To kill a monster, she must become one…
As the emperor lies dying, the once-mighty Azalea Dynasty teeters on the brink of civil war. While princes scheme openly for the throne, a far more dangerous battle is unfolding behind palace walls — the secret war to become the next empress.
Wei Yin, a peasant girl forced into concubinage by the cruel Prince Terren, has already endured unimaginable suffering. Torn from her family, she has no title, no allies, and no hope of escape. But she does have a secret.
Hidden in the shadows of the imperial court, Wei Yin is mastering a skill forbidden to women. In a world where words are weapons and poetry carries ancient, lethal magic, stories can rewrite destinies. To survive — and to reshape the fate of a nation — she must compose the perfect poem: a tale powerful enough to kill any man… even the next emperor.
Blending epic court politics with lyrical, devastating prose, To Kill a Monster is a sensational debut from Shen Tao. Perfect for fans of The Poppy War and The Song of Achilles, this dark, literate fantasy will captivate genre lovers and literary fiction readers alike.
