Starred review from April 2, 2012
Lin (The Dragon and the Pearl) combines wit, seduction, skill, and intelligence in a tantalizing take on “My Fair Lady.” In ninth-century China, Fei Long is a soldier from a noble family whose sister, Pearl, runs away with her lover to avoid becoming an alliance bride. After Fei Long gives his sister all of his money and allows her to escape, he meets the orphan Yan Ling, who begs him for help. He proposes a plan to substitute her for Pearl to maintain his family’s wealth and honor. As Fei Long and his friends undertake the magnificent transformation of the unlearned and outspoken servant into a well-bred noblewoman, fooling even the suspicious Inspector Tong, the teacher and the pupil soon fall in love—jeopardizing the whole scheme. Readers will enjoy the classic tale’s new trappings as well as being educated by Yan Ling’s lessons in Tang Dynasty etiquette, politics, and economics.
June 15, 2012
Reluctantly allowing his sister Pearl to flee with her lover instead of going to distant Khitan as a heqin (peace alliance) bride, Fei Long, Lord Chang, faces family dishonor unless he can find someone to take Pearl's place. When he unwittingly causes teahouse girl Yan Ling to lose her job, she begs for his help, and he suddenly realizes she might be the answer to his dilemma. Of course, all he needs to do is work a miracle and turn the country-bred miss into a lady and pass her off as Pearl. His idea succeeds brilliantly--until he falls in love with his blossoming, spirited protege and isn't about to let her go. VERDICT Steeped in the exotic flavors, colors, and scents of medieval China and graced with a diverse cast of characters who will make you both laugh and sigh, Lin's latest gem puts an Asian twist on George Bernard Shaw's classic Pygmalion and takes readers on a memorable journey into the treacherous, fascinating world of the Tang dynasty. Lin (The Dragon and the Pearl) lives in St. Louis.
Copyright 2012 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
May 1, 2012
Fei Long Chang's sister Pearl ran off with another man rather than go through with an arranged marriage to a foreign prince. Now Fei Long needs a woman to replace Pearl or he and his family will risk the wrath of the emperor, who is counting on the marriage to maintain peaceful relations between China and one of its barbarian neighbors. So when teahouse servant Yan Ling throws herself on Fei Long's mercy after having first thrown a pot of cold tea at him for his outrageous comments, Fei Long believes he might just have found his substitute Pearl. Now all he has to do is find a way to turn Yan Ling into a lady before someone in the Imperial court discovers his deception. My Fair Concubine's richly detailed Tang dynasty setting is beautifully evoked, the characters are compelling, and Lin blends intrigue and passion into a perfectly executed plot while putting her own creative spin on the classic Pygmalion tale. The end result is a remarkable treat for jaded historical-romance readers.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)