#BookReview for Empress of All Seasons by Emiko Jean

Synopsis: In a palace of illusions, nothing is what it seems.

Each generation, a competition is held to find the next empress of Honoku. The rules are simple. Survive the palace’s enchanted seasonal rooms. Conquer Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall. Marry the prince. All are eligible to compete—all except yōkai, supernatural monsters and spirits whom the human emperor is determined to enslave and destroy.

Mari has spent a lifetime training to become empress. Winning should be easy. And it would be, if she weren't hiding a dangerous secret. Mari is a yōkai with the ability to transform into a terrifying monster. If discovered, her life will be forfeit. As she struggles to keep her true identity hidden, Mari’s fate collides with that of Taro, the prince who has no desire to inherit the imperial throne, and Akira, a half-human, half-yōkai outcast.

Torn between duty and love, loyalty and betrayal, vengeance and forgiveness, the choices of Mari, Taro, and Akira will decide the fate of Honoku in this beautifully written, edge-of-your-seat YA fantasy. 

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About the Author: Emiko Jean is the author of the psychological suspense novel, We'll Never Be Apart. Her second novel, Empress of All Seasons, is inspired by her Japanese heritage. Emiko lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and children. Aside from reading and writing, she loves hiking and travel. Find her at: emikojean.com or follow her on Twitter at: @emikojeanbooks.

Rating: 🌟🌟
My Review: I was so excited to finally get to this title and sadly that is where my excitement stopped.  This has got to be one of the most confusing/boring titles that I have read this year.  So this title has three POVs and I have to say that Mari was my least favorite.  She is very passive and really just didn't make any choices.  The POV of the prince was ok and then the last one I don't even remember what his name was we just didn't really need at all.  I think that this book suffered from so much.  Mari spends most of the story being told she is ugly until the prince come along and well that just didn't well with me at all.  

For me this one needed a lot of help and just was not for me at all. 

Go Into This One Knowing: Three POVs, Body Shaming, Slavery, Rape, Child Abuse, Self-Injury,  Forced Adoption,  Death by Starvation, Animal Cruelty, Animal Death

"Dark, daring, and utterly delicious. Emiko Jean is a bold new voice in YA fantasy." 

-- C.J. Redwine, New York Times best-selling author of The Shadow Queen 

"With rich mythology and elegant atmosphere, Empress of All Seasons will latch onto your imagination and sweep you along for a magical and dangerous ride."

-- Joelle Charbonneau, New York Times best-selling author of The Testing Trilogy.

Jean's world building is incredible and reflects her Japanese heritage, from the richly described landscapes of the animal wives' home to the city of Honoku to the seasonal rooms. Action, romance, family, and self-discovery are all parts of Mari's journey...In a genre that is quick to make trilogies and quartets, this is laudable as a standalone that fully tells its story within a single volume."

-- Booklist

"The author uses Japanese folklore elements to effectively craft an engaging story that also questions the power structures of heaven and earth, male and female, human and yokai. A narrative that will engage fans of the genre with a much-needed non-Western setting."

-- Kirkus

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Posted in: 2 Stars, HMH Books, Review, Young Adult