The Poet Empress

by Shen Tao

Debut author Shen Tao introduces readers to the lush, deadly world of The Poet Empress, a sweeping, epic and intimate fantasy perfect for fans of The Serpent & the Wings of Night, The Song of Achilles and She Who Became the Sun.

In the waning years of the Azalea Dynasty, the emperor is dying, the land consumed by famine, and poetry magic lost to all except the powerful.

Wei Yin is desperate. After the fifth death of a sibling, with her family and village on the brink of starvation, she will do anything to save those she loves.

Even offer herself as concubine to the cruel heir of the beautiful and brutal Azalea House.

But in a twist of fate, the palace stands on the knife-edge of civil war with Wei trapped in its center…at the side of a violent prince.

To survive, Wei must harden her heart, rely on her wit, and become dangerous herself. Even if it means becoming a poet in a world where women are forbidden to read—and composing the most powerful spell of all. A ballad of death...and love.

The Poet Empress is an epic fantasy that explores darker themes, subjects, and scenes that may not be suitable for all readers. Please see the author's content note at the beginning of the book.

Genres: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Romance, Fiction, Romantasy, Audiobook, Adult

400 pages, Hardcover

First published January 20, 2026

About the author

USA Today and Sunday Times bestselling and award-winning author Shen Tao immigrated to Canada at a young age, and grew up inspired by both Chinese and Western stories. Her debut novel, The Poet Empress, will be translated into 17 languages.

Reviews

[Yun · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Everyone believes their own cause is noble."
"Then may everyone do what they must to win."

Epic, beautiful, devastating—I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that The Poet Empress might just be the best historical fantasy I've ever read. And it's possible my heart may never recover.

It feels like I've been waiting all my life for this story. When you're raised on Chinese mythology, imperial dramas, and Zhang Yimou films, it's only natural to want more and better. And before anyone points me to Romance of the Three Kingdoms, I confess I craved something a little more contemporary (and a little less intimidating). So of course along comes Shen Tao to deliver everything I've ever wanted, right in her debut.

From the first page, I knew this was going to be something special. The writing is so sharp and vivid, it immediately drew me in to Wei and her plight. To be hungry and poor is her destiny and the destiny of everyone in her village. So when the opportunity arises to be concubine to the crown prince himself, what could Wei do but reach for it with both hands. She understands that to gain anything, she must first suffer. And so starts her journey into the scheming, treacherous Inner Court of the Azalea House.

So long as I was never hungry again, they could do to me anything they pleased.

What follows is a tale brimming with so much strength and resilience, and so much hope. I love strong female characters, and Wei is exactly that personified. She faces so much hardship, yet through sheer determination and cleverness, she overcomes it again and again. To cheer for Wei is to cheer for all the stories out there about little girls conquering insurmountable odds to bring nations and dynasties to their knees, and I'm so there for that.

I think one of the things that makes this story so riveting is that there is so much on the line. There is danger and death around every corner, and Shen Tao doesn't shy away from bringing the darker elements onto the pages. I often complain about low stakes ruining a story, so it's thrilling to read a book where the stakes are so high and the cost of failure so unthinkable that my heart was in my throat the whole time.

But Wei isn't perfect. In fact, no character in here is. And the exploration and revelation of every hero and every villain's good and evil is one of the most interesting aspects in this story. There are no good paths on the road to victory, only agonizing choices, so to lose bits and pieces of one's heart and soul is but a foregone conclusion. And this nuanced and complex characterization is at the center of this immersive tale's appeal.

It's also worth mentioning that this is a standalone, which I am a huge fan of. At a time when the fantasy genre tends to embrace ever longer series, it's refreshing to come across a book where the entire universe and narrative arc is kept to less than 400 pages. It means that the writing must be sharper, the plot tighter, and the resolutions more swift and satisfying. That's not to say I would mind if Tao ever decides to add to this story with a sequel, but it isn't necessary because everything is already wholly contained.

When it comes to fantasy, the one thing that makes me a little hesitant to go in is always the worldbuilding. You're just never sure what you're going to get. Will you slip right in seamlessly, or will you be spending hundreds of pages mired in the weeds before anything interesting even begins? Well, no fears here, my friends. We slip right in to a world where the rules of magic and poetry rein, but it feels as effortless as if it were our own.

But in order to enjoy this book, you do need to go in with the right expectations. First and foremost, there are parts of this story that are extremely dark. When you think about it, you can't have a tale about war and famine and suffering through the eyes of a concubine without it veering in that direction. There is abuse in all of its forms, and while it isn't gratuitous, it is present on the pages. For the right reader at the right time, that suffering adds to the authenticity and emotional resonance of the tale, but it isn't for every audience.

Secondly, in a publishing world where romantasy is the genre de rigueur and every conceivable story is implied to be one, this isn't it. This isn’t some sort of slow burn enemies to lovers, if you only waited long enough; this is enemies period. There is no romance in here whatsoever, only historical fantasy. All you readers who enjoy your fantasy with a big heaping pile of romance, you have been warned.

Sometimes I feel like what I think I want as a reader and what I actually want are two completely different things. I think I want cozy and easy, to just float on a bubble of happiness through a book. But what I actually want is to be put through the wringer, to step all over broken glass, and to feel my heart ripped out and broken and made anew. After all, what is the point of living if not to feel, what is the point of reading if not to be swept away on a tide of emotions so intense, it makes real life pale in comparison?

And so The Poet Empress achieves all that and more, coming in and completely trampling my heart and mangling my emotions. I have no doubt this fierce, lush, breathtaking story will stay with me for a long, long time.

"What is the point of suffering if we have nothing to gain?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~
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[Jaime Fok · Rating 5 out of 5]

RE-READ:
OMG this is still just as good if not better on the re-read. Sibling dynamics + succession line and upbringing will get me EVERY SINGLE TIME.


ORIGINAL REVIEW:
Guys, this is my new A Song to Drown Rivers OMG you must read this IMMEDIATELY when it comes out!

Such a brutal, tragic but beautiful story. It’s a different type of a fantasy book where instead of getting lots of action & complex plot, we instead do a dive into the past and dig into the upbringings of certain complex characters involved.

It’s one of those stories that will have you feeling conflicted feelings about everyone throughout (which is personally my fav type of book). You need to give this one time to cook, and when it cooks, it’s SO GOOD.

[Petrik · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC provided by the publisher—Tor Books and Gollancz—in exchange for an honest review.

I am in awe. The Poet Empress is absolute greatness manifested. This is a must-read epic fantasy standalone masterpiece for fans of The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang, The Dandelion Dynasty by Ken Liu, and Daughter of the Empire by Raymond E. Feist & Janny Wurts.

“You were born second, so you never learned the meaning of duty. You never learned that there is no glory without sacrifice. There is no greatness without suffering.”

I can’t emphasize this highly enough. To encounter a standalone epic fantasy book on this caliber is simply a blessing. For almost a decade, I've repeatedly put The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang as the best standalone fantasy novel I’ve ever read. During this stretch of time, Wang's masterpiece stands alone at the mountain's peak. Today, the solitude has changed. The Poet Empress appeared like a falling star that straight up landed its position beside The Sword of Kaigen. Both of them are standing tall side by side at the top in harmony, sharing their crowns. I honestly believe a standalone epic fantasy novel as good as these two books comes only about once a decade. The Poet Empress reminded me of some of my favorite fantasy books of all time while still ensuring, without a shadow of a doubt, that it stands magnificently strong with its own identity.

“Maybe you are meant to end something bad, so that you might begin something good.”

House of the azalea, where thorn meets bud;

Brother betrays brother, blood forgets blood.

The story in The Poet Empress follows Wei Yin. After the fifth death of a sibling, with her family and village on the brink of starvation, Wei Yin is desperate, and she will do, literally, anything to save those she loves. Even if this means offering herself as a concubine to the cruel and violent heir of the blood-gutted Azalea House, where poetry magic is power, but women are forbidden to read. But to save herself and the nation, Wei Yin realizes she must survive the dangers of the court, learn to read in secret, and compose the most powerful spell of all. A ballad of love and death.

“You are still thinking like a villager, not an empress… If you refuse to be cruel, someone will be cruel to you first. If you refuse to make others suffer, then you will be made to suffer first.”

If you've been online in the book space, you might've seen some reviews or marketing that placed The Poet Empress in the romantasy space. I personally think this assessment is far from accurate. That said, I sincerely hope it continues to reach more readers who will find themselves pleasantly surprised by the excellence of this book. Even if they approached the book with the wrong expectations. Sometimes, I like to let my optimism lead me to believe that a fantastic story will eventually find its audience. Especially one born out of passion for storytelling. Like how it arrived at my doorstep six months ago. From the prose, it is easy to tell Tao poured everything she had into crafting The Poet Empress. I consider myself blessed to have read this spectacular novel.

“Everyone who tells a story leaves a part of themselves inside it, he’d say. That is what gives it power. There is the feeling from the story, and the feeling from its teller, both working together.”

