willdarlingg 's review for:

Strange Beasts of China by Yan Ge

5.0

dark emotional mysterious reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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I don't even know where to begin. This was a touching, magical, and breathtaking read — potentially one of my all-time favourite books. Yan Ge's writing is peculiar and pensive, leaving you removed from the physical realities of the story, yet deeply entrenched in the emotions. The storybeats are slow, fragmented, and surprising; the framework of connected tales lead to a very even, beating pace, but demands patience of the reader. At times, the book is almost silly in its surrealism, but Yan manages to ground the concept in the language she uses and the base emotions she plays with. In the end, it's all about love, belonging, and the stories we tell. This truly feels like a masterpiece that I can reread over and over and uncover something new every time.