Under A Lavender Moon
Christina Mai Fong
(Nightingale Songs, #1)
Published by: Acorn Publishing
Publication date: February 11th 2021
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
Sixteen-year-old Rilla Marseas believes she has a calling to become a healer. Her soul yearns to help people and save lives. Why else would Heaven grant her a singing voice that can heal any ailment? But if the palace discovers her power, she’ll be selected for the annual Showcase, where the most beautiful and magically gifted girls in Seracedar Kingdom compete for the chance to enter the emperor’s harem. That’s the last thing Rilla wants. To avoid such a fate, she hides her power. No matter how the other villagers ridicule her for being worthless and talentless, she suppresses the urge to reveal her powerful voice and prove them wrong. When a palace scout poisons Rilla’s auntie and coerces her into revealing her power, she’s thrown into the competition. The scout threatens to harm her family if she doesn’t win. But Rilla learns there really is no winning. The emperor and empress keep girls with magical powers as pets. In cages. With some help from a handsome, but brooding prince and his mysterious bodyguard, Rilla must outsmart the palace and escape. If she fails, she’ll spend the rest of her life as the royal couple’s puppet, using her voice to grant them eternal youth.
MY REVIEW
I loved this story! I loved the unique magic system, where different gifts manifest and are utilised by the girls through song or dance. It seems that song and dance are not the only ways to channel the magic though.
Girls of a certain age are chosen each year in order to compete to become one of the emperor’s faela, and enter the harem. Rilla has an amazing gift, but she has hidden it because her family did not want her chosen for the competition. Those who do not become faela themselves become servants to the faela. Neither are allowed to leave and return to their families. Unfortunately, Rilla’s gift is discovered and she isn’t given a choice about entering the competition.
Once on the inside, Rilla learns the true extent of the rot behind the throne. With the help of several on the inside, Rilla takes a stand to help the other girls and women trapped beneath the emperor’s thumb.
Highly recommended! I’m looking forward to the next one.
Author Bio:
I was a Bio major, pre-med in college, but I couldn’t stand the sight of blood. I used to write poems and stories in the margins of my science notebooks. Well, after a reality check, I decided to pursue a career in Food Science because I like food, and everyone needs to eat. Meanwhile, I continued to write. My absolute FAVORITE books are YA Fantasy, so it’s no surprise that I chose to write it, too.
Having been raised in Southern California, where there’s a healthy blend of cultures, I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t put an Asian American spin in my stories. And having always been the “quiet, shy girl,” who often felt like a wallflower even though I wanted desperately to be the heroine, I’m so glad I now get the opportunity to make the underestimated good girls my heroines. But of course, I’m forcing them out of their comfort zones so they have to embrace their dark side and kick some villainous butt.
GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Hosted by:
