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aeriecircus's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Miscarriage
Minor: Incest
horationelson's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Death, Sexism, Colonisation, and Medical content
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Gun violence
Minor: Child abuse, Child death, and Gore
obfuscatress's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Progressing from a languid look into the lives of two young people to a dizzying, complex mystery that's rich with legend, this novel is a stunning foray into magical realism that draws expertly on its setting. Its unique atmosphere will keep you engaged, turning page after page long into the night.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Death, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Incest, Murder, and Infertility
_fallinglight_'s review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book was fantastic, practically perfect. Even though this book was super slow I was engrossed and enjoyed a lot. I liked the adventure feel of the story with the countdown to retrieve and bury the doctor's finger. The powerful recreation of a 1931 Malaya. At points, I did feel like I could see the 1931 Ipoh and Batu Gajah, in spite of my aphantasia. And the telenovela feel! Books that read like a telenovela are always such a treat to me. Now, I'm not super thrilled with the romance (I'm almost never into romances until and if the writing and buildup makes me get into them, and I'll read whatever as long as I like it). But did I get turned on by Ji Lin and Shin? Yeah lol so that's what matters at the end of the day for me. All the boring, faux appalled people can go cry about it and leave Yangsze alone. If you sit there and think about it, what Yangsze Choo did was just a more bolder, spicier childhood friends to lovers and that one most everyone's into so stfu.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Physical abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, and Murder
Minor: Incest and Miscarriage
nannahnannah's review against another edition
DNF @ 23%.
I loved Yangsze Choo’s other book, The Ghost Bride, so I was pretty excited to get into this one. And I did love it … until I got a feeling about where the main romance was headed. Unfortunately, I was right.
Representation:
- the main character, her family, and the other main character (Ren) are Chinese
In 1930s Malaysia, an old doctor asks his young Chinese houseboy to find his missing finger and bury it with him within 49 days of his death -- or his soul will roam the world as a man-eating tiger. Meanwhile, Ji Lin, a girl with a gift for numbers and who always wanted to be a doctor, has to give up her dreams because of her stepfather’s urging and her mother’s mahjong debt. She takes a part-time job as a dancer, which has her crossing paths with a Chinese salesman who accidentally leaves her with a very unlucky gift: a mummified, severed finger. Along with her stepbrother, Ji Lin tries to find who it belongs to.
As I mentioned earlier, I loved this book initially. The descriptions were lush, the characters all unique and lovable in their own, sometimes strange ways. But then I got hits of the developing romance. Eventually it got to the point where I had to look it up. I’m not one for incest, and yes, step siblings count as incest. It’s not about blood relation, but about family. Plus, I hear the stepbrother is incredibly possessive and abusive -- and nearly assaults Ji Lin. So no, I will not be reading on.
I loved Yangsze Choo’s other book, The Ghost Bride, so I was pretty excited to get into this one. And I did love it … until I got a feeling about where the main romance was headed. Unfortunately, I was right.
Representation:
- the main character, her family, and the other main character (Ren) are Chinese
In 1930s Malaysia, an old doctor asks his young Chinese houseboy to find his missing finger and bury it with him within 49 days of his death -- or his soul will roam the world as a man-eating tiger. Meanwhile, Ji Lin, a girl with a gift for numbers and who always wanted to be a doctor, has to give up her dreams because of her stepfather’s urging and her mother’s mahjong debt. She takes a part-time job as a dancer, which has her crossing paths with a Chinese salesman who accidentally leaves her with a very unlucky gift: a mummified, severed finger. Along with her stepbrother, Ji Lin tries to find who it belongs to.
As I mentioned earlier, I loved this book initially. The descriptions were lush, the characters all unique and lovable in their own, sometimes strange ways. But then I got hits of the developing romance. Eventually it got to the point where I had to look it up. I’m not one for incest, and yes, step siblings count as incest. It’s not about blood relation, but about family. Plus, I hear the stepbrother is incredibly possessive and abusive -- and nearly assaults Ji Lin. So no, I will not be reading on.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Incest
(I didn’t get this far, but other people have mentioned:) abuse, assault, unhealthy relationshipsjazhandz's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
I have a three strike policy with books: writing style, characters, plot. I could tell right away that I didn’t care for the writing style (strike one), and Ren was the only character I cared about (strike two, given how many characters this book is stuffed with). But the plot hooked me, so I kept reading. I would describe this choice as a mistake. The payoff was incredibly not worth it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Death
Moderate: Medical content, Child death, and Sexual harassment
mahekv's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest
medini_l's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Medical content, Abandonment, Blood, Medical trauma, Incest, Domestic abuse, Colonisation, and Child death
sweekune's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
4.25/5
Audiobook narrated by the author.
Told from several points of view, The Night Tiger is a mysterious tale that draws you in. A dressmaker's apprentice, an orphaned house boy and a British doctor are drawn into the same mystery from different angles, surrounded by weretigers, amputated fingers and Chinese & Malay folklore and superstition.
- The different point of view were very distinct. some are told in first person, others in third and they all had their own separate voice and personality. I enjoyed Ren's parts (the house boy) the most but all were well done. informative but leaving enough unseen and unsaid to keep the intrigue.
- The whole book was very atmospheric and the feel of the different places and environments came across well. There were some dream sections where this was particularly notable.
- The author's narration was excellent and brought the story to life. As above, it was easy to tell which character's point of view was the present one due to the tone.
A strange but fascinating mystery story. Perfect for those who enjoy magical realism, Asian folklore and a good winding mystery.
Audiobook narrated by the author.
Told from several points of view, The Night Tiger is a mysterious tale that draws you in. A dressmaker's apprentice, an orphaned house boy and a British doctor are drawn into the same mystery from different angles, surrounded by weretigers, amputated fingers and Chinese & Malay folklore and superstition.
- The different point of view were very distinct. some are told in first person, others in third and they all had their own separate voice and personality. I enjoyed Ren's parts (the house boy) the most but all were well done. informative but leaving enough unseen and unsaid to keep the intrigue.
- The whole book was very atmospheric and the feel of the different places and environments came across well. There were some dream sections where this was particularly notable.
- The author's narration was excellent and brought the story to life. As above, it was easy to tell which character's point of view was the present one due to the tone.
A strange but fascinating mystery story. Perfect for those who enjoy magical realism, Asian folklore and a good winding mystery.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Miscarriage, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexism, Blood, Child abuse, Colonisation, Death, Grief, Gun violence, Incest, Medical content, Sexual content, Misogyny, Toxic friendship, and Violence