Here’s the set-up for Li Bo’s Tienkuo: The Heavenly Kingdom, just $2.99 on Kindle:

It was the year 1858 and three young runaways; Jason Brandt, son of a Hong Kong missionary, his friend Wu Sek-chong and the beautiful and defiant Black Jade, set off to find the capital of the rebel Taiping Tienkuo, The Heavenly Kingdom of Great Peace.
Established in 1851 by a failed civil service candidate who claimed to be the little brother of Christ, the semi-Christian Taiping Kingdom, had made a dramatic and bloody bid to overthrow the Confucian rule of the Ching Dynasty.

The three young people’s search for the Heavenly Kingdom and what they eventually found among the Taipings is the central plot of this historical novel of journey and self-discovery in 19th century China. Written by Professor of East Asian studies, this novel was created not only to entertain but to teach about political, social and cultural life in China during the mid nineteenth century.

Li Bo is the pseudonym of a Professor of Asian Studies.

From the reviewers:

I enjoyed the novel immensely–it’s a fun and exciting read. The author gets the big things right–the terrible violence and corruption of the Taipings in their late stages, the disgust of many Westerners for Chinese customs, and the unusual determination and stubbornness it took for those Chinese and Westerners alike who stuck with the Taipings, or in the case of Westerners, those who stayed to pursue a career in China.  — John Rapp, Beloit College, author of “Clashing Dilemmas: Hong Rengan Issachar Roberts, and a Taiping ‘Murder’ Mystery,” Journal of Historical Biography 4 (Autumn 2008): 27-58.

“Exciting Book…I like it very much. The characters are believable and the cultural details about customs accurate.”   — Dr. Alice Murong Pu Lin,author of Grandmother Had No Name

I like the book…it really held my interest…I am truly impressed.”   — Micki S. Nevitt, Children’s Literature Librarian, Guilderland School District, NY

“A rare treat. An engaging and historically accurate way to introduce young adults to a myriad of topics about China, including family, Confucianism, class differences, women’s roles etc.   — Mel Horowitz, Catskill High School, Former President, U.S. China People’s Friendship Association

I was swept away with the compelling and engaging story. I was captivated with this adventure from beginning to end. To add to my delight, I came away realizing that I had been given insight into an historical event, so not only was I richly entertained, but I was cleverly educated as well. What more could I ask from a book? My only regret is that Li Bo has not written more. I am certain there are more great tales to tell lurking in the guise of dry historical facts.  –  Donald Samson

Masterfully interweaving history, culture, and characters, TIENKUO takes readers on a fascinating journey through 19th century China.  –  Edward Tick

Visit Amazon’s Li Bo Page

Li Bo is the pseudonym of a professor of Asian Studies who has published extensively in Chinese history.