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A review by husnaibrahim_
The Night Tiger by Yangsze Choo
5.0
Sometimes you pick up a book, and it just won’t let you go. The kind that doesn’t force you to take a breather, especially when the main characters are teens, because they can be unusually irrational. Thankfully, “The Night Tiger” is not one of those reads.
Because I found myself completely immersed in this book, finishing it in less than a day, driven by a mix of anxiety, curiosity and some serious questions. And after a while, the questions began to pile up. Was Ren’s first master really a weretiger, or were those stories merely cautionary tales told to scare the kids at night? to keep them from reckless and foolish nighttime adventures? Because at some point, the stories seemed oddly convincing, especially given Ren’s vivid flashbacks and the creepy tales Shin (xin) and Zi Lin (zhi lin) were told at the cemetery. Plus, there’s the whole deal with Yi, Ren’s twin, and his dream encounters with Zhi Lin.
All of this had me on the edge of my seat, anxious to figure out the mysteries. What would happen when Ren nearly crossed over, and who amongst them could possibly be the Li? So when we finally reached the ending and, and it wasn't who i suspected, I couldn't help but think I should have seen it coming, especially with the unintentional hints dropped by William.
Then, there’s the weird case of the missing fingers and the string of strange deaths linked to the hospital and Dr. William Acton. Why were so many people associated with the hospital meeting untimely ends? And how did Zhi Lin and Shin fit into the puzzle?
Speaking of Zhi Lin and Shin, their relationship was truly a rollercoaster of emotions for me. It had me all jittery and sometimes uncomfortable, but also weirdly thrilled? The complexity of their dynamic had me pondering throughout, and by the end, I was eager to see how they’d work it out and how their parents would react. So I was happy with Zhi Lin’s decision to seek her own path in life. It was a really commendable and wise choice.
I also feel the strength of this book lies in the portrayal of its young characters. Although the characters are still in their teenage years, they somehow showcase a sort of maturity that makes the story all the more engaging. It skillfully avoids the usual cringe-worthy and irrational teenage behaviors, and that just made it a more tolerable read. So yeah i really enjoyed this book and I wish there was a sequel, honestly.
I mean, picturing these characters navigating a new life in Singapore is pretty intriguing, especially Ren, who I totally adored for his innocence and hard work. He’s just so young and doesn’t always get all those adult social cues. It was really endearing. It was also great to see Ah Long and Dr. Acton trying not to smother him with explanations, but instead just letting him be a kid and grow up in his own way. They were honestly decent older figures.
Yet, they weren’t perfect. Especially Dr. William Acton's, with his somewhat predatory behavior. He was a decent doctor and "master," but there was an uncomfortable side to him. He appears to have an inclination to pursue just local girls especially, with whom he had some form of authority. This behavior included a wandering eye and hand, essentially casting a shadow over the dynamics of all those relationships of his. Sure, you could argue that they were all willing participants, except for Zhi Lin—also known as Louise, of course. But this highlights the obvious issue of the unequal power dynamics. What’s even more ironic is that the one woman who he couldn’t seem to shake off, seemed to hold some sort of power over him in almost every situation involving him. She also played a predatory role in their relationship, and a bigger one at that, so the long line of women he got involved with obviously stood no chance against her. Neither did he. This part just put me off.
However, I will say that I always appreciate it when authors are intentional in their storytelling. She was very intentional of her portrayal of them both. Plus the scene at the end with Ren serving Lydia and William tea was really brilliant, with all those unspoken implications. The author doesn't outright spell it out for the reader but allows us to understand the scene's significance and what it means for all three characters without them even knowing or realizing it. Yet, they all still get what they seemingly deserved. Nothing in this book felt like filler, and I just loved it for that!
So, while this book might not have a sequel in the works, I’m already looking forward to “The Ghost Bride” since it’s mentioned here and has some ties to Ah Long’s story.
Because I found myself completely immersed in this book, finishing it in less than a day, driven by a mix of anxiety, curiosity and some serious questions. And after a while, the questions began to pile up. Was Ren’s first master really a weretiger, or were those stories merely cautionary tales told to scare the kids at night? to keep them from reckless and foolish nighttime adventures? Because at some point, the stories seemed oddly convincing, especially given Ren’s vivid flashbacks and the creepy tales Shin (xin) and Zi Lin (zhi lin) were told at the cemetery. Plus, there’s the whole deal with Yi, Ren’s twin, and his dream encounters with Zhi Lin.
All of this had me on the edge of my seat, anxious to figure out the mysteries. What would happen when Ren nearly crossed over, and who amongst them could possibly be the Li? So when we finally reached the ending and, and it wasn't who i suspected, I couldn't help but think I should have seen it coming, especially with the unintentional hints dropped by William.
Then, there’s the weird case of the missing fingers and the string of strange deaths linked to the hospital and Dr. William Acton. Why were so many people associated with the hospital meeting untimely ends? And how did Zhi Lin and Shin fit into the puzzle?
Speaking of Zhi Lin and Shin, their relationship was truly a rollercoaster of emotions for me. It had me all jittery and sometimes uncomfortable, but also weirdly thrilled? The complexity of their dynamic had me pondering throughout, and by the end, I was eager to see how they’d work it out and how their parents would react. So I was happy with Zhi Lin’s decision to seek her own path in life. It was a really commendable and wise choice.
I also feel the strength of this book lies in the portrayal of its young characters. Although the characters are still in their teenage years, they somehow showcase a sort of maturity that makes the story all the more engaging. It skillfully avoids the usual cringe-worthy and irrational teenage behaviors, and that just made it a more tolerable read. So yeah i really enjoyed this book and I wish there was a sequel, honestly.
I mean, picturing these characters navigating a new life in Singapore is pretty intriguing, especially Ren, who I totally adored for his innocence and hard work. He’s just so young and doesn’t always get all those adult social cues. It was really endearing. It was also great to see Ah Long and Dr. Acton trying not to smother him with explanations, but instead just letting him be a kid and grow up in his own way. They were honestly decent older figures.
Yet, they weren’t perfect. Especially Dr. William Acton's, with his somewhat predatory behavior. He was a decent doctor and "master," but there was an uncomfortable side to him. He appears to have an inclination to pursue just local girls especially, with whom he had some form of authority. This behavior included a wandering eye and hand, essentially casting a shadow over the dynamics of all those relationships of his. Sure, you could argue that they were all willing participants, except for Zhi Lin—also known as Louise, of course. But this highlights the obvious issue of the unequal power dynamics. What’s even more ironic is that the one woman who he couldn’t seem to shake off, seemed to hold some sort of power over him in almost every situation involving him. She also played a predatory role in their relationship, and a bigger one at that, so the long line of women he got involved with obviously stood no chance against her. Neither did he. This part just put me off.
However, I will say that I always appreciate it when authors are intentional in their storytelling. She was very intentional of her portrayal of them both. Plus the scene at the end with Ren serving Lydia and William tea was really brilliant, with all those unspoken implications. The author doesn't outright spell it out for the reader but allows us to understand the scene's significance and what it means for all three characters without them even knowing or realizing it. Yet, they all still get what they seemingly deserved. Nothing in this book felt like filler, and I just loved it for that!
So, while this book might not have a sequel in the works, I’m already looking forward to “The Ghost Bride” since it’s mentioned here and has some ties to Ah Long’s story.