The Poet Empress

The instant Sunday Times bestseller and BBC Radio 2 Book Club pick perfect for fans of R.F. Kuang and Madeline Miller

By: Shen Tao

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Paperback | 20 January 2026 | Edition Number 1

At a Glance

Paperback
432 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
23.3 x 15.4 x 3.2

Paperback

RRP $34.99

$28.75

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'Vicious, gorgeous, and fiercely haunting' CHLOE GONG

'Sublime' AMELIE WEN ZHAO

'Enthralling' ANDREA STEWART

'Astounding' CHELSEA ABDULLAH

'Lyrical' K. X. SONG
'Devastating' KRITIKA H. RAO

'Fantasy at its best' VAISHNAVI PATEL

TO KILL A MONSTER, SHE MUST BECOME ONE . . .

As 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.

Wei 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 . . .

In 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.

The epic political arena of The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang meets the intimate tragedy and luscious language of The Song of Achilles by 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.

About the Author

Shen Tao immigrated to Canada at an early age, and grew up inspired by both Chinese and Western stories. She has wanted to be a writer for as long as she can remember. The Poet Empress is her first book.

Industry Reviews

Vicious, gorgeous, and fiercely haunting - Chloe Gong, New York Times bestselling author of Immortal Longings

Sublime . . . a breathlessly sweeping and brutally romantic historical epic woven with themes of feminism, courage, and morality - Amelie Wen Zhao, Sunday Times No. 1 bestselling author

I have rarely had such a breathless reading experience . . . Terrifying and enthralling! - Andrea Stewart, Sunday Times bestselling author

Impeccably paced, vicious and romantic, this is a deadly debut that'll have you at the edge of your seat - Kritika H. Rao, Sunday Times bestselling author of THE LEGEND OF MENEKA

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