Title: The Ghost Bride Author: Yangsze Choo
Published: August 6, 2013
Genre(s): Historical Fiction, Paranormal
Page Count: 368
Rating:
Summary from Goodreads:Though ruled by British overlords, the Chinese of colonial Malaya still cling to ancient customs. And in the sleepy port town of Malacca, ghosts and superstitions abound.
Li Lan, the daughter of a genteel but bankrupt family, has few prospects. But fate intervenes when she receives an unusual proposal from the wealthy and powerful Lim family. They want her to become a ghost bride for the family's only son, who recently died under mysterious circumstances. Rarely practiced, a traditional ghost marriage is used to placate a restless spirit. Such a union would guarantee Li Lan a home for the rest of her days, but at a terrible price.
After an ominous visit to the opulent Lim mansion, Li Lan finds herself haunted not only by her ghostly would-be suitor, but also by her desire for the Lim's handsome new heir, Tian Bai. Night after night, she is drawn into the shadowy parallel world of the Chinese afterlife, with its ghost cities, paper funeral offerings, vengeful spirits and monstrous bureaucracy—including the mysterious Er Lang, a charming but unpredictable guardian spirit. Li Lan must uncover the Lim family's darkest secrets—and the truth about her own family—before she is trapped in this ghostly world forever.
Rich in history and culture, Yangsze Choo’s debut novel, The Ghost Bride, is a wholly unique blend of historical fiction and the paranormal. Through the eyes of protagonist, Li Lan, the reader is taken on a tour through 19th century Malaysia and the Chinese underworld. This is a gorgeously-written, imaginative novel that really stands out from the pack.
Opening in 1893 Malacca, Choo introduces readers to Li Lan, the daughter of a once-great family who is now living in genteel poverty without any hope of a husband (and therefore, a future). Surprisingly, her father’s old business associate proposes that Li Lan marry his only son, and the match would be perfect…if only the son weren’t already dead. From then, The Ghost Bride becomes a twisting journey through the Chinese spirit-world, as Li Lan fights of the ghost of her would-be husband, and also seeks to unravel the events of his murder. Along the way, there’s a healthy dose of romance, intrigue, government bureaucracy, and cultural exploration, all backed by the author’s amazing talent.
Obviously, in a genre filled with the exploits of Western characters, a book set in Southeast Asia is a rarity. Expectations might be built up as well. Yangsze Choo does a fabulous job of portraying a lesser-seen society and bringing it to life. Every aspect of this books setting and period were fully realized, and though the book never became info-dumpy, I had a very clear picture of what life was like for Li Lan and her neighbors. Added on to the brilliant portrayal of Straits-born Chinese culture was the in-depth glimpse into the Chinese afterlife. I was surprised to discover that over half the book takes place in the spirit realm, as Li Lan struggles to find answers. Choo did an amazing job of bringing the mythology to life and integrating it with history, so that the two locations fit together seamlessly and felt part of one whole.
Yet even though The Ghost Bride is rich in description and establishment of place, the plot does not lag or falter. There is always something going on, new characters coming to light that add a complicated twist into Li Lan’s journey. I was actually surprised by a few of the developments that occurred later in the book, and I was very pleased by how Choo was able to keep me on my toes.
Also, I really loved the romance in this book—it was not at all what I was expecting. I started the book and was totally groaning, thinking to myself “here’s another instalove triangle novel, yippee” but that is so not what happens in this book. I was surprised by how Li Lan’s love life turned out, and so, so pleased. What I read from the jacket copy and expected wasn’t at all what I got. And, plus, her love interest is pretty stellar, which is always a point in a book’s favor.
There are few historical-paranormal hybrids that I’ve enjoyed nearly so much as The Ghost Bride. This is a novel that beautifully explores its surroundings and invites the reader to join in the adventure. I always felt included in Li Lan’s story, whether she was playing mahjong with a bunch of high-society matron, or evading torture by ox-headed demons. Everything was exciting and new in this book, and it was all gorgeously written.
