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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
adventurous
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The story is set in 1930s Malaysia and centers around Ji Lin, an apprentice dressmaker working in secret as a dancehall girl to help pay off her mother's debts, and eleven-year-old Ren, a houseboy on a mission to fulfill his master's dying wish. Their stories intersect when Ji Lin accidentally comes into the possession of an amputated mummified finger, the very object Ren has to find and bury with his master before he runs out of time. And to make things even more exciting, a string of mysterious deaths takes place, leading to rumours about the presence of men who can turn into tigers.
Filled with folklore, superstitions and legends, The Night Tiger has a certain magical quality to it, both in the story and the writing. I was lucky enough to be able to attend an author event and hear Yangsze Choo talk about her writing process and it's clear how much research went into the book, even for little things that we as readers might not think twice about.
The characters are well-crafted and I found myself sympathizing with some while really disliking others. The mystery aspect as well as the twists and turns kept me glued to the book though I was able to predict most of them. It was lovely to get a look into colonial Malaysia and I couldn't get enough of the descriptions. And I loved the supernatural aspect of the story.
Filled with folklore, superstitions and legends, The Night Tiger has a certain magical quality to it, both in the story and the writing. I was lucky enough to be able to attend an author event and hear Yangsze Choo talk about her writing process and it's clear how much research went into the book, even for little things that we as readers might not think twice about.
The characters are well-crafted and I found myself sympathizing with some while really disliking others. The mystery aspect as well as the twists and turns kept me glued to the book though I was able to predict most of them. It was lovely to get a look into colonial Malaysia and I couldn't get enough of the descriptions. And I loved the supernatural aspect of the story.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Quick read, enjoyed the storyline and characters, look forward to reading the author's other book.
A 4.5 rounded up. I felt it was a little slow at first but then it got so interesting. There was suspense and romance and history and I enjoyed reading about the different culture. I couldn’t put it down because I wanted to find out what happened and I enjoyed the twists and turns.
I absolutely loved this book, and could barely put it down. The plot keeps up a good pace, the central mysteries are intriguing, and the use of multiple protagonists makes for an interesting read.
One of my favourite things about the novel was how they introduced the fantasy realism element in a foreign setting. I've read a few books about Malaysia set around this time period and I enjoyed seeing a new take on it with the addition of local folklore, traditions and superstition being used in a fantastical way.
The reason I only rated it four stars was because, despite how much enjoyment I got out of the book, I would have a hard time recommending it to anybody I know. The reason: the step-sibling romance subplot. It's not that the romance wasn't compelling, and the two characters had great chemistry, but why did they have to be step-siblings? There are other ways to work in the "forbidden romance" angle which wouldn't be so uncomfortable for a portion of readers. If I was to recommend the book to a friend I would have to do so with some pretty huge caveats.
One of my favourite things about the novel was how they introduced the fantasy realism element in a foreign setting. I've read a few books about Malaysia set around this time period and I enjoyed seeing a new take on it with the addition of local folklore, traditions and superstition being used in a fantastical way.
The reason I only rated it four stars was because, despite how much enjoyment I got out of the book, I would have a hard time recommending it to anybody I know. The reason: the step-sibling romance subplot. It's not that the romance wasn't compelling, and the two characters had great chemistry, but why did they have to be step-siblings? There are other ways to work in the "forbidden romance" angle which wouldn't be so uncomfortable for a portion of readers. If I was to recommend the book to a friend I would have to do so with some pretty huge caveats.
mysterious
medium-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
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book was really good and I would totally recommend it. The character development was amazing. The Author did a great job at attracting you to all the different characters, and building affection for each of them despite their flaws.
The plot was unique, and incorporated so many Chinese superstitions and traditions which lended well to the overall theme. There were equal parts love story and suspense.
The ending was were I knocked a star off. I was very eager to tie up all the loose ends, but when we got there I was left only saying “oh.” I would consider this a dual ending, because there were two “evils” that you discover, but neither of them satisfies that itch for a conclusion for me.
Overall it’s a good read and I recommend it, but I do feel like a more climatic ending could have been appreciated.
The plot was unique, and incorporated so many Chinese superstitions and traditions which lended well to the overall theme. There were equal parts love story and suspense.
The ending was were I knocked a star off. I was very eager to tie up all the loose ends, but when we got there I was left only saying “oh.” I would consider this a dual ending, because there were two “evils” that you discover, but neither of them satisfies that itch for a conclusion for me.
Overall it’s a good read and I recommend it, but I do feel like a more climatic ending could have been appreciated.