Two sisters become unwitting rivals in a war to claim the title of Emperor in this sweeping tale of ambition, sacrifice and betrayal for readers of Tomi Adeyemi, Sabaa Tahir and Alwyn Hamilton.
All hail the Girl King
Sisters Lu and Min have always understood their places as princesses of the Empire. Lu knows she is destined to become the dynasty's first female ruler, while Min is resigned to a life in her shadow. Then their father declares their male cousin Set the heir instead - a betrayal that sends the sisters down two very different paths.
Determined to reclaim her birthright, Lu goes on the run. She needs an ally - and an army - if she is to succeed. Her quest leads her to Nokhai, the last surviving wolf shapeshifter. Nok wants to keep his identity secret, but finds himself forced into an uneasy alliance with the girl whose family killed everyone he ever loved . . .
Alone in the volatile court, Min's hidden power awakens - a forbidden, deadly magic that could secure Set's reign . . . or allow Min to claim the throne herself. But there can only be one Emperor, and the sisters' greatest enemy could turn out to be each other.
About the Author
Mimi Yu is an alumna of the Popular Fiction workshop with Marjorie Liu at Voices of Our Nation's Arts (VONA)/University of California at Berkeley 2014, and VONA/University of Miami 2015. She also has a BA in liberal arts from Sarah Lawrence College, New York, and an MFA in fine art from Parsons School of Design.
The Girl King is her first novel.
Industry Reviews
The Girl King is everything I want in a high fantasy. Yu draws fluently from history to create an exquisite world, brings it to life with gorgeous and atmospheric prose, and populates it with fascinating characters. I expect this to be one of the most talked-about books of 2019, and I can't wait to see what this very talented author does next. * Samantha Shannon, bestselling author of THE PRIORY OF THE ORANGE TREE *
Fierce and unforgettable, THE GIRL KING is an epic fantasy of tremendous lyrical power; that rare novel that leaves you breathless, as though your dreams and heart are bigger than your body. There's no greater pleasure than to find a novel that makes you feel more alive - Mimi Yu has that gift of magic * Marjorie Liu, New York Times bestselling author *
An absolutely fantastic tale of legends, magic and destiny, Mimi Yu's THE GIRL KING kept the pages turning. The myths are awesome, the heroes are unsinkable, and the antagonists are chock-full of twisted agendas. If you're down with dangerous magic, clans of shapeshifters, and worthy girls who somehow STILL need to prove their worth, then you will love this as much as I did * Kendare Blake, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Three Dark Crowns series *
An epic tale of fate, desire, family and love, highly recommended [starred review] * School Library Journal *
An intricate, richly crafted, fantasy that will draw you in and keep you guessing to the last stunning battle * Heidi Helig *
a beautifully written epic replete with magic, shapeshifting characters, complex political intrigue and the obligatory battles between good and evil . . . Strong female characters and a helter-skelter plot make for a compelling read * Guardian *
An epic tale of fate, desire, family and love, highly recommended [starred review] * School Library Journal *
Fierce and unforgettable, THE GIRL KING is an epic fantasy of tremendous lyrical power; that rare novel that leaves you breathless, as though your dreams and heart are bigger than your body. There's no greater pleasure than to find a novel that makes you feel more alive - Mimi Yu has that gift of magic * Marjorie Liu, New York Times bestselling author *
An absolutely fantastic tale of legends, magic and destiny, Mimi Yu's THE GIRL KING kept the pages turning. The myths are awesome, the heroes are unsinkable, and the antagonists are chock-full of twisted agendas. If you're down with dangerous magic, clans of shapeshifters, and worthy girls who somehow STILL need to prove their worth, then you will love this as much as I did * Kendare Blake, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Three Dark Crowns *
