Starred Review for Kirkus Reviews

A Mongol slave must choose between escaping her captivity and saving the man she loves. When the Chinese Song dynasty is conquered by the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty in 1279, Jinghua is enslaved by the Khipchak khanate. In autumn of 1280, the khanate itself is overthrown by enemy forces, and the exiled Timur Khan and his youngest son, Prince Khalaf, must flee. Jinghua joins their fugitive party disguised as a boy. Traveling across the vast Mongol Empire, Khalaf finds comfort in Jinghua's companionship, and they bond over Hanyu (Mandarin Chinese) lessons and poetry as, against her better judgment, she falls in love with him. Alas, Khalaf devises a plan of last resort to save his kingdom—he will marry Turandokht (yes, as in Puccini's Turandot), the beautiful but heartless daughter of the Great Khan; however, potential suitors must solve three riddles or face execution. With Khalaf's life at stake, Jinghua must prove her mettle, even if it means sacrificing the one thing that she holds most dear. Though the tale is ancient and epic, this is a fast-paced page-turner. Thorough research helps build a believable 13th-century Mongolia, and the Romanized Mandarin Chinese is used precisely, right down to the tonal inflections. Lavish, sweeping, and powerful, this is a love story, tragicomedy, and history lesson rolled into one.A must-read for fans of heart-wrenching, sob-your-heart-out YA. (cast of characters, map, historical notes, author's note, glossary) (Historical fiction. 12-18)

ALA Booklist (Sun Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2018)

Bannen's debut is a story of riddles, betrayal, politics, and love. Jinghua, a slave girl with no family, finds herself helping Kipchak Khanate's prince flee to safety with his father after their kingdom is invaded. Jinghua wants to use the royals she's assisting to her own advantage, hoping to return home to a better life than the one she left. Prince Khalaf is determined to take back his kingdom and crown, and to aid his efforts, he seeks a marriage with the daughter of the powerful Great Khan. However, the girl's hand in marriage can only be earned by solving three challenging riddles; the consequence of failure is death for Khalaf and Jinghua. Bannen whisks readers away to the thirteenth-century Mongolian Empire with a story rife with both romance and heartbreak. It is a rich, imaginative tale that delivers thrilling characters, heart-stopping action, and exciting intrigue with every turn of the page. Hand to fans of Renée Ahdieh's The Wrath and the Dawn (2015) and Roshani Chokshi's A Crown of Wishes (2017).

Kirkus Reviews (Fri Oct 04 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

A Mongol slave must choose between escaping her captivity and saving the man she loves. When the Chinese Song dynasty is conquered by the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty in 1279, Jinghua is enslaved by the Khipchak khanate. In autumn of 1280, the khanate itself is overthrown by enemy forces, and the exiled Timur Khan and his youngest son, Prince Khalaf, must flee. Jinghua joins their fugitive party disguised as a boy. Traveling across the vast Mongol Empire, Khalaf finds comfort in Jinghua's companionship, and they bond over Hanyu (Mandarin Chinese) lessons and poetry as, against her better judgment, she falls in love with him. Alas, Khalaf devises a plan of last resort to save his kingdom—he will marry Turandokht (yes, as in Puccini's Turandot), the beautiful but heartless daughter of the Great Khan; however, potential suitors must solve three riddles or face execution. With Khalaf's life at stake, Jinghua must prove her mettle, even if it means sacrificing the one thing that she holds most dear. Though the tale is ancient and epic, this is a fast-paced page-turner. Thorough research helps build a believable 13th-century Mongolia, and the Romanized Mandarin Chinese is used precisely, right down to the tonal inflections. Lavish, sweeping, and powerful, this is a love story, tragicomedy, and history lesson rolled into one.A must-read for fans of heart-wrenching, sob-your-heart-out YA. (cast of characters, map, historical notes, author's note, glossary) (Historical fiction. 12-18)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

In this epic historical fantasy set against the backdrop of the 13th-century Mongol Empire, Jinghua, a Chinese slave girl, finds her fate irrevocably tied to that of a fallen khan and his son as they seek refuge and a way to restore their fortunes. With her home destroyed and family slaughtered, Jinghua chooses to follow Prince Khalaf, slowly falling in love with him during their long, arduous journey. However, Khalaf intends to marry the powerful Turandokht, daughter of the Great Khan and heir to the empire. First, he must solve her three riddles, and failure means certain execution. Jinghua must find a way to aid Khalaf, even if success means that their relationship is doomed. Drawing inspiration from multiple sources, particularly the opera Turandot, debut author Bannen weaves a magical and tragic romantic adventure. As she admits in the endnotes, the author takes liberties with historical accuracy in the name of storytelling; that, combined with a contemporary feel for language and dialogue, creates an anachronistic yet immersive reading experience. Memorable characters share a natural chemistry, and lush descriptions bring the world to life. Ages 13-up. (June)

School Library Journal (Tue May 01 00:00:00 CDT 2018)

Gr 9 Up-As a slave in one of the kingdoms of the Mongol empire, Jinghua is in dire straits until the kingdom is conquered by a rival horde. She escapes with Prince Khalaf and his father and very little else. On the run for their lives and with a bounty on the prince's head, Jinghua uses their situation as a way to return to her home. However, she soon becomes attracted to the smart and kindly prince. Khalaf decides to wed the Great Khan's daughter as a way to restore his kingdom, but the princess has set a challenge of three riddles for any potential suitors, with a death sentence for those who do not succeed. Faced with the possible death of the prince, Jinghua must confront her past decisions and admit to loving him, even if it means she loses Prince Khalaf forever. The plot moves along steadily, with lots of twists, finally building to a climax that will leave readers in tears. The characters are complex and realistic. Based on the opera, Turandot , and the history of the Mongol Empire, this novel will appeal to fantasy and romance readers as well as historical fiction fans. VERDICT A first purchase for libraries. Terri Lent, Patrick Henry High School, Ashland, VA