A Bright Heart

Kate Chenli

$29.99

Hardback

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English

Union Square Press
01 March 2024

Fantasy & magical realism (Children's&YA); Historical fiction (Children's&YA); Young Adult Fantasy

Series: A Bright Heart

Age range 14 to 17

What if you could avenge your own murder? A brilliant young woman gets a second chance at life in this debut YA tale of vengeance, court intrigue, and romance, inspired by classic Chinese tropes.

Mingshin outsmarted three princes to help the man she loved become king. But she doesn’t see Ren’s betrayal coming, not until she’s lying in a pool of her own blood on the palace steps. As she’s dying, Mingshin makes a desperate plea to the gods to turn back time and give her a chance to make things right. Mingshin wakes up two years earlier, her prayer granted, and swears two things: Ren will never become king, and she will never fall in love again.

But the timeline in this life has changed: a dignitary gifted with dark magic is threatening her kingdom’s peace, and Ren’s thirst for power runs deeper than Mingshin could have imagined. She finds herself allying with Jieh, another contender for the throne. Mingshin knows better than anyone not to give her heart to a prince. But in the viper’s nest of the royal court, she and Jieh prove a phenomenal team. Can Mingshin avert the catastrophe of her past by once again learning to trust…and maybe even love? Master storyteller Kate Chenli introduces a singular YA heroine in this vividly rendered and utterly original new young adult fantasy books series.

A spellbinding, tension-filled page-turner with a bold heroine, A Bright Heart will appeal to fans of romance books for teens like The Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller, or other YA books that feature rich world-building, captivating romance, and a quest for revenge.

'An incredible addition to the classic Chinese court intrigue genre. A Bright Heart is smart, subversive, and certainly swoony.' — Chloe Gong, #1 New York Times bestselling author of These Violent Delights

'The clever premise and intriguing and suspenseful plot will keep readers engaged. A fresh and compelling voice.' — Kirkus Reviews

'[A] vivid and evenly paced fantasy series starter that centers a determined heroine seeking to topple an archaic patriarchal society.' — Publishers Weekly

'The characters are complex and well-developed and the fairytale-like romance still shows an equal partnership and a thoughtful message about looking past first impressions. This book will appeal to any reader who loves fantasy with a good mix of romance, ancient Chinese court politics, and magic.' — Booklist

'Kate Chenli’s YA debut is full of romance, intrigue and vengeance... [P]erfect for readers who want smart characters and gripping twists.' — Geek Girl Authority

By: Kate Chenli
Imprint: Union Square Press
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 210mm, Width: 140mm,
ISBN: 9781454949923
ISBN 10: 1454949929
Series: A Bright Heart
Pages: 344
Publication Date: 01 March 2024
Recommended Age: From 14 to 17 years
Audience: Young adult , Preschool (0-5)
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

As a Chinese immigrant, Kate Chenli is a proud US citizen who also cherishes her Chinese heritage. She has an MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering, but has always enjoyed designing complex worlds and characters more than designing complex software. Other than reading and writing, her passion is world travel (five continents down and counting).

Reviews for A Bright Heart

"“The clever premise and intriguing and suspenseful plot will keep readers engaged. A fresh and compelling voice.”—Kirkus Reviews ""[A] vivid and evenly paced fantasy series starter that centers a determined heroine seeking to topple an archaic patriarchal society."" —Publishers Weekly “The characters are complex and well-developed and the fairytale-like romance still shows an equal partnership and a thoughtful message about looking past first impressions. This book will appeal to any reader who loves fantasy with a good mix of romance, ancient Chinese court politics, and magic.”—Booklist ""An incredible addition to the classic Chinese court intrigue genre. A Bright Heart is smart, subversive, and certainly swoony."" —Chloe Gong, #1 New York Times bestselling author of These Violent Delights"