Books: Real/Fake Princess #3

I had a conversation with a friend earlier today about the way labels keep people from picking up things they might actually enjoy enormously. Historical romance is one of those labels — it’s a deal-killer for some people. And that’s a shame, because while Real/Fake Princess falls squarely into that category, it’s good enough to be savored by people who have never before read a romance, historical or otherwise, and might not have had the inclination to do so either.

The third volume is essentially a three-way clash of wills between three major characters in the series: Zhi Li, the long-missing princess of a Chinese emperor, more comfortable masquerading as a peasant; Wu, the Imperial Seeker charged with the responsibility of finding lost members of the royal family (like Zhi Li herself); and Dai Xuan, a courtesan who also happens to be Wu’s lover and is dismayed that his interests are slowly drifting towards Zhi Li. Wu’s not thrilled about that either — he’s one of those men who’s dismayed his emotions are not like horses that can simply be steered this way and that, but he can’t deny how he feels. He’s drawn to this fiery young woman, the most unlikely candidacy for the title of “princess” he’s ever known. (I should also mention a fourth, Hui, who posed as Zhi Li’s older brother while she was in exile but is now also finally willing to admit he wants Zhi Li for himself.)

Article originally written for AMN. Click here to read full text.