Books: Real/Fake Princess Volume 4

Never underestimate the power of a durable cliché. That goes double for romances, although I’m learning that in a few cases — as with Real/Fake Princess — if the cliché is done well, it’s perfectly enjoyable. Here we have the Girl (Zhi Li), who must choose between the Nice Guy (her brother-figure Hui), with whom she feels safe … and the Dangerous Guy (Wu of the Imperial Court), who despite his antagonism for her makes her heart pound. And it’s never a surprise to discover the Dangerous Guy end up with the Girl, although by that time he’s become that much better a person in the process of winning her heart.

Like I said — a formula, but if it’s done right, it’s a lot of fun, and R/F P has been doing it right from the beginning. In the fourth volume, the action shifts from the goings-on within the walls of the Imperial court to something a little more open-ended. After the intrigue of the last volume, which ended in bloodshed, Zhi Li has grown disgusted with the throne she was meant to inherit. She was happier back in the country village where she and Hui masqueraded as doctors and actually did something for the world around them. Hui knows all this, but he’s also acutely aware that his presence will only make things worse between Zhi Li and Wu, whom Zhi Li is supposed to marry as a way to cement her position as princess.

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