The Poet Empress is a dark story. It is violent, merciless, cruel, and emotionally devastating. There's no sugar coating it. It shows the harrowing lengths people will go to achieve greatness. The Poet Empress feels different from many fantasy books published in the past few years. I believe this is also why readers, myself included, felt that joy and book hangover from reading The Sword of Kaigen for the first time in The Poet Empress. I dare say, despite the gray area the ending thread upon, The Poet Empress actually ended more satisfyingly as a standalone.

“Put a mountain before a man, he once told me, and if he is worth anything, he is certain to climb it.”

Picture: The Poet Empress by Kelly Chong



One of my favorite elements about The Poet Empress is the way it encompasses many resonating themes within its narrative and delivers them brilliantly. Greatness, family, brotherhood, sacrifice, legacy, literature, love, and mainly, power. The lure, the pursuit of it, and the intoxication. Power corrupts, and it corrupts completely. To accomplish what she sets out to do, Wei needs to force herself through insane trials and tribulations. To kill a monster, does it mean Wei, too, must become one? Tao does not shy away from viciously putting her characters through malice, evil, and heartbreaking events. The character work and relationship dynamic are nothing short of outstanding. It felt effortless to be invested in the character’s journey. And guess what? All of these praises are not exclusive to Wei.

“It is easy to make fleeting footprints in the snow;
It is hard to make lasting marks in the stone.
Shall I dance ten thousand steps, unwitnessed?
Shall I make one carving, forever known?”

While it is true that Wei is the main POV character of The Poet Empress, she is not the only character in the spotlight. If you were to force me to choose my favorite chapters in The Poet Empress, I would have to say it is Terren and Maro’s flashback chapters. There is a saying that all children are born kind. Life, responsibility, forced obligations, and the weight of insidious expectations, sadly, have a way of feeding and staining these souls with unbridled malevolence. Tao seamlessly incorporates these masterfully written flashback chapters. The range of emotions I attained from reading the flashback chapters, especially when they are combined with Wei’s present-timeline story, knowing how far the brothers are from their initial innocence and joy, pretty much defines what I love most about reading and storytelling.

“My Ba told me once that all children are born kind, it is only later that they learn to be otherwise.”

Those who have followed my reviews for years will know by now that I consider The Dandelion Dynasty by Ken Liu as one of the masterpieces in epic fantasy. Trust me when I say that the flashback chapters and the deadly political intrigues in The Poet Empress felt redolent of Ken Liu’s way of storytelling. Additionally, Wei’s navigation through the merciless court politics and her determination to use everything in her mind, despite all the disadvantages, to triumph over her opposition and achieve her goals reminded me of the best aspects of Daughter of the Empire by Raymond E. Feist and Janny Wurts. No chapter felt wasted. Everything about The Poet Empress is breathtaking and unputdownable. It has been years since I was left this riveted and satisfied by an epic fantasy standalone novel.

“Now I understood why this vile thing, this thing that we could not even hold in our hands, this power, was something women and men fought so viciously for. Now I had tasted it for myself, and it was as sweet as peaches, as wine.”

From reading the first three chapters, I immediately knew I was reading a special novel for me. Reading is subjective. We cannot separate our respective life experiences from the enjoyment of a book. As an Asian diaspora myself, the plot and the Chinese-inspired world and magic—Literomancy—in The Poet Empress instantly clicked with me. Tensha, or the overall world-building in The Poet Empress, is heavily inspired by Imperial China. However, this does not make the book a historical fiction/fantasy. The character’s names are not all rooted in Chinese. Maro is a Japanese name. Terren is a Western name. The book doesn’t seek to be accurate to Chinese history, and I am sure it is never intended to be. The Poet Empress is certainly a high fantasy novel with Chinese influences.

“My life might be smaller than yours, but it is full of joy and worth living.”

Tao did implement Mandarin language in the literomancy magic, and I, as a reader who speaks Mandarin as a second language, found that this enhanced my reading experience. I did not know anything about Literomancy when I started reading the book. Frankly, if I had known, I would’ve read the book even sooner. How the magic works is relatively simple. For example, Prince Terren received the word 刀/Dao (Knife) as his Blessing. This means he has the power to summon—practically—infinite knives or swords as long as he has the energy to do so. If you play Final Fantasy XV, it is similar to Noctis’ power in the game. Maro’s 路/Lu (Road), on the other hand, reminded me of alchemy in Fullmetal Alchemist. They’re pretty damn cool and destructive. But it is the effect this magic has on the character’s development and the political conflict of the story that, hands down, increased the quality of the book extensively. Tao evidently demonstrated the importance of executing an idea with finesse. I won’t rob you of the experience. You just have to read and find out for yourself how superb it all was.

“I had thought it through the night before, and I understood now. Power was not always evil, the pursuit of it not always selfish. Being able to help one’s family, one’s village— that was power. Having enough provisions to dole out to starving farmers in the north— that was power. Holding the authority to question the wicked owner of a pleasure house, to seek out the truth, to protect the innocent— that was power. Remember who you are doing this for, and you will not be lost. “

Picture: The Poet Empress by Toyo Illustration



Every tremendous development and thrilling build-up; all the suffering, sacrifice, and motivation… They all came to a titanic clash at the end. Tao made sure every page of The Poet Empress was worth its 139,000 word count. The climax sequence invites readers to observe a catastrophic confrontation brimming with intensity and emotion. It is incredibly high-stakes, bloody, and epic in scope. Everything just felt exceptionally cinematic and vivid in my mind. Similar to how the best poem in the book has its immersive power, the words in this book made me feel like I was truly there inside Wei’s perspective, witnessing the twists and turns that are bloody and beautiful at the same time unfold before my eyes. I already want an animated movie adaptation of this book. Maybe this is a trope, but during the last sequence of a story, I love it when a main character reflects on the tempestuous paths they have walked to get there. Upon finishing the book, I was left dazzled and emotional. I stared at an empty wall for a while. And then I immediately reread the last ten chapters. Something I almost never did.

“If I am a star… then let me burn. Let me burn and burn until the whole empire is devoured, along with all its corruption, its villainy, its rot. Let me burn and burn until this night is not remembered, nor this year, nor this dynasty, until even history is buried in ash. And then maybe green things would grow again.”

In one debut, Tao successfully touches several of the highest accolades in my personal history of reading. The Poet Empress is the best standalone fantasy book I’ve ever read. It is up there with The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang for me. It has also cemented itself as one of the best books of all time. If you crave a standalone novel with the emotional damage and climactic action sequences like The Sword of Kaigen paired with the brutal and ruthless political intrigue found in The Dandelion Dynasty by Ken Liu and Daughter of the Empire by Raymond E. Feist & Janny Wurts, you owe it to your soul to read this book. I am 100% confident that years from now, history will sing The Poet Empress as one of the finest epic fantasy standalone classics that endure the test of time. Should you choose only one fantasy book published this year, choose The Poet Empress. It is a powerful and impeccable masterpiece in every way. Poetry is truth and emotion. This review is my truth and my honest emotion about The Poet Empress.

“Truth was simpler. It was warm bowls of rice on the dinner table, enough for everyone, not only young sons who were still growing. It was families sleeping in the same room. Villagers working together, staving away demons or something worse that plagued them. It was suffering. It was enduring… It is not something you can learn from inside the palace walls.”

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[Emily May · Rating 5 out of 5]

"So you see now, Lady Yin, power is such a wicked thing. Razing everything in its path, consuming all, leaving none untouched. Not even the kindest of souls among us are spared, once they have had so much as a taste."

THIS IS NOT ROMANTASY.

In fact, this confirms what I had already suspected— that some quality fantasy novels are being buried under the Romantasy label. The Poet Empress is full of complex characters (including villains who are not allowed to be merely villains), court intrigue, plotting and backstabbing, and dark themes like child sexual abuse, gruesome violence and torture. It is not a romance novel in any way.

And I absolutely could not put it down.

I know you should give all books a few chapters, a fair chance, to grab you, but it is truly so nice when one grabs you immediately as this one did. Straight away I knew Wei was my kind of character and straight away I became invested in her story.

Living in an impoverished village torn apart my famine, when Wei sees an opportunity to become concubine to the prince and heir she does not hesitate. Even though the prince's cruelty is legend. Even though it means leaving her family and entering a nest of vipers in the palace's Inner Court. There, power is currency, and everyone is out to get it no matter what they have to do or whom they have to hurt.

Wei forges alliances and makes powerful enemies, but what makes it so compelling is that these are all characters with depth— the allies have their own ulterior motives, and the enemies are never one-dimensional. Even the most egregious villains are multilayered to the point that it is not so easy to assign blame, and arguably any outcome would have felt bittersweet.

The magic system— literomancy, or spells written as poems —was captured well and very exciting for a bibliophile like myself. A major theme of the novel is how women and girls are excluded from education and literacy, and this particular kind of magic adds an additional layer to their repression, limiting their power, which is of course the whole intent of limiting women's education.

