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I don’t know how it’s going at your house dear readers, but it’s hot here.  My people are out of school for summer and they’re already pestering me about when we can go to the beach.  Well darling children, we do have those plans, and have already communicated them to you repeatedly, but as for me and my book, I am counting down the days until I get to take this hold off the shelf and open it up!  If you too are longing to take a “trip” to the beach before you can physically get there, join us in reading Emily Henry’s Beach Read and discussing it on June 18th at 7:30pm Central Time.  Be sure to SIGN UP HERE to get the directions (aka link) to the Virtual Book Club beach house!  

I’ve had a headline show up in my feed for the past few days (and naturally not today) about how YA dystopian trilogies are no longer a pop culture thing and it made me sad.  While I haven’t (yet) read The Hunger Games, I’ve read many a YA novel, and most of those are either dystopian or fantasy, and they are a special love of mine.  So when, in the second chapter of Empress of All Seasons by Emiko Jean, I texted Ashley with “THIS IS THE SELECTION WITH MAGIC?!” and then she replied with “this one? you mean all of themz?” I was not ok.  Once we got her ish dealt with and she realized I was talking about The Selection trilogy by Kiera Cass, I felt much better. [Ashley here: I thought she was saying our blog ‘selection’ not ‘The Selection.’ It’s VERY difficult to understand a text message with all capital letters that comes out of literally nowhere. Carry on.] I do, however, want to amend my statement – this is The Selection meets The Hunger Games with magic instead of technology (yes, there is a Game Maker equivalent!) and it was EVERYTHING I wanted it to be!

I want to say all the things about Empress of All Seasons by Emiko Jean, which likely means I should say very few things about it.  There is mythology perfectly placed throughout the story.  There is gorgeous world-building that places us firmly in both the rural and urban locations in feudal Japan, but also among the fantastical inhabitants and magic of it as well.  The writing is gorgeous, and suits the three characters who lend their perspectives to the reader.  This is a powerful text discussing young people finding their place in the world, slavery and racism, and how we deal with grief and loss.  

I want to share some of my favorite mic drop moments in Empress of All Seasons, just out of context.  There were so many amazing nuggets of wisdom scattered throughout and here are some that I love best:

“He was good at wearing masks. His favorite was a formidable expression. He used it often. So often that sometimes he forgot who lay beneath.”

“Isn’t that the foundation of bravery, resilience coupled with an iron will?”

“Do not let your fear decide your fate.”

“I am [spoilers removed] and whatever else I deem worthy and part of myself. I choose. No one else.”

I’m giving Empress of All Seasons 4.5 stars, rounding up to 5 for an amazing story, beautifully written.  I’m also really interested in her May 18, 2021 release – Tokyo Ever After (#1), and may have already recommended it to my local library!  

What have you read recently that reminds you of an old favorite?

~Nikki 

As Nikki said above, Emiko Jean is a YA author of 3 published works: 2015’s We’ll Never Be Apart, 2018’s Empress of All Seasons, and 2021’s new release and Reese’s YA Bookclub pick Tokyo Ever After. According to her website bio, she’s written “more than half a dozen” other books that have been rejected by agents and publishers, and admits that her Twilight Fan-Fiction exists on the internet but if you bring it to her attention she will “deny that she ever wrote it.” She’s a mom of twins and lives in Washington with them and her husband. When you read the acknowledgements at the end of Empress of All Seasons, Jean admits that during the publication of the novel she was pregnant for them, in the hospital on bedrest, had them early at thirty-one weeks, and then the babies spent a month in the NICU. Can you imagine the labor of love to birth a book at the same time as twins?! Nope, me either. Obviously it takes a village to accomplish both! Additional note, IceyDesigns is the creator of Jean’s website, and we know from this blog post that’s the company name of author Hafsah Faizal!

Darling readers, this book was everything I expected from Nikki’s surprise text messages and the marketing copy. Did I know anything about Japanese mythology going into reading this, nope. But, Jean does give us a list of specific books in her acknowledgements that I will share with you here in case you’re interested in a formal deep dive: Handbook of Japanese Mythology, Arts of Japan: MFA Highlights, Japanese Art and Design, The World of the Shining Prince: Court Life in Ancient Japan, The Book of Yokai: Mysterious Creatures of Japanese Folklore, and Edo Culture: Daily Life and Diversions in Urban Japan, 1600-1868. Yes, I know that’s a lot of links there, but I’m finding this topic fascinating and appreciate a well researched topic with a solid bibliography. Jean didn’t have to provide even one title for our edification and she provided seven for which I thank her.

I was engrossed in the characters, the plot, and the setting from beginning to end. Speaking of ends, there’s a helpful glossary at the back of the book (both digital and dead tree) for when you’re reading this doubly recommended book. It’s a full-on YA genre book but because of its fantastical setting and magical plot points Empress of All Seasons was the escapist read I needed after finishing a nonfiction title. Mari, our female lead character, – as Nikki mentioned there’s quite an ensemble cast- goes through the typical YA genre coming of age angst. It’s a coming of age tale but also a coming into one’s self-knowledge and -acceptance, personal power, and finding people who love you for who you ARE now, not just who you WERE or COULD become. That’s the kind of story that everyone should want to read.

I’m also giving Empress of All Seasons 4.5 stars rounded up to five. It was everything I needed it to be and I’m excited for Jean’s backlist and future titles!

What fiction title have you read that thrilled you by its author’s attention to research and detail accompanied by bibliographical prowess?

~Ashley

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