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A review by lovelymisanthrope
Shanghai Immortal by A.Y. Chao
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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
3.0
I received this as part of my FairyLoot subscription.
"Shanghai Immortal" is the first in a new fantasy series that follows Lady Jing. Jing was sold to the King of Hell when she was a child and is half-vampire and half-hulijing fox-spirit. She has spent the last ninety years as the king's ward and has tried to keep her explosive temper in check. One day, Jing learns that the courtiers are plotting to steal a priceless dragon pearl from the King, so she decides to embark on a mission to finally prove herself. With the help from an unsuspecting mortal, Jing must travel through both Hell and mortal Shanghai.
This was a fast-paced fantasy with an unrefined protagonist. Jing has a great deal to learn, but I loved seeing her grow and evolve throughout the course of the book, and most importantly, she did it at her own pace. I also loved seeing her grow to understand more about herself and her own place in her world.
This novel is rife with Chinese mythology which was really fun to read about. I cannot attest to its accuracy, but I can say that I enjoyed the vibrancy of the story.
Although I enjoyed this book and the story, I did not think it was particularly memorable. I enjoyed it while I read it, but I have not thought much about it since finishing.
I might continue in this series, but I am not entirely sure where the story will go from here.
"Shanghai Immortal" is the first in a new fantasy series that follows Lady Jing. Jing was sold to the King of Hell when she was a child and is half-vampire and half-hulijing fox-spirit. She has spent the last ninety years as the king's ward and has tried to keep her explosive temper in check. One day, Jing learns that the courtiers are plotting to steal a priceless dragon pearl from the King, so she decides to embark on a mission to finally prove herself. With the help from an unsuspecting mortal, Jing must travel through both Hell and mortal Shanghai.
This was a fast-paced fantasy with an unrefined protagonist. Jing has a great deal to learn, but I loved seeing her grow and evolve throughout the course of the book, and most importantly, she did it at her own pace. I also loved seeing her grow to understand more about herself and her own place in her world.
This novel is rife with Chinese mythology which was really fun to read about. I cannot attest to its accuracy, but I can say that I enjoyed the vibrancy of the story.
Although I enjoyed this book and the story, I did not think it was particularly memorable. I enjoyed it while I read it, but I have not thought much about it since finishing.
I might continue in this series, but I am not entirely sure where the story will go from here.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Abandonment