The Girl with Ghost Eyes is a fun, fun read. Martial arts and Asian magic set in Old San Francisco make for a fresh take on urban fantasy, a wonderful story that kept me up late to finish.”#1 New York Times bestselling author Patricia BriggsIt’s the end of the nineteenth century in San Francisco’s Chinatown, and ghost hunters from the Maoshan traditions of Daoism keep malevolent spiritual … Daoism keep malevolent spiritual forces at bay. Li-lin, the daughter of a renowned Daoshi exorcist, is a young widow burdened with yin eyesthe unique ability to see the spirit world. Her spiritual visions and the death of her husband bring shame to Li-lin and her fatherand shame is not something this immigrant family can afford.
When a sorcerer cripples her father, terrible plans are set in motion, and only Li-lin can stop them. To aid her are her martial arts and a peachwood sword, her burning paper talismans, and a wisecracking spirit in the form of a human eyeball tucked away in her pocket. Navigating the dangerous alleys and backrooms of a male-dominated Chinatown, Li-lin must confront evil spirits, gangsters, and soulstealers before the sorcerer’s ritual summons an ancient evil that could burn Chinatown to the ground.
With a rich and inventive historical setting, nonstop martial arts action, authentic Chinese magic, and bizarre monsters from Asian folklore, The Girl with Ghost Eyes is also the poignant story of a young immigrant searching to find her place beside the long shadow of a demanding father and the stigma of widowhood. In a Chinatown caught between tradition and modernity, one woman may be the key to holding everything together.
Skyhorse Publishing, under our Night Shade and Talos imprints, is proud to publish a broad range of titles for readers interested in science fiction (space opera, time travel, hard SF, alien invasion, near-future dystopia), fantasy (grimdark, sword and sorcery, contemporary urban fantasy, steampunk, alternative history), and horror (zombies, vampires, and the occult and supernatural), and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller, a national bestseller, or a Hugo or Nebula award-winner, we are committed to publishing quality books from a diverse group of authors.
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I can’t say enough good about this book. 1800’s Chinatown in San Francisco, kung fu-fighting shamans, mysticism, gangsters, the overlapping of our world & the spirit world, and the young widow trying to save the city against impossible odds. The heroine is likeable, well-developed, has a realistic viewpoint and not a hero complex. Her power is respectable without being unbelievable (I don’t care for books where the hero suddenly has an insane amount of power for no reason, unless they’re really well done, which they usually aren’t). Her relationship with her father is complicated and fascinating, and how she fits into the community equally interesting. The culture seems to be well-researched, though I’m no authority. The martial arts fight scenes are VERY well-written and describe the action exactly the way it seems like it would happen. Good pacing and the plot unfolds well. I highly recommend this book; one of the best I’ve ever picked up from Bookbub.
One of the best new books I’ve read this last month.
First in a series, (can be read as standalones) dives into Chinese immigrants living in San Francisco, 1898. Not only is it meticulously researched but it offers a deep dive into all the wild Chinese mythology and the monstrous creatures found within it.
Like many historical based fantasy there is a delicate balance of providing historical context but also having heroines we want to root for. Why? Because history was not kind to our female ancestors where they were not treasured or valued. This series does a great job in balancing history with fantasy when it comes to a female character.
Loved this book and its sequel. Definitely on my must buy list.
Happened across this one at a used book store, its not my typical genre to buy but wow; its has all the right bits for me. Funny bits, sad bits, adventure bits, surprise bits, dramatic bits! As soon as I finished it i found out a second is out there somewhere; it’s on my wish list!
terrific read
It was fun reading about the worlds the characters traveled between – old China, San Francisco in the 1890s and the Daoist spirit world.
This book is fantastic . I love the characters and the world that has been built. Set in an alternate San Francisco perhaps at the turn of the twentieth century, this book is populated with spirits, martial arts and magic.
The Girl with Ghost Eyes might be the first cultural fantasy I’ve read.
M. H. Boroson’s novel is packed with plenty of history too. The story is set in San Francisco’s Chinatown at the end of the nineteenth century. And there are references to legislation like the Chinese Exclusion Act and events like the California Gold Rush.
But it’s the wealth of cultural detail that makes this book so unique.
The protagonist is a Chinese American immigrant named Xian Li-lin. She’s daughter to Chinatown’s preeminent Daoshi, a Daoist priest who taught Li-lin how to use their lineage’s ancient magic. According to Boroson’s afterword, the spells “Li-lin and her father perform … make use of talismans, incantations, deities, magical hand gestures, ritual dances, peachwood, burnt paper offerings, and astrological almanacs” whose “every single detail … is closely based on reality.”
The ghosts Li-lin sees also draw heavily from Chinese folklore. Li-lin has yin eyes, a mixed blessing that allows her to view the spirit world. Throughout the book, she encounters haunting specters like the Yaozhizhu, goblin spiders Boroson describes as black fists with the faces of human babies and the legs of spiders. (My favorite ghost was Mr. Yanqiu, the spirit of an eyeball who enjoys steeping himself in a cup of warm water.)
And as Li-lin seeks to stop the creation of a particularly monstrous ghost, Boroson slips in details about gender dynamics and race relations, furthering his goal of “exploring the lives of working-class Chinese American immigrants at the end of the nineteenth century.” The research behind The Girl with Ghost Eyes is obvious and impressive.
There were times when I felt like the scholarship slowed the story, though. For example, in the middle of the book, Li-lin spends a lot of time searching for allies, a quest that feels more like an excuse for the author to explore Chinatown than a crucial plot point that advances the narrative. I also found the writing inelegant at times.
But I appreciate how immersive Boroson’s world is. And in addition to all the carefully crafted culture, there’s a ton of action. Did I mention that Li-lin’s father also taught her kung fu? I’d love to read more fantasies in this vein.
(For more reviews like this one, see http://www.nickwisseman.com)
This is a well-written novel. I particularly liked the carefully crafted Asian setting – the food, customs, costumes, culture. The story was well-crafted and flowed nicely. I’ve read thousands – literally – of SF and fantasy novels. While this one was not a classic, it was certainly enjoyable.
I loved everything about this book! The characters, the detail of the legends. Would recommend this to anyone!
Like an