The Secrets of Jin-Shei [Paperback]

In an ancient empire modeled on imperial China, eight women are bound by jin-shei — a sacred oath of sisterhood stronger than blood, deeper than marriage. When one of them dies young, the others must honor promises that will reshape their world. Alma Alexander weaves palace intrigue, forbidden magic, and women's loyalty into a sweeping fantasy where the personal is political and every secret carries weight. This is epic fantasy that centers women's lives without reducing them to love interests or warriors — they're poets, healers, alchemists, empresses. The worldbuilding is lush, the magic system elegant, and the relationships complex enough to feel real. For readers who want Game of Thrones-level political intrigue but told through women's eyes, or anyone who loved The Night Circus and craves something with more scope.