“What if I told you that the feeling we call love is actually the feeling of metaphysical recognition, when your soul remembers someone from a previous life?”

I was lucky to attend the author event organized by Team Frenzy in collaboration with HTP books at the beginning of February. The conversation with Justinian Huang was moderated by @johneepixels7 and what a funny conversation it was! From learning more about Justinian’s background in animation to his travels in China, we laughed and then laughed some more and ultimately awww’ed at the author’s experiences. I received an advanced reader's copy of the book at the event and was able to get it autographed!

Thank you, Team Frenzy, for the invite and the book!

This was the very first official “romantasy” that I have read since discovering that this is now an actual sub-genre.

Synopsis

In the year 4 BCE, an ambitious courtier is called upon to seduce the young emperor—but quickly discovers they are both ruled by blood, sex and intrigue.

In 1740, a lonely innkeeper agrees to help a mysterious visitor procure a rare medicine, only to unleash an otherworldly terror instead.

And in present-day Los Angeles, a college student meets a beautiful stranger and cannot shake the feeling they’ve met before.

Across these seemingly unrelated timelines woven together only by the twists and turns of fate, two men are reborn, lifetime after lifetime. Within the treacherous walls of an ancient palace and the boundless forests of the Asian wilderness to the heart-pounding cement floors of underground rave scenes, our lovers are inexplicably drawn to each other, constantly tested by the worlds around them.

As their many lives intertwine, they begin to realize the power of their undying love—a power that transcends time itself…but one that might consume them both.

Review

The author does not hold back, as we are thrust into the 18th century timeline and are showered with some spicy content within the first few pages. Before I was able to get my bearings, I was transported to 4 BCE, and then another jump - and I am in present times.

The book has a narrative of a fast-paced TV show with the scenes flashing back and forth and intertwined plotlines. There are flashbacks and premonitions, feelings of deja vu, and twists and turns that left me somewhat dizzy at first. And I must say it was spicier and darker than I expected!

The first meeting of the characters happens in 4 BCE, during China’s Han Dynasty, and that meeting becomes a cataclysm for all future rebirths and life cycles. The most amazing fact is that this plotline is actually based on real historical figures and the true story about Emperor Yuan and his male lovers!

The latest meeting is set in our current times in LA. The 18th century timeline serves as a milestone as it twists the narrative a bit and affects the future reincarnations. Each timeline has its own red thread (or a blue thread, I should say) that binds those narratives together.

I enjoy reading both character or relationship-focused stories and fast-paced action stories. Few authors manage to achieve a balance of both. Even though it is indisputable that the relationship between the main characters is at the core of the story, there are a lot of events that happen and lead to the eventual outcome of each life cycle. The pace is a pure rollercoaster that at times leaves you suspended in the air and then drops you unexpectedly.

During the author event, Justinian teased that this book might be the first one in a trilogy. I can totally see this happening as the ending left us hanging a bit for this genre.The novel can be read as a stand-alone though. However, I think it would benefit from additional timelines to show the character development and how all of those cycles led to the current timeline.

Another thing that the author said and it stuck with me - that there was a lot of symbolism on the cover of the book. The cover artist did an amazing job! It is one of my most favourite book covers now. Justinian said that we can find references to things and events in the book on the cover. I have analyzed the cover as well, but since it contains spoilers, I will not be sharing it in this review and post it separately.

It was an absolute delight to read “The Emperor and the Endless Palace”. I think this book will be attractive to dark romance, fantasy, and danmei readers. I can not wait to see what other stories Justinian will come up with next. I think I have just found myself another auto-buy author!

Rating: 4.5 stars

BISAC1 : FICTION / Fantasy / Epic
BISAC2 : FICTION / Fairy Tales, Folk Tales, Legends & Mythology
BISAC3 : FICTION / Romance / LGBT / Gay
BISAC4 : FICTION / Cultural Heritage