thanks to Titan Books and Netgalley for the arc!
January 25, 2025
ꕤ◞Thank you, NetGalley, for providing a free ARC in exchange for an honest review!
𝔄 𝔭𝔞𝔩𝔞𝔠𝔢 𝔫𝔢𝔞𝔯 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔴𝔦𝔫𝔡┆☆☆☆┆08.04.25
ꕤ ˚. ⌒ “𝔉𝔬𝔯 𝔐𝔬𝔱𝔥𝔢𝔯 𝔑𝔞𝔱𝔲𝔯𝔢 𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔞𝔩𝔩 𝔥𝔢𝔯 𝔲𝔫𝔴𝔦𝔩𝔩𝔦𝔫𝔤 𝔰𝔞𝔠𝔯𝔦𝔣𝔦𝔠𝔢𝔰”
⚔️ ✩◞⸝⸝ i. : summary
Liu Lufeng is the eldest princess of the Feng royalty, people who live in the clouds and are known as Winwalkers.
She is the next bride, the next sacrifice, to the human king following her sisters and mother.
This wedding gives her people more time to stop the expansion of the humans so that the Feng can keep their lands, people, and culture intact from the crass and cruel Land Wanderers.
Lufeng desperate to return home, to save her mother and sisters, to kill the King if she has to. This is a story about having to learn, unlearn, and relearn everything you think you know. A repositioning of your world view.
💌 ◞ ⸝⸝ ii. : my thoughts
i. the cover and the description of the book is one of the reasons i applied for this e-arc. the cover is absolutely ethereal and really sticks out because of the multi-cultural nature and aspect.
ii. I loved the whole theme of nature VS technology that appeared on the first half, but I will admit that towards the end of the novella, the ending seemed a bit rushed and speed-written.
iii. the setting of the novella was ethereal, elegant and empyreal towards the feng culture and you see glimpses of this through the cover and the detailed descriptions of the feng world and people.
✧◞ ”𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔉𝔢𝔫𝔤 𝔭𝔢𝔬𝔭𝔩𝔢 𝔥𝔞𝔳𝔢 𝔟𝔞𝔯𝔨 𝔣𝔞𝔠𝔢𝔰, 𝔠𝔞𝔯𝔳𝔢𝔡 𝔩𝔦𝔪𝔟𝔰, 𝔞𝔯𝔪𝔰 𝔬𝔣 𝔟𝔯𝔞𝔦𝔡𝔢𝔡 𝔟𝔯𝔞𝔫𝔠𝔥𝔢𝔰, 𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔥𝔞𝔦𝔯 𝔬𝔣 𝔫𝔢𝔢𝔡𝔩𝔢 𝔱𝔥𝔯𝔢𝔞𝔡𝔰”.
iv. I did feel slightly disconnected with the characters, but with such a short page count due to it being a novella, this is to be expected. Overall, I really enjoyed this novella and can’t await to read the second novella to the Duology.
✩◞⸝⸝ iii. : tropes/ categories:
⊹ sci-fi / fantasy (sci-fantasy).
⊹ multi-cultural interest and nature.
⊹ nature vs technology.
⊹ steampunk v nature concept.
⊹ princess mononoke vibes.
⊹ low fantasy.
💐 ✧◞ iv : author
⊹ writing style:
ꕤ ˚. ⌒ i absolutely loved her literature writing style, it was easy to comprehend and imagine. her writing style was elegant and smoothly written the first 100 pages but like stated above, her writing started becoming rushed in the last 20-30 pages which was disappointing as i felt her writing style was engaging me into the story and the world-building. overall, I will definitely be reading more literature novels and novella’s by Ai Jiang.
⊹ other books of hers:
ꕤ ˚. ⌒
A palace near the wind┆☆☆☆.
Linghun┆ghost suspense novella┆tbr.
I am AI┆sci-fi novelette┆tbr.
🎧 ✧◞ v : playlist
⊹ back to black ; Amy Winehouse.
⊹ west coat ; Lana Del Ray.
⊹ love story ; Indila.
⊹ salvatore; Lana Del Ray.
⊹ young & beautiful (orchestral ) ; Lana Del Ray.
ᝰ.ᐟ⊹ ࣪ ˖ ── ᝰ.ᐟ⊹ ࣪ ˖ ── ᝰ.ᐟ⊹ ࣪ ˖ ── ᝰ.ᐟ⊹ ࣪ ˖
🌬️ | pre - read
☞ started : 25.01.25
⠀⠀⤿ this is a short novella in an upcoming duology. this book is between 100-125 pages so perfect for a short read.
