I am addicted to Asian fantasy novels, considering there were so few when I was a kid. That said, I have always loved Julie C. Dao's books! This one had me hooked immediately with the romantic atmosphere and dreamy setting. I can just picture the fancy house near a river with a beautiful garden and little Lan growing up, daydreaming of love, adventure, and being swept away by both. I'm so excited to read the rest of this!