Shanghai Immortal: A richly told debut fantasy novel set in Jazz Age Shanghai

by A. Y. Chao

Overview

AN INSTANT #1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

'The must-read debut of 2023' Tasha Suri

'Bursting with personality' Xiran Jay Zhao

Half vampire. Half fox-spirit. All trouble.

Pawned by her mother to the King of Hell as a child, Lady Jing is half-vampire, half-hulijing fox-spirit and all sasshole. As the King's ward, she has spent the past ninety years running errands, dodging the taunts of the spiteful hulijing courtiers, and trying to control her explosive temper - with varying levels of success.

So when Jing overhears the courtiers plotting to steal a priceless dragon pearl from the King, she seizes her chance to expose them, once and for all.
  
With the help of a gentle mortal tasked with setting up the Central Bank of Hell, Jing embarks on a wild chase for intel, first through Hell and then mortal Shanghai. But when her hijinks put the mortal in danger, she must decide which is more important: avenging her loss of face, or letting go of her half-empty approach to life for a chance to experience tenderness - and maybe even love.

This richly told adult fantasy debut teems with Chinese deities and demons cavorting in jazz age Shanghai.

'A delightfully wild ride' Chelsea Abdullah

'A gritty, glittering tale' Saara El-Arifi

'A love letter to Chinese mythology' Tanvi Berwah

'Outstanding' T.L. Huchu

'Absolutely delightful' Judy I. Lin

'Absolutely rooting for Lady Jing forever' Hannah Kaner

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781399717458
Publisher:	Hodder
Publication date:	08/20/2024
Pages:	400
Sales rank:	283,295
Product dimensions:	5.00(w) x 7.75(h) x (d)

About the Author

Alice is a Chinese Canadian author of fantasy. She's fascinated by the interplay between self-perceived versus imposed identity and how this intersects with belonging and enjoys exploring these spaces in her stories. A recovering lawyer and xiaolongbao enthusiast, she knits to soothe anxiety and has a deep abiding love for Hobonichi planners and kawaii planner stickers. She is grateful for the support of the Canada Council for the Arts.

Editorial Reviews

07/03/2023

Chao’s ambitious if rocky debut and series launch takes readers to an alternate 1930s Shanghai, crafting a tumultuous narrative filled with celestial intrigue and earthly desires. Lady Jing, a fiery mix of vampire and fox-spirit, lives as both ward and pawn in the King of Hell’s court, a life characterized by taunting courtiers and dangerous errands. When she stumbles upon a courtiers’ plot to steal a coveted dragon pearl, she sees a chance to get back at her tormentors by exposing the scheme. With the aid of a mortal ally, Mr. Lee, she sets out to gather evidence against the conspirators, a daring hunt that takes the duo through both the spectral and human realms of Shanghai. As their quest progresses, Jing confronts external perils and her own demons: will she choose to keep pursuing vengeance, driven by years of humiliation, or take a chance at experiencing tenderness and love? Chao’s narrative, though rich in mythology and historical nuance, is hampered by a somewhat underdeveloped protagonist, whose attempts at sass make her read more like a teen than a powerful immortal, along with a surplus of exposition. Despite these hurdles, the setting has potential. Fans of glitzy romantasy will be fascinated to see where the series goes next. Agent: Jamie Cowen, Ampersand. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly