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Empress in Disguise #1
Empress in Disguise
To save her family, one girl will sacrifice her very identity.
Living in poverty in the shadow of the Forbidden City, Daiyu never imagined that the life of the emperor would impact her own.
But a chance meeting with a girl who looks exactly like her changes everything.
Daiyu's family is offered enough money to support them for life if she only agrees to take the stranger's place at the emperor's selection for new consorts. In order to pull off the ruse, Daiyu must abandon everything she ever knew and become a completely different person, a person she despises. And if she fails, if she is discovered, she will be guilty of treason and put to death.
Daiyu cannot allow her family to suffer if it is within her power to save them, so she strikes the deadly bargain. But living within the Forbidden City is even more dangerous than she imagined...
In this incredible retelling of The Princess and the Pauper, based on true events, authors Zoey Gong and Amanda Roberts bring to life the opulent and dangerous world of imperial consorts trapped within the great red walls of the Forbidden City.
200 pages, Paperback
Published October 8, 2020
55 people are currently reading
245 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
November 18, 2024
Daiyu is a poor girl who has a startling resemblance to a wealthy woman, Mingxia's, daughter named Lihua. With the upcoming consort selection looming Mingxia is worried about the possibility of Lihua being picked as a consort for the emperor. Mingxia's fear is that her daughter will be chosen in which case she would never see her daughter again.
She sees an opportunity in Daiyu. Mingxia trains Daiyu to go to the selection as her daughter, in exchange for giving money to Daiyu's destitute family. Daiyu's family will receive a generous amount of money, and anything gifted to Lihua's family by the emperor if she is selected as a consort.
When Daiyu, now Lihua, is accepted into the royal harem her whole life changes from one of destitution to one of opulent splendor. As Daiyu is promoted, falls in love, and meets new people, she is struck by the disparity between not only her old life and new one but the between the rich and poor in general. Daiyu is determined to do right by her family, the underclass, and the nation as a whole.
This was a really good story. While nothing is groundbreaking this is a solid book that is very well written with a main character that's both understandable and likable.
She sees an opportunity in Daiyu. Mingxia trains Daiyu to go to the selection as her daughter, in exchange for giving money to Daiyu's destitute family. Daiyu's family will receive a generous amount of money, and anything gifted to Lihua's family by the emperor if she is selected as a consort.
When Daiyu, now Lihua, is accepted into the royal harem her whole life changes from one of destitution to one of opulent splendor. As Daiyu is promoted, falls in love, and meets new people, she is struck by the disparity between not only her old life and new one but the between the rich and poor in general. Daiyu is determined to do right by her family, the underclass, and the nation as a whole.
This was a really good story. While nothing is groundbreaking this is a solid book that is very well written with a main character that's both understandable and likable.
December 8, 2020
Daiyu is a poor girl who often has to go out of her way to provide for her family. After a particularly bad period, her parents and siblings are starved and Daiyu sells her shoes so they could have enough food to eat for a week, but that isn't enough.
With a new baby in the house there's too many mouths to feed and none of the girls are likely to get married with their unbound feet (a practice their mother fortunately couldn't stomach doing to them) so someone has to do something. That someone is Daiyu who decides to sell herself but it doesn't go as planned.
She accidentally runs into a Manchu Lady, Ula Nara Mingxia, who needs help. It seems simple enough, all Daiyu has to do is pretend to be her daughter, Lihua, for a day during which the Emperor is selecting his new concubines, be dismissed and allowed to return home. In exchange her family will be well compensated.
It doesn't take long for Daiyu to agree, as selfless as she is, and she immediately sets out on a journey full of twists, turns and palace intrigues with jealous women looking to one up each other at every corner. The more Daiyu rises in the ranks, the deeper the hole she dug herself into becomes. Will she manage to continue fooling everyone into thinking she's Lihua for the rest of her life?
I'm blown away. Everything was so vivid in this book and the emotions so raw. I ended up crying more often than not. It's a sad story if you think about it. But sad things can be beautiful too.
I love Daiyu, she's so caring, so human and it's a miracle no one's figured it out yet. But I do suppose that not everyone starts out at the same level, Manchu or not, so maybe that's why she gets so many passes.
Her transition from position to position didn't feel forced to me, but rather natural.
The romance developed pretty fast, I guess that's what happens when someone saves you from certain doom.
And the Prince...as soon as he was announced I just knew.
What I'm upset over is just how easy it was for Daiyu's friends, who knew about her struggles (as much as she could share that is), to abandon her when she started ascending. I like her maid but the poor girl deserves someone in a similar situation to talk to every once in a while.
I still liked most of the characters and will continue to do so until we get a villain. There are glimpses of one but I could be wrong.
The descriptions were out of this world and the plot was captivating. Some of the lines reminded me of beloved C-dramas, but there were also spelling mistakes that took me out of the story a few times. This is probably fixed by now.
While I do wish the book was longer (I couldn't get enough) I'm happy the authors manged to accomplish everything in a limited number of pages. I can't wait to read the next instalment.
*Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
With a new baby in the house there's too many mouths to feed and none of the girls are likely to get married with their unbound feet (a practice their mother fortunately couldn't stomach doing to them) so someone has to do something. That someone is Daiyu who decides to sell herself but it doesn't go as planned.
She accidentally runs into a Manchu Lady, Ula Nara Mingxia, who needs help. It seems simple enough, all Daiyu has to do is pretend to be her daughter, Lihua, for a day during which the Emperor is selecting his new concubines, be dismissed and allowed to return home. In exchange her family will be well compensated.
It doesn't take long for Daiyu to agree, as selfless as she is, and she immediately sets out on a journey full of twists, turns and palace intrigues with jealous women looking to one up each other at every corner. The more Daiyu rises in the ranks, the deeper the hole she dug herself into becomes. Will she manage to continue fooling everyone into thinking she's Lihua for the rest of her life?
I'm blown away. Everything was so vivid in this book and the emotions so raw. I ended up crying more often than not. It's a sad story if you think about it. But sad things can be beautiful too.
I love Daiyu, she's so caring, so human and it's a miracle no one's figured it out yet. But I do suppose that not everyone starts out at the same level, Manchu or not, so maybe that's why she gets so many passes.
Her transition from position to position didn't feel forced to me, but rather natural.
The romance developed pretty fast, I guess that's what happens when someone saves you from certain doom.
And the Prince...as soon as he was announced I just knew.
What I'm upset over is just how easy it was for Daiyu's friends, who knew about her struggles (as much as she could share that is), to abandon her when she started ascending. I like her maid but the poor girl deserves someone in a similar situation to talk to every once in a while.
I still liked most of the characters and will continue to do so until we get a villain. There are glimpses of one but I could be wrong.
The descriptions were out of this world and the plot was captivating. Some of the lines reminded me of beloved C-dramas, but there were also spelling mistakes that took me out of the story a few times. This is probably fixed by now.
While I do wish the book was longer (I couldn't get enough) I'm happy the authors manged to accomplish everything in a limited number of pages. I can't wait to read the next instalment.
*Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
March 6, 2021
I got this eARC from Netgalley in exhange for a honest review
"may the the empress live a thousand years!"
I read this in one sitting and i was sucked in, basically after a few pages. Daiyu is easy to like and understand. She has very much character development across the pages... she grows like a lotus flower, but slowly... and finding her place nessesarily, learning and growing as she goes. It is so many characters there, but they are easy to reconize and understand. The Emperor is an character we don`t see much of, neither is is brother Prince Honghui but they are interesting in the few pages that are there. We get to see how much the emperor has to do, how he struggles and what he was to do to manage control and we get to see some of the prince, who loves from afar. I look forward to see what intruiges, politcal things and more happends in the next books.
"may the the empress live a thousand years!"
I read this in one sitting and i was sucked in, basically after a few pages. Daiyu is easy to like and understand. She has very much character development across the pages... she grows like a lotus flower, but slowly... and finding her place nessesarily, learning and growing as she goes. It is so many characters there, but they are easy to reconize and understand. The Emperor is an character we don`t see much of, neither is is brother Prince Honghui but they are interesting in the few pages that are there. We get to see how much the emperor has to do, how he struggles and what he was to do to manage control and we get to see some of the prince, who loves from afar. I look forward to see what intruiges, politcal things and more happends in the next books.
November 12, 2021
This is a fantastic story of a Chinese girl from a poor family in the shade of the Forbidden City. She is bribed to stand in for a Manchu girl whose wealthy mother doesn't want to send her daughter to the Emperor's consort selection.
I enjoyed every minute of the read, from the dire poverty of a land struck by drought, to the opulent lifestyle of the court. More horses please in the next book! More nature! Interpersonal politicking and a vile assassin leap off the pages, rustling silks and tinkling porcelain. Enjoy.
I read an e-ARC from Net Galley. This is an unbiased review.
I enjoyed every minute of the read, from the dire poverty of a land struck by drought, to the opulent lifestyle of the court. More horses please in the next book! More nature! Interpersonal politicking and a vile assassin leap off the pages, rustling silks and tinkling porcelain. Enjoy.
I read an e-ARC from Net Galley. This is an unbiased review.
August 22, 2021
Everything In China Has Its Price💰💔.
The Empress👸 Has No Shoes👡👠
ADULT Historical Chinese Manchu👑 Romance💕 and Palace Intrigue Adventure.
The lonely life of a fifth ranked concubine👸 to the disinterested Manchu emperor👑 suddenly changes overnight...
The main character in this interesting novel about the 17th to 19th century Qing Dynasty in China, is Daiyu💃💋, a very poor Han Chinese girl who gets involved with a Manchu woman and her daughter Lihua, who Daiyu💃💋 closely resembles.
Lihua has been chosen, along with 99 other young women to go to The Forbidden City, to " try out" for the role of the Manchu emperor's👑 New consort👸. He has yet to sire a male heir. His only children are girls.
As an Only child of a wealthy widow, Lihua doesn't want to be locked away from her mother for the rest of her life. Her mother is paying Daiyu's family a huge sum of money💰 for her to take Lihua's place.
Only twelve girls are chosen, and Lihua's birthday is the deciding factor in her case. It is an auspicious or lucky date for the young emperor👑. Daiyu💃💋 was only doing it for the promised money💰 it would provide her starving family. She never thought she would be chosen! Now she will never see her family again, as the consorts and concubines can never leave the Forbidden City.
Daiyu💃💋 is uneducated and totally illiterate, but she does have plenty of street smarts. Somehow she must learn all the rules and learn to read and cypher as quickly as possible without being exposed as a fake. With absolutely no privacy in her assigned palace room, keeping her secrets will be a monumental task.
People , especially the poor and servants, seemed expendable in this culture. They all have their hand out. Nothing is given out of goodwill or friendship, there is always a price to pay.
ARC Provided by Booksprout 🌱
This ebook was $4.99 on Amazon 📚at the time of this review.
Opinions expressed here are entirely my own fault.
The author didn't include in the book that the ruling Manchu dialect and language was probably much different than the Peking Han street dialect of Daiyu💃💋. That would have been an insurmountable problem for Daiyu💃💋 to overcome in the few short weeks of training she had. It's a great story though, and I got totally immersed in it.
I was disappointed in the modern dialogue spoken by the characters. Words like "wow" don't belong in an historical novel.
The book does end with sort of a cliffhanger, but the rest of the series is already published.
The Empress👸 Has No Shoes👡👠
ADULT Historical Chinese Manchu👑 Romance💕 and Palace Intrigue Adventure.
The lonely life of a fifth ranked concubine👸 to the disinterested Manchu emperor👑 suddenly changes overnight...
The main character in this interesting novel about the 17th to 19th century Qing Dynasty in China, is Daiyu💃💋, a very poor Han Chinese girl who gets involved with a Manchu woman and her daughter Lihua, who Daiyu💃💋 closely resembles.
Lihua has been chosen, along with 99 other young women to go to The Forbidden City, to " try out" for the role of the Manchu emperor's👑 New consort👸. He has yet to sire a male heir. His only children are girls.
As an Only child of a wealthy widow, Lihua doesn't want to be locked away from her mother for the rest of her life. Her mother is paying Daiyu's family a huge sum of money💰 for her to take Lihua's place.
Only twelve girls are chosen, and Lihua's birthday is the deciding factor in her case. It is an auspicious or lucky date for the young emperor👑. Daiyu💃💋 was only doing it for the promised money💰 it would provide her starving family. She never thought she would be chosen! Now she will never see her family again, as the consorts and concubines can never leave the Forbidden City.
Daiyu💃💋 is uneducated and totally illiterate, but she does have plenty of street smarts. Somehow she must learn all the rules and learn to read and cypher as quickly as possible without being exposed as a fake. With absolutely no privacy in her assigned palace room, keeping her secrets will be a monumental task.
People , especially the poor and servants, seemed expendable in this culture. They all have their hand out. Nothing is given out of goodwill or friendship, there is always a price to pay.
ARC Provided by Booksprout 🌱
This ebook was $4.99 on Amazon 📚at the time of this review.
Opinions expressed here are entirely my own fault.
The author didn't include in the book that the ruling Manchu dialect and language was probably much different than the Peking Han street dialect of Daiyu💃💋. That would have been an insurmountable problem for Daiyu💃💋 to overcome in the few short weeks of training she had. It's a great story though, and I got totally immersed in it.
I was disappointed in the modern dialogue spoken by the characters. Words like "wow" don't belong in an historical novel.
The book does end with sort of a cliffhanger, but the rest of the series is already published.
October 27, 2020
What a story. Changing places with an Empress is something else never imagined. A fabulous beginning to a new series from a superb writer. Don’t miss out.
January 14, 2021
I received this book from the publisher and Netgalley. All reviews and opinions are voluntary.
This book was not what I expected in many ways. It is the story of a young woman who finds it necessary to sell herself in order to save her family. She makes this humble choice and finds her life in constant danger as she attempts to navigate a new rank among her superiors without giving herself away. The relationships she both builds, and sacrifices, are convincing and moving.
The main character, Daiyu, is a wonderfully strong, charming, and clever young girl who wins the hearts of many interesting faces along the way! The excitement of her coming-of-age story if full of romance, suspense, and beautifully illustrated Chinese scenery. I look forward to reading the sequel soon!
The story is beautifully written, though if I'm being honest (and I am) there were SO MANY typos that it became impossible to overlook. It's frustrating when something as simple as "must" being written as "muse" disrupts my reading rhythm for the tenth time. The other small complaint I have about this book is a few discrepancies in the storyline. At first, the main character is 15, then she is suddenly 18, though three years have not passed? Also, she meets someone and as the story of that same day is described, she says "I have looked for (this person) every day since." BUT....isn't it still the same day you met?? Hmmmm...a few other little oddities like this bothered me a bit. Enough to drop an entire star. If you feel so rushed to publish that these mistakes aren't fixed, it makes me wonder how much better it could have been and what might have been left out!
This book was not what I expected in many ways. It is the story of a young woman who finds it necessary to sell herself in order to save her family. She makes this humble choice and finds her life in constant danger as she attempts to navigate a new rank among her superiors without giving herself away. The relationships she both builds, and sacrifices, are convincing and moving.
The main character, Daiyu, is a wonderfully strong, charming, and clever young girl who wins the hearts of many interesting faces along the way! The excitement of her coming-of-age story if full of romance, suspense, and beautifully illustrated Chinese scenery. I look forward to reading the sequel soon!
The story is beautifully written, though if I'm being honest (and I am) there were SO MANY typos that it became impossible to overlook. It's frustrating when something as simple as "must" being written as "muse" disrupts my reading rhythm for the tenth time. The other small complaint I have about this book is a few discrepancies in the storyline. At first, the main character is 15, then she is suddenly 18, though three years have not passed? Also, she meets someone and as the story of that same day is described, she says "I have looked for (this person) every day since." BUT....isn't it still the same day you met?? Hmmmm...a few other little oddities like this bothered me a bit. Enough to drop an entire star. If you feel so rushed to publish that these mistakes aren't fixed, it makes me wonder how much better it could have been and what might have been left out!
January 11, 2021
*Received a free ecopy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
Real rating: about a 2.5
Daiyu's family never has enough coin for food, so when a Manchurian noblewoman offers to pay her to be a body double for her daughter and go before the Emperor of China to be selected as his consort, Daiyu takes the money. Unfortunately, Daiyu is an illiterate Han Chinese commoner who must masquerade as a refined Manchurian lady, or else risk the death of her and her entire family.
The premise was interesting enough, but the execution stumbled. Daiyu is very "good," after all: she's compassionate and polite and caring. This means that she ends up being an extremely passive protagonist, victim to other people's whims. I cannot help but compare her to Xifeng from Julie C. Dao's Forest of a Thousand Lanterns because they come from very similar circumstances, but they have entirely different approaches to life. Good fortune falls into Daiyu's lap, as much as she bemoans her circumstances, whereas Xifeng schemes her way to the top. I just feel kind of uninterested as I watch Daiyu gain the emperor's favor because she never wants it. She's entirely aimless in this book and that makes her a bland character. Oh, and she's prone to making stupid decisions, but she's sixteen, so I guess it's fine.
That being said, I did like how detailed the setting was, and how the book went out of its way to elaborate upon the various social issues that the Qing dynasty might have experienced. Daiyu is Han Chinese and part of the overwhelming ethnic majority in China, while the rulers in Peking are of the Manchurian ethnic minority. Daiyu feels resentment at her family's poverty while the Manchurians live lavishly, although she later learns that even Manchurian commoners have it rough. She learns about the complex game that is the imperial harem (although she manages to bypass a lot of obstacles by mere chance) and learns the weight of power.
Still, I dislike the fact that there's a forbidden romance between Daiyu and Honghui. It just feels scummy and makes me nervous. Certainly, it's not fair that one man can monopolize dozens of women for his harem, but their relationship is so stupidly risky that I don't understand why they keep doing it.
Overall, this was an okay book. I'm a little interested in the sequel, but alas, I'll have to see if Daiyu's character shapes up more.
Also, somebody please tell me if they actually used kohl in Qing dynasty China? I can find no sources that confirm this, and it bothers me so much because while kohl is prominent in Middle Eastern/South Asian cultures, it's not really a Chinese thing as far as I'm aware. I have monolids and I can confirm that pencil liners are a pain when your eyelids are that finicky. In traditional Tang Chinese makeup, it's all about the red: red lips, red cheeks, red face paint. I can't imagine that having a smoky eye would really be "in," but if I'm wrong, then let me know.
Real rating: about a 2.5
Daiyu's family never has enough coin for food, so when a Manchurian noblewoman offers to pay her to be a body double for her daughter and go before the Emperor of China to be selected as his consort, Daiyu takes the money. Unfortunately, Daiyu is an illiterate Han Chinese commoner who must masquerade as a refined Manchurian lady, or else risk the death of her and her entire family.
The premise was interesting enough, but the execution stumbled. Daiyu is very "good," after all: she's compassionate and polite and caring. This means that she ends up being an extremely passive protagonist, victim to other people's whims. I cannot help but compare her to Xifeng from Julie C. Dao's Forest of a Thousand Lanterns because they come from very similar circumstances, but they have entirely different approaches to life. Good fortune falls into Daiyu's lap, as much as she bemoans her circumstances, whereas Xifeng schemes her way to the top. I just feel kind of uninterested as I watch Daiyu gain the emperor's favor because she never wants it. She's entirely aimless in this book and that makes her a bland character. Oh, and she's prone to making stupid decisions, but she's sixteen, so I guess it's fine.
That being said, I did like how detailed the setting was, and how the book went out of its way to elaborate upon the various social issues that the Qing dynasty might have experienced. Daiyu is Han Chinese and part of the overwhelming ethnic majority in China, while the rulers in Peking are of the Manchurian ethnic minority. Daiyu feels resentment at her family's poverty while the Manchurians live lavishly, although she later learns that even Manchurian commoners have it rough. She learns about the complex game that is the imperial harem (although she manages to bypass a lot of obstacles by mere chance) and learns the weight of power.
Still, I dislike the fact that there's a forbidden romance between Daiyu and Honghui. It just feels scummy and makes me nervous. Certainly, it's not fair that one man can monopolize dozens of women for his harem, but their relationship is so stupidly risky that I don't understand why they keep doing it.
Overall, this was an okay book. I'm a little interested in the sequel, but alas, I'll have to see if Daiyu's character shapes up more.
Also, somebody please tell me if they actually used kohl in Qing dynasty China? I can find no sources that confirm this, and it bothers me so much because while kohl is prominent in Middle Eastern/South Asian cultures, it's not really a Chinese thing as far as I'm aware. I have monolids and I can confirm that pencil liners are a pain when your eyelids are that finicky. In traditional Tang Chinese makeup, it's all about the red: red lips, red cheeks, red face paint. I can't imagine that having a smoky eye would really be "in," but if I'm wrong, then let me know.
January 14, 2022
1st Reading: 13th January 2022
Rating: 1.25 out of 5
- 13th book in the month of January 2022
- 13th book in 2022 reading challenge
The 13th book that I read this year. It's definitely something...
TW : wishy-washy racist heroine, cheating, harem romance, murder attempt, a bit of gore.
I read this book without reading the blurbs and finished it in one sitting. It's so so bad to the point where I might puke when I found out that the 'clan' of the heroine is Ula Nara and to the fact that she indeed, became an empress. Is it just a coincidence? I don't think so.
At first (maybe 30% into the book), I thought that this book is going to be a forbidden romance between a woman of the Emperor and the Emperor's brother. They really really had a 'good' time together and our main character, Daiyu, seems to be very very in love or lust with him so I thought it's their story. That shit's definitely not true. It turns out that there's no forbidden romance whatsoever it's cheating. Daiyu is not strong or fearless as I thought that she keeps shagging both men and obvs don't choose one of them. I feel bad for the prince, he's definitely the one who Daiyu's loved but there's no way to marry the prince if the emperor adores you. It's eerily similar to another story within the same background....very sus.
The characters are unlikable and the story towards the end was rushed. I won't read the 2nd or 3rd book.
Rating: 1.25 out of 5
- 13th book in the month of January 2022
- 13th book in 2022 reading challenge
The 13th book that I read this year. It's definitely something...
TW : wishy-washy racist heroine, cheating, harem romance, murder attempt, a bit of gore.
I read this book without reading the blurbs and finished it in one sitting. It's so so bad to the point where I might puke when I found out that the 'clan' of the heroine is Ula Nara and to the fact that she indeed, became an empress. Is it just a coincidence? I don't think so.
At first (maybe 30% into the book), I thought that this book is going to be a forbidden romance between a woman of the Emperor and the Emperor's brother. They really really had a 'good' time together and our main character, Daiyu, seems to be very very in love or lust with him so I thought it's their story. That shit's definitely not true. It turns out that there's no forbidden romance whatsoever it's cheating. Daiyu is not strong or fearless as I thought that she keeps shagging both men and obvs don't choose one of them. I feel bad for the prince, he's definitely the one who Daiyu's loved but there's no way to marry the prince if the emperor adores you. It's eerily similar to another story within the same background....very sus.
The characters are unlikable and the story towards the end was rushed. I won't read the 2nd or 3rd book.
September 18, 2020
“Empress in Disguise” is the first book in the eponymous trilogy by Amanda Roberts. True to her writing style the author blends historical facts with a brand-new retelling of Twain’s “The Prince and the Pauper” (the unforgettable tale on Edward VI). In “The Empress in Disguise” we follow Daiyu, a young girl living in poverty, whom the opportunity of a lifetime is presented, as a chance meeting with an almost identical girl changes her whole destiny.
Ula-Nara Mingxia, a Manchu mother, whose daughter is promised to the emperor, and would do anything to save her from that fate, approach Daiyu’s parent with an offer they cannot refuse; allow Daiyu to take the place with her daughter in exchange for a lifelong allowance. Daiyu agrees to the ruse, and becomes part of the Emperor’s selection, but the road to become the new Empress is paved with unseen risk and dangerous treats.
Amanda Robert’s has an undoubtedly gift for China historical-based storytelling, her description of the Forbidden City comes alive before the reader’s eyes allowing us to participate in the action, her characters are highly relatable, and despite being this one of the most broadly known tales in contemporary literature, Robert’s mix of historical facts, retelling and pure fiction borne of the author’s fruitful imagination makes this version a very fresh and enjoyable story.
Ula-Nara Mingxia, a Manchu mother, whose daughter is promised to the emperor, and would do anything to save her from that fate, approach Daiyu’s parent with an offer they cannot refuse; allow Daiyu to take the place with her daughter in exchange for a lifelong allowance. Daiyu agrees to the ruse, and becomes part of the Emperor’s selection, but the road to become the new Empress is paved with unseen risk and dangerous treats.
Amanda Robert’s has an undoubtedly gift for China historical-based storytelling, her description of the Forbidden City comes alive before the reader’s eyes allowing us to participate in the action, her characters are highly relatable, and despite being this one of the most broadly known tales in contemporary literature, Robert’s mix of historical facts, retelling and pure fiction borne of the author’s fruitful imagination makes this version a very fresh and enjoyable story.
December 3, 2020
Before I begin my review for Empress in Disguise (Empress in Disguise book one) by Amanda Roberts and Zoey Gong, I would personally like to thank the author, publishers and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC and I have reviewed it honestly.
An epic, historical YA fantasy tale with tantalising tastes of The Selection, Throne of Glass and Mulan. A chance encounter with her wealthy doppelganger has Daiyu taking her place in the upcoming selection for the Emperors consorts. Empress in Disguise takes you on an exotic and exciting journey through historic China, traditions, gowns and glory, scandals and a forbidden romance. Utterly unforgettable.
Empress in Disguise features, but is not limited to, the following themes:
○ YA historical fantasy
○ YA romance
○ Chinese history
○ Empress/Emperor
○ Concubines and consorts
○ Poverty to royalty
○ Forbidden romance
My overall rating for Empress in Disguise is…
4.5 Stars!
Fans of the Selection are absolutely going to love this book! Empress in Disguise was intriguing from page one and grew into an intoxicating tale. Daiyu is an adorable character you can't help but love and sympathise with. Roberts and Gong have created a fascinating book with fact, fiction and fantasy. I can't wait to continue this series!
An epic, historical YA fantasy tale with tantalising tastes of The Selection, Throne of Glass and Mulan. A chance encounter with her wealthy doppelganger has Daiyu taking her place in the upcoming selection for the Emperors consorts. Empress in Disguise takes you on an exotic and exciting journey through historic China, traditions, gowns and glory, scandals and a forbidden romance. Utterly unforgettable.
Empress in Disguise features, but is not limited to, the following themes:
○ YA historical fantasy
○ YA romance
○ Chinese history
○ Empress/Emperor
○ Concubines and consorts
○ Poverty to royalty
○ Forbidden romance
My overall rating for Empress in Disguise is…
4.5 Stars!
Fans of the Selection are absolutely going to love this book! Empress in Disguise was intriguing from page one and grew into an intoxicating tale. Daiyu is an adorable character you can't help but love and sympathise with. Roberts and Gong have created a fascinating book with fact, fiction and fantasy. I can't wait to continue this series!
December 17, 2020
I am so excited that this book is part of a trilogy, and yet so crushed that I have to wait for the next instalment.
Empress in Disguise is the story of a poor 15yr old girl from Peaking that helps take care of her family, doing whatever it takes to help them survive, even if that means selling her shoes for money to buy food.
One fateful night she goes looking for other alternatives to make money, knowing that they have no worldly goods available to sell, so she looks to herself. On her walk that evening she is nearly hit by a rickshaw. Scared off her path, she returns home, vowing to try again.
However, the next day the woman from the rickshaw manages to track her down and proposes a solution that would not only ensure her family is taken care of, but that the wealthy woman's family is also protected. Feeling the weight of the impossible situation, the young girl agrees and is whisked off to learn how to present herself to be considered for selection of consort/concubine in the Emperor's harem.
What follows is a tale of pride, familial love & fidelity, and of a search for identity.
Fun, engaging, and unique.
Empress in Disguise is the story of a poor 15yr old girl from Peaking that helps take care of her family, doing whatever it takes to help them survive, even if that means selling her shoes for money to buy food.
One fateful night she goes looking for other alternatives to make money, knowing that they have no worldly goods available to sell, so she looks to herself. On her walk that evening she is nearly hit by a rickshaw. Scared off her path, she returns home, vowing to try again.
However, the next day the woman from the rickshaw manages to track her down and proposes a solution that would not only ensure her family is taken care of, but that the wealthy woman's family is also protected. Feeling the weight of the impossible situation, the young girl agrees and is whisked off to learn how to present herself to be considered for selection of consort/concubine in the Emperor's harem.
What follows is a tale of pride, familial love & fidelity, and of a search for identity.
Fun, engaging, and unique.
October 27, 2020
A bit of a fairytale but in ancient China where emperors ruled the country. Where hundreds of young girls dream of being chosen as the emperor's harem.
Daiyu is not a girl who dreams of living in the Forbidden City. She never even thought about it because she is not a Manchu. The family she comes from is very poor and daughters are often sold. When she almost steps in front of a rickshaw, her life changes dramatically. She resembles the only daughter of a Manchu woman who does not want her daughter to go to the squad to be elected to the emperor's harem. She buys Daiyu from her family to send her in place of Lihua.
Not assuming she will be elected, Daiyu agrees, with all the consequences that entails.
Again a beautifully written story of a mysterious period in ancient China. An emperor with so many women sees Daiyu / Lihua and chooses her as the favorite concubine, leading to jealousy among the other young women. A beautiful story, a beautiful ending.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Daiyu is not a girl who dreams of living in the Forbidden City. She never even thought about it because she is not a Manchu. The family she comes from is very poor and daughters are often sold. When she almost steps in front of a rickshaw, her life changes dramatically. She resembles the only daughter of a Manchu woman who does not want her daughter to go to the squad to be elected to the emperor's harem. She buys Daiyu from her family to send her in place of Lihua.
Not assuming she will be elected, Daiyu agrees, with all the consequences that entails.
Again a beautifully written story of a mysterious period in ancient China. An emperor with so many women sees Daiyu / Lihua and chooses her as the favorite concubine, leading to jealousy among the other young women. A beautiful story, a beautiful ending.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 30, 2020
Daiyu takes the place of a wealthy woman's only daughter, in order to keep her family from starving. She becomes someone who is entirely different, having to learn the customs and language of the wealthy enough to take the daughter's place at the emperor's selection for new consorts. All through the book you wonder if she will be able to pull off the pretense or be executed. And she continues to fall deeper and deeper into the role...
I enjoyed the suspense and the fairy-tale quality of this exciting story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I enjoyed the suspense and the fairy-tale quality of this exciting story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 6, 2021
The Empress in Disguise is an interesting read. The story starts out with the main character a poor 15-year-old girl, who gives up her life to save her families. As the story progresses she becomes a concubine to the emperor, and as the reader we see the inner workings of a concubine’s life in this story. How politics are different for the women, and their inner circles. In the end I found the book enjoyable, and finished it rather quickly. The only problem I found was how the flow of time is not mentioned very well, but over all a solid story. One that I think I might continue with its sequel release.
January 21, 2021
Thank you NetGalley for the eArc in exchange for an honest review.
I requested this on a spur of the moment type thing and I'm really glad I did.
I enjoyed the pace of the book and I enjoyed the characters especially Daiyu and her abundance of empathy for the empire.
I wasn't sure about the love triangle as I'm not a huge fan of them in the first place but the characters involved, I just don't know how it's going to work and not be cringe worthy.
The other issue was I was unsure of how much time had passed during the progress of the book.
That being said I'm looking forward to reading the sequals.
I requested this on a spur of the moment type thing and I'm really glad I did.
I enjoyed the pace of the book and I enjoyed the characters especially Daiyu and her abundance of empathy for the empire.
I wasn't sure about the love triangle as I'm not a huge fan of them in the first place but the characters involved, I just don't know how it's going to work and not be cringe worthy.
The other issue was I was unsure of how much time had passed during the progress of the book.
That being said I'm looking forward to reading the sequals.
