Picture a Chinese-born storyteller who brought the Tang Dynasty to life with vivid prose—meet Weina Dai Randel! This Wall Street Journal bestselling author of historical fiction weaves tales of ancient China, blending palace intrigue, fierce heroines, and forbidden love. From overcoming language barriers to earning global acclaim, Randel’s journey is as captivating as her novels.
Born in China, Randel moved to the United States at 24, trading her native tongue for English and chasing a dream to share Chinese history with the world. Her Empress of Bright Moon Duology, centered on Empress Wu Zetian, China’s only female ruler, has enchanted readers and critics alike, earning awards and translations into 17 languages.
The Making of Weina Dai Randel
Growing up on China’s east coast in the 1980s, Randel was a quiet, book-hungry child, devouring stories by flashlight after bedtime. Her passion for classical Chinese literature, sparked by works like The Dream of the Red Mansion, fueled her storytelling ambitions. After moving to Texas, she earned an MA in English from Texas Woman’s University, where a class on Asian American literature inspired her to write about Empress Wu. Despite 82 rejection letters over a decade, Randel’s perseverance paid off with her debut novel’s publication in 2016.
Weina Dai Randel’s Unforgettable Stories
Randel’s novels transport readers to ancient and wartime China with lush, evocative prose. Her breakout work, The Moon in the Palace (2016), follows young Mei, the future Empress Wu, navigating love and betrayal in the Tang Dynasty’s imperial court. Its sequel, The Empress of Bright Moon (2016), chronicles Mei’s rise to power, earning the RWA RITA® Award for its gripping drama. The Last Rose of Shanghai (2021), a Wall Street Journal bestseller, dives into 1940s Japanese-occupied Shanghai, weaving a poignant love story between a heiress and a Jewish refugee. Night Angels (2023) explores a diplomat’s mission to save Jews during WWII, showcasing Randel’s knack for blending history with human connection.
Randel’s style is immersive, blending meticulous research with emotional depth. Her heroines—often clever, resilient women—challenge tradition, reflecting themes of empowerment and cultural identity. Critics praise her ability to make 7th-century China feel alive, with starred reviews from Library Journal and Shelf Awareness lauding her vivid world-building.
Why Weina Dai Randel Matters
Randel’s work bridges Eastern and Western storytelling, introducing global readers to Chinese history through accessible, heartfelt narratives. Her novels, translated into languages like French, Spanish, and Hebrew, resonate with fans of historical fiction and cultural exploration. As a Chinese immigrant writing in her second language, Randel inspires aspiring authors, proving that persistence and passion can overcome any barrier. Her awards, including a National Jewish Book Awards finalist nod, cement her influence in historical fiction.
- Born: China, date not publicly available
- Key Works: The Moon in the Palace, The Empress of Bright Moon, The Last Rose of Shanghai, Night Angels
- Awards: RWA RITA® Award, National Jewish Book Awards finalist, two-time Goodreads Choice Award nominee
- Lives: Greater Boston, USA
Snag The Moon in the Palace and dive into Weina Dai Randel’s spellbinding world of ancient China!