LOTUS, MUD BLADE: A Tale of Romantic Sacrifice

by Kohōpeh

"Readers who enjoy historical fiction and tragic romance in the classic literary style will adore this, as I have. Very highly recommended."
— Readers Favorites, ⭐⭐⭐⭐

To win the heart of a prince, one warrior offers her beautiful face, while another sacrifices her soul. Must one of them die to save the other two?

In the blood-soaked mud of the 16th-century borderlands, one woman’s wit is sharper than her blade—but neither can save her from a love built on a lie.

Moo Hring is the finest duelist in Vimaya, a warrior-poet with a tongue like a razor and a heart hidden behind a face the court mocks. She has spent her life in the shadows, nursing a secret love for Prince Preah Ponhea Chan—the only man who understands the power of a verse.

But the Prince’s eyes are for Sorya, a stunning recruit who lacks the words to match his passion. Moo Hring makes a devastating pact: she will ghostwrite Sorya’s declarations of love. She will pour her soul into the words that will win the Prince for another woman.

As the Ayutthayan army closes in, the delicate dance of the court is shattered by the brutal rhythm of swords. Forced onto the frontlines, Moo Hring must navigate a landscape of shifting loyalties and deadly swamps. Every letter she writes is a stay of execution for her heart, but as the war demands a final sacrifice, the truth can no longer be hidden in ink.

In the tradition of The Song of Achilles and She Who Became the Sun, Lotus, Mud, Blade is a lyrical, heartbreaking retelling of Cyrano de Bergerac where the stakes are as sharp as a blade and the confession is written in blood.

161 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 15, 2026

About the author

Kohōpeh is an award-winning author based in South-East Asia. Their historical and science fiction explores the intersections of linguistics, systemic power, and human autonomy. Currently, Kohōpeh splits their time between querying a novel set in Shōgun-era Japan, finalizing a novella, adapting Thai oral tales, and researching times and locales for several new books.

Reviews

[ze Sloth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is well written and I appreciated the glossary available on the author's website. I would have preferred if the translation of some words were in the footnotes to pages, a glossary in the book, or at the end of the chapter like translators will do. Maybe something similar for all of the characters would be nice since it felt like there were 10 new characters being introduced every chapter and it was getting harder to keep track of each and everyone of them.

The story itself is very rich in culture and I felt immersed in the story though I would have preferred more description of the imagery. As I was reading, I could tell that certain scenes were set in very involved (?) (I can't think of the proper word but sort of that very culturally rich feeling that requires a bit more detail for those who are not as familiar) and felt that I needed a bit more to complete the image in my mind.

I will admit that at some points I was confused as to what was going on because there was always something going on which is a double sided coin. On one hand there was never a dull moment. On the other hand, it felt mildly overwhelming and it felt like I was constantly missing something.

All in all it was a fun read with many witty characters and a feeling as if this was a window into the past time filled with many shenanigans. I have a tendency to make notes as I read books and my first note was "this would make a fun musical or play" which I believe another reviewer also wrote.

Edit: I just found out that this is a retelling of Cyrano de Bergerac, a french story about a guy with a big nose so it now makes a lot more sense why there was such a focus on Moo Hring's nose.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Julia Nolan]

So, on the one hand, I absolutely LOVED how immersive the world of "Lotus, Mud, Blade" was. It took me into a beautiful, complex world of swirling intrigue in medival (I think) Thailand, following a poet-performer with a golden tongue. This is all great stuff!

With that said, I found myself not quite as much in love with this novella as I might have liked. I think some of this was because I felt thrown into the setting so fast. There were huge numbers of names and words that are foreign to me (from the names of instruments to foods), which could be a lot to hold onto. I believe that this is one of many books in this setting, so it might be more satisfying to someone who has read the others (so perhaps was able to be eased a bit more slowly into it).

So on the one hand, I think this is a wonderfully complex, intricate and fascinating novel. On the other, I think I - personally - would have preferred a more gradual introduction.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[cc]

e-ARC from NetGalley.

DNF at 19%.

Intriguing concept, but I have no idea what I'm supposed to be getting out of the story. It reads more like a play than a book, with everything be told via dialogue or, occasionally, as what seems more like stage direction - this person feigns disinterest as someone places his hand on her butt and escorts her away, this person makes as if to leave but plops down as soon as he is handed wine so that he can continue to narrate things to the scene's protagonist.

Moo Hring is a big-nosed loud mouth with a talent for words. Sorta is a beautiful simpleton. They are both in love with a prince who values beauty and brains, so they pair up. Not that we got to that point yet. We'd only barely met Sorya.