By Megan Bannen
Balzer + Bray, 2018. 416 pages. Young Adult
Set in the Mongol Empire around the 12th century, Jinghua is a young slave with a secret past in the Kipchak Khanate. She swears to serve young Prince Khalaf, but when invaders force Khalaf and his father out of their homeland and out of power, Khalaf believes the only course forward is to pursue a marriage with Turandokht, daughter of the Great Kahn. However Turandokht has no desire to wed, and has devised a challenge of three near impossible riddles. If a suitor can solve all three riddles she will agree to marriage, but failure means death. Jinghua strives to help Khalaf, but her feelings for him grow, and as her past unwinds her loyalties will be called into question.
The setting of this book is what made me pick it up to begin with, but the amazing characters and plot made me fall in love with it. The story unfolds over time as the perspective alternates between past and present, making for some massive revelations as the story progresses. This book is based on the Puccini’s opera, Turnadot, but changes the focus from Turnadokht and Khalaf to Jinghua. While I loved this book, you may want to read it with tissues nearby.
ACS
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