Overview

A sweeping and tragic debut novel perfect for fans of The Wrath and the Dawn and Megan Whalen Turner. The Bird and the Blade is a lush, powerful story of life and death, battles and riddles, lies and secrets from author Megan Bannen. Enslaved in Kipchak Khanate, Jinghua has lost everything: her home, her family, her freedom . . . until the kingdom is conquered by enemy forces and she finds herself an unlikely conspirator in the escape of Prince Khalaf and his irascible father across the vast Mongol Empire. On the run, with adversaries on all sides and an endless journey ahead, Jinghua hatches a scheme to use the Kipchaks' exile to return home, a plan that becomes increasingly fraught as her feelings for Khalaf evolve into an impossible love. Jinghua's already dicey prospects take a downward turn when Khalaf seeks to restore his kingdom by forging a marriage alliance with Turandokht, the daughter of the Great Khan. As beautiful as she is cunning, Turandokht requires all potential suitors to solve three impossible riddles to win her hand--and if they fail, they die. Jinghua has kept her own counsel well, but with Khalaf's kingdom--and his very life--on the line, she must reconcile the hard truth of her past with her love for a boy who has no idea what she's capable of . . . even if it means losing him to the girl who'd sooner take his life than his heart.

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9781538549490

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Reviews

At once haunting and compelling, this tale of love and loyalty will wreck you. Exquisite from the first note to the last. -- Natalie C. Parker, author of Beware the Wild The Bird and the Blade has everything I want in a novel: vivid characters, sumptuous prose, romance, funny dialogue, and a sweeping storyline in an intricately researched world. This story will break your heart-but it will remake it, too. -- Rosalyn Eves, author of Blood Rose Rebellion A rich, imaginative tale that delivers thrilling characters, heart-stopping action, and exciting intrigue with every turn of the page. -- Booklist The characters are complex and realistic. Based on the opera, Turandot, and the history of the Mongol Empire, this novel will appeal to fantasy and romance readers as well as historical fiction fans. -- School Library Journal Lavish, sweeping, and powerful, this is a love story, tragicomedy, and history lesson rolled into one. A must-read for fans of heart-wrenching, sob-your-heart-out YA. -- Kirkus Reviews (starred review) A tale filled with magic and mystery...Meticulously researched and beautifully executed, this story will linger long after you have finished reading. -- Renee Ahdieh, #1 New York Times bestselling author

"The Bird and the Blade has everything I want in a novel: vivid characters, sumptuous prose, romance, funny dialogue, and a sweeping storyline in an intricately researched world. This story will break your heart-but it will remake it, too. -- ""Rosalyn Eves, author of Blood Rose Rebellion"" A rich, imaginative tale that delivers thrilling characters, heart-stopping action, and exciting intrigue with every turn of the page. -- ""Booklist"" A tale filled with magic and mystery...Meticulously researched and beautifully executed, this story will linger long after you have finished reading. -- ""Renee Ahdieh, #1 New York Times bestselling author"" At once haunting and compelling, this tale of love and loyalty will wreck you. Exquisite from the first note to the last. -- ""Natalie C. Parker, author of Beware the Wild"" Lavish, sweeping, and powerful, this is a love story, tragicomedy, and history lesson rolled into one. A must-read for fans of heart-wrenching, sob-your-heart-out YA. -- ""Kirkus Reviews (starred review)"" The characters are complex and realistic. Based on the opera, Turandot, and the history of the Mongol Empire, this novel will appeal to fantasy and romance readers as well as historical fiction fans. -- ""School Library Journal"""

Author Information

Megan Bannen is a librarian and author. In her spare time, she collects graduate degrees from Kansas colleges and universities. While most of her professional career has been spent in public libraries, she has also sold luggage, written grants, and taught English abroad and at home. She lives in the Kansas City area with her husband, their two sons, and a few too many pets with literary names. She can be found online at MeganBannen.com. Emily Woo Zeller is an Audie and Earphones Award-winning narrator, voice-over artist, actor, dancer, and choreographer. AudioFile magazine named her one of the Best Voices of 2013. Her voice-over career includes work in animated film and television in Southeast Asia.

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