A Palace Near The Wind | Book Review

In Ai Jiang’s latest novella, a Palace Near The Wind, we follow Liu Lufeng who is one of the Fang, sometimes called the Wind People, a race with bark-like skin, hair like pine needles and a deep connection with nature, able to harness the wind itself. Following the path of her mother and two sisters, Lufeng is to be traded as a bride to a human king in exchange for a promise: that their forests remain untouched by the creeping reach of human “progress” a little longer. But unlike her predecessors, Lufeng carries a hidden mission; she’s not going to marry the king. She’s going to kill him and end the cycle once and for all.

A Palace Near The Wind touches on some of my favorite themes, like, family, tradition, progress, and the tension between old ways and new technology. The world Jiang builds is full of promise: unique races, intriguing magic, layered cultures, and simmering political tensions. But that’s also where my frustration lies. There just isn’t enough room to explore any of it in depth.

At just under 200 pages, the novella feels like it’s racing through a world that deserves more time. The world-building is intriguing but surface-level, and the family at the heart of the story, aside from Lufeng, feels underdeveloped. Their dynamics, history, and emotional weight are hinted at, but not given the time to develop. The same goes for the larger conflicts. You can feel them stirring underneath, but they don’t have space to fully take form.

This isn’t to say it isn’t worth reading, far from it. Jiang’s writing is beautiful, and I remain intrigued by the world she’s building. I suspect (and hope) that the second installment in the Natural Engines duology will delve deeper, offering the space this story deserves to breathe and unfold.

Ultimately, A Palace Near The Wind feels like the prologue to something greater. It hints at big ideas, rich emotions, and powerful questions, but it doesn’t quite deliver the depth or satisfaction it seems to promise. I’ll absolutely be reading the next book, with the hope that it builds upon this foundation in a way that brings it all to life.

While I admire Ai Jiang’s work and will undoubtedly continue with this series, A Palace Near The Wind left me feeling a little underwhelmed compared to her previous books. That said, Jiang’s prose remains as lyrical and evocative as ever. Her way with language is one of the reasons I return to her stories again and again.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing an early digital copy in exchange for an honest review. A Palace Near The Wind is a 192-page novella releasing on April 8th, 2025, and marks the first entry in the Natural Engines duology.