I read a lot of romance novels I don't log on Goodreads, but I wanted to include this erotica trilogy because it's so different. When I read the synopsis I didn't think it would be my thing at all, but after awhile I read through all of Jeannie Lin's other work and there was nothing else left for me to devour, so. The beginning made me uncomfortable, because of the power differential; non-consensual sex is usually one of my hard limits, and if you swapped the genders (privileged man wants female employee to sleep with him, won't take no for an answer) I wouldn't have given it a second look. But the more I got into Princess Shanyin's world, I realized that in a brutal emperor's inner circle, there's only so much consent anyone can give, and it became interesting to see how sex, power, and pleasure played out in this environment.* I enjoyed Shanyin's evolution over the changes in circumstance she endures throughout the books. And, ngl, it did me some good to read three books about a woman just going after her own pleasure so, so thoroughly.

*However: I still think getting past the significant power imbalance between Shanyin and Yuan in the first book depends on swallowing the premise that they have an irresistible chemistry that he doesn't truly want to deny. Basically, in order to stomach her treatment of him, I had to accept that he really did want her as much as she wanted him, and that makes it... if not okay, at least not so abhorrent that I had to stop reading. Some people would say I'm overthinking this. And some people, I imagine, would still call it rape.

I received a review copy through Goodreads First Reads.

This is certainly a case of "don't judge a book by it's cover". At first, I thought it was going to be a fun erotic romp. I was quite wrong, but in a good way. Yes, it is erotica, but that is not the main point of this book. It is a fascinating look at a time in past China full of royal intrigue, unrequited love, and a dangerously dysfunctional family.

I don't want to say too much and give anything away. I will say that if you seek a good story with a erotic touch, then this book is a great choice. However, don't pick it up if you are just wanting the erotic scenes. There is such an engrossing story between these covers you may be disappointed. Or then again, maybe not! ;)

I look forward to seeing more by this author.

How did I not know that Jeannie Lin had written an erotic trilogy under a pen name before now?!?! This is super dark and I absolutely loved it. Shanyin is a princess with a whole harem of men at her beck and call but she sees a handsome stranger and has to have him, and then her fortunes change and the power shifts and they end up circling each other for the rest of their lives.

I think Princess Shanyin was a good erotic romance. I found the historical setting of the first novel quite interesting, and the erotic elements overall were very well done. I was not expecting the series to end the way it did, and, to be honest, I found the epilogue quite touching.

Surprisingly good. I liked the first installment the most and I didn't expect the ending.

Very sexy with engaging characters and an intriguing little plot.

Very well done erotica from a seasoned author. The non-European perspective is refreshing, the writing is top-notch, and I'm looking forward to the next book in this series.