'The Lotus Palace' Is on TIME’s List of the 50 Best Romance Novels

T he title of high-school teacher turned award-winning author Jeannie Lin ’s 2013 historical romance, The Lotus Palace, refers to the home of the courtesans in Tang Dynasty China. Due to a red birthmark that covers most of her face, Maidservant Yue-ying is known more for her ingenuity than her beauty. It’s her intelligence that charms Lord Bai Huang, a frisky scholar and socialite. When one of Yue-yong’s co-workers is murdered, Bai agrees to help her investigate the crime. The two soon form a bond that defies their social ranks. But as they grow closer, Yue-ying worries that Bai will only ever see her as his concubine—a role she has sworn she will never play. The Lotus Palace , praised for its historical accuracy and detail, offers a suspenseful tale of lovers held captive by social conventions.

Buy Now: The Lotus Palace on Amazon

Contact us at letters@time.com .