Reviews
you can rlly tell it was written for a white/western audience because there is so many unnecessary descriptions, explanations and translations that quite frankly the book would have been fine without
this was so good, but it could have been SO much better if the romance wasn't a boosted version of from up on poppy hill (iykyk). i was entranced while reading; there's so much rich history, mystery, magic, superstition, and colonial power dynamics woven into the pages. i wanted so much to rate this 5 stars, but ah, just could not swallow the primary romantic relationship in the end lol. it felt overdone and frankly just there for the shock factor, which i think took away from the overarching story. sadness.
4.5 Stars *A vivid and captivating novel that combines Magical Realism with Historical Fiction* I read Choo’s debut novel, The Ghost Bride, back in 2014 and was delighted by it. It was a wonderful Asian-inspired Fantasy with adventure, mythology, and examination of cross-cultural clashes. Since then, I have been waiting (impatiently!) for Choo to publish another book. I was really starting to worry that would never happen. But finally, in 2019, we got The Night Tiger! From a quick glance at the descriptions for these two books, you might think they sound a lot alike. They are both Asian-inspired Fantasy stories with Historical Fiction settings that take place in Malaysia. Both stories involve exploration of culture clashes between Malaysian, Chinese, and Western beliefs and customs. But the stories themselves are vastly different both in tone, structure, and content. The Ghost Bride is more of a traditional Fantasy coming-of-age story set within a historical setting. The Night Tiger would be better classified as Historical Fiction with Magical Realism and Mystery elements to the story. I can easily see how someone might go into The Night Tiger with different expectations and end up confused or disappointed. So I will say adamantly that this is NOT high Fantasy. If you want mythical creatures flinging magic around, then this isn’t the right book. But I still strongly recommend this book. I just don’t want anyone to be disappointed because of misrepresentation. I had a little trouble with the story at first. It is writing in two alternating points of view. One is the story of Ren, a ten-year-old houseboy who is given a momentous task upon the death of his master. His chapters are told in third person, present tense. The other is a young woman named Ji Lin who dreams of being a doctor but due to societal expectations is dispassionately making her way as a dressmaker’s apprentice. Her chapters are told in first person, past tense. First person writing is hit or miss for me, but I hate present tense novels. It was so jarring to switch back and forth between those two drastically different structures! And that made it hard for me to get into the story at first. After the first five chapters, I switched to the audiobook, and I am so glad I did! Firstly, because it made the switches in POV and writing tense less grating. Secondly, because it is read by the author, and she does a fantastic job narrating! Choo has soothing voice that was wonderful to listen too, and she brought her story to life so well. If you’re interested in this book, I highly recommend trying the audio. Once I was no longer distracted by the switches in tense, I was quickly captivated by the story. As much as I enjoyed The Ghost Bride, it is clear that Choo’s writing has matured since then. It is stronger and much more polished. One always hopes to see an author improve after their debut, and Choo certainly has. As I mentioned, this story is a blend of Historical Fiction, Magical Realism, and Mystery. I love when authors don’t feel constricted by genres. And since these are three of my favorite genres, I gobbled this story up. The story is set in 1930’s Malaysia which the author brought to life so vividly. The story is filled with sumptuous descriptions. I could feel the muggy air and almost smell the delicious food. Oh, the food! This book literally made my mouth water with the descriptions of the food! And the writing is so atmospheric. I loved the juxtaposing of the different cultural beliefs, the old traditions versus new trends, Nationalism vs Colonialism. The author is Malaysian born and of Chinese descent, and her love of her homeland and culture shines through her writing. As I mentioned, the Fantasy element leans heavily towards Magical Realism. And there are parts that are left to the reader as to whether they truly are magical or not. But regardless of what you believe, the story explores various mythology, customs, and beliefs. And it was fascinating to read. The plot also involves a murder mystery. I wasn’t expecting that, but I pleasantly surprised by it. Although the twist wasn’t mind-blowing, I think the mystery aspects of the plot were well blended with the rest of the story to create something compelling and distinctive. Other than the odd switching between tenses and POVs, my only critique is that the romance was a little awkward. (I can’t say why without spoilers, but it toed a line that some people will be uncomfortable with.) Despite that, I loved this book. It is unique and ingenious. The language is vivid and compelling. The characters were interesting and flawed. The plot was engaging. The setting was expertly crafted and introspective. So despite some critiques, I have no doubt this will be one of the most memorable and unique books I read this year. I am so excited to see what Choo does next! Although I hope we don’t have to wait quite as long for her next book to come out! RATING FACTORS: Ease of Reading: 4 Stars Writing Style: 5 Stars Characters and Character Development: 5 Stars Plot Structure and Development: 4 Stars Level of Captivation: 5 Stars Originality: 5 Stars
The parts of this story did not make a greater whole. The ending was extremely unsatisfying. Most of the book built to an ending that made no sense. Minor characters we hardly ever interact with or know anything about end up being critical to the whole story coming together. There is also a sub plot that felt so, so strange that adds nothing to the story.
This isn't the type of book I'd normaly read but I'm so glad I did.
Yangsze Choo's writing is so evocative that at times I could almost reach out and touch Ji Ling, Ren and everyone else.
