Forest Of A Thousand Lanterns

"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."--Marie Lu, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Legend

"Beautiful, lush, and stunningly intricate, Forest of a Thousand Lanterns is this year's must-read fantasy!"--Sandhya Menon, New York Times bestselling author of When Dimple Met Rishi

*"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"--Booklist, starred review

*"Lushly written . . . The demons [Xifeng] faces are both literal and metaphorical, external and internal, and her tug-of-war with the forces driving her down a dark path makes for tantalizing reading. A fascinating examination of destiny, responsibility, and how choices shape a person."--Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Rich in detail and full of gore and blood, this dark novel will satisfy Game of Thrones fans."--SLJ

"Readers will appreciate the sweeping fantasy saga lifted from East Asian dynasties and endearing characters that are beautifully rendered."--Kirkus Reviews

"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."--Stephanie Garber, New York Times bestselling author of Caraval

"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."--S. Jae-Jones, New York Times bestselling author of Wintersong

"Forest of a Thousand Lanterns is a stunning debut, a sort of inside-out fairy tale where beauty is a weapon, ambition is armor, and the empire is the battlefield. Xifeng doesn't ask for what she wants--she takes it. This book is dangerous; you should read it."--Jodi Meadows, New York Times bestselling coauthor of My Lady Jane

"Searing and intense, Dao's debut is an outstanding character exploration of fairytales' most enduring and enigmatic characters: the Evil Queen. Equal parts lush and devastating, this is a tale that will grab you by the throat."--Roshani Chokshi, New York Times bestselling author of The Star-Touched Queen

"Julie C. Dao's Forest of a Thousand Lanterns is delicious, addicting, and breathtaking; a book you fall into from the first page to the last. Her rich world is thick with wonder, intrigue, and delightful darkness. Readers will root for Xifeng no matter the choices she must make; we want her to win."--Dhonielle Clayton, author of The Belles and the Tiny Pretty Things series

"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!"--Cindy Pon, author of WANT and Serpentine

"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."--Zoraida Córdova, award-winning author of Labyrinth Lost

"Forest of a Thousand Lanterns is dark and seductive; beware, this tale will draw you deeper into the forest than you want to go. Disturbingly good."--Stacey Lee, award-winning author of Outrun the Moon

"Set in an East Asian-inspired fantasy world filled with both breathtaking pain and beauty, Forest of a Thousand Lanterns contains dazzling magic, heartbreaking romance, and a world that hangs in the balance."--Bustle.com

"When I think of game-changers, I think of things that haven't been done before. Something that sets a trend, that blazes a trail. So Julie C. Dao's Forest of a Thousand Lanterns def. fits the bill of a game-changer."--Forever Young Adult