Natural Engines - A Palace Near the Wind

Natural Engines - A Palace Near the Wind by Ai Jiang tells the compelling story of Liu Lufeng, the eldest princess of the Feng royalty. Bound by duty and tradition, she is destined to become the next bride of the human king. With their bark faces, arms of braided branches, and hair of needle threads, the Feng people are deeply connected to nature, nurtured by the land they inhabit.

Yet, this harmony is threatened by the relentless expansion of humans. The negotiation of bridewealth has become the only means to halt—or at least delay—the destruction of their home. Lufeng, determined to put an end to these marriages, hatches a plan to kill the king on her wedding day.

As she finds herself trapped in the grand human palace during the lead-up to the union, Lufeng begins to unravel the truth about her people’s origins. She soon realises that the Feng will never be safe from human encroachment. To secure freedom for her family and forge her own destiny, she must release herself from the constraints of duty and tradition, choose her allies wisely, and face the uncertainties ahead.

From a rising-star author, winner of both the Bram Stoker® and Nebula Awards, this richly inventive tale weaves a brutal yet beautiful narrative of family, loss, oppression, and rebellion.