Mention historical romance, and the images that usually leap to mind are of European ladies in dresses with hoops or corsets, swooning under the gaze of some strapping hero. While romance has recently become a bit more inclusive in terms of race and sexuality—thanks to authors like Vanessa Riley, Cat Sebastian and Courtney Milan—historical romance is still largely set in the confines of Europe and especially England. Bucking the Eurocentric trend is Jeannie Lin’s lovely historical mystery/romance The Hidden Moon. Set in ninth century Chang’an (modern day Xi’an), The Hidden Moon captures the Tang dynasty’s capital at the height of its powers. Lady Bai Wei-ling—or Wei-wei as she’s known to most—has grown up in the midst of that power, as the only daughter in a family enmeshed in the governing class. She’s well-educated and daring enough to wander the wards of the city at night—a habit that has landed her in danger in the past. It is thanks to the efforts of the street savvy enforcer Gao that Wei-wei has escaped the worst, and she begins to feel more than just gratitude towards him—feelings he returns but knows are impossible due to the vast gulf in their statuses. When a number of mysterious murders embroils the city in a hunt for the assassins, Gao’s discovery of an imperial seal lands him in deep peril that requires all of his fighting skills and instinct to overcome. Complicating the issue is Wei-wei’s interest in the case, as her brother—an official with much more sensitive duties than his official title suggests—could be in danger from the same murders. Gao and Wei-wei team up to puzzle through the case before the assassins strike again, while struggling to come to terms with a future that will part them.
The Hidden Moon is part of the loosely connected Lotus Palace series, and features characters introduced in previous books, but can be read as a standalone. While Lin bills the book as a mystery, the romantic elements are equally important. Actual violence is depicted minimally, but Lin doesn’t shy away from the realities of harsh justice and street life of the era. I’m no expert in the historical accuracy of Lin’s depiction of Tang era life, but it rings true with some allowances for the sake of storytelling, much like most historical fiction. Readers of historicals will recognize some of the tropes—smart heroine chafing at the limits placed on women, a hero struggling to have society judge him on his merits—but there are some aspects that are a refreshing change from traditionally Euro-set romances. Unlike British historical romance in particular, social classes are more fluid, the world of the demimonde is accepted in polite society and women like Wei-wei may have more options than genteel poverty if they forego marriage. The Hidden Moon is a good choice for romance aficionados who have burned out on other historical romances or fans of Sherry Thomas’ early romances or simply anyone looking for a quick read that combines romance, adventure and an intriguing setting.