February 26, 2021
Thank you Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for the eARC! I binged this in one night it was so great! I loved the story and the culture. All the court intrigue was so fun to read about and the characters were pretty great. I wonder what happened to the real Linhua after Daiyu replaces her. There's a couple small plot inconsistencies but overall an interesting story! I thought Daiyu's storyline with the Prince was a bit unnecessary though, or rushed. It seemed like it was there for conflict convenience and not character development. They basically experience insta-lust lol. I really want to read the rest of the trilogy to see what happens though!
October 24, 2020
This is a thrilling retelling of the Prince and the Pauper. Daiyu is a young girl living with her family in poverty. When they find out that Daiyu looks like a woman’s daughter who is promised to the prince, they agree to the deal. Daiyu will take the daughter’s place and the family will get an allowance for life. They didn't know what a treacherous path living in the Forbidden City would be. Can Daiyu navigate this unknown world? I enjoyed this wonderful engaging story. I received an arc of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 7, 2020
This book was thrilling and I couldn't put it down. I find it fascinating that it's based on historical events and I definitely want to look into the history of it. I don't want to spoil anything, but as Daiyu's situation grew increasingly dangerous, I became more and more sucked in. I'm eager to read the next book in the series and see what happens next. Everything about this story, from the characters to the overall world was vibrant and realistic.
October 27, 2020
Very intriguing and engaging book. This is not the first from this author and I definitely enjoy reading the stories from the Far East.
The storyline is interesting, I don’t do the research to find out real history behind. I just treat all of this like real one.
Daiyu is a beautiful character, very strong woman and I admire her .
This is just beginning of her story.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The storyline is interesting, I don’t do the research to find out real history behind. I just treat all of this like real one.
Daiyu is a beautiful character, very strong woman and I admire her .
This is just beginning of her story.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 15, 2020
She is living in poverty and she is shocked when she meets someone who looks just like her. she is offered a chance to earn some money to keep her family living better. she is to take the stranger place. they are about to enter a chance to win the emperor eye. what will she find there? can she pull it off? what if she fails? see how she gets on
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 28, 2025
I love it I’m already excited for the next book!! Daiyu takes a precious daughter’s place in a consort selection the identities are similar different races Chinese versus Manchu the only difference is the lifestyle poor versus wealthy class.
The idea in the consort selection is she fails and gets to go home. But there is a question of what if? It’s so addicting a read it’s a must have! I’ve read another book by Amanda roberts the only difference this is a collaboration! Get it now!
The idea in the consort selection is she fails and gets to go home. But there is a question of what if? It’s so addicting a read it’s a must have! I’ve read another book by Amanda roberts the only difference this is a collaboration! Get it now!
October 25, 2020
I enjoyed this book very much. At first I was confused, thinking this was forward in time from previous books. This is very rich storytelling, and I’m sure extremely well researched. Can’t wait for the next one.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 31, 2021
Beautiful story about life in the Forbidden City. Filled with luxury, but also with politics and danger.
About a poor, young Chinese girl, climbing the ranks. To save her family, to save the empress, to save herself.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
About a poor, young Chinese girl, climbing the ranks. To save her family, to save the empress, to save herself.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 25, 2024
Loved the book, immediately bought the next one!
I love novels based in Asia, though the writing style in this one read like more of a Western voice than Eastern. Not a problem, as I enjoy Western novels too, but just noting it felt different.
One complaint is I was submitting a LOT of typo/error corrections on the Kindle version, which disrupts the immersion.
I love novels based in Asia, though the writing style in this one read like more of a Western voice than Eastern. Not a problem, as I enjoy Western novels too, but just noting it felt different.
One complaint is I was submitting a LOT of typo/error corrections on the Kindle version, which disrupts the immersion.
November 4, 2024
Looooved this book, especially the main character, Daiyu. She is such a well rounded female lead. And the supporting characters, setting, and story were all so immersive and intriguing. I could not put this book down! I’m so glad it’s a trilogy because I’m dying to know what happens next. So glad i was recommended this, it was a fun read :-)
April 15, 2025
I was so drawn into this book. I barely got any sleep until I had finished it and now I am dying to start the next one in the series! I took away one star, though, because this book has so many grammar mistakes, wrong/missing words, etc., which I found very annoying, worse than any ARC I have read. Please hire an editor and republish.
November 2, 2020
Book one in the Empress in Disguise Trilogy series a good story that held my interest until the end. I want to read the next book. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 29, 2020
I dnf’d this, because I was only a little ways in and found the pace too slow. I found the characters uninteresting, the plot basically unable to keep my focus, and was really sad after having read the description and enjoying the beautiful cover.
February 13, 2023
It was fun and enjoyable read. I enjoyed the midnight meeting and the secret with the Prince.
It felt more like a summary of plot. It needed plot points to be more fleshed out. I also found it pretty unrealistic, she advanced that quickly?
It felt more like a summary of plot. It needed plot points to be more fleshed out. I also found it pretty unrealistic, she advanced that quickly?
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