Goodbye, My Princess

Fei Wo Si Cun’s romantic tragedy follows a young royal couple’s tumultuous relationship as they navigate court drama, cutthroat bids for power, and the introduction of a mysterious suitor. It’s been three years since Qu Xiaofeng married Li Chengyin, the crown prince of the Central Plains. Though she plays the part of a dutiful wife by day, ignoring her husband’s often cruel and power-hungry behavior and blatant infidelity, by night she explores the city with her attendant, A’du. But when enigmatic Gu Jian arrives claiming to be a former flame whom Xiaofeng doesn’t remember, she must untangle her own past, reckon with her conflicting feelings for her husband and Gu Jian, contend with Chengyin’s fervid jealousy, and protect herself against the underhanded machinations of the royal court, which will do anything to see her fall. While each featured romance seems doomed from the start, absorbing prose and complex character work inject hope throughout this dark and riveting tale. A note from the translator provides historical context and addresses translation decisions; an author’s note concludes. Ages 14–up. (June)