What the critics said

Despite the great changes that have taken place over the past centuries, human nature remains unchanged…Williams’ historical novels provide us with a historical perspective on what happens today…They appeal to both Western and Eastern readers.
Zhu Yuan - China Daily

The Palace of Heavenly Pleasure

Full of love and loss and guts and gore and derring-do…this is as good as the adverture story gets
The Times

An epic historical and romantic story as well as an impressive first novel
Sunday Mirror

A sweeping tale of love, subtlety and courage…Rising passion meets passionate uprising in the far East
Sunday Telegraph

There is a cinematic feel to this novel, as the action shifts from one great set-piece to another
Independent

A rollicking monster of a book…As a good yarn and as fascinating political detail, this is a compelling read.
South China Morning Post

The Emperor’s Bones

Epic novel…a convoluted crew of warlords, nationalists, communists and debonair English expats awaits…in a story that suggests history is repeated not as farce, but as adventure and romance
Financial Times

Poetic and romantic in parts, harrowing and tragic in others
Heat

A blockbuster with a difference
Daily Mail