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kwagner's review against another edition
5.0
The writing!!!! Beautiful as always.
And as I've mentioned, the audio book (read by the author) is phenomenal.
Perhaps my least favorite of the three books I've read by Choo but still better than a lot of other books I've ever read. The narrative is sweeping and mysterious, drawing you in until your curiosity won't let you draw away.
And as I've mentioned, the audio book (read by the author) is phenomenal.
Perhaps my least favorite of the three books I've read by Choo but still better than a lot of other books I've ever read. The narrative is sweeping and mysterious, drawing you in until your curiosity won't let you draw away.
seymone's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars - not rounding up to 4 stars
Interesting novel.
Interesting novel.
aformeracceleratedreader's review against another edition
slow-paced
2.5
Interesting concept and loved the setting as someone with malayu heritage. The characters were also interesting.
It was incredibly slow going tho. Like there were a lot of words with very little action, it was so much building building building before anything started going.
I didn't love the romance in it either although it did grow on me by the end.
The inner flap snippet makes this book sound much more interesting than it actually turned out to be. Even the action/intrigue was so slow.
I listened to the audiobook while following along with the physical book, and I'm so glad I did because otherwise I might've dnf'd it or gotten bored partway through and taken even longer to finish it.
It was incredibly slow going tho. Like there were a lot of words with very little action, it was so much building building building before anything started going.
I didn't love the romance in it either although it did grow on me by the end.
The inner flap snippet makes this book sound much more interesting than it actually turned out to be. Even the action/intrigue was so slow.
I listened to the audiobook while following along with the physical book, and I'm so glad I did because otherwise I might've dnf'd it or gotten bored partway through and taken even longer to finish it.
abbyboolin's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Slow start getting into this book, but ended up quite engaging and interesting - albeit predictable .
lfera8's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
ptgooty's review against another edition
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
mirrorofneptune's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I've learned from The Ghost Bride and now The Night Tiger that I truly adore Yangsze Choo's writing style— it may not be for everyone, but it works great for me. This plot is mystical and vague at times, but I liked both Ji Lin and Ren and enjoyed jumping back and forth between their POVs. Side note: this book does use first person for one POV and third person for the other, if I'm remembering correctly, and that was jarring at first; I did come to appreciate it as a stylistic choice, but I'm sure not everyone feels that way. Like in The Ghost Bride, I loved the aspects of Chinese folklore that were intertwined with the plot, and I enjoyed how Ren and Ji Lin's individual stories came together.
Side note because I'm not sure exactly how to work this into the content warnings:this book does involve a romantic relationship between step-siblings. It's weird and messed-up, and the narrative does vaguely address that, but it's mostly left for the reader to come to their own conclusions about. My interpretation was not that the author was trying to promote this as a shining example of a healthy relationship, but rather that it played a part in the theme of people and their relationships being complexly and inextricably intertwined. It didn't ruin the book for me but I can definitely see how it would turn some people off.
Side note because I'm not sure exactly how to work this into the content warnings:
cj_lovesbooks's review against another edition
2.5
I think this book has to be one of the strangest books I’ve read but, at the at the same time, extremely unforgettable. I enjoyed it while listening to it but had no motivation to pick it back up whenever I put it down.
The romance plot line made be uncomfortable, not for the “forbidden” element (I was actually fine with that) but for his personality. He just didn’t seem to be the type of man you’d want to tie yourself to.
The romance plot line made be uncomfortable, not for the “forbidden” element (I was actually fine with that) but for his personality. He just didn’t seem to be the type of man you’d want to tie yourself to.