It’s attending to be a crowded place, this space of fantasy dedicated to Asian-inspired fantasy. There’s a whole lot of it about: R F Kuang’s Poppy Warfare Collection, Fonda Lee’s Jade Bone Collection, to not point out books by authors comparable to Elizabeth Lim, Shelley Parker-Chan, and Malinda Lo and others – be at liberty so as to add extra your self.
Whether or not it’s modern-day world utilizing Chinese language traditions (Fonda Lee’s Jade Metropolis) or a Shogun-esque historical world (The Poppy Warfare) it’s undoubtedly fashionable.
The Poet Empress does appear to be loosely linked to those as it’s set in a world not-named China, however with a tradition similar to it, full of Emperors, Empresses, peasants, poverty-stricken villages, point out of the Silk Street and a rigidly hierarchical class society of dynasties with long-lasting traditions (in addition to magic and Chinese language dragons!) it’s straightforward to assume to it as an Asian-inspired society. When just lately requested to briefly describe what the e-book was like in a sentence, I stated “Assume Recreation of Thrones however with Chinese language dragons!”
At a primary degree, that is true. The story begins like it’ll be a kind of ‘rags-to-riches’ tales the place the hero/heroine manifests their very own future. Wei, the individual round whom this story is focussed, is in any case, by her personal description, an unattractive and unconfident younger village peasant who’s plucked out of nowhere to turn out to be engaged to the subsequent Emperor (as soon as his ailing father dies.)
This isn’t with out hazard. Prince Terren, her fiancé, is understood to kill individuals on a whim. Born into a lifetime of privilege, he’s a totally horrible man. His concept of leisure entails him slicing and torturing Wei most nights earlier than utilizing magic to heal her bodily wounds.
That is all reasonably (intentionally) disagreeable. It’s not for nothing that this e-book carries a ‘set off warning’: “Please be suggested that the e-book accommodates depictions of bodily and sexual violence, which incorporates bodily and sexual abuse of minors and torture; substantial alcohol use; and violence dedicated by an intimate associate. Readers delicate to those components, please learn with care.” I don’t usually point out such issues, however right here I really feel that it’s justified. The graphically violent components made me wince in locations.
Wei feels trapped, unable to surrender and but ready that’s untenable. To assist herself she turns into decided to do one thing in secret which is forbidden for girls – be taught to put in writing. Phrases right here have magic powers and if written in a sure method, at a sure time, might result in her torturer’s demise.
Clearly, there’s a excessive diploma of danger. Wei could possibly be be completely killed at any time, and he or she is conscious that her ‘failure’ would additionally result in the demise of her household and other people within the village she got here from.
She additionally on the identical time has to barter the social circles of the opposite concubines who, coming from the wealthy and influential Homes see her as a usurper.
Her relationship with Terren adjustments too, as in her seek for hidden particulars that will make her heart-poem spell stronger, she finds out the explanations for his actions. For a lot of the e-book there’s a “will she- gained’t she?” concept that she may simply forgive her torturer in some type of Stockholm syndrome-type response.
At this stage we subsequently have a whole lot of components readers might recognise – characters who start in a foul place however who’re decided to make issues higher; characters who overcome bodily and sexual violence and violence dedicated by an intimate associate; politics, gender points, dominant males and submissive females.
By the tip of the e-book although all of that is resolved, and the ending is each reasonably applicable and even satisfying. It’s not what I used to be anticipating.
In abstract then, The Poet Empress is a startlingly good debut novel. Shen manages to stability using fantasy-esque vocabulary and Asian ideas of household, society and morals with accessibility and tempo. The prose is exclusive sufficient to be a fantasy, but accessible sufficient for the plot to develop with out having to provide detailed notes alongside the best way. It flows effectively, the characters are comprehensible, the world-building is excellent.
If you’re new to studying such materials, this can be a nice one to start out with, and there’s quite a bit that I believe will seize your consideration. (Thoughts you, the beautiful cowl might assist.)
In abstract, this one’s a really promising debut with potential to do very effectively, so long as it may be seen to face out within the crowd. I believe it can – The Poet Empress deserves your consideration. Regardless of my preliminary considerations, this one is value studying to the tip. As my first Fantasy learn for 2026, I believe we’re off to begin.
© 2026 Mark Yon
Hardback | Gollancz
THE POET EMPRESS by Shen Tao
January 2026 | 400 pages
ISBN: 978-139 9628 969
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