| My Beautiful Enemy | |
| Author: | Sherry Thomas |
| Country: | United States |
| Language: | English |
| Genre: | Historical romance |
| Published: | 2014 (Berkley) |
| Media Type: | |
| Pages: | 304 |
| Isbn: | 9780425268896 |
My Beautiful Enemy is a historical romance by Sherry Thomas set in imperial China. Thomas, in describing the novel said she "intended [it] to be an English version of a Chinese wuxia novel, with a heroic female spin."[1]
NPR called it "...a bold new direction for Thomas, yet maintains the emotional intensity she is celebrated for."[2] Kirkus Reviews felt its villain was "a cartoonish and unconvincing opponent," but that "[i]ts strength is the complexity of its main characters. Catherine is graceful and feminine but also deadly with a blade or her bare hands....A thought-provoking exploration of gender roles in the East and West and in the historical romance genre. It’s also a darn good read."[3]
Library Journal named it one of the Top 10 romances of 2014, calling it, "a spellbinding, lyrically composed romantic adventure. Flashbacks to Chinese Turkestan add an exotic, mesmerizing touch."[4] In its original starred review, it said "With incisive character development, deft pacing, and lyrical, nearly poetic prose, Thomas transports readers between remote, breathtaking Chinese Turkestan and teeming late Victorian London. A gripping, mesmerizing romance that is one of Thomas’s most unforgettable yet."[5]