From the Publisher
Fans of fantasy will enjoy the magical elements, while the subtle commentary of the novel’s stratified society lends it a dystopian vibe similar to Veronica Roth’s Divergent that will appeal to readers outside of the fantasy genre.” — School Library Journal
“An engrossing, complicated fantasy.” — ALA Booklist
“An infusion of Asian elements and rich details bring this fantasy world alive.” — Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)
Praise for CITY OF A THOUSAND DOLLS: “A strong debut [and] fresh fantasy/mystery crossover. Set in a magically isolated Empire, Forster’s well-crafted story and confident prose are rich, packed with small details that immerse readers in her sumptuously imagined world.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“A fantastical murder mystery with a creative premise, heart-pounding pacing, and characters with secrets to keep.” — Cinda Williams Chima,author of the best-selling Seven Realms series
“With fantastic world building and a wonderful heroine, CITY OF A THOUSAND DOLLS intrigued me from the first page.” — Cindy Pon, author of Silver Phoenix
“The mystery here is a fine one, and the concept of the City is well-executed. As Nisha must choose between remaining within the cloistered safety of the City or taking her chances with the outside world, her dilemma will be familiar with teens looking toward adulthood.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
ALA Booklist
An engrossing, complicated fantasy.
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
The mystery here is a fine one, and the concept of the City is well-executed. As Nisha must choose between remaining within the cloistered safety of the City or taking her chances with the outside world, her dilemma will be familiar with teens looking toward adulthood.
Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)
An infusion of Asian elements and rich details bring this fantasy world alive.
Cindy Pon
With fantastic world building and a wonderful heroine, CITY OF A THOUSAND DOLLS intrigued me from the first page.
Cinda Williams Chima
A fantastical murder mystery with a creative premise, heart-pounding pacing, and characters with secrets to keep.
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
The mystery here is a fine one, and the concept of the City is well-executed. As Nisha must choose between remaining within the cloistered safety of the City or taking her chances with the outside world, her dilemma will be familiar with teens looking toward adulthood.
Kirkus Reviews
2014-09-14
A young bodyguard in search of redemption finds love and court intrigue in this Asian-influenced fantasy. Three years ago, Mara's clan of tiger shape-shifters exiled her for committing unforgiveable crimes. She found refuge and purpose in the Order of Khatar, whose members do penance for past sins by dedicating their lives to the protection of others. Now 18, Mara is traveling to the capital when she saves a boy from a vicious tiger and forges an immediate connection with his twin, Emil. Unsurprisingly, their paths cross again in the city, when Mara's job as a bodyguard for a high-ranking noble and Emil's search for his now-runaway brother entangle both in the dangerous webs of imperial politics. While Mara and Emil are both developed as individual characters, their romance falls strangely flat, and their scenes together lack spark. The worldbuilding borrows many surface details from South Asian culture, but little is explored in much depth. Readers may struggle to keep the large cast of characters straight, even with the helpful dramatis personae at the beginning of the book. Though the novel is a prequel to Forster's debut, City of a Thousand Dolls (2013), it can be read as a stand-alone; only the epilogue will perplex readers who have skipped the first book. Uneven and unsatisfying. (Fantasy. 13-18)
