The Shogun's Queen
The Shogun Quartet, Book 1
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Transworld Publishers Ltd
Published:27th Jul '17
Should be back in stock very soon
In a world turned upside down by foreign ships, Princess Atsu must uncover secrets tied to her fate and that of the shogun in The Shogun's Queen.
In The Shogun's Queen, set in 1853, we meet a young girl named Okatsu whose life takes an unexpected turn when foreign ships arrive on Japan's shores. The arrival of these 'barbarians' threatens the Satsuma clan's way of life, compelling not just the samurai but also Okatsu to rise to the occasion. Given a new name, Princess Atsu, she is tasked by her feudal lord with a monumental mission: to save her realm from impending doom.
As Atsu embarks on her journey to the women's palace of Edo Castle, she discovers a world shrouded in secrecy and intrigue. The palace, hidden from the eyes of the world, holds mysteries of its own, including dark rumors of murder and ghostly whispers that echo through its halls. It is within these walls that Atsu learns of her connection to the shogun, a man whose fate is intertwined with her own, and she realizes that uncovering his secrets could be the key to rescuing her people.
With rich historical detail and a captivating narrative, The Shogun's Queen explores themes of courage, identity, and the struggle for power in a rapidly changing world. The author, known for her insightful portrayals of Japan's history and culture, brings to life the true story of Princess Atsu, a remarkable figure whose bravery and determination shine through the pages of this gripping tale.
It is completely absorbing, showing Lesley Downer's deep knowledge of Japan and her mastery of its complex history during the nineteenth century. * LIAN HEARN, author of Across the Nightingale Floor *
A persuasive storyteller and the setting is mesmerising. -- Antonia Senior * THE TIMES *
Superb. A wonderful evocation of an alien world, with entrancing characters and a riveting narrative that fits perfectly with the historical facts. -- JOHN MAN, author of Genghis Khan
Lesley Downer has pulled off a remarkable achievement in making the beautiful, strange and dangerous world of one woman in a 19th-century Japan facing Western invasion utterly believable, and utterly gripping. * VANORA BENNETT, author of Portrait of an Unknown Woman *
Atsu is what we all want to be: a courageous woman of heartbreaking intelligence… set against our own darkest selves. This tale of western imperialism has so many resonances in the modern world, written with passion, depth and brilliance, and a sense of time and place that is earning Lesley Downer a reputation as the Shogun’s Writer for the twenty first century. * MANDA SCOTT, bestselling author of the Boudica novels *
ISBN: 9780552163491
Dimensions: 198mm x 128mm x 33mm
Weight: 370g
544 pages