A review by misspalah
The Majesties by Tiffany Tsao

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

At this juncture in her story, Estella removed her mittens, pried the lid off her eggnog, confirmed that none was left, and sighed. I repeated Leonard's words, incredulous: "What happened to the woman I fell in love with?' What the hell did he mean by that?" Estella smashed the empty cup between her palms and rivulets of cream trickled down her wrists. She flung the remains into the back seat and licked her hands clean, the left one first, then the right, like a cat. "Same thing as

'I thought our life together would be different,' I suppose." Only years later would we find out what he actually meant. We had driven up to see the monarchs, supposedly, but I'll admit that they didn't make much of an impression on me. I was too fixated on Estella, and my memories are primarily of the effect they had on her— how happy she was, how entranced; the gasp that escaped her when she spotted the first sleepy cluster, dozens of wings folded at rest on a drooping eucalyptus branch; the brightness in her eyes as she watched the livelier ones flit about in the cold sunshine. The sight of my sister's pleasure only heightened the excitement I'd been feeling since the start of our journey. Watching her was like watching a hungry child devouring a sundae, face aglow and smeared with chocolate sauce, chin dripping melted ice cream. We only stayed two nights in the end, returning to LA as giddy and giggly as schoolgirls who'd just come back from playing truant.

• The Majesties by Tiffany Tsao

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I was immediately captivated by the story. The family's secrets, the characters, and their extravagant lifestyle fascinated and repulsed me. The plot begins with Gwendolyn waking up in a hospital bed, the only survivor of a poisoning that killed her entire family that orchestrated by her sister, Estella. As Gwendolyn, who is now disabled and unable to speak, tries to understand her sister's motives and Povs by recalling back their complex relationship - those hidden memories and dark secrets. Their close relationship never recovered especially when Leonard came in between them and on top of that, he did become abusive towards Estella at some point in the marriage. Eventually, they mended the bond between them right before the whole massacre. Gwendolyn feels guilty for not being there for Estella after her husband's death and struggles to accept her own role in the tragedy. I have to say despite Gwendolyn being the reliable narrator is the story, you really can’t help but empathising with both of them, Gwendolyn and Estella. The toll of keeping family secrets, ingrained in their prestigious Sulinado lineage within the Chinese-Indonesian community, becomes evident as their sanity unravels. The story initially introduces numerous characters, reflecting the vast Sulinado clan, but gradually brought the focus on Gwendolyn and Estella. Tiffany Tsao did well in pulling the readers to join Gwendolyn's quest in understanding her sister's actions and it drives the narrative forward. The novel intricately weaves together the complexities of elite Chinese-Indonesian society with historical events like the 1998 riots, providing context to the characters' struggles amidst societal upheaval. It unflinchingly exposes the excesses and corruption of the privileged class, contrasting with the challenges faced by the marginalized Chinese-Indonesian population. I know many said it’s a mixture of gone girl and crazy rich asian but i would say those comparison is just a crime in itself. Comparing "The Majesties" to "Crazy Rich Asians" oversimplifies the former, disregarding its depth and complexity. While both novels feature affluent ethnic Chinese families in Southeast Asia, they differ thematically and narratively. "The Majesties" did surpass my expectations, with its richly layered narrative culminating in a hauntingly poignant conclusion. Skillfully written and deeply evocative, it showcases the author's storytelling prowess—a vivid, immersive tale that lingers in the mind long after the final page.