abbielester 's review for:

The Manor of Dreams by Christina Li

3.0

dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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I really wanted to like this book, but it just didn't hit right on any side for me.  The gothic horror vibe never really felt too menacing until the end.  Points about discrimination against Chinese Americans floated away without any real attention.  Family relationships were too loose for it to feel like a generational saga.