"That's fitting. Now I can really call myself a ghost and demon. Turns out I've been one all along."

Han Abrial Chae-young hasn't stepped foot outside of her parents' house for four years. Not that she hasn't tried — it's just, the exits are all surrounded by hundred-foot-tall walls, and she doesn't know enough magic to fly herself out.

And it's driving her mad!

She knows there's a world out there, with towns and cities, mountains and valleys, deserts and rivers and marketplaces and people — her close friend and (technically) servant, Finley, has told her all about it. But it's all out of her reach.

That is, until one day, when a series of chaotic and perplexing events leads to Finley sending Abrial far away on a gust of wind for her own safety. (WTF??! Finley is a powerful magician, and never told anyone? Just another chaotic, perplexing thing that needs to be explained, I guess).

In the outside world, Abrial discovers that she has locked-away powers that make her both more dangerous and more powerful than anyone in the Empire of Gongkua.

Anyone, that is, except for the heartless immortal Emperor, who's been set on killing her from the beginning.

How a Reckless Girl Defeated the Heartless Emperor is a fantasy/drama novel with themes of magical/spiritual cultivation, lots of action/adventure, mystery, suspense, and LGBTQ+ romance. There is also a lot of FOOD (Abrial loves a good bowl of chili oil noodles, even more than she loves to blade fight). Come along for the ride if you like any or all of the above!