My own submission! (I plan to propose キノの旅 as well, but I’m still secretly hoping for a miracle in the beginner book club vote).
紅霞後宮物語
Summary
女性ながら最強の軍人として名を馳せていた小玉。だが、何の因果か、30歳を過ぎても独身だった彼女が皇后に選ばれ、女の嫉妬と欲望渦巻く後宮「紅霞宮」に入ることになり――!? 第二回ラノベ文芸賞金賞受賞作。
My dumb translation (still a better job than google translate): Shougyoku, even though she is a woman, is known for being the strongest warrior. However, for some reason, this woman who was still single in her thirties got chosen to become empress, and got to enter the “Palace of crimson mist” where women’s jealousy and hope swirls !? Received the second ラノベ文芸賞金賞 prize.
Note: 後宮 is the residence of the wife/wives of an emperor; I couldn’t work it in the translation.
Rereading that makes me cringe, anyway, so whatever. You are more than welcome to do a better job.
Availability
Here’s the actual book: https://www.amazon.co.jp/紅霞後宮物語-富士見L文庫-雪村花菜-ebook/dp/B00XIZN34O/
Also available as an ebook in there.
Personal Opinion
I’ve been recommend that book by a friend, and know nothing beyond the summary. The interplay between the different characters is supposed to be very interesting, plus, it’s nice to have a book with a (literally) strong woman as lead character. Since being a warrior doesn’t really help in the political game, I expect that she will have to start from pretty much the bottom rung, anyway.
Pros and Cons for the Book Club
Pros
- I’m told the dynamics/ political play are pretty interesting. There’s also a bunch of action that starts happening from volume 2, for those who are more into that.
- Short! Story ends on page 266.
Cons
- Fake historical setting. May make things a bit harder.
- It’s a long series, with 11 volumes as of now.
Pictures
First three pages in one image: (from the ebook 立ち読み, checking how much it covered, I was surprised to see it was three whole pages)
FOR THE LIFE OF ME I CAN’T TAKE LEGIBLE PICTURES OF THE ACTUAL BOOK SEND HELP.
Difficulty Poll
How much effort would you need to read this book?
- No effort at all
- Minimal effort
- Just right
- Challenging
- Impossible, even with everyone’s help
- I don’t know (please click this if you’re not voting seriously)