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FOREST OF A THOUSAND LANTERNS

Julie Dao

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.
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 veinssorcery 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.

Julie C. Dao is a proud Vietnamese-American who was born in upstate New York. She studied medicine in college, but came to realize blood and needles were her Kryptonite. By day, she worked in science news and research; by night, she wrote books about heroines unafraid to fight for their dreams, which inspired her to follow her passion of becoming a published author. Forest of a Thousand Lanterns is her debut novel. Julie lives in New England.
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Published 2017-10-01 by Philomel

Book

Published 2017-10-01 by Philomel

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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.

Paste named Forest of a Thousand Lanterns to its "Best YA Books of 2018" list! Read more...

Russian: AST ; Spanish: Roca Editorial

Forest of a Thousand Lanternsis dark and seductive; beware, this tale will draw you deeper into the forest than you want to go. Disturbingly good.

Bustle (42 million uvpm) exclusively reveals the cover and an excerpt of FOREST OF A THOUSAND LANTERNS by Julie C. Dao! Read more...

Tor.com named Forest of a Thousand Lanterns to its best YA of the year list! Read more...

LUSHLY WRITTEN. . .tantalizingreading.

An enchanting debut with a powerful and ambitious lead. Vivid and seductive, Forest of a Thousand Lanterns is one of the best debuts of the year.

Bustle (42 million uvpm) includes the book in “13 Obsession-Worthy Young Adult Fantasy Books Hitting Shelves in 17” and “9 YA Retellings Out In 2017 That Breathe New Life Into the Fairytales & Classics” round-ups. Read more...

The Mary Sue (1.2 million uvpm) ran a Q&A with author Julie C. Dao Read more...

Rich in detail and full of gore and blood, this dark novel WILLSATISFY 'GAME OF THRONES' FANS.

This is a book filled with turmoil and drama that will leave you wanting more.with wonderfully descriptive writing and prose WORTHY OF A MOVIE, this is one book that you'll want to check out.

I can't wait for Julie Dao's Forest of a Thousand Lanterns — a reimagining of the evil queen from Snow White based on Asian folklore and mythology that promises to be lush and immersive and gripping. In order to become Empress of Feng Lu, Xifeng must unleash a jealous god on the world and set free the viciousness of her own soul.

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.

Listen up, fantasy addicts: Get ready to dive headfirst into A GORGEOUS, DARK AND MYSTERIOUS NEW WORLD.

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. Read more...

Readers will appreciate the sweeping fantasy saga lifted from East Asian dynasties and endearingCHARACTERS THAT ARE BEAUTIFULLY RENDERED.

Dark, lush, and intense, Forest of a Thousand Lanterns draws you into a world filled with mystery and intrigue, led by a heroine determined to grasp her destiny. A stunning debut!

This weekend Julie Dao was in the spotlight as a guest on author Claribel Ortega's up-and-coming Write Or Die podcast, in which she talks about her publishing journey (it's very inspiring!) and her secret Harry Potter fan fiction! Read more...

Buzzfeed (69,875,666 uvpm) included the novel in their holiday gift guide - and also in their YA gift guide! Read more...

Prime Video Orders 'Rise Of The Empress' Series Based On Books With Gemma Chan, Viola Davis & Forest Whitaker Among EPs Read more...

Forest of a Thousand Lanterns will entertain you. It's an intriguing story set in a lush, descriptive world that will leave you wanting more. Read more...

If you've ever read a story, watched a movie, or played a game where the protagonist struggles with their dark side and secretly rooted for them to give into evil's SEDUCTIVE call,FOREST OF A THOUSAND LANTERNSIS ABSOLUTELY THE NOVEL FOR YOU.

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.

Set in an Asian-inspired fantasy realm, Dao's debut novel is A MASTERFUL REIMAGINING of the early life of Snow White's Evil Queen. Subverting the all-too-white world of fairy tales, this novel will trap readers in a lush, dangerously dark, and often beautiful world from which they will want no escape.