In A Palace Near the Wind, author Ai Jiang delivers a rich sci-fi/fantasy novella that offers a compelling blend of mythic storytelling and speculative fiction intertwining themes of examination of power, resistance, autonomy, roots, and delves into the complexities of cultural preservation and sacrifice, written through diasporic lens.
A Palace Near the Wind by Ai Jiang
April 15, 2025
From a rising star author, a richly inventive, brutal and beautiful science-fantasy novella. A story of family, loss, oppression and rebellion for readers of Nghi Vo's The Empress of Salt and Fortune, Neon Yang's The Black Tides of Heaven and Kritika H. Rao's The Surviving SkySometimes called Wind Walkers for their ability to command the wind, unlike their human rulers, the Feng people have bark faces, carved limbs, arms of braided branches, and hair of needle threads. Bound by duty and tradition, Liu Lufeng, the eldest princess of the Feng royalty, is the next bride to the human king. The negotiation of bridewealth is the only way to stop the expansion of the humans so that the Feng can keep their lands, people, and culture intact. As the eldest, Lufeng should be the next in line to lead the people of Feng, and in the past, that made her sisters disposable. Thankful that her youngest sister, Chuiliu, is too young for a sacrificial marriage, she steps in with plans to kill the king to finally stop the marriages.But when she starts to uncover the truth about her peoples' origins and realizes Chuiliu will never be safe from the humans, she must learn to let go of duty and tradition, choose her allies carefully, and risk the unknown in order to free her family and shape her own fate.A powerfully imaginative, compelling story of a young woman seeking to save her family and her home, as well as a devastating meditation on the destruction of the natural world for the sake of an industrial future.
Characters
Wind Walkers
Wind Walkers are also known as the Feng people. They are anthromorphic species with bark-like skin and hair made of needle threads who live in nature (marking them as "others" in the eyes of the humans), nurturing the land, which reflects their deep connection to nature.
Land Wanderers
Land Wanderers are humans of this world with smooth bronze skin. Their society is industrialized, heavily utilizing advanced technology that doesn't always coincide with the natural world. The Land Wanderers encroachment into Feng's territory leads to exploitation of the Feng's resources and commodify their land.
Themes/Tropes
☾ Colonization
☾ Cultural erasure/preservation
☾ Socio-political undertones
☾ Environmental exploitation
☾ Breaking societal cycles
☾ Cultural clashes
☾ Rebellion and resistance
Representation
☀ Chinese-Canadian author
☀ Indigenous-coded characters
☀ Queer-coded subtexts
Content/Trigger Warnings
➤ Violence
➤ Death
➤ Forced marriage
➤ Body horror
➤ Colonialism
Favorite Quotes
“We are the people of Feng and Feng itself—a part of the trees, a part of the wind. Just as we borrow the wind, the wind also borrows us.”
“I wanted to reclaim the choice that was taken from us all and ensure my brother could choose when and where he might make his home.”
Meet Ai Jiang
Purchase A Palace Near the Wind
A Palace Near the Wind Discussion
🌱 How does the dynamic of the Feng people and the humans mirror real-world issues of colonialism and environmental exploitation?
🌱 How does Lufeng's journey reflect the struggle to preserve cultural heritage while navigating pressures to assimilate and conform?
🌱 How does the book explore gender roles within the Feng society and how does Lufeng challenge these expectations?
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