---
product_id: 78669194
title: "Forest of a Thousand Lanterns (Rise of the Empress)"
price: "85.97 DT"
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url: https://www.desertcart.tn/products/78669194-forest-of-a-thousand-lanterns-rise-of-the-empress
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---

# Forest of a Thousand Lanterns (Rise of the Empress)

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## Description

The Wrath and the Dawn meets Snow White and the Huntsman in this dark and mystical East Asian fantasy reimagining of The Evil Queen legend about one peasant girl's quest to become Empress. "A richly developed fantasy world . . . Julie C. Dao is a talent to watch."—Marie Lu , #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Young Elites Eighteen-year-old Xifeng is beautiful. The stars say she is destined for greatness, that she is meant to be Empress of Feng Lu. But only if she embraces the darkness within her. Growing up as a peasant in a forgotten village on the edge of the map, Xifeng longs to fulfill the destiny promised to her by her cruel aunt, the witch Guma, who has read the cards and seen glimmers of Xifeng's majestic future. But is the price of the throne too high? Because in order to achieve greatness, she must spurn the young man who loves her and exploit the callous magic that runs through her veins--sorcery fueled by eating the hearts of the recently killed. For the god who has sent her on this journey will not be satisfied until his power is absolute. Set in an East Asian-inspired fantasy world filled with both breathtaking pain and beauty, Forest of a Thousand Lanterns possesses all the hallmarks of masterful fantasy: dazzling magic, heartbreaking romance, and a world that hangs in the balance. Fans of Heartless , Stealing Snow , and Red Queen will devour this stunning debut. Praise for Forest of a Thousand Lanterns A Junior Library Guild Selection "A richly developed fantasy world coupled with an ambitious anti-heroine of complex agency, this story shines and surprises at every turn. Julie C. Dao is a talent to watch. "—Marie Lu, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Young Elites ★ "A masterful reimagining of the early life of Snow White’s Evil Queen. "—Booklist, starred review ★ " Lushly written . . . tantalizing reading." —Publishers Weekly, starred review "Rich in detail and full of gore and blood, this dark novel will satisfy ‘Game of Thrones’ fans ." —School Library Journal “A stunning reimagining of the Evil Queen. Filled with treacherous courtesans, dark magic, terrible choices, and bloody hearts, Julie Dao’s exquisite take on this classic villain rises far above the average retelling.”—Stephanie Garber, New York Times bestselling author of Caraval “ Magnetic, seductive, and alluring , Dao’s Forest of a Thousand Lanterns is a lush, captivating read about desire and the lengths to which we will go to find our true destiny.”—S. Jae-Jones, New York Times bestselling author of Wintersong

Review: A Haunting Story with a Phenomenal Antihero - With its richly imagined world and wonderfully diabolic antihero, FOREST OF A THOUSAND LANTERNS is a haunting debut that readers won't soon forget. This novel is unlike anything I've ever read before and is certainly one of my favorite books I've read this year. I adore a complex and unreliable main character, and Xifeng beautifully embodies those characteristics. Dao did such a wonderful job of showing Xifeng's backstory, motivations, and human characteristics as well as the darkness lurking inside her. Xifeng might not always be a likable character, but she is an unfailingly fascinating one. Being inside her mind was such a darkly captivating experience, and I am just itching to find out what happens next in her story. The world-building in this novel is quite frankly stunning. From the richly imagined legends and mythology to the lush setting, the world of a FOREST OF A THOUSAND LANTERNS is entirely immersive and an absolute joy to read about. The plot of the story itself is very character-driven. This is truly a story of Xifeng's transformation from a naive and driven girl to a darkly powerful young woman. While there are several jaw-dropping and intense moments in the story, it isn't as action-packed as many YA fantasy novels. Instead we get focus more on the political maneuverings and character/world development. While that does mean the plot moves more slowly, Dao's writing is so decadent and provocative, I was absolutely addicted to it. There are some beautiful and heart-pounding romance scenes in this novel. These make for some lovely scenes in the story, without overpowering the overall plot. They are a part of Xifeng's character arc, but they are not the main motivation behind it, and I really appreciated that. Though Xifeng's motivations were far from pure, it was wonderful to see a female protagonist pursuing her dreams and ambitions and prioritizing those above romance. I was truly blown away by this story and by Xifeng herself. I would highly recommend this to any reader. This is such a unique story, and it truly stands out amongst the many YA fantasy novels I've read this year. I will most eagerly be anticipating the next book in the series.
Review: You'll Never Look at the Evil Queen the Same Way Again!! - I received this ARC from a fellow blogger in a fair trade. My review is honest and I was not compensated for my opinions. Forest of a Thousand Lanterns is Julie C. Dao’s YA debut! It’s an incredible origin story regarding the Evil Queen from Snow White, but in this one we get a whole new setting that’s far from the European tales we’re used to. This one takes place in Eastern Asia which really seems to fit with the story in some ways. Like all villain origin stories this one will make you see the Evil Queen in a new way, but maybe not quite in the way you’re expecting. Xifeng has been raised by her aunt to be beautiful and seen. She’s basically been trained her whole life to one day be Empress, her aunt has foretold this with the cards, yet Xifeng wants nothing more than to get out from under her aunt’s thumb. The abuse she’s suffered over the years hasn’t been easy, though in a way, it has made Xifeng the strong, capable young woman that she’s become. Xifeng already has some rebel tendencies, for she has a secret lover, Wei, who asks her to run away with him. And finally she does. Though she soon finds herself on the very path her aunt wanted her on to begin with. I quite enjoyed Julie’s take on the Evil Queen. Xifeng isn’t quite a Cath from Marissa Meyer’s Heartless, where you see goodness turned mad. Xifeng already has some selfish qualities to her, but nothing that you can truly notice right away. It’s more the progression of it all. True, at times I was sympathizing for her, especially during the cruel times with her aunt. But as the story goes on, you see her Evil Queen-ness coming to the fore. And yet, I still kinda rooted for her. Sure she’s evil, but alas, I kind of wanted to see how far she could get! There’s definitely more to this story though. There’s this kind of darkness that lives inside Xifeng. She acknowledges it more than once, so it’s significant. You think this could just be her Evil Queen-ness coming about, but it’s so much more than that! And we do get to learn more about Xifeng’s past that is the precursor for her journey. I’ll admit, I struggled with this one for a little bit in the beginning but once I overcame those first few chapters, things really got interesting. There were also these little “Easter Eggs” of the Snow White fairy tale that occasionally popped up. Things like apples and mirrors and other entities. It can be hard not to think of the Disney version of Snow White when reading and wondering what some of these little appearances might be, but just remember that there was a definite dark side to the original Snow White fairy tale and you will see in this one a dark side as well. It’s hard to really say if there was romance in this one. In a way, I say not. Xifeng’s character didn’t seem to fit the role for one looking for romance. But there are romantic interludes, so there’s that. What’s hard to remember at times that Xifeng is the Evil Queen (to be). She’s a villain, so her finding love as a teenager seems unlikely anyway, at least that’s how I saw things. The ending was decidedly good too. You pretty much know where things are going, but the execution was still done exceedingly well! I always love a fresh take on fairy tales or origin stories of certain characters. And that’s what we get with this one! Though when I checked Goodreads, it looks like there’s a sequel. Whether that one will be a direct sequel or a spinoff or maybe a different villain’s origin stories set within the same world has yet to be revealed! It’s hard sometimes to realize that information about the sequel won’t necessarily be ready with the first one! Forest of a Thousand Lanterns is a remarkable story of the girl who will soon grow to be the Evil Queen. Whether you find her to be good or evil at the start is for you to decide. Xifeng is an ambitious young woman, but ambitions can be deadly when you’re the Evil Queen! A must read for all fairy tale fans and fans of character origin stories! Overall Rating 4.75/5 stars—yes that little hiccup of a start has me once again giving an awkward rating. While it was a bit of rough start, I truly ended up loving this one by the end and dying for more from Julie!!

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| Best Sellers Rank | #580,278 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #1,141 in Teen & Young Adult Romantic Mysteries & Thrillers #1,152 in Teen & Young Adult Fantasy & Supernatural Mysteries & Thrillers #1,481 in Teen & Young Adult Thrillers & Suspense (Books) |
| Customer Reviews | 4.3 out of 5 stars 480 Reviews |

## Images

![Forest of a Thousand Lanterns (Rise of the Empress) - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81xv02XvG6L.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A Haunting Story with a Phenomenal Antihero
*by P***Y on October 23, 2017*

With its richly imagined world and wonderfully diabolic antihero, FOREST OF A THOUSAND LANTERNS is a haunting debut that readers won't soon forget. This novel is unlike anything I've ever read before and is certainly one of my favorite books I've read this year. I adore a complex and unreliable main character, and Xifeng beautifully embodies those characteristics. Dao did such a wonderful job of showing Xifeng's backstory, motivations, and human characteristics as well as the darkness lurking inside her. Xifeng might not always be a likable character, but she is an unfailingly fascinating one. Being inside her mind was such a darkly captivating experience, and I am just itching to find out what happens next in her story. The world-building in this novel is quite frankly stunning. From the richly imagined legends and mythology to the lush setting, the world of a FOREST OF A THOUSAND LANTERNS is entirely immersive and an absolute joy to read about. The plot of the story itself is very character-driven. This is truly a story of Xifeng's transformation from a naive and driven girl to a darkly powerful young woman. While there are several jaw-dropping and intense moments in the story, it isn't as action-packed as many YA fantasy novels. Instead we get focus more on the political maneuverings and character/world development. While that does mean the plot moves more slowly, Dao's writing is so decadent and provocative, I was absolutely addicted to it. There are some beautiful and heart-pounding romance scenes in this novel. These make for some lovely scenes in the story, without overpowering the overall plot. They are a part of Xifeng's character arc, but they are not the main motivation behind it, and I really appreciated that. Though Xifeng's motivations were far from pure, it was wonderful to see a female protagonist pursuing her dreams and ambitions and prioritizing those above romance. I was truly blown away by this story and by Xifeng herself. I would highly recommend this to any reader. This is such a unique story, and it truly stands out amongst the many YA fantasy novels I've read this year. I will most eagerly be anticipating the next book in the series.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ You'll Never Look at the Evil Queen the Same Way Again!!
*by J***. on October 10, 2017*

I received this ARC from a fellow blogger in a fair trade. My review is honest and I was not compensated for my opinions. Forest of a Thousand Lanterns is Julie C. Dao’s YA debut! It’s an incredible origin story regarding the Evil Queen from Snow White, but in this one we get a whole new setting that’s far from the European tales we’re used to. This one takes place in Eastern Asia which really seems to fit with the story in some ways. Like all villain origin stories this one will make you see the Evil Queen in a new way, but maybe not quite in the way you’re expecting. Xifeng has been raised by her aunt to be beautiful and seen. She’s basically been trained her whole life to one day be Empress, her aunt has foretold this with the cards, yet Xifeng wants nothing more than to get out from under her aunt’s thumb. The abuse she’s suffered over the years hasn’t been easy, though in a way, it has made Xifeng the strong, capable young woman that she’s become. Xifeng already has some rebel tendencies, for she has a secret lover, Wei, who asks her to run away with him. And finally she does. Though she soon finds herself on the very path her aunt wanted her on to begin with. I quite enjoyed Julie’s take on the Evil Queen. Xifeng isn’t quite a Cath from Marissa Meyer’s Heartless, where you see goodness turned mad. Xifeng already has some selfish qualities to her, but nothing that you can truly notice right away. It’s more the progression of it all. True, at times I was sympathizing for her, especially during the cruel times with her aunt. But as the story goes on, you see her Evil Queen-ness coming to the fore. And yet, I still kinda rooted for her. Sure she’s evil, but alas, I kind of wanted to see how far she could get! There’s definitely more to this story though. There’s this kind of darkness that lives inside Xifeng. She acknowledges it more than once, so it’s significant. You think this could just be her Evil Queen-ness coming about, but it’s so much more than that! And we do get to learn more about Xifeng’s past that is the precursor for her journey. I’ll admit, I struggled with this one for a little bit in the beginning but once I overcame those first few chapters, things really got interesting. There were also these little “Easter Eggs” of the Snow White fairy tale that occasionally popped up. Things like apples and mirrors and other entities. It can be hard not to think of the Disney version of Snow White when reading and wondering what some of these little appearances might be, but just remember that there was a definite dark side to the original Snow White fairy tale and you will see in this one a dark side as well. It’s hard to really say if there was romance in this one. In a way, I say not. Xifeng’s character didn’t seem to fit the role for one looking for romance. But there are romantic interludes, so there’s that. What’s hard to remember at times that Xifeng is the Evil Queen (to be). She’s a villain, so her finding love as a teenager seems unlikely anyway, at least that’s how I saw things. The ending was decidedly good too. You pretty much know where things are going, but the execution was still done exceedingly well! I always love a fresh take on fairy tales or origin stories of certain characters. And that’s what we get with this one! Though when I checked Goodreads, it looks like there’s a sequel. Whether that one will be a direct sequel or a spinoff or maybe a different villain’s origin stories set within the same world has yet to be revealed! It’s hard sometimes to realize that information about the sequel won’t necessarily be ready with the first one! Forest of a Thousand Lanterns is a remarkable story of the girl who will soon grow to be the Evil Queen. Whether you find her to be good or evil at the start is for you to decide. Xifeng is an ambitious young woman, but ambitions can be deadly when you’re the Evil Queen! A must read for all fairy tale fans and fans of character origin stories! Overall Rating 4.75/5 stars—yes that little hiccup of a start has me once again giving an awkward rating. While it was a bit of rough start, I truly ended up loving this one by the end and dying for more from Julie!!

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ An Excellent Debut!
*by C***H on October 24, 2017*

Xifeng lives the life of a peasant with her seamstress aunt, practicing the family trade. Though poor, she has her natural beauty, a place in her world, and the love of Wei, one of the local craftsmen. But the marks on her back betray the cruel beatings Xifeng receives at the hands of her aunt. And yet both she and her overbearing guardian sense Xifeng is destined for greater things. Indeed, her destiny, if she chooses to pursue it, will take her to the royal court, and even a position of power in the continent of Feng Lu. So says the darkness that writhes within her. A darkness born of magic. But to gain the world, Xifeng will have to give her soul to that darkness. She must choose between poverty and power, love and selfish ambition. A home with Wei, or a throne beside the Emperor. And the darkness within will not make the choice easy. Julie has created a rich fantasy, almost fairy-tale, world based in East Asian culture, with characters that pop out of the pages. Xifeng is an interesting protagonist, because, without giving too much away, she’s not your average heroine. Indeed, throughout the whole book, her motives are torn between self-interest and doing what’s right. As the story goes on, one side gradually dominates the other. But needless to say, she’s not always very likable, and it’s to Julie’s credit that you feel any sympathy for her, or root for her in any way. There are twists to the story, and characters you need to keep an eye on. Things are not always as they seem. This is the first of a multi-novel series, so the book ends on a cliff-hanger, with loose ends that need to be resolved. And that’s probably as much as I can say without spoiling it for you! I don’t usually read YA Fantasy [Side bar: Xifeng is 18 at the start of the novel, which is a little old for a YA protagonist. Yet the voice and style of the novel is definitely YA, which goes to show, age isn’t everything for YA.], but I looked forward to this book and thoroughly enjoyed it. There are a couple of s-words, and some gruesome images, so on the whole, I’d rate it a PG-15. But it’s elegantly written, and well deserving of your attention. I could see this being picked up by Studio Ghibli, so if you like their movies (think “Spirited Away” and “Howl’s Moving Castle”), you’ll particularly enjoy this book. An easy 5 stars.

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