Xifeng asks for Wei to be made a soldier instead. He grants Wei a position as a craftsman because of his swordmaking skills. Wei practices with the recruits all week. They discover the young commander is the emperor’s oldest stepson. Xifeng can tell feelings are beginning to blossom between them. Xifeng sees Akira and Shiro talking softly. Wei does an impressive job fencing with the recruits. He’s much younger than the other commanders, yet one of the older officers calls him ‘sir.’ The young commander questions Wei and can tell he knows a lot about swords. Xifeng calls over the officer nearest her. Xifeng knows Wei would do well competing among these men. Xifeng, Wei, and Hideki walk around town. Xifeng wants Wei to go to the castle to become a soldier as another possible in for her. Wei wants to find work in the city to support her. But she would have to give up glory for this future. She imagines a wonderful life with children who have loyal hearts like his. Xifeng hopes this is her way into the emperor’s court. Akira says they can lodge there, but they have to earn their keep. They take him to Akira, the nearest helaer. The scythe that cut Shiro in the battle a couple days ago was laced with poison. They eventually arrive at the capital, a huge, beautiful, bustling city. ![]() The queen says if you pay the price of blood too much, you’re giving up part of yourself. Guma got something from him and still hasn’t completed her payment. It will be a bitter struggle if the serpent king has anything to say about it. The queen says they’re both inside her and she has to choose. Xifeng feels the good and bad warring within her. She would do anything to have a greater purpose. Xifeng wants to be queen so she can make her own decisions. It’s predicted either Xifeng or another girl will save them all. It’s her choice, not a foregone conclusion. She says it will be a dark path to get to empress. The queen tells her she has two beings inside her, one dark and one light. Xifeng goes to the pond to wash her face while everyone else sleeps. They learn about Shiro’s family and how hard he had to work to get to his position: answering directly to the king. ![]() She allows them to stay one night in the safety of her realm. The queen says this has everything to do with Xifeng. She talks of many generations of war and what it has done to the once peaceful kingdom. They want to take them before their queen to answer for bringing violence into their forest. They are rescued by the Tengaru, animal warriors who look like horses, large cats, and humans combined. They are ambushed after they leave this town. She remembers these monks from a dream at the campsite. She sees monks in a mirror at a stand of wares in a town they stop at. Xifeng is relieved to find that Wei has forgiven her as they ride together. They continue their journey with the soldiers telling tales of the fiercest fighters in all the land, a troupe of fierce women who paint their lips red when they battle. He wants to do that for her and is confused about her lack of emotion on the subject and about why her face is healed. He knows it used to bother her to kill for Guma. Wei is not happy when he hears she hunted. She sneaks away to trap a rabbit and drink its blood as Guma taught her to quickly heal her wound. Xifeng wakes before anyone and sees her reflection in the water. Wei asserts his ownership of Xifeng as one man has eyes for her. They come upon a group of Kimatsu soldiers also traveling to the emperor and join up with them. ![]() Guma hits back and leaves a mark on her face. Guma says the tarot cards are finally beginning to play out. Xifeng tells Guma she’s running away with Wei. He notices the marks where Guma beat her. She’s afraid he’s the thing she’ll have to eventually sacrifice. She doesn’t return his words even though she feels them. Xifeng falls into a vision in which the girl is killed. Xifeng sees Wei fencing and notices Ning (Guma’s servant) watching him. ![]() Xifeng is involved with Wei, a young man all girls love. Xifeng’s continually show a sacrifice she must make and an eventual ascension to empress. Her aunt is cruel to her but knows Xifeng’s beautiful face will get her somewhere in life and shows signs of caring every once in a while. ***** Everything below is a SPOILER ***** What happened in Forest of a Thousand Lanterns?Įighteen year old Xifeng has been raised by her Aunt Guma after her mother committed suicide because of her pregnancy out of wedlock. This page is full of spoilers, so beware! If you are wondering what happened in Forest of a Thousand Lanterns, the first book in this series, then you are in the right place!Īdd Forest of a Thousand Lanterns at Goodreads Read a full summary of Forest of a Thousand Lanterns by Julie C.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |