Prime Video is adapting a new fantasy book series that reimagines the tale of Snow White’s Evil Queen. In recent years, Amazon’s streaming service has become home to several big-name fantasy series, starting in 2021 with The Wheel of Time, based on the book series of the same name by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson. However, Prime Video’s most popular fantasy fare is The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s writings, with the first season being the streaming service’s most-watched original series.

Now, the streamer is adapting another fantasy book series. Per Deadline, Prime Video has ordered a Rise of the Empress series based on Julie C. Dao’s book series of the same name. Crystal Liu and James Wong (American Horror Story) will serve as head writers, executive producers, and co-showrunners. Several high-profile producers are also on board; actors Gemma Chan, Viola Davis, and Forest Whitaker. The eight-episode series is expected to be shot in Malaysia. Crystal Liu, Viola Davis, and Amazon executive Nick Pepper shared the following statements:

Pepper: This story, led by an incredible female heroine, is an inspiring tale of strength and resilience. Crystal, alongside the teams at JuVee and Significant, and Gemma, have done an amazing job capturing the magic created by Julie and we are thrilled to welcome James to help bring this brilliant project to life in a way that will resonate with our global Prime Video customers.

Liu: I’m honored and so excited for this opportunity to bring Julie C. Dao’s extraordinary books to the screen — a sumptuous, spellbinding tale of intrigue, with a subversive heroine for the ages. [The TV adaptation will] build this epic, daring new world fueled by the wondrous, twisted things we do for love.

Davis: Julie C. Dao’s book series not only builds a fantastical world of opulence and mystery out of Asian history but centers a character that in her defiance to be what she is expected to be, finds the strength that may give her the power to change the world.

What The Rise Of The Empress Series Means For Prime Video

What Is The Book Series About?

 

The Rise of the Empress series currently consists of three books – Forest of a Thousand Lanterns, Kingdom of the Blazing Phoenix, and Song of the Crimson Flower – released over three consecutive years from 2017-2019. Described as a “dark and mystical East Asian fantasy reimagining of The Evil Queen legend,” the story is set in a fantastical ancient Asian Empire on the brink of collapse due to deep-seated rivalries. The kingdom’s only hope lies in a union between a dashing crown prince and a princess from one of the warring factions.

As the competition for the prince’s hand intensifies, turmoil erupts when a stunning peasant girl, Xifeng, is thrust into the battle for love and power by a vengeful sorceress. This not only poses the question of whether Xifeng can secure her own fate, but also save the entire empire. As suggested by its synopsis, the Rise of the Empress book series is a blend of fantasy and young-adult romance.

Our Take On Prime Video’s Rise Of The Empress Series

It’s A Different Kind Of Fantasy Series For The Streamer

As previously mentioned, the Rise of the Empress book series is a blend of fantasy and young-adult romance, which should stand out in Prime Video’s adaptation and set it apart from the streamer’s existing series, Wheel of Time and Rings of Power, which are straight fantasy. Prime Video also has a presence in romantic YA series with The Summer I Turned Pretty and the upcoming Off Campus, making the streamer a suitable home for a Rise of the Empress series.