𝔄 𝔭𝔞𝔩𝔞𝔠𝔢 𝔫𝔢𝔞𝔯 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔴𝔦𝔫𝔡┆☆☆☆┆08.04.25
ꕤ ˚. ⌒ “𝔉𝔬𝔯 𝔐𝔬𝔱𝔥𝔢𝔯 𝔑𝔞𝔱𝔲𝔯𝔢 𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔞𝔩𝔩 𝔥𝔢𝔯 𝔲𝔫𝔴𝔦𝔩𝔩𝔦𝔫𝔤 𝔰𝔞𝔠𝔯𝔦𝔣𝔦𝔠𝔢𝔰”
⚔️ ✩◞⸝⸝ i. : summary
Liu Lufeng is the eldest princess of the Feng royalty, people who live in the clouds and are known as Winwalkers.
She is the next bride, the next sacrifice, to the human king following her sisters and mother.
This wedding gives her people more time to stop the expansion of the humans so that the Feng can keep their lands, people, and culture intact from the crass and cruel Land Wanderers.
Lufeng desperate to return home, to save her mother and sisters, to kill the King if she has to. This is a story about having to learn, unlearn, and relearn everything you think you know. A repositioning of your world view.
💌 ◞ ⸝⸝ ii. : my thoughts
i. the cover and the description of the book is one of the reasons i applied for this e-arc. the cover is absolutely ethereal and really sticks out because of the multi-cultural nature and aspect.
ii. I loved the whole theme of nature VS technology that appeared on the first half, but I will admit that towards the end of the novella, the ending seemed a bit rushed and speed-written.
iii. the setting of the novella was ethereal, elegant and empyreal towards the feng culture and you see glimpses of this through the cover and the detailed descriptions of the feng world and people.
✧◞ ”𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔉𝔢𝔫𝔤 𝔭𝔢𝔬𝔭𝔩𝔢 𝔥𝔞𝔳𝔢 𝔟𝔞𝔯𝔨 𝔣𝔞𝔠𝔢𝔰, 𝔠𝔞𝔯𝔳𝔢𝔡 𝔩𝔦𝔪𝔟𝔰, 𝔞𝔯𝔪𝔰 𝔬𝔣 𝔟𝔯𝔞𝔦𝔡𝔢𝔡 𝔟𝔯𝔞𝔫𝔠𝔥𝔢𝔰, 𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔥𝔞𝔦𝔯 𝔬𝔣 𝔫𝔢𝔢𝔡𝔩𝔢 𝔱𝔥𝔯𝔢𝔞𝔡𝔰”.
iv. I did feel slightly disconnected with the characters, but with such a short page count due to it being a novella, this is to be expected. Overall, I really enjoyed this novella and can’t await to read the second novella to the Duology.
✩◞⸝⸝ iii. : tropes/ categories:
⊹ sci-fi / fantasy (sci-fantasy).
⊹ multi-cultural interest and nature.
⊹ nature vs technology.
⊹ steampunk v nature concept.
⊹ princess mononoke vibes.
⊹ low fantasy.
💐 ✧◞ iv : author
⊹ writing style:
ꕤ ˚. ⌒ i absolutely loved her literature writing style, it was easy to comprehend and imagine. her writing style was elegant and smoothly written the first 100 pages but like stated above, her writing started becoming rushed in the last 20-30 pages which was disappointing as i felt her writing style was engaging me into the story and the world-building. overall, I will definitely be reading more literature novels and novella’s by Ai Jiang.
⊹ other books of hers:
ꕤ ˚. ⌒
A palace near the wind┆☆☆☆.
Linghun┆ghost suspense novella┆tbr.
I am AI┆sci-fi novelette┆tbr.
🎧 ✧◞ v : playlist
⊹ back to black ; Amy Winehouse.
⊹ west coat ; Lana Del Ray.
⊹ love story ; Indila.
⊹ salvatore; Lana Del Ray.
⊹ young & beautiful (orchestral ) ; Lana Del Ray.
ᝰ.ᐟ⊹ ࣪ ˖ ── ᝰ.ᐟ⊹ ࣪ ˖ ── ᝰ.ᐟ⊹ ࣪ ˖ ── ᝰ.ᐟ⊹ ࣪ ˖
🌬️ | pre - read
☞ started : 25.01.25
⠀⠀⤿ this is a short novella in an upcoming duology. this book is between 100-125 pages so perfect for a short read.