If anything is lacking, I would say that the world of the novel feels a bit vaguely-sketched and in the background. No map is provided, and I felt like I did not have a clear picture of the lands mentioned. But I am not rating down on this because it is not a dealbreaker for me. I prefer stories about character drama and court intrigue anyway.

So, to reiterate: it is definitely not a romance. But don't let that make you think it is devoid of passion, urgency or emotion. It is a breathless and poignant read that I can't stop thinking about.

[yuvi • ia · Rating 5 out of 5]

★★★★★★
infinite stars!!!

!rave review ahead!

tw- physical abuse, sexual abuse, torture, substantial alcohol use, violence

━━━━━━━━━━━━

"What is the point of suffering if we have nothing to gain?"

Okay first off. Uhh I’m going to be very honest when I say this. I first bought this book because of the cover. (yes, i can be shallow at times. shocker. sue me!) it’s literally so gorgeous. I couldn’t take my eyes off it. . I didn’t even look at the blurb at first.
but fair warning. pretty cover notwithstanding, this book is FAR from an easy read. it gets really really dark and it left me an emotional wreck. i was physically sick while reading it. so be sure that you're mentally ready to pick it up when you do.

That being said, it’s been a week since I read this book and everything feels so surreal. i've been trying to write a review for the last 3 days and i end up sobbing and deleting everything time and again. safe to say, I’m STILL not over it. this book altered my brain chemistry. And I genuinely am bereft of words. I don’t think that mere words can bring justice to the sheer brilliance shen tao has penned down. No srsly. while reading, i was equal parts psyched and terrified to flip to the next pages. This book completely and thoroughly obliterated me. i read it and i'm not okay and i need therapy rn and i'm deeply and irrevocably changed.

(Actual footage of me while reading this book btw)-

This was such a powerful debut. I’m in genuine awe. this book had such a beautifully written prose and with such a compelling and immersive plot- i was hooked from chapter one. and i read the last 52 smth chapters in ONE DAY. IN 3 HOURS.
Shen tao aimed for the stars and delivered EVERY SINGLE TIME. This book had everything- from imperial court politics to a uniquely crafted magical system and with themes of feminism. AND such morally grey characters. It was equal parts beautiful and brutal. Not quite a conventional amalgam, ik.

Wei was such a strong and resilient character. Her character arc was amazing. Idk how she could do half the things that she did. Ik I couldn’t stomach doing that. that ending tho?🙃🙃 (*smiles through the pain*)

And you know. YOU KNOW. that a book is going to be phenomenal when it makes you empathise with a tyrant. And not only empathise, BUT MAKES YOU FALL IN LOVE WITH A TYRANT (what does that make me😭😭😭fuck it. f morality ig idccc anymore.) And I don’t say that lightly. Terren was such a complex character. At first, I was confused bc I thought that he was very unlikable during the first few chapters. He’s done horrible, horrible things. And nothing can absolve him of THAT. I can’t condone it. I shouldn’t. but I’m sorry I love him😭 (I’m not sry btw) ( if i could, i'd write a 1k words long essay about how much i love him. i wish i could do that without breaking down but i'm afraid i can't. i'm not emotionally strong enough for that rn. i can fix him. no really. hear me out. i can

"He wanted to become a tree. He wanted to be grass. He wanted to be the clouds and the daylight, that little ant crawling among the wet blossoms. He wanted, most of all, to become air."

When we got to know about his backstory, my heart shattered. Completely. Never to recover (I still can’t read the words ‘sorry’ and ‘rice’ and ‘fish’ without breaking down btw 🙃). He had his childhood brutally taken from him. But EVERYONE and I do mean EVERYONE was after his life. He had NO ONE to care for him. he was JUST A CHILD who loved his older brother and wanted to play with him. He was shy and kind hearted and never did anything to hurt anyone. he was just a child who loved and cared deeply but no one offered him the same love in return. terren, the tyrant, was a result of brutal and ruthless court politics. he never wanted any of that to begin with. he wished to be a commoner because he had heard that in common households, family members eat together, sit together and live together. he just wanted that. but they all ruined him. made him into what he was. i want to give him a big hug😭🩷 His ONLY fault was being too advanced in spell writing for his age. I don’t think I’ll ever recover from this book. To watch him go from that kind and loving child and become a ruthless killer that he was? Yeah. Couldn’t stop sobbing. My heart broke for him. And yk, we did get to see more of his younger self in the last few chapters. he was healing i think? but ik ik ik. wei didn't want to take any chance ughhh. The ending? It was hella bittersweet. I get it. I get why she’d end it like that. (okay stop I’m crying again). I get it. But I’d hoped against hope. he deserved sm better and they all failed him. i think. what wei did- in a way, i think it was mercy. he'd had enough torment in his life. sm pain. Rationally, my only comfort is knowing that terren won’t suffer anymore. BUT FUCK RATIONALITY. Idkidkidkkk. Ughhh. He deserved sm more (maybe in another lifetime ughhh

Oh and I almost forgot to mention it. While this book is marketed as romantasy, js a heads up, there is NO romance in this book. NONE. AT ALL. They spent the whole time scheming and plotting against each other and in the end, they do come to care for each other. Not romantically tho. there’s not even a speck of romance. And I think that I wouldn’t have liked it as much as I did, had there been a romantic subplot. Bc it would’ve seemed SO FORCED. It was perfect as it is. I wouldn't change A THING (and i don't say that lightly). This was such a powerful historical fantasy book. And idk how much of it was historically accurate. But what I DO know is that this book is one of a kind- the likes of which are impossible to forget.

i can't believe that it's over😭😭 shen tao, who's supposed to pay for my therapy now?! ughhh. I'm just sitting, barely a shell of my previous self, staring at the screen aimlessly, with tears streaming down my face. what am i supposed to do with myself now? someone send help.

(if it wasn't quite clear already, shen tao is now an auto buy author for me.)

━━━━━━━━━━
❀reading progress❀
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---"What is the point of suffering if we have nothing to gain?"


---“First, I’d like you to teach me to read.”
“But that is treason, Lady Yin! Surely you know what happens to women who are found to be literate!”
I did. Of course I did. I had seen those who tried in Guishan, strung up in the city square with lash marks bloodying their backs, dead or in the process of dying.


---“You are still thinking like a villager, not an empress,” Ciyi snarled. “If you refuse to be cruel, someone will be cruel to you first. If you refuse to make others suffer, then you will be made to suffer first.”


---"The years passed. The peach garden stood empty. Its blossoms fell with nobody to admire them"

😭😭😭😭


---" Brother betrays brother, blood forgets blood"

(whoa so that was um painful)


---The boy who was scared all the time, who hid when there were loud noises, who had trouble even picking up a sword—how could he have turned into what Siming described


---Terren was crying now. Two big tears dribbled from his cheek to his chin. “Maro, turn me … Turn…” “Turn you?” Maro prompted gently. The words came out with a heaving sob. “Turn me into a fish. Or a peach tree. You’re good at spells, aren’t you?” His voice was as brittle as a crumbled leaf. “If you’re really sorry, then turn me into something nice.” “Terren,” Maro said softly. He felt close to tears himself. This wasn’t supposed to happen. He wasn’t supposed to— “Or, at the very least, turn me little again.” He wiped his eyes with a sleeve, and stared at the plate of mung bean cakes. “Little enough that all I wanted to reach for was the banquet table. When all I knew to desire was a sweet cake. And even if everyone punished me, or yelled at me, or hated me, at least back then I didn’t know why. If you can’t turn me into a fish, at least turn me little.”

physically sick rn. MAKE IT STOP😭😭😭😭😭😭😭


---If I am a star, Maro wrote that night, then let me burn. Let me burn and burn until the whole empire is devoured, along with all its corruption, its villainy, its rot. Let me burn and burn until this night is not remembered, nor this year, nor this dynasty, until even history is buried in ash. And then maybe green things would grow again.


---He was shaking now. Sigil flickering like a wild flame. “Say one more word,” he said, burning and dangerous, “and I’ll kill you.”
“She failed you. They all failed you. Everyone who knew what was happening to you—”
“I’ll kill you!” he screamed. “Did you not hear me?”
“—but had not done a thing to stop it, because they saw you as not a person but a vessel carrying magic.”
He was breathing very, very fast. A knife had appeared in his hand.
“They were wrong, Terren. I was wrong. You are a person.” A monster, yes, but a person. “You deserve to be safe.”
“I mean it,” he whispered, lip quivering. “I’m going to kill you. Don’t think I won’t do it.”
“You deserve to be safe.”
“Say one more word—”
“You deserve to be safe.”
The knife flew across the air and slammed into the wall, missing my neck by a breath. Terren let out a choked sound, threw his hands over his face, and ran.

AAAND THAT’S THE SOUND OF MY HEART BREAKING💔💔


---He wanted to become a tree. He wanted to be grass. He wanted to be the clouds and the daylight, that little ant crawling among the wet blossoms. He wanted, most of all, to become air.

He basically wanted to be ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING EXCEPT HIMSELF.



--- “Wei—if I die tomorrow, I beg of you, don’t let them make a spectacle of me in my death. I wish to die quietly, just as I am.”


---" Wei, I'm lost"
"Don't worry, i'm here."
"Will you hold on to me?"
"Will it help you"
He didn't answer. only cried harder, shoulders shuddering with every sob.
"i don't know" He was crying so hard he could barely speak "i don't know anymore"

therapy. i need therapy. like right fucking now.


--- “I could feel your heart inside of me”

━━━━━━━━━━━━
❀things i need to get off my chest before i spiral~

(slight spoilers ahead)
━━━━━━━━━━━━

⤷terren was just a child who loved and cared deeply but no one offered him the same love in return. terren, the tyrant, was a result of brutal and ruthless court politics.
he never wanted any of that to begin with. he wished to be a commoner because he had heard that in common households, family members eat together, sit together and live together. he just wanted that. but they all ruined him. made him into what he was. i want to give him a big hug😭🩷

⤷he was raped every day from the age of 9. and everyone wanted to take his life. imperial politics was fucking ruthless. HE WAS JUST A CHILD. and i would understand why he'd want to write those immortality spells for himself. i get it. BUT THEN I FOUND OUT THAT HE WAS WRITING THEM FOR MARO?!?!?!?!!?!?!??!?!?!? omfggggg. and maro had come to kill him- he only wanted to protect his older brother but that backstabbing bitch had come to kill him. for what? power? throne? validation? idkkk.

⤷I WANT TO KILL HIS MOTHER😭😭😭😭😭WHO TF DOES THAT TO HER OWN CHILD. HE WAS 9. HE WAS 9. HE WAS 9. terren deserved sm more. NO ONE DESERVED HIM. LEAST OF ALL, MARO. the ironical thing is, the only person who even remotely cared for him was his killer.
[and to think that he overcame his fear of intimacy just to be (quite literally) stabbed in the heart.]

⤷ i rmbr reading the last scene when the spirits of baby terren and maro hold hands and play w each other. and baby terren smiles at wei because he was finally free. correct me if i'm wrong but chinese mythology does believe in afterlife and reincarnations, right? my only consolation- literally the only thing that even came close to giving ME closure- was that concept and believing that maybe in another life? i rmbr breaking down and continuously crying for hours after that. i rmbr ranting to Nancy for days (and we both cried again). i rmbr it all too well. that scene was so bittersweet- equal parts painful and beautiful. i still rmbr it as though i'd read it just yesterday. and my heart is so full🩷😭
y'all PLEASE PLEASE read this book it's nothing short of a masterpiece (not me TOTALLY side-eyeing all those who gave it less than 4 stars🙃🙃)
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
side note
started- april 07
finished-april 08

━━━━━
❀pre-read❀
━━━━━
after procrastinating for MONTHS, i finally mustered up the courage to start this book. i've heard that this is going to break my heart tho. so i'm lowk (highkey) intimidated😭

Br w my bestie, freefall

[Kaila.Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need time stare at a wall and I’ll come back to write a review. GEEZ.

[Greekchoir · Rating 5 out of 5]

Felt like chewing broken glass. 5 stars. Oh my god.


Please note that I work for Macmillan but opinions are my own. I am not involved in book production.

[Nancy •͙͙✧⃝•͙͙✩ͯ · Rating 4 out of 5]

──⟡⋆˙✩ 4.75 stars ✩ ⋆˙⟡──

⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ 𝙒𝙚 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙨𝙤 𝙛𝙤𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙝 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙣𝙙, 𝙄 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩. 𝙎𝙤 𝙛𝙤𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙝 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙤, 𝙨𝙤 𝙬𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙙. ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

     I thought the ending was going to be heart-wrenching. I was wrong. The entire book was heart-wrenching. From start to finish. It’s so painful it manifested as heartache. I teared up, cried, sobbed. I screamed into my pillow.

     “Just stop. Stop this,” were my pleas.

     Objectively, this book is a masterpiece. Objectively, once I split open the skin of my chest, dig my heart out, and bury it in a grave, when I can read this book without sentiment weakening me, I admit it. I can see why the average rating for this book is so high.

     If the last twenty pages of this book did not exist, this would have been a six-star read for me. Yes. This book really is that good.

     But I’m never objective when reading, rating, or reviewing a book. I drag my feelings into everything. I rate based on how I feel. I write my feelings down. And right now, my precious feelings are telling me to bury this book and burn the world down.

     You know that feeling of not really being in your own body? Everything feels distant. And you are so, so lost.

     I don’t know… I don’t know anymore. I should stop crying. Who knew I was capable of this many tears? It hurts. It hurts. It really does. This is the second time I’m sobbing while writing a review. I’m such a joke. I don’t know how to make you understand that this book fucking hurt.

⋆𐙚₊˚⊹✦⊹˚₊𐙚⋆

I’ll be back to write the full review after I’ve… calmed down a little.

⋆𐙚₊˚⊹✦⊹˚₊𐙚⋆

     ✦Okay✦

     The rest of this review is going to be fully devoid of feelings, because that is the only way I will survive this.


. ܁₊ ⊹ . ܁ ⟡ ܁ . ⊹ ₊ ܁.. ܁₊ ⊹ . ܁ ⟡ ܁ . ⊹ ₊ ܁.. ܁₊ ⊹ . ܁ ⟡ ܁ . ⊹ ₊ ܁.. ܁₊ ⊹ . ܁ ⟡ ܁ . ⊹ ₊ ܁.. ܁₊ ⊹ . ܁ ⟡ ܁ . ⊹ ₊ ܁.. ܁₊ ⊹ . ܁ ⟡ ܁


𝕎𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕋𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝔹𝕠𝕠𝕜 𝕀𝕤 𝔸𝕓𝕠𝕦𝕥: ℕ𝕒𝕟𝕔𝕪 𝔼𝕕𝕚𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 ᯓ★

     Yin Wei is a village girl who joins the selection to become a concubine of Crown Prince Guan Terren, even though he is known to be a cruel, brutal tyrant. He selects her, to everyone’s surprise. Every night she is summoned to his chambers. Every night he tortures her. Sometimes he makes her stab herself. Sometimes he forces her to drink muddy water. Sometimes he throws her into a barrel of starving rats. Sometimes he forces her head into a pond until her lungs burn.

     And as a village girl with no power, she is also bullied by others in the court.

     Eventually, she gets fed up and decides to kill him. But he is known as “The One Who Cannot Die.” The only way to kill him is to write a ballad of love for him, a poem so heartfelt it can only be written by someone who knows every part of him. And so the true journey begins. She is on a mission to uncover all his secrets. To find out what changed him from the kind, sensitive boy he used to be into this cruel tyrant.

⋆𐙚₊˚⊹♡

     I wish she had never done it. I wish she had never gone on to truly know him.

     I am not like her. I have forgiven everything. Every bad deed of his. I have forgiven it all. Because the truth of his past? It’s too devastating. It eviscerated me. I could no longer look at him and see a tyrant. I only saw a boy desperate to be loved. A boy who only ever wanted to heal and protect. A boy whom the world failed again and again.

     Everyone failed him. I hope they burn and suffer for eternity.

     If I were there, I wouldn’t have stopped him. I wouldn’t have saved the world from him. I would have helped him set it on fire. I don’t care how terrible that is. I do not care.

     Wait. No. I’m supposed to be devoid of feelings.

     I’ve started crying again. I’m taking another break.


. ܁₊ ⊹ . ܁ ⟡ ܁ . ⊹ ₊ ܁.. ܁₊ ⊹ . ܁ ⟡ ܁ . ⊹ ₊ ܁.. ܁₊ ⊹ . ܁ ⟡ ܁ . ⊹ ₊ ܁.. ܁₊ ⊹ . ܁ ⟡ ܁ . ⊹ ₊ ܁.. ܁₊ ⊹ . ܁ ⟡ ܁ . ⊹ ₊ ܁.. ܁₊ ⊹ . ܁ ⟡ ܁


Yin Wei: If everyone who suffered became monsters, the world would be overrun with them.

     I am very angry at her. That is my personal feeling, and I shouldn’t bring that here. Objectively, she is an excellent main character. Very well-rounded. Complex. Her character arc was phenomenal.

     She starts as a village girl who bows her head and avoids trouble. Who refuses to kill someone even after they try to poison her. She is kind. And in this world, girls are forbidden to read, so she is also illiterate.

     Then she learns to read. She reads books. She realizes the palace is a treacherous place, that trouble will not avoid you and mercy will not find you just because you keep your head down. So she learns to stand upright. She learns to wield her power and make people fear her. She learns to scheme and frame. She learns to be wicked.

     Objectively, she is phenomenal. Subjectively, I’m mad at her, but don’t worry about that.

⋆𐙚₊˚⊹♡

      Let me say this to those worried that this is a typical bully romance, where the male lead is an abuser but the female lead falls for him anyway because he’s hot. To those worried this book romanticizes abuse: you need not worry.

