Why am I passionate about this?
I grew up in the era of sweeping historical epics, traveling with the turn of a page from Gaius Marius’s Rome to Victoria’s England and everything in between. I’ve always loved books that immerse you in places and time periods you know nothing about—and when I couldn’t find enough of them, I started writing my own. While my long-ago history PhD work is in Tudor-Stuart England (my specialty was the English Civil War), what I love most is being a historical dilettante and getting to hop around the historical record—which may be why my books can take you anywhere from Napoleon’s court to 1920s Kenya to Cuba with Teddy Roosevelt!
Lauren's book list on historical fiction in unusual time periods
Why did Lauren love this book?
One of my favorite things about historical fiction is getting to feel like I’m living in another time and place.
Weina dai Randel’s book took me to 7th century Tang Dynasty China with a woman forced to learn the dangerous intrigues of the Emperor’s court. You can feel the silk beneath your fingers and hear the whispers of the courtiers as you navigate the palace with Mei. Bonus: This is book one of two, so you will get to visit the Tang Dynasty again!
2 authors picked The Moon In The Palace as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.
"Randel's gorgeous debut novel seductively pulls back the curtain to reveal the heartbreaking world of...China."-Stephanie Dray, NYT bestselling Author of America's First Daughter
A thrilling work of historical fiction, bringing romance, intrigue, and the unexpected rise of an Empress to intoxicating life under the inscrutable moon.
In Tang Dynasty China, a concubine at the palace learns quickly that there are many ways to capture the Emperor's attention. Many hope to lure in the One Above All with their beauty. Some present him with fantastic gifts, such as jade pendants and scrolls of calligraphy, while others rely on their knowledge of…