April 21, 2025
Two years ago I read an interesting little novelette by Ai Jiang and was intrigued. Now I’ve got a review copy of A Palace Near the Wind courtesy NetGalley, and I remain intrigued. Jiang once again harnesses her incredible talent for descriptive prose and layers atop that an impressive, tender style of characterization. I wanted to like this more than I did—and will explain why I didn’t—but I did like it quite a bit.
Liu Lufeng is the eldest princess of the Feng, a people made from bark and who live more or less harmoniously with the natural world. The Land Walkers (ordinary humans, near as I can tell) encroach upon the forests of Feng with their Travellers and engines and other machinery. Only the marriages of Lufeng’s sisters and mother to the King has delayed further encroachment. Now it’s Lufeng’s turn—except she is about to discover there are far more secrets to this agreement than she could ever realize.
The first thing you’ll notice is how immediately Jiang creates a strikingly different world from ours. Lufeng is, of course, somewhat alien to us in how she lives, from her custom to her very being—the Feng walk on the wind. Yet even the human characters in this story feel utterly alien as well, with names like Copper and Tin. There is precious little familiar to grasp on to—in a good way. I loved how Jiang slowly reveals this world to us piece by piece as sheltered Lufeng explores and questions everything.
The reader must do the same thing. On its surface, A Palace Near the Wind is obviously a book about colonialism, extraction-based capitalism, industralization, etc. If you stop there, however, you will miss some deeper motifs. Family, and the tensions caused by family members embracing different ideologies, is another somewhat obvious one. Deep down, however, I think this novella is trying to say something about the knife’s edge between guile and cynicism.
Lufeng at the beginning of this story is guileless and, if not innocent, quite gullible. She learns quickly. She starts to develop guile and the ability to dissemble, and she soon plots escapes and betrayals. Yet the people around her constantly tempt her with the opportunity to nope out, to take the easy way out, to join them or at the very list stop opposing them, and in return, her life will be set.
This is a book about why we choose the struggle when evil uses every tool at its disposal to tell us that struggle is pointless or profitless.
For some reason—I honestly cannot explain why—this book reminds me of The Wizard of Oz. There is something of the Wizard in the King. There is something of Oz and its wider landscape in this world. I make this comparison favourably, mind.
My major criticism is simply that I wish this were a full-throated novel rather than the first novella in a … trilogy? Duology? Some kind of series. The story builds and builds and ends on a semi-cliffhanger that is … fine. But I think it takes some of the wind out of the story’s sails, if you will. I liked this story but not enough to be hungry for the sequel, whereas if it were a novel, I feel like I’d be more satisfied when I reached the conclusion. Or maybe not!
Points for originality and beautiful writing, along with an interesting exploration of themes.
Originally posted on Kara.Reviews.
Liu Lufeng is the eldest princess of the Feng, a people made from bark and who live more or less harmoniously with the natural world. The Land Walkers (ordinary humans, near as I can tell) encroach upon the forests of Feng with their Travellers and engines and other machinery. Only the marriages of Lufeng’s sisters and mother to the King has delayed further encroachment. Now it’s Lufeng’s turn—except she is about to discover there are far more secrets to this agreement than she could ever realize.
The first thing you’ll notice is how immediately Jiang creates a strikingly different world from ours. Lufeng is, of course, somewhat alien to us in how she lives, from her custom to her very being—the Feng walk on the wind. Yet even the human characters in this story feel utterly alien as well, with names like Copper and Tin. There is precious little familiar to grasp on to—in a good way. I loved how Jiang slowly reveals this world to us piece by piece as sheltered Lufeng explores and questions everything.
The reader must do the same thing. On its surface, A Palace Near the Wind is obviously a book about colonialism, extraction-based capitalism, industralization, etc. If you stop there, however, you will miss some deeper motifs. Family, and the tensions caused by family members embracing different ideologies, is another somewhat obvious one. Deep down, however, I think this novella is trying to say something about the knife’s edge between guile and cynicism.
Lufeng at the beginning of this story is guileless and, if not innocent, quite gullible. She learns quickly. She starts to develop guile and the ability to dissemble, and she soon plots escapes and betrayals. Yet the people around her constantly tempt her with the opportunity to nope out, to take the easy way out, to join them or at the very list stop opposing them, and in return, her life will be set.
This is a book about why we choose the struggle when evil uses every tool at its disposal to tell us that struggle is pointless or profitless.
For some reason—I honestly cannot explain why—this book reminds me of The Wizard of Oz. There is something of the Wizard in the King. There is something of Oz and its wider landscape in this world. I make this comparison favourably, mind.
