Despite his resentment in being a prize, prince Taro also finds himself drawn to Mari. Akira, son of a ghost-yokai and foreign human father, and in love with Mari, follows her to the city and is recruited into the yokai resistance. Since the death of the empress, yokai have been hunted down, killed, and enslaved with impunity. Because Mari is plain, she is trained in combat from an early age to enter the competition and steal the imperial fortune-a huge risk, as many of the contestants die, and if her true identity is discovered, death is certain. They marry human men and abscond with their possessions to support the clan. Mari is from the clan of Animal Wife yokai, strikingly beautiful women who appear human but who also have a monstrous yokai form. The empress of Honoku has always been chosen from among human women, through a contest of surviving the elements and demon yokai of the seasonal rooms of the imperial palace.

A narrative that will engage fans of the genre with a much-needed non-Western setting.A contest to choose the next empress of Honoku has three characters making decisions that will shape the empire and the fate of an enslaved people. '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 Reviews 'Jean's world building is incredible.'- Booklist 'Will latch onto your imagination and sweep you along for a magical and dangerous ride.'-Joelle Charbonneau, New York Times–bestselling author of The Testing Trilogy Redwine, New York Times–bestselling author of The Bloodspell 'Dark, daring, and utterly delicious.'-C.J.

Torn between duty and love, loyalty and betrayal, vengeance and forgiveness, the choices of Mari, Taro, and Akira will decide the fate of Honoku. 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. Mari is a yōkai with the ability to transform into a terrifying monster. And it would be, if she weren't hiding a dangerous secret. Mari has spent a lifetime training to become empress. All are eligible to compete-all except yōkai, supernatural monsters and spirits whom the human emperor is determined to enslave and destroy. Conquer Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall. Survive the palace's enchanted seasonal rooms. In this Japanese folklore–inspired YA fantasy for fans of The Hunger Games, a lowly young woman with a monstrous secret competes to become empress.Įach generation, a competition is held to find the next empress of Honoku.

Emiko jean empress of all seasons