Royal Diaries: Lady of Ch'ao Kuo

 A Royal Diaries novel featuring an ancient Chinese tribe.


      The Lady of Ch'iao Kuo is an well loved figure who Laurence Yep writes favorably about in this addition of the Royal Diaries. It was published in 2001. Yep's book is written entirely in the form of a journal and begins in the year 531 A.D. Overall, this book's appeal varies greatly depending on a reader's preferred writing style despite its interesting story.
     Lady Ch'iao Kuo, the main character, is called Princess Redbird by some historians. Her story, in Yep's book, begins when her father, the king of the Hsien tribe, cancels a spring festival due to fear of invasion. The Hsien people were a strong kingdom and the book calls their enemies, the Dog Heads. Throughout this novel, the princess and her family struggle against their enemies. The prejudice that the Hsien and the Chinese have against each other, complicates matters further.
     This book is well recommended for anybody who enjoys reading books written in the style of journal entries. I must warn you though that individuals who don't like that style of writing, may not have find the same enjoyment. This book is still worth a try.