A review by podanotherjessi
The Night Tiger by Yangsze Choo

mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.25

This book explored Chinese culture in a similarly interesting way to Choo's other book, The Ghost Bride. The characters were a little less interesting to me, and I was more intriqued by the mystery in the other work, but this was still good. Overall, I'd say about a 3, 3.25... if not for the romance.
The romance in this book had a bit of a problematic element to it (specifically
a romance between step siblings
), but it was well developed enough that I was willing to look past it. Once the relationship began developing in earnest, however, things got considerably worse in ways that were never addressed. Read the spoiler for details, if interested.
Once the couple confess to being interested in one another, the man starts pushing the woman for a sexual relationship despite her not wanting that yet. He insists that they need to have sex so he can claim her and make her his, going so far as to say he needs to take her virginity so a suitor of hers won't want her any more. It takes her saying that she wants him alone and will be his without the sex to convince him to stop.

It just left a bad taste in my mouth that really spoiled the rest of the book. Especially since there's another very misogynistic character that the book starts trying to shine a sympathetic light on around the same time.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings