{"product_id":"9781399628976","title":"The Poet Empress","description":"Author: Shen Tao\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 9781399628976\u003cbr\u003ePublisher: Orion\u003cbr\u003eYear first published: 20 Jan 2026\u003cbr\u003ePages: 432\u003cbr\u003eFormat: Paperback \/ softback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e*THE INSTANT \u003ci\u003eSUNDAY TIMES\u003c\/i\u003e BESTSELLER*\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003e*A BBC RADIO 2 BOOK CLUB PICK*\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003e'An impressive debut with real psychological depth'\u003c\/b\u003e \u003ci\u003eTHE GUARDIAN\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003e'Richly imagined and politically driven' \u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003eTHE I PAPER\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003e'I\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003en a class of its own'\u003c\/b\u003e \u003ci\u003eTHE DAILY MAIL\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003e'It now holds a standard for fantasy standalones' \u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003eGRIMDARK MAGAZINE\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ci\u003e'\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003eAn epic world of literomancy and magical dynasty'\u003c\/b\u003e \u003ci\u003eSFX\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003e'Tao's prose gleams with poetic precision'\u003c\/b\u003e \u003ci\u003ePUBLISHERS WEEKLY\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003e'Full of page-turning suspense' \u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003eKIRKUS\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003e'An intricate study of court politics' \u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003eLIBRARY JOURNAL\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ci\u003e'\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003eThis dark fantasy stands out among the plethora of romantasy'\u003c\/b\u003e \u003ci\u003eBOOKLIST\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003e'Vicious, gorgeous, and fiercely haunting'\u003c\/b\u003e CHLOE GONG\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003e'Sublime'\u003c\/b\u003e AMELIE WEN ZHAO\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003e'Enthralling' \u003c\/b\u003eANDREA STEWART\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003e'Astounding' \u003c\/b\u003eCHELSEA ABDULLAH\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003e'Lyrical' \u003c\/b\u003eK. X. SONG\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003e'Devastating' \u003c\/b\u003eKRITIKA H. RAO\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003e'Fantasy at its best' \u003c\/b\u003eVAISHNAVI PATEL\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eTO KILL A MONSTER, SHE MUST BECOME ONE . . .\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eAs the emperor lays dying, the once-great Azalea Dynasty plunges towards civil war. While its princes plot for power, a more hidden war - to become the next empress - occupies the imperial court.\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eWei Yin - peasant girl turned concubine to the cruel Prince Terren - has already endured unimaginable suffering. Ripped from her family, she has no title, no allies, and no escape. But she does have a secret . . .\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIn the shadows of the palace, surrounded by enemies, she is learning a skill forbidden to women. Because when words are weapons and poetry holds an ancient magic, the fate of a girl - and a nation - can both be rewritten. All she has to do is compose the perfect poem - a tale so powerful, it can kill any man, even the next emperor.\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe epic political arena of \u003ci\u003eThe Poppy War\u003c\/i\u003e by R.F. Kuang meets the intimate tragedy and luscious language of \u003ci\u003eThe Song of Achilles \u003c\/i\u003eby Madeline Miller in this sensational debut novel by visionary new talent Shen Tao, unmissable for die-hard genre fans as well as readers of literary fiction looking to make their first foray into fantasy.\u003c\/b\u003e","brand":"Ships in 10 to 15 days","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47857164976286,"sku":"ADS-9781399628976","price":34.78,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0400\/9043\/5742\/files\/9781399628976.jpg?v=1781482376","url":"https:\/\/classicbargains.com.au\/products\/9781399628976","provider":"Classic Bargains Australia","version":"1.0","type":"link"}