The Forbidden City Series, Paperback

18th century China. All girls aged thirteen to sixteen had to attend the Imperial Daughters' Draft, so that the Emperor could have the first choice of every woman in his empire as a possible concubine. This award-winning series follows the interlinked lives of four real women who entered the Forbidden City and whose lives were changed forever. The Consorts Lady Qing, whose love was forbidden. The Fragrant Concubine Lady He, a legendary woman with a secret, Editor's Choice at the Historical Novel Society. The Garden of Perfect Brightness Lady Niuhuru, drawn to the Jesuit painter who created the most beautiful garden in the world, awarded a BRAG Medallion. The Cold Palace Lady Ula Nara, exiled for a moment of madness, winner of the 2019 Novel London award. (Please note paperback copy comes as 1 single volume).

If you loved Memoirs of a Geisha and enjoy books by Anchee Min, Lisa See and Pearl S. Buck, then the Forbidden City series is for you. Based on real women in 18th century China who became concubines to emperors of the Qing dynasty and spent their lives in the Forbidden City, this is historical fiction at its most intriguing, gripping and romantic.

Really fascinating and well plotted. BRAG

Melissa uses words to paint images and her writing is sublime. Reads Writes Reviews

Five star reviews from Amazon readersExcellent series of interlocking stories and fully-fleshed out characters. I enjoyed every one of them.I have read the entire series and it is wonderful food for thought.Cannot wait for the next collection to be written.Melissa Addey not only picks intriguing subjects, she's a superb writer.Such a wonderful series that will make you travel back to the mysterious and magical world of Emperors, Consorts and Concubines.I have read all of Melissa Addey's books and every single one is excellent.

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About author Melissa AddeyYou can read about me and my books (and get a free novella) on my website, MelissaAddey.com. I mainly write historical fiction, focusing on the Forbidden City in China's 18th century (now complete) and Morocco in the 11th century (completing soon). Next up, Ancient Rome! I'm in the final year of my Creative Writing PhD and was the 2016 Leverhulme Trust Writer in Residence at the British Library. In 2019 I won the Page to Podcast competition as well as the Novel London award.