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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
3.5 stars. - interesting read with lots of unexpected happenings
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
In colonial Malaysia, Li Lan the daughter of a respectable Chinese family looks forward to her marriage to a handsome, kind young man from the Lim family. But when the heir to Lim family dies under suspicious circumstances, the Lims suggest Li Lan become a ghost bride for the dead heir. His spirit plagues her in dreams and she must journey to the Plains of the Dead to unravel the mystery and gain back her freedom. This was so cool! I listened to this right after Fourth Wing and it was hard not to compare them. Choo’s prose is so lovely and evocative, and not a bit of this story was predictable. I loved learning more about ghost marriages and funeral practices in this time and place.
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I stg if I read one more book that abuses the passive voice to sound literary, mysterious, and whimsical... I’m going to commit a crime. This book read as a fan fic for Spirited Away.
1. Young girl gets pulled into a spirit realm ✔️
2. Rules, obligations, and dead people with unresolved drama ✔️
3. Weird spirit dude ✔️
4. Identity & memory stuff, liminal spaces ✔️
But then we have an endless description of robes, incense, atmosphere, and a generally lack of agency by the protagonist and extreme vagueness.
1. Young girl gets pulled into a spirit realm ✔️
2. Rules, obligations, and dead people with unresolved drama ✔️
3. Weird spirit dude ✔️
4. Identity & memory stuff, liminal spaces ✔️
But then we have an endless description of robes, incense, atmosphere, and a generally lack of agency by the protagonist and extreme vagueness.
adventurous
funny
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really like myths and legends. I was really into this story but it kept dragging and went in weird directions and I lost interest.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
fast-paced