     Yin Wei is not like that. I say this as I howl in agony like an animal, because why couldn’t she just—nevermind.

     Also, the marketing for this book is quite misleading. The tags say “Romantasy” “Romance” and it couldn’t be further from the truth. There is NO romance in this book. NONE. Yin Wei and Guan Terren never have any romantic feelings for one another (they come to care for each other eventually, yes, but NOT the romantic kind). In fact, there isn’t even a spark of physical attraction between them. They are just two people who are married.

⋆𐙚₊˚⊹♡

Prince Guan Terren: It was like he did not know who he was, if not someone who held a blade.

     I want to be objective. I want to harden my heart and tell you all that he is a monster. You know those books that promise a ruthless, terrifying villain and then fail to deliver? This is not one of them.

     He is far worse.

     The abuse he puts Yin Wei through is relentless. The author does not sugarcoat or romanticise it. Yin Wei never forgets about it.

     He cuts her, mends her, then cuts her again. Once, he stabs her in the chest and leaves her to bleed all night. Is it a surprise she hates him? And it’s not just her. Whenever he is in a foul mood, he kills someone. He cuts off tongues. Fingers. Sometimes for entertainment. Sometimes because he is angry and needs an outlet.

     He is, by all accounts, an irredeemable villain.

     This is what I wish I could say. Proudly. Cleanly. Without the pain clawing at my chest.

      But I cannot.

     I have committed a crime. I have fallen in love with him. I betrayed myself.

     Throughout all my years of reading, I have had clear boundaries. If he physically hurts her, cheats on her, or assaults her, he goes on my blacklist. Terren does not do the last two. But the first? He does more than enough.

     So why don’t I hate him? Why can’t I hate him? Why do I only want to hold him?

     Yes, he has a heart-wrenching past. And no, that does not justify his actions. Logically, I know this. If I were objective, I would know this.

     But my heart says otherwise.

     He is one of the most complex, layered, nuanced characters I have ever read. He is written so incredibly well that if I weren’t so upset with the author for that ending, I would go down on my knees and thank her for writing him.

     You may not relate. I’ve only told you the terrible things he’s done. I haven’t told you about his past, and I won’t. The discoveries hit hardest when you know nothing.

     Just know this: he was once a shy, sweet, quiet boy. He barely spoke. He flinched at loud sounds. He was meek. He had three toys, Tiger, Niu Niu, and Little Sparrow, which he carried everywhere. He loved his older brother, Maro. He loved the golden carps in the palace pond.

     The first spell he ever wrote was born from grief. He cried over a dying fish and wrote magic to save it.

⋆˚✿˖° That little boy on the bridge, the one who had refused to let a carp die—where had he gone? The one who had written his first spell to save a small and exuberant life? ˚ ༘ ೀ⋆｡˚

     Stop. I’m crying again.

     At sixteen, he was so broken that he sobbed and begged his brother to turn him into a fish. Or a flower. Something nice.

     “If you can’t turn me into a fish,” he sobbed, “at least turn me little.”

     I will now go drown myself bye-






⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨ᰔ୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹
        Pre-Read
⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨ᰔ୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹

Apparently this is the new A Song to Drown Rivers? BUCKLING UP CUZ I AM READY TO GET MY HEART BROKEN FOR THE SECOND TIME

I have clearly learned nothing from my first heartbreak.

(ง ͠° ͟ل͜ ͡°)ง

Edit: You know a book is about to be DARK when the starting sentence is this

        "My sister Larkspur was the fifth child we buried."

[Alexia · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

'A poem of love, I thought, for a man I hate.'

First things first: if you dive into this book expecting a conventional story centered solely on The Poet Empress, you will leave disappointed. While she is the anchor of the narrative, the spotlight shines intensely on Prince Terren. Instead of a traditional lead, Wei often functions as a keen observer, guiding us through the intricate, dark history of the Azalea Dynasty and Terren's descent into tyranny.

This entire book serves as a profound exploration of the repercussions that result from every individual's choices and actions. It is a vivid portrayal of how power, once tasted, has the potential to corrupt anyone, regardless of their initial intentions or moral standing. Throughout the story, every character is seduced by the allure of power, whether motivated by a belief in their noble cause, a desire to help the common people, or simply to exert control. It doesn’t matter what their reasons are, ultimately, they are all enticed by the same irresistible force.

I find myself wanting to hold many people responsible for how Terren's character develops, yet I recognize that at a certain point, he himself consciously chose to embody what others expected of him. I feel deep pity for the young version of him, once a shy child who found comfort in toys and who loved his brother more than anything else in the world. I pity and love that version of him, the boy who desperately wanted love and acceptance, but was never truly received. He longed to play with his brother, yet that bond was torn apart as his brother grew distant. He wished to protect his family, but they failed to safeguard him in return. That vulnerable, innocent boy is worthy of my pity and compassion.

What he endured was truly horrible and revolting, and I cried for that young boy, so much that my tears almost overwhelmed me. As he grew older, he became a tyrant, a monstrous figure shaped by the environment around him, yet still fundamentally a monster. His actions towards others are unforgivable, yet in the end, you find yourself capable of understanding him, not excusing but understanding.

His relationship with his brother Maro is one of the most devastating aspects of the story. Their bond, filled with love and innocence, was shattered by the cruel hands of the world, tearing apart what they shared. The portrayal of their love is heart-wrenching, illustrating how external forces can destroy the purest connections.

Maro himself is a character I simultaneously despise and pity. He allowed himself to be manipulated and pushed around by those around him, eventually losing himself entirely. He abandoned the one person who truly loved him and wished to protect him from the hardships of the world.

Wei, my beloved empress, is a character who truly won my admiration. Initially introduced as a naive girl from the countryside, she grows into a formidable player on the grand chessboard of politics and intrigue. I could not be prouder of her development, every decision she made resonated with me, demonstrating her self-awareness and resilience. The final choice she made in the story’s conclusion I wholeheartedly applaud, she has earned her place among my favorite female protagonists.

Through her journey, Wei endured immense suffering and torment. Yet, she showed remarkable endurance, mastering the art of court politics and manipulation. She learned when to retreat and when to strike, understanding that empathy towards one's enemies does not equate to forgiveness. Her strategic mind and strength of character left a lasting impression.

While I praise the story highly, I do have some criticisms. I wish the author had provided more expansive world-building, as the setting often feels somewhat confined without many detailed descriptions to immerse the reader fully. Additionally, I would have liked a deeper exploration of the magic system, we are given only glimpses and sparse explanations despite the significant emphasis placed upon magic in the narrative and the importance of the poetic world it inhabits.

Nevertheless, aside from these complaints, the story remains brilliant.

In conclusion, I will forever cry when I think of this book.

[MagretFume · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was very reluctant to read this one because of the title. I  might be prejudiced, but it felt really "generic romantasy". 

I was very wrong, it was anything but. 
It's absolutely not a romance and it's a rather low fantasy setting.

But this is one of the strongest character work I've read in the last years. It is not an easy read, and it dives into a lot of difficult subjects, but it is absolutely worth it. 

I listened to the audiobook version and the narrator was absolutely perfect. She added great rythm and empathy to the story. 

The plot and court intrigue are excellent, but most of all, it's the development of the characters over the course of the story that will stay with me. Their feelings, the horrors they go through, their motivations, and every thing that make them what they are. 

Thank you so much Macmillan Audio for this ARC!

[Samantha (ladybug.books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Poet Empress reads like a slowly twisting knife to the heart. This book is vicious, brutal, and completely captivating. I am absolutely obsessed, and I need everyone to read this.

In this book, we follow Yin Wei, a young rice farmer from a very poor province who becomes the unlikely concubine to the heir to the empire. With her betrothal to the prince of knives, Wei is thrust into inner court politics, a succession war, and the magic of literomancy.

The Poet Empress beautifully explores the lure of power, the way that monsters are made, and what you would do to be able to say that all your suffering was worth it. It has some of the most breathtakingly complex characters. The story constantly unveils new layers to the characters in this story, making for a consistently engaging and heartwrenching read. I love the way that the events of the past were revealed throughout the story and the different perspectives we get on such crucial moments in the princes' lives. These moments add so much depth and complexity to the different characters.

There is compassion to be found in the corners of this story, and yet there is also so much brutality, unforgivable actions, love, and heartache. It kept me on edge the entire time as I was torn between all of these different emotions and hopes for the characters. It was the perfect way to depict a morally complex character, and I loved how the story constantly kept me guessing.

I loved watching Wei navigate the complex politics of the Azalea House. She begins her journey with such clear, pure goals. When she is confronted by all of the opulence and corruption in the court, she has to learn to move forward in pursuit of her goals. But the palace and its selfishness also change her as she spends years trying to survive amongst these people. I loved seeing her journey to uncover the events of the past that have led to the brutal succession war tearing the Dynasty apart, and what she chooses to do with that information.

This is the level of complexity that I crave in my fantasy court politics. The Poet Empress will be the book to beat for my favorite read of the year.

