The Lost Queen - by Aimee Phan (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Fifteen-year-old Jolie Lam's ordinary life in San Jose is upended when she learns of her connection to queens and goddesses of ancient Vietnam and now must master new powers before old enemies return to wage war"--

Book Synopsis

Jolie Lam is an outcast until she saves the popular girl at school--propelling her into a world of eerie premonitions, ancient magic, and a fated epic battle--in this lush fantasy adventure inspired by Vietnamese lore.

"Lyrical, magical, and haunting, with a compelling protagonist full of determination and heart."--Marie Lu, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Legend trilogy

"Blending true Vietnamese history and folklore with an enchanting dose of magic and mystery . . . not to be missed!"--Amber Chen, bestselling author of The Blood Phoenix

Jolie Lam, a high school sophomore in San Jose, is known for two things: her bizarre freak-out at last year's swim meet and her fortune teller grandfather with visions of dragons and earthquakes. Friendless and ostracized, Jolie finds her life takes a dramatic turn for the better when she saves the school's it-girl, Huong Pham, during a haunting vision of her own. Taken under Huong's wing, Jolie watches her world transform, in more ways than one.

As the two girls' bond deepens, they unlock long-lost powers: telepathic abilities, eerie premonitions, and influence over the four elements. Which leads to a shocking revelation--one that connects them to legendary queens and goddesses of ancient Vietnam. At first, they're thrilled by the discovery and their newfound power, but now their lives are in great peril. And so the girls must navigate dreams and portals to the past to claim immortal elements before their ancient enemies strike.

But all is not what it seems, and Jolie will need to determine friend from foe, truth from lie, and ultimately right from wrong in this battle for all she loves and the fate of the world.

The first book in an enchanting fantasy duology inspired by Vietnamese history and lore, The Lost Queen weaves together tales of magic, sisterhood, and self-discovery.

Review Quotes

"Lyrical, magical, and haunting, with a compelling protagonist full of determination and heart, The Lost Queen had me from the first line."--Marie Lu, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Legend trilogy

"A fearlessly told epic tale with a gleaming modern edge. Aimee Phan brings an enthralling legend to brilliant life, exposes and explores the tangled bonds of sisterhood, and does it all with the mesmerizing power of her sharply honed prose. I am now impatiently awaiting the sequel."--Nova Ren Suma, New York Times bestselling author of The Walls Around Us and Wake the Wild Creatures

"Blending true Vietnamese history and folklore with an enchanting dose of magic and mystery, The Lost Queen is a contemporary fantasy that is not to be missed! Aimee Phan has woven a wonderfully inventive and beautifully heartfelt story that centers family, friendship and legacy--one that will leave readers entranced."--Amber Chen, bestselling author of Of Jade and Dragons and The Blood Phoenix

"Inspired by Vietnamese folklore, culture and history, The Lost Queen is full of spells and magic, wonders and adventures. A captivating new book from one of my favorite authors, Aimee Phan."--Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai, international bestselling author of The Mountains Sing and Dust Child

"Phan paces the action and information reveals impeccably, keeping the suspense going without losing the emotional weight of the story. Give this to anyone who likes isekai, myth-in-modern-times novels, or just stories with a protagonist who has to pick through layers of memory, love, and hate to figure out how to act on the right thing."--BCCB, starred review

"Phan blends contemporary and historical settings with just enough magic (and dragons) to reach numerous readers."--Booklist

About the Author

Aimee Phan was born and raised in Orange County, California. She received her BA in English from UCLA and her MFA from the Iowa Writers' Workshop. She is the author of two books for adults, We Should Never Meet: Stories and the novel The Reeducation of Cherry Truong. She has received fellowships and residencies from the NEA, MacDowell Colony, the Rockefeller Foundation's Bellagio Center, Djerassi and Hedgebrook. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, Time, USA Today and CNN.com among other publications. Aimee teaches as an associate professor in writing and literature at the California College of the Arts in San Francisco and resides in Berkeley, California with her family.