My major criticism is simply that I wish this were a full-throated novel rather than the first novella in a … trilogy? Duology? Some kind of series. The story builds and builds and ends on a semi-cliffhanger that is … fine. But I think it takes some of the wind out of the story’s sails, if you will. I liked this story but not enough to be hungry for the sequel, whereas if it were a novel, I feel like I’d be more satisfied when I reached the conclusion. Or maybe not!
Points for originality and beautiful writing, along with an interesting exploration of themes.
Originally posted on Kara.Reviews.
April 13, 2025
3.5
I confess I picked this novel out because of the beautiful cover. I'm not really a fantasy fan but often find the sweeping nature of them interesting. It's always nice to sink your teeth into a series.
As this is the first of a series I'd expected quite a lot more explanation but we're thrown in at the deep end beginning with the joining of Feng of the Wind Walkers to the King. Previously her mother and younger sisters have all been married to the King and Feng has no knowledge if they are still alive in the Palace the King inhabits.
There are lots of strands to this story which will no doubt, be explained and evolve through the series. It isn't always easy to say if you'll like it from the first one as there is usually a lot of scene setting.
So you should know that there are lots of different peoples who have different skills. The Wind Walkers which Feng comes from appear to be the hardest hit, having to make alliances with the King to prevent their land being destroyed.
There are quite a few twists in this first novel and the writing is good. It's not a long book so just enough to whet your appetite. I enjoyed it despite not being a particular fan of the genre.
Thankyou to Netgalley and Titan Books for the advance review copy.
I confess I picked this novel out because of the beautiful cover. I'm not really a fantasy fan but often find the sweeping nature of them interesting. It's always nice to sink your teeth into a series.
As this is the first of a series I'd expected quite a lot more explanation but we're thrown in at the deep end beginning with the joining of Feng of the Wind Walkers to the King. Previously her mother and younger sisters have all been married to the King and Feng has no knowledge if they are still alive in the Palace the King inhabits.
There are lots of strands to this story which will no doubt, be explained and evolve through the series. It isn't always easy to say if you'll like it from the first one as there is usually a lot of scene setting.
So you should know that there are lots of different peoples who have different skills. The Wind Walkers which Feng comes from appear to be the hardest hit, having to make alliances with the King to prevent their land being destroyed.
There are quite a few twists in this first novel and the writing is good. It's not a long book so just enough to whet your appetite. I enjoyed it despite not being a particular fan of the genre.
Thankyou to Netgalley and Titan Books for the advance review copy.
April 4, 2025
In Ai Jiang's latest novella, a Palace Near The Wind, we follow Liu Lufeng who is one of the Fang, sometimes called the Wind People, a race with bark-like skin, hair like pine needles and a deep connection with nature, able to harness the wind itself. Following the path of her mother and two sisters, Lufeng is to be traded as a bride to a human king in exchange for a promise: that their forests remain untouched by the creeping reach of human “progress” a little longer. But unlike her predecessors, Lufeng carries a hidden mission; she’s not going to marry the king. She’s going to kill him and end the cycle once and for all.
A Palace Near The Wind touches on some of my favorite themes, like, family, tradition, progress, and the tension between old ways and new technology. The world Jiang builds is full of promise: unique races, intriguing magic, layered cultures, and simmering political tensions. But that’s also where my frustration lies. There just isn’t enough room to explore any of it in depth.
At just under 200 pages, the novella feels like it’s racing through a world that deserves more time. The worldbuilding is intriguing but surface-level, and the family at the heart of the story, aside from Lufeng, feels underdeveloped. Their dynamics, history, and emotional weight are hinted at, but not given the time to develop. The same goes for the larger conflicts. You can feel them stirring underneath, but they don’t have space to fully take form.
This isn’t to say it isn’t worth reading, far from it. Jiang’s writing is beautiful, and I remain intrigued by the world she’s building. I suspect (and hope) that the second installment in the Natural Engines duology will delve deeper, offering the space this story deserves to breathe and unfold.
Ultimately, A Palace Near The Wind feels like the prologue to something greater. It hints at big ideas, rich emotions, and powerful questions, but it doesn’t quite deliver the depth or satisfaction it seems to promise. I’ll absolutely be reading the next book, with the hope that it builds upon this foundation in a way that brings it all to life.
While I admire Ai Jiang’s work and will undoubtedly continue with this series, A Palace Near The Wind left me feeling a little underwhelmed compared to her previous books. That said, Jiang’s prose remains as lyrical and evocative as ever—her way with language is one of the reasons I return to her stories again and again.
