Empire of Shadows (Hardcover)

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Empire of Shadows By Miriam Forster Cover Image

Empire of Shadows (Hardcover)

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Staff Reviews


"A prequel to the popular A City of Thousand Dolls, this is a wonderful book is filled with lots of plot twists, thrills and of course romance. The main character Mara is a trained protector and you follow the journey of how she looks for her lifetime charge, the person she protects no matter what, even if it costs her life. She meets a boy as well as a princess who both help Mara realize her true-self and her purpose. Fall in love with this breathtaking novel and believe in the power of friendship and love. Recommended for fans of magic, suspense, and romance. Best for ages 13-17."

More Bookseller & Guest Recommendations

— Cameron

Perfect for fans of romantic fantasies like The Girl of Fire and Thorns and Graceling, Empire of Shadows takes readers on a spellbinding journey into a world with a divided society, deadly courtiers, heroic traitors, and deeply laid conspiracies.

Cast out by her family three years ago, Mara turned to the only place that would take her—an order where students train to protect others. But Mara is stunned when guarding a noble girl in the Empire's capital turns out to be more dangerous than she could've imagined. More shocking still, Mara finds the boy she thought she'd lost forever outside the gates of her new home.

Mara knew the dizzying capital city would hold dangers. How could she have known that her heart, as well as her life, would be at stake?

Miriam Forster is a recovering barista and former bookseller who is obsessed with anthropology, British television, and stories of all kinds. She lives in Oregon with her husband and her cat. City of a Thousand Dolls was her debut novel.

Product Details ISBN: 9780062121332
ISBN-10: 0062121332
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: November 4th, 2014
Pages: 496
Language: English

“Fans of fantasy will enjoy the magical elements, while the subtle commentary of the novel’s stratified society lends it a dystopian vibe similar to Veronica Roth’s Divergent that will appeal to readers outside of the fantasy genre.” — School Library Journal

“An engrossing, complicated fantasy.” — ALA Booklist

“An infusion of Asian elements and rich details bring this fantasy world alive.” — Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)

Praise for CITY OF A THOUSAND DOLLS: “A strong debut [and] fresh fantasy/mystery crossover. Set in a magically isolated Empire, Forster’s well-crafted story and confident prose are rich, packed with small details that immerse readers in her sumptuously imagined world.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“A fantastical murder mystery with a creative premise, heart-pounding pacing, and characters with secrets to keep.” — Cinda Williams Chima,author of the best-selling Seven Realms series

“With fantastic world building and a wonderful heroine, CITY OF A THOUSAND DOLLS intrigued me from the first page.” — Cindy Pon, author of Silver Phoenix

“The mystery here is a fine one, and the concept of the City is well-executed. As Nisha must choose between remaining within the cloistered safety of the City or taking her chances with the outside world, her dilemma will be familiar with teens looking toward adulthood.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books