Thank you so much to Tor for the advanced copy!

Links to my TikTok | Instagram | Bindery Books

[DianaRose · Rating 5 out of 5]

a favorite read of 2025🩵

firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc and an alc!

the poet empress emphasizes the importance of literacy; literacy equates knowledge and knowledge equates power… those who are literate hold all the power.

i am completely blown away by this debut, so much so i had to double check that the poet empress even WAS a debut. full of political intrigue and betrayal, mental and physical abuse, i think the saddest character is (one of) our villain terren. when all you are taught is hatred and suspicion, that is what you become.

the scenes of him as a child with his toy friends broke my heart. he really did just love his older brother…

what a powerful way to end my 2025 reading year.

as for the audio, the narrator did a phenomenal job.

i’m beyond excited to see what the illumicrate edition looks like!!

——

next arc/alc combo💪🏼 very excited to dive in as i’ve seen this everywhere and it’s a pick for a big book subscription box

[Gillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

“For power. Those who are starved are most desperate. And even the Ancestors know that women have long been starved for power.”

I loved this book! This was a phenomenal fantasy about betrayal, family, feminism, survival and the cost of power. Wei's family is struggling after another sibling has died and the famine has ravished the farming land. Wei offers herself as a prostitute to the cruel heir, Terren of the Emperor. Then she is chosen as the heir's wife and must harden her heart in order to survive. She decides to learn poetry magic even though it's dangerous for women to learn.

Thoughts
I was completely transported into this fantastic fantasy book from the first page. I loved how unique and well constructed this book was. The plot was very intriguing and kept me engaged throughout the book and the pacing was perfect. The plot twists were shocking and well thought out. I appreciated that Tao discussed important themes such as feminism and misogyny in a thoughtful and relatable way. The world building was excellent, the author spent a great deal of time describing the language, land, people and history of the world without information dumping. The magic was interesting and unique, there were several types of magic including poetry magic (spells and blessings) and inherited magic (the royalty was gifted, such as sword magic, water magic and plant/tree magic). I loved how
Tao weaved in the past of the characters with the present and showed the growth of the characters along the way. I felt many emotions while reading this book including sadness, anger, and happiness. I loved that this story was about women and empowerment of women. The ending was exciting and heartbreaking, but also hopeful.

Characters
I loved Wei, she was brave, resilient, hardworking, clever, and protective of the people she cared about. Wei's character development was excellent, in the beginning she was unsure of herself she showed how clever she can be. I relate to Wei because family is very important to me too and I would protect them in any way I can. I disliked Terren because he was manipulative, cruel, and cunning. Although learning about his past made me sad for him and what person he would've been if his past wasn't so horrible. I felt the same way about Maron, his past changed him into an unkind and manipulative man. I liked Isan, he was kind and thoughtful. I liked several of the side characters including Bao, Pima and Wren. I enjoyed the interaction between Wei and Bao, it was sweet how Wei treated her brother.

Writing
The writing was poetic, descriptive and concise. I was blown away by how beautiful the writing was, but it also wasn't overly flowery. The storytelling was excellent as well, Tao brought the characters to life through the words and emotions in the story. All the words in the story had meaning and purpose.

I recommend this book to anyone who loves fantasy, excellent writing, awesome characters and unique magic.

[fadheela ♡ (finals hiatus)]

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷・❥・𝓹𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀・❥・ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

⤿🏮22/01/26
forecast says I will be miserable after this book, pray for me to survive besties 😔🙏🏻
p.s. apparently the pain is worse than ASTDR, say less, I'm not ready 😃

[Krysta ꕤ · Rating 5 out of 5]

”If everyone who suffered became monsters, the world would be overrun with them.”

i truly thought i would not like this book.. little did i know it’d punch me in the face and all i’d feel was pain. the magic system and the use of language and poems was very unique, the writing was beautiful as well. Wei is only a young teenager when she’s caught in the web of politics, unaware of the true harsh cruelties of the prince she’s soon to be married to. she endures torture repeatedly at his hands and still manages to hold her ground enough to move forward with her own goals. there isn’t an inherently “good” person in this entire book, nor does the story try to sway you into thinking otherwise. the emotions are raw and so very real.

”If I’m a star, then let me burn. Let me burn and burn until the whole empire is devoured, along with all it’s corruption, it’s villainy, it’s rot. Until this night is not remembered, nor this year, nor this dynasty. Until even history is buried in ash, and then maybe green things would grow again.”

prince Terren was one of the most complex characters I’ve ever read about.. getting to know him through Wei’s research into his childhood life and the people who used to be closest to him shed so much light onto why he’s the way he is. at the core of it all, he wasn’t always how he is now and that doesn’t excuse any of his behavior in the slightest.. but it does make you realize how broken he is. the love between him and his brother was something he cherished above all else and in the end it became his downfall. he’s also someone who experienced his own trauma, letting anger overtake any of his other emotions. the way this book ended was both devastating, impactful and triumphant. i am in awe.

➴ many thanks to NetGalley, the author and Macmillan Audio for the alc, all opinions are my own.

[liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

By far one of my favorite stories of all time.
It is not a love story but it is a story about love.

The dichotomy of a villain.
Nature vs nurture vs duty vs love vs head vs heart.

These characters are deep and rich and their motivations and intentions and feelings cause you to second triple guess your morals and hopes.
The more you uncover the more complex your feelings for these characters develop.

The cat lives in pursuit of the mouse;
The tree grows in pursuit of the sun.
Are we the cat or the tree, pursuers?
Are we the wind, born only to run?

My soul is changed reading this. I feel it with every fiber of my being. It hurt. It HURT.

”We hoped for the only thing left for us to hope: that those who came after us would fix the mess we had created. We hoped that the next generation would be a little less foolish, a little less wicked, and that it might be enough to save a nation. ”

The world building is so immersive and intense I could not put this book down.
I switched between the book and the audio and can also say the audiobook is spectacular and keeps you engaged.

A true stunning piece of literature that will sit with you for a lifetime.

[T · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thank you to Tor for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review. Many of the points are vague in order to avoid spoilers, as the book was recently released. My review feels listless and scattered without specifics, but it can't be more listless and scattered than the novel itself.
Note: this has no bearing on my opinions of the book, which I feel is quite obvious here.

Content warnings: violence (domestic and otherwise), torture, gore, murder, rape and sexual assault (sometimes involving minors), child abuse, child death, war

For a story about the power of words, The Poet Empress is remarkably shallow.

Where to begin….I will say that Tao does provide a decent introduction to the world she’s crafted. Many fantasy books begin on a simpler note, easing the reader into the world. It was a bit cliche (not a problem!) but still managed to intrigue me. Themes of poverty, sexism, politics, and oppression were made very clear from the start. Like Wei, I was ready to dive into this seemingly complex, magical world.

I was let down time and time again, to the point where I considered dropping the book at the halfway point. The only reason I continued was because someone had told me it was amazing. To each their own, because the reading experience became exhausting for me.

Tao draws inspiration from Chinese poetry and history, something I could clearly discern before I read any interviews. Take some basics from Chinese political history, pretty words, and popular C-drama tropes, put them in a trenchcoat and you get 🥁🥁🥁The Poet Empress. Every other scene feels copied and pasted from some other source to a ridiculous degree. The story became significantly less dramatic, while growing significantly more predictable. When the final twist at the end occurs, I felt no shock. Why? Oh, because the overly familiar scenes and narrative patterns led me to the conclusion long before it occurred. And not in a satisfying way. The state of the characters is the same. So many of them were insufferably derivative. I even guessed one of the characters’ traumas (another twist) because they were such a clear personification of certain tropes. Tropes aside, they were unbearably flat. I couldn’t find interest in any of them and I live for fucked up, complex characters.

The writing quality (structurally speaking) was…fine. There was a lot of very pleasing alliteration, and some gorgeous imagery that ultimately amounted to nothing of significance. I highlighted every instance where certain symbols appeared–only to realize they served an aesthetic purpose, and an aesthetic purpose alone. I have a ridiculous amount of notes on the flowers, for example, but there’s no clear rhythm or pattern to their imagery. They exist to paint a picture and nothing else. Maybe I missed something, but my notes were extensive in my attempt to find meaning.

And the plot…tenuous at best. None of Wei’s motivations, thoughts, and actions were a mystery. I was so, so disappointed by how such strong concepts and themes were whittled down, reducing what could have been a very compelling story to…this. And I still gave it a chance. Even when I felt dragged along, in the hopes that the complexity I was promised would appear. Wei is largely confined to the palace, yes, and therefore ignorant of the plights of the common people during her time there. But surely there would be some significant ramifications within the palace walls. And if you’re going to claim the book has complex politics, then give that to us.

As for the dark elements of the story, they held no meaningful purpose either. Not once did Wei seem to suffer from the immense trauma she endured. She was tortured. Regularly. I don’t need to see the torture itself but I should see some effect. The family drama, with all its murder and political intrigue, was devoid of any overarching narrative significance. I was very shocked when all they shared with the main plot was…tragedy. Again, the political elements felt like a convenient backdrop for the plot. The politics, along with the philosophies that inform them, can certainly appear complex if you know nothing about them. I’ll refrain from commenting on those specifically (as well as some issues I had with the “Chinese inspo” aside from what I’ve already mentioned but I am far from an expert).

Whether or not the story is already pared down isn’t relevant to me–I think Tao could have brought depth to the story by showing instead of telling (which would also shorten its length and fix the pacing issues). Everything is more of an observation than an exploration. Words have literal magic, but we never get a proper explanation of the magic system. Women aren’t allowed to be literate, but no proper reasoning is given as to why that is (aside from the obvious sexism but I feel this could have been an opportunity to expand on some of the themes). Political tensions are brought up, but little detail or consequence is shared. They feel relegated to the background rather than significant to the plot.

If you want to convince the reader of the power of words, show them. Trust them to understand what you’re putting down. Let them ponder the implications of what you’re saying. By the end, I was being told everything.

Most frustrating of all, the elements of this story should make sense together. The Poet Empress didn’t have to be a haphazard arrangement of interesting ideas and concepts–it could have been an attempt at intertwining rich political histories with the power of language. And I think it could have been a truly incredible book if Tao had pushed the concepts further, taken more risks, trusted her readers more. But you need to conduct proper research and rely on more than caricatures for that.

Unfortunately, The Poet Empress does not live up to its potential, joining other aestheticized Asian-inspired fantasies in its failures. 1/5 stars.

Edit: In an attempt to keep this review free of spoilers, I didn't include one massive issue, but I have since decided that it's important to know. Mild spoilers (maybe).
Essentially...if you're expecting anything on the craft of writing at all, I suggest you drop those expectations.

[Mica Santos ⇢ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.6 ★ ⇢ Important note: this is being marketed as romantasy, but it really isn’t. The romance isn’t the focus, and this is far from a comforting read. It’s dark, devastating, and emotionally heavy.

And that’s what makes it beautiful.

The Poet Empress is a brutal, lyrical story about survival, power, and sacrifice. Wei’s journey is heartbreaking, the atmosphere is lush, and the poetry magic was what captured my interest the most: the system felt original, and I only wish it had been explored in greater depth.

If you’re expecting romance, this probably isn’t the book for you. But if you want something tragic and powerful, this delivers.

Absolutely devoured this book and it completely gripped me from start to finish (even made me cry). That emotional impact alone is why it earned such a high rating from me.

[Zana · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

Wow! What a debut!

If you prefer something cozy or a romantasy, definitely look away. This is neither of those. And despite being published by Tor's Bramble imprint, this is NOT a romance. The GR tags lied. (And as a romantasy hater, I'm actually really totally fine with this.)

As a huge lover of dark fantasy, this novel was very intense. Hell, I love anything dark and the first half was even a little too dark for me. At times, it was giving torture porn.

But as a masochist, I couldn't stop reading and I'm glad I didn't stop reading. (And between you and me, this was what I thought Alchemised was going to be.)

If you love court politics and royal intrigue, this really delivered in that department. The rags to riches story was also done really well. I also loved Wei's character development, which drove the simple plot forward.

And the villain? It's been a while since I've hated a fictional character so much. My god. I wanted him dead the first time he tormented my girl, Wei.

This would've been a perfect five stars if there was more poetry magic. But due to the FMC being a woman, it just wasn't possible. And honestly, I'm glad that the author made these restrictions "realistic" in terms of Wei's situation.

I haven't been so glued to a novel in a long time. I even had to pace myself just so I wouldn't finish this book quickly. If there's a special edition or signed edition, I'm placing an order. Hell, I'll probably reread/relisten to the audiobook once it drops.

Thank you to Bramble and NetGalley for this arc.

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the most gripping books I’ve read this year! If my rating was just based on sheer entertainment value/how much the story kept me hooked, I’d rate this closer to a 4.5. One of those novels where I was genuinely flipping through the pages so curious about what would happen, and there haven’t been many of those in 2026 so far. Though The Poet Empress is billed as fantasy, to me it felt way more like a court/palace intrigue story. I was shaking in my boots wondering: who is going to betray Wei? Who is Wei going to betray? What horrible thing will Terren do next!? Shen Tao’s writing kept me on edge in a positive way.

This book also did a nice job of addressing some important themes, without detracting from the immersive quality of the plot. I liked how Tao incorporated ideas related to gender, patriarchy, and women’s literacy/education, the role of trauma in motivating people’s actions, and how power corrupts people. I appreciated that Wei wasn’t a “flawless” character so to speak. While reading The Poet Empress, it was interesting to reflect on to what extent people’s actions truly are motivated by the self versus motivated by the circumstances which we’re born into.

A few reasons I give this book four stars. Mainly because I feel like Wei was the only seriously developed character. It was worthwhile to read about Terren’s development, though the sections on his childhood came across as a bit info-dumpy to me (though I’m not sure if there was a different way to incorporate that.) There was also a distinct line about Terren being short that I was like, is this heightism to associate being evil with being short?? While some of the themes didn’t completely stick the landing for me, I would recommend this book to those interested in fantasy and palace/court intrigue novels. Kind of reminded me of M.L. Wang’s books, though with a slightly more contained (again, palace/court) setting and energy.

[rina (hiatus) · Rating 5 out of 5]

‎ ‎ ੭୧‎ ‎ 5 stars‎ ‎ . ۫

‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ “ maybe, buried heart-deep, i really did love him. not the kind of love a wife shared with her husband-that was not possible, but the kind of love one human could not help but feel for another when they had to pry away blades to find them. ”

overall thoughts — i fear this was everything i imagined and more!! i went into this book with extremely high expectations, being my most anticipated read of the year, and somehow shen tao not only met them but completely shattered them. if this book is setting the bar for future 5 star reads, i wonder if the bar is even attainable anymore.

from the very first pages, i felt that rare, exhilarating certainty: i am going to love this book. i loved it for its premise before i even began. i finished it loving everything, the story, the characters, the writing. the character development is so palpable, the story is painful, tragic, and emotionally devastating. my heart has been irreversibly damaged. it hurts to even think 🤕

shen tao's ability to craft such complex characters who commit cruel, devastating acts and yet remain painfully, deeply human is beyond impressive. i empathized with people i didn't want to forgive, i constantly felt emotionally conflicted—this is what literature should do: unsettle you, wound you, and leave you seeing the world a little differently.

everything about this book completely hooked me. i was so incredibly invested and could not put it down. the amount of sleep and sanity i lost, 😔 in the midst of my finals season too ??? this book is extremely similar to a song to drown rivers, but dare i say, much much better (coming from someone who adores astdr). the grief is 10x amplified and the plot is infinitely more devastating. also the plot twists and the state they left me in....sick and twisted...SICK AND TWISTED.

i have some very minor critiques, but they are so nit-picky and pale in comparison to the good i have to say, that i don't think it's even worth mentioning.

yin weiㆍ“ it could be the greatest nation in the world, the most magnificent empire there ever existed. but if it could not keep its own children safe and fed, was it really something worth fighting to save? ”

yin wei is such a wonderfully written heroine. watching her wrestle with how much of herself she must lose in order to protect what remains is emotionally brutal. her heart never hardens completely, and that is both her strength and her curse. i was wholly and utterly invested in her story, her conflict between rage and compassion, and her pain. i felt every fracture of her heart as if it were my own.

prince terrenㆍ“ turn me into a fish. or a flower. or a peach tree. if you're really sorry, then turn me into something nice. ”

prince terren is not a character designed to be liked. he is cruel, violent, and deeply broken. and yet, he is also terrifyingly human. shen tao achieves something rare here: she creates a character who commits monstrous acts, and yet forces the reader to confront the fact that monsters are often borne from pain, fear, and a desperate hunger to be loved. terren's relationship with wei is toxic, tragic, intimate, and devastating (*not romantic). i hated him. i pitied him. and sometimes, against my will, i understood him. he is not a simple character. as a reader, i never necessarily felt compelled to excuse him, but rather, i feel shen tao forces us to see him.

‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ “ it is true, he has suffered, but if everyone who suffered became monsters, the world would be overrun with them. ”

i adore how hauntingly the novel explores how love and hate so often exist side by side. to know someone deeply is to open yourself to the full spectrum of feeling: tenderness, rage, resentment, grief. the intimacy of truly knowing another person is what allows such extreme emotions to exist simultaneously. this is nowhere more visible than in wei's relationship with terren.

also, something i genuinely appreciate and respect about the poet empress is how thoughtfully it depicts and tackles themes of physical and sexual violence/abuse. one scene that particularly stayed with me is the portrayal of wei's dissociation during the examination. the numbness, the distance from her own body, the way her mind pulls away as a form of survival. these little moments seem inconsequential, but it showed me just how much the author cares & understands, and it's one of the reasons this story stayed with me so deeply.

please be very mindful of content warnings before reading.

final thoughts — i finished the book emotionally wrecked, heartbroken, and completely in love with everything shen tao created. i urge everyone to put this on their tbr's immediately!!! if this is only the beginning of her work, i genuinely cannot wait to see what she writes next <3

thank you to the author and publisher for the arc!

CW: famine, torture, intimate partner violence, sexual abuse, physical violence, murder, death

────

finished: 01/15/26 𖥻𓈒 ꒱ ੭
TAKE ALL MY STARS JUST TAKE THEM 😖 !!!!!!

pre read: 01/12/26 𖥻𓈒 ꒱ ੭
omg my most anticipated read of the year, and i just got the arc 😭🥹 side note: i requested this an ENTIRE month ago, manifested religiously day and night that the publishers would accept, and netgalley actually pulled through!!! i am combusting. this is going to be my new a song to drown rivers <3 genuinely expecting this to be my first 5 stars of 2026!!!!

[vaishnavi ☆ﾟ⁠.⁠*]

── .✦ pre-read 𖹭.ᐟ
okay so this one has made a lot of y'all cry and I've seen nothing but positive reviews for it, so, frankly put, I am a bit scared. reading this with my girl Payal 🥹💞 hope we have an amazing time!!!

[amashofbooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think my overall rating for this sits at 3.5ish (?)

First some house keeping, as per usual we know women authors get slapped with romantasy labels... this is not a romantasy and I have seen some reviews saying they were upset because it didn't hit the beats of romantasy... so, to make it clear!!! This is not a romantasy, by any means. Pls for the love of god do not go in wanting romance.

Secondly, this was sold to me as very, very dark. If you are a reader like me, I'd like to note that I didn't find this to be extremely dark, but I do want to give trigger warnings that this does deal with tough subject matter, so please check your trigger warnings.

This kind of gave me darker apothecary diaries vibes, and I absolutely ate that up. The pacing here is faster, which is to be assumed as this is a standalone but, unfortunately I do think this came at the expense of some of the story. I cannot go into detail without spoilers, but there were important moments, crucial to the story, that were kinda glossed over? There is also some sort of emotional disconnect. I think this is due to lack of in depth characterization at the start. Sometimes they were too flat, sometimes inconsistent. Also to add, our MC, although, I quite enjoyed her, did seem a bit static and had for someone who goes through much trauma, there were no consequences. Unfortunately, I think that is pretty foundational to a story of this kind. It also sometimes could read a bit YA, and again, thats not really reflective of the story that it's trying to tell.

I would like to take a moment to praise the writing and editing. It is so refreshing to pick up a debut that has been written well. Lately, this has been a big issue for me picking up new releases.

Overall, I had a good time with this. I wouldn't say it's life changing, but it held my attention and I enjoyed the court intrigue and scheming.

[BookishByTammi · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

[Shelby Carr · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I say I crave multi-layered characters that feel like real people this is what I want. I need to stew on this for a few days but damn that was good

[ageless · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really felt kind of iffy about the first 20% of this book, but as it went on, I felt more and more enamored with this book.

The beginning was very fast paced, almost recklessly so, but once the story begins to reach its stride and you understand what Wei is wanting to accomplish and what the scope of the story is, it becomes a very enthralling and enjoyable experience.

The characters start out quite flat, but as you get to know them they slowly unfurl into believable and vivid, yet still deeply flawed characters. While some are one-note, they are all interesting with wants and aspirations that makes a lot of sense. And the characters that lie at the center of the emotional core of this book are very well done.

I also really ended up loving Wei. She feels like a mix of Sansa from ASOIAF and Maomao from apothecary diaries. I know that’s a strange mix, but it feels the most accurate to me. She’s such an empathetic and consistent character, that learns the usefulness and, at times, necessity of cruelty and violence. And she goes from a naive and frightened farmer girl to a literate and capable lady of court, it’s a deeply satisfying arc.

I think my biggest gripes with this book aside from the rushed beginning, is the lack of vivid description and the prose style. It felt sometimes like Wei kept the reader at arms length, which felt a bit strange as this is a 1st person POV. And I think a bit more and better description would have greatly enhanced the ability to be more fully immersed in this world. It did feel like a lot of showing vs telling, but it sort of felt like it was taking on the style of Chinese myth and historical record, so I didn’t mind it too much.
I think the prose felt a bit simple and juvenile at times, especially for an adult book, but I did like that the complexity of the prose did seem to improve as Wei’s literacy improved.
Additionally, I think the plot and the climax were a bit predictable, but I do read a lot of fantasy so it might just be me being crazy. It was still deeply entertaining even when I did guess the plot correctly though!
I still would have a loved just a little bit more depth and complexity, but overall these issues did not too much detract from my enjoyment of the book.

There are moments where this book is a bit heavy handed, or where it stumbles, but in the end it’s such a deeply satisfying and enjoyable debut, I am very excited to see what this author writes next!! If it’s fantasy, I truly cannot wait to read it. I believe Shen Tao is an author that will only grow better and better with every book under her belt which feels like such a rarity in the publishing climate.

If you’re feeling iffy about this book, I encourage you to get to the 50% mark, and if you still don’t like it then dnf, but if you’re like me, I think you’ll find that the book really draws you in.


Also this is NOT a romantasy (thank god).

It’s ultimately a story about empathy, tiny kindnesses, storytelling, poetry, and the ability to feel for those that hurt and betray us even if they don’t necessarily deserve it. It has such an uplifting and heartwarming message. I really, really liked it. Please pick it up if you have time, it’s not even terribly long! I read it in one day!! :)

[iayal · Rating 2 out of 5]

unpopular opinion but, HEAR ME OUT. firstly, i’m sorry but, i found this basic as fuck?? it’s essentially like every other generic “poor girl turns concubine” story out there… ive seen and read enough for this to be painfully predictable. the one pro i would say is that there wasn’t a romance between the girl and the abusive royal she’s with 💀 like there’s in a lot of other stories featuring this but… other than that, i would have to say very basic. and then, i know a lot of people said this was very dark and i was quite excited to see what this darkness was and… i don’t know, i feel like a lot of concubines and just women in courts have went through very brutal and harrowing experiences and this simply was just taking from what is already present in history and using it in the book. it’s very disturbing and depressing but, nothing abnormal. it’s dark in the sense of “oh, this is our past” but, nothing new.

so yes, basicass plot. and there was so much stuff that was just plainly stupid. a bit of spoilers ahead just in this paragraph… you’re telling me that of all the people that were able to be chosen to be a concubine only our main character was able to say a few words and get in? no one else was capable? you’re telling me she learnt how to write and there aren’t spies placed in the fucking empress-in-waiting’s court for people to find out? and of course, she’s able to do this magic’s world just within an year or so of learning? and of course, she’s able to do such complicated magic as well. and then, she doesn’t go through any serious complications that she isn’t able to easily solve. be so fucking serious. now, the spoilers are done.

didn’t care for any of the characters. at all. main character’s character development wasn’t done well and she went through a lot of change really quickly near the end without anything happening for that to happen. i know she was in a tough situation as well, but some of her decisions were so stupid. one character became interesting near the end and we wish we saw that side of him more-so in the beginning and middle. but, his backstory was sooo predictable. wish we explored that convoluted relationship between him and the main character more because the small parts where it was really delved into in all its complexity was nice.

though the content wasn’t ya, the writing style was like ya. easy to read because of that. some of the writing was really juvenile though.

overrated, in my opinion.

[itsjessamess · Rating 5 out of 5]

absolut PHÄNOMENAL!
Direkt ein Jahreshighlight geworden!
Eine Welt die von Reichen regiert wird, Arme immer ärmer werden, es Frauen VERBOTEN ist das lesen und schreiben zu lernen, und MAGIE ausgerechnet durch Schrift und Poesie entfaltet wird…
Ich war durchgehen on the edge of my seat…eine Geschichte voller düsterer Themen, Plots und Twist die mich UNFASSBAR überrascht haben. Jede menge Female Rage und Revenge! Denn die Protagonistin schafft es die Schrift und Poesie der MAGIE in dieser Welt zu erlernen obwohl es Frauen ausdrücklich VERBOTEN IST!!!?!?!?
Ein Grausamer Prinz der die Macht hat, der Sie foltert und fertig macht. Der keinerlei Gefühle zeigt, mordet und foltert wie und wen wer will. Man HASST ihn.

Aber ist alles wirklich so wie es scheint?
Yin Wei findet es heraus und somit auch wir, und ich war GEBROCHEN UND IN SCHOCK nach diesem Buch. WOW WOW WOW!!! Niemals hätte ich das Ende erwartet.
Wundervoll! Die Storyline, die Charaktere, die Welt, die Übersetztung. Einfach Wow.

[Em Lost In Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed it immensely and that last twist, I never saw it coming.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a literal masterpiece and I knew it would be from the very beginning!! This will be a top read for me this year, hands down!!

When I think about what I like in a book... IT'S THIS! The ending had me gasping!

I highly recommend anyone read this to be honest (especially if you enjoy high/ historical fantasy)