A Palace Near The Wind touches on some of my favorite themes, like, family, tradition, progress, and the tension between old ways and new technology. The world Jiang builds is full of promise: unique races, intriguing magic, layered cultures, and simmering political tensions. But that’s also where my frustration lies. There just isn’t enough room to explore any of it in depth.
At just under 200 pages, the novella feels like it’s racing through a world that deserves more time. The worldbuilding is intriguing but surface-level, and the family at the heart of the story, aside from Lufeng, feels underdeveloped. Their dynamics, history, and emotional weight are hinted at, but not given the time to develop. The same goes for the larger conflicts. You can feel them stirring underneath, but they don’t have space to fully take form.
This isn’t to say it isn’t worth reading, far from it. Jiang’s writing is beautiful, and I remain intrigued by the world she’s building. I suspect (and hope) that the second installment in the Natural Engines duology will delve deeper, offering the space this story deserves to breathe and unfold.
Ultimately, A Palace Near The Wind feels like the prologue to something greater. It hints at big ideas, rich emotions, and powerful questions, but it doesn’t quite deliver the depth or satisfaction it seems to promise. I’ll absolutely be reading the next book, with the hope that it builds upon this foundation in a way that brings it all to life.
While I admire Ai Jiang’s work and will undoubtedly continue with this series, A Palace Near The Wind left me feeling a little underwhelmed compared to her previous books. That said, Jiang’s prose remains as lyrical and evocative as ever—her way with language is one of the reasons I return to her stories again and again.
April 12, 2025
Wind Walkers live in the forest land of Feng, and can command the wind. They are ruled by humans, but chafe under this situation. Each daughter of the current generation has been sent off as a sacrifice to marry the human ruler, and the current eldest daughter and princess, Liu Lufeng, is next in line to be married. Lufeng worries about the youngest sister, Chuiliu, and does not want her to suffer the same fates as Lufeng and the other, elder sisters.
These sacrificial marriages are intended to halt the progress of the human world towards Feng. Already, too much land has been taken by humans and ruined due to industry. Lufeng longs for Feng to be free and safe, and plans to murder the human king once she is in his palace.
Once she arrives, Lufeng begins to learn that much of what she has been taught in Feng about the human groups is not necessarily true, or complete.
Author Ai Jiang's writing is gorgeous and the imagery she conjures with her words is vivid. The people of Feng are humanoid beings made of wood, and one can feel the pleasure Lufeng derives from walking barefoot on the earth.
At the same time, Jiang's prose in this novella is styled more like that of a fable, even while the author tells us of the indescribable damage of the land due to development, and the consequent pain and loss felt by Feng. I liked also the hints of the other human cities/settlements such as Engine, and Clay, and the politics amongst them.
At the same time, I felt that I did not fully understand the characters and their motives, beyond the humans wanting to gobble up all the resources they could. I suspect there is more nuance that hopefully is provided in the next entry.
The pacing is on the slow side, and while I loved all the worldbuilding with Jiang's gorgeous prose, I was still left a little puzzled as to several details. The ending is open, so do not expect a resolution to Feng's situation in this first book of this series.
At the same time, I was intrigued, and entertained, and look forward to the continuation of Lufeng's story.
Thank you to Netgalley and Titan Books for this ARC in exchange for my review.
These sacrificial marriages are intended to halt the progress of the human world towards Feng. Already, too much land has been taken by humans and ruined due to industry. Lufeng longs for Feng to be free and safe, and plans to murder the human king once she is in his palace.
Once she arrives, Lufeng begins to learn that much of what she has been taught in Feng about the human groups is not necessarily true, or complete.
Author Ai Jiang's writing is gorgeous and the imagery she conjures with her words is vivid. The people of Feng are humanoid beings made of wood, and one can feel the pleasure Lufeng derives from walking barefoot on the earth.
At the same time, Jiang's prose in this novella is styled more like that of a fable, even while the author tells us of the indescribable damage of the land due to development, and the consequent pain and loss felt by Feng. I liked also the hints of the other human cities/settlements such as Engine, and Clay, and the politics amongst them.
At the same time, I felt that I did not fully understand the characters and their motives, beyond the humans wanting to gobble up all the resources they could. I suspect there is more nuance that hopefully is provided in the next entry.
The pacing is on the slow side, and while I loved all the worldbuilding with Jiang's gorgeous prose, I was still left a little puzzled as to several details. The ending is open, so do not expect a resolution to Feng's situation in this first book of this series.
At the same time, I was intrigued, and entertained, and look forward to the continuation of Lufeng's story.
Thank you to Netgalley and Titan Books for this ARC in exchange for my review.
November 30, 2024
I’m just living for the fantasies that mix weird with whimsy. Review to come! 🏯
(FINAL REVIEW:)
A little note: I signed up for and was sent an eARC from the author, and this in no way influenced my feelings and thoughts on the novella. Now on to the review! 🍃
I’m just loving the rise in books that I would like to label as weirdly whimsy. After reading The West Passage and The Dollmaker earlier this year, this novella is joining the ranks in this odd but wonderful genre. I’ve come to love this vibe so much that if these were made into an animated movie or TV series, I would DEVOUR it. ❤️
The story follows Lufeng, a tree-like being called a Wind Walker, who is forced to go through an arranged marriage in order to keep her people and land, Feng, safe from the encroaching Land Wanderer’s building called the Palace. What follows in a short 200 pages is a scheme that Lufeng comes to realize is much bigger and more complex than she ever realized. As an elder sister and oldest daughter, I get Lufeng’s situation. She’s got so many expectations thrusted onto her but finds that no matter what she does, she can never live up to them. While very quick to learn new things and quite adaptable (much to her horror), I found her a little naive here and there and maybe a bit too trusting at times. 🌳
The world itself is complex and it’s the kind of story where you really need to trust the process more so than waiting for explanations to be given. I’m very excited to see where the sequel is going to go in the story and world and can’t wait to see the other characters mentioned in the novella! ⚙️
Big thank you goes out to the author, Jiang, for sending this eARC in the first place. I had a great time reading and can’t wait for the sequel!
Publication date: April 8!
Overall: 4.5/5 ⭐️
(FINAL REVIEW:)
A little note: I signed up for and was sent an eARC from the author, and this in no way influenced my feelings and thoughts on the novella. Now on to the review! 🍃
I’m just loving the rise in books that I would like to label as weirdly whimsy. After reading The West Passage and The Dollmaker earlier this year, this novella is joining the ranks in this odd but wonderful genre. I’ve come to love this vibe so much that if these were made into an animated movie or TV series, I would DEVOUR it. ❤️
The story follows Lufeng, a tree-like being called a Wind Walker, who is forced to go through an arranged marriage in order to keep her people and land, Feng, safe from the encroaching Land Wanderer’s building called the Palace. What follows in a short 200 pages is a scheme that Lufeng comes to realize is much bigger and more complex than she ever realized. As an elder sister and oldest daughter, I get Lufeng’s situation. She’s got so many expectations thrusted onto her but finds that no matter what she does, she can never live up to them. While very quick to learn new things and quite adaptable (much to her horror), I found her a little naive here and there and maybe a bit too trusting at times. 🌳
The world itself is complex and it’s the kind of story where you really need to trust the process more so than waiting for explanations to be given. I’m very excited to see where the sequel is going to go in the story and world and can’t wait to see the other characters mentioned in the novella! ⚙️
Big thank you goes out to the author, Jiang, for sending this eARC in the first place. I had a great time reading and can’t wait for the sequel!
Publication date: April 8!
Overall: 4.5/5 ⭐️
December 16, 2024
I loved Ai Jiang's Linghun, a quiet horror novella about grief. So, when I saw she had a new novella coming out, I was excited, even though fantasy isn’t usually my genre. Unfortunately, I didn’t find this one particularly enjoyable.
A Palace Near the Wind follows Liu Lufeng, the eldest princess of Feng, as she is negotiated away to become the new bride of the human King—just like her mother and sister before her. The story traces her journey to the Palace, where she seeks to find her family and plan her escape.
The book is full of layered plots—plots within plots within plots. I found the contrast between nature, tradition, and duty in Feng and the modernity, technology, and written contracts of the human Palace to be fascinating. The world-building was stunning, and the writing had a beautiful, poetic quality.
However, the characters felt flat and lifeless. At one point, Feng laments that she’s tired of being led everywhere, which perfectly sums up the story: Feng constantly moved from place to place without any real agency, she was like a pinball. The ending was also somewhat predictable (Geyser's background, for example. I think Feng was the only one surprised about that). I really wanted to like this book, but overall, it felt dull and unengaging.
And now please laugh at me, but every time she got called "Lady Liu" my brain read "Lucy Liu."
I received this ARC for free. This has not impacted my review.
A Palace Near the Wind follows Liu Lufeng, the eldest princess of Feng, as she is negotiated away to become the new bride of the human King—just like her mother and sister before her. The story traces her journey to the Palace, where she seeks to find her family and plan her escape.
The book is full of layered plots—plots within plots within plots. I found the contrast between nature, tradition, and duty in Feng and the modernity, technology, and written contracts of the human Palace to be fascinating. The world-building was stunning, and the writing had a beautiful, poetic quality.
However, the characters felt flat and lifeless. At one point, Feng laments that she’s tired of being led everywhere, which perfectly sums up the story: Feng constantly moved from place to place without any real agency, she was like a pinball. The ending was also somewhat predictable (Geyser's background, for example. I think Feng was the only one surprised about that). I really wanted to like this book, but overall, it felt dull and unengaging.
And now please laugh at me, but every time she got called "Lady Liu" my brain read "Lucy Liu."
I received this ARC for free. This has not impacted my review.
March 17, 2025
3.5
A Palace Near the Winds is a lush, fantastical and imaginative exploration of nature versus technology and the dangers of progress and modernization without thought. Following Liu Lufeng, a princess and part of the Wind Walkers who peacefully coexist in nature, as she becomes the next bride for the human king and enters into the Palace intent on killing the king. However, in the Palace, Lufeng realizes things are not what they seem and that the secret to her people’s existence lies at the centre of this strange new world she finds herself trapped in.
While I thought that Jiang’s prose was beautifully crafted and poetic, the overall structure and execution of this novella seemed to bring down the otherwise great writing and ideas. Perhaps it is due to the shorter nature of a novella, but Lufeng’s character development seemed rushed as many plot points and twists only happened near the last third of the story and made it hard as a reader to actually understand and connect the decision she makes in the latter half. While I am anticipating the second installment to this series, there does seem to be a bit of confusion that I wish to see solved and explored, particularly with the other Feng family members.
Thank you to the author and Titan Books for providing an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts in this review are my own.
A Palace Near the Winds is a lush, fantastical and imaginative exploration of nature versus technology and the dangers of progress and modernization without thought. Following Liu Lufeng, a princess and part of the Wind Walkers who peacefully coexist in nature, as she becomes the next bride for the human king and enters into the Palace intent on killing the king. However, in the Palace, Lufeng realizes things are not what they seem and that the secret to her people’s existence lies at the centre of this strange new world she finds herself trapped in.
While I thought that Jiang’s prose was beautifully crafted and poetic, the overall structure and execution of this novella seemed to bring down the otherwise great writing and ideas. Perhaps it is due to the shorter nature of a novella, but Lufeng’s character development seemed rushed as many plot points and twists only happened near the last third of the story and made it hard as a reader to actually understand and connect the decision she makes in the latter half. While I am anticipating the second installment to this series, there does seem to be a bit of confusion that I wish to see solved and explored, particularly with the other Feng family members.
Thank you to the author and Titan Books for providing an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts in this review are my own.
September 23, 2025
So otherworldly enchanting, I loved the worldbuilding and how it combined a fantasy-adventure with sci and fable-like ecological theme— interestingly crafted from the characters to the premise that interlaced the clash in between a natural world and industrial/colonial with a tale of one’s survival, identity, power and sacrifices.
Liu Lufeng, a princess of the Feng royalty bound by duty and tradition to be the next bride for the human king. Born as the Wind Walkers with bark faces, braided branches arms and hair of needle threads living within the natural world, her people now under threat due to destruction and human expansion. With the missing of her mother and sisters, Lufeng has uncovered the truth about her people and struck a plan to kill the king. As her rebellion took a toll with a betrayal episode, Lufeng has to choose her allies and risk the unknown to free her family as well her own fate.
Loved how it jumped right into the conflict with fascinating lore on its characterization— from the Wind Walkers who can borrow wind for travel to Water Shifters, Desert Treaders and how the characters’ names like Copper and Zinc who crave for industrial greed represent the Land Wanderers and Granite came from the deserts of Clay. It engrossed me to Lufeng’s mission and way she would unravel the political madness, on the weight of responsibility and familial loyalty while reconnecting with her sister, Sanshu who turned as rebellious as her.
It was tense and probably as this is a novella, the tone felt rush with a fast pacing tension and fairly intriguing emotional depth. Writing was atmospheric and easy to delve into, also engaging much to see how the author crafted her tribute to nature and humanity in an evocative cultural erasure premise. I was curious of how the last chapter unfolds the capability of Changqing; Lufeng’s little brother and way the twist and mystery would go soon after. Enjoyably inventive overall, can’t wait for the next Natural Engines to be published next year! 4/5*
**I like the dedication page at the front: “For Mother Nature and all her unwilling sacrifices.”
(review copy courtesy of Pansing Distribution, thank you! )
Liu Lufeng, a princess of the Feng royalty bound by duty and tradition to be the next bride for the human king. Born as the Wind Walkers with bark faces, braided branches arms and hair of needle threads living within the natural world, her people now under threat due to destruction and human expansion. With the missing of her mother and sisters, Lufeng has uncovered the truth about her people and struck a plan to kill the king. As her rebellion took a toll with a betrayal episode, Lufeng has to choose her allies and risk the unknown to free her family as well her own fate.
Loved how it jumped right into the conflict with fascinating lore on its characterization— from the Wind Walkers who can borrow wind for travel to Water Shifters, Desert Treaders and how the characters’ names like Copper and Zinc who crave for industrial greed represent the Land Wanderers and Granite came from the deserts of Clay. It engrossed me to Lufeng’s mission and way she would unravel the political madness, on the weight of responsibility and familial loyalty while reconnecting with her sister, Sanshu who turned as rebellious as her.
It was tense and probably as this is a novella, the tone felt rush with a fast pacing tension and fairly intriguing emotional depth. Writing was atmospheric and easy to delve into, also engaging much to see how the author crafted her tribute to nature and humanity in an evocative cultural erasure premise. I was curious of how the last chapter unfolds the capability of Changqing; Lufeng’s little brother and way the twist and mystery would go soon after. Enjoyably inventive overall, can’t wait for the next Natural Engines to be published next year! 4/5*
**I like the dedication page at the front: “For Mother Nature and all her unwilling sacrifices.”
(review copy courtesy of Pansing Distribution, thank you! )
February 26, 2025
The cover totally drew me in and on this occasion I didn’t feel the cover connected with the story. The writing style was fantastic, I loved the concept of the plot, but I really wanted more. More world building, more character development, more story. Why this was kept as a novella, I wouldn’t know, I would have loved it to have been just a bit longer so it completely encapsulated me. Three stars because there was so much potential. I would definitely recommend but I was a little sad it was over so quickly.
Big thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ARC
Big thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ARC
March 14, 2025
An interesting concept, executed in quite a heavy handed way. I don’t think the short novella form lends itself to this story because it’s such ambitious world building and I felt like it needed much more time dedicated to how this world functions.
It reads very Nature Good Technology Bad in a way that kind of hits the reader over the head with it, I wish it was a bit more subtle in the delivery of the central themes. That being said I enjoyed the commentary on colonialism and the evils of consumerism/wealthy totalitarian oligarchy, and I’m excited for book two which will hopefully expand on everything much more!
Thank you to Titan Books and NetGalley for the ARC
It reads very Nature Good Technology Bad in a way that kind of hits the reader over the head with it, I wish it was a bit more subtle in the delivery of the central themes. That being said I enjoyed the commentary on colonialism and the evils of consumerism/wealthy totalitarian oligarchy, and I’m excited for book two which will hopefully expand on everything much more!
Thank you to Titan Books and NetGalley for the ARC
April 14, 2025
⋆˙⟡ — incoherent review:
4.5 ★ beautiful writing, insane world building, and characters, and i am so incredibly lost (just like our fengfeng), and wow, i am ready to find my answers!! i need the next book stat!!! full rtc
4.5 ★ beautiful writing, insane world building, and characters, and i am so incredibly lost (just like our fengfeng), and wow, i am ready to find my answers!! i need the next book stat!!! full rtc
May 3, 2025
This book desperately needed more pages. It’s a full novel that just took out any lore or character building and gave us cliffs notes. I don’t get it. I don’t get why the oldest daughter was given over last, I don’t get the set up of this world, I don’t get the magic system, I don’t get the family set up. I just don’t get it. I really liked the authors other novel but I was struggling to finish this book when I only had 40 more minutes left on the ebook…
None of the character beats worked for me. I don’t feel attached to any of the characters and find the MC really bland and uninteresting. I had hope when I started as the world set up felt promising but we do nothing with it. I don’t understand the purpose behind making this a novella, either make it a short story or build it out, because what we’re left with now is an underwritten and underwhelming kernel of an idea.
Really sad I didn’t like it more and won’t be continuing the series because I think the potential was there.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
None of the character beats worked for me. I don’t feel attached to any of the characters and find the MC really bland and uninteresting. I had hope when I started as the world set up felt promising but we do nothing with it. I don’t understand the purpose behind making this a novella, either make it a short story or build it out, because what we’re left with now is an underwritten and underwhelming kernel of an idea.
Really sad I didn’t like it more and won’t be continuing the series because I think the potential was there.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
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