Daughter of Xanadu
Princess Emmajin, the granddaughter of the Great Khubilai Khan, wants to be a soldier, a dream unheard of for a female in the 13th-century Mongol Empire. She must earn the mission by first completing a task for her father, learning the secrets of the foreigner Marco Polo. The Khan’s goal to conquer Venice and other parts of Europe can only be carried out by discovering the weak points in the foreigners’ defenses. But while pretending friendship to gain information, Emmajin gradually discovers that her feelings for Marco are developing into care. All of the beliefs the Mongols have traditionally held about foreigners and war cause emotional turmoil for Emmajin as she tries to evaluate her loyalties and her future.
When Emmajin at last finds herself on the battlefield, awesome scenes ensue of wild beasts, “dragons,” and elephants. What should be a glorious adventure, however, evolves into a nightmare full of the cruel, cold realities of warfare and betrayal. Faced with losing those she loves most, Emmajin challenges the Khan with a new way of considering foreign representatives and countries. Daughter of Xanadu is an exciting, tough, and riveting story balanced with tenderness, compassion, and beauty. Dori Jones Yang is a writer to watch, a talented author who has written a compelling, unique, and enjoyable story worthy of merit as a great YA historical novel.
