During a once-in-a-generation competition to find the new empress, Mari, who hides a terrible secret, Taro, the prince who would denounce the imperial throne, and Akira, a half-human outcast, will decide the fate of Honoku.
Each generation, a competition is held to find the next empress of Honoku. The rules are simple: survive the palace's enchanted seasonal rooms. Conquer Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall. Marry the prince. Only the yōkai, supernatural monsters and spirits, are not eligible to compete. Mari has spent a lifetime training to become empress-- but she is a yōkai with the ability to transform into a terrifying monster. Her fate collides with that of Taro, the prince who has no desire to inherit the imperial throne, and Akira, a half-human, half-yōkai outcast. Their choices will ultimately decide the fate of Honoku. -- adapted from jacket
Initial Thoughts: Definitively should have been two books. The ending is rushed and the characters' actions/motivations/personalities are underdeveloped. What could have been a really strong book just fizzled out and didn't make much sense at the end.
Reading updates
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Started reading
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3 January, 2019:
Finished reading
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3 January, 2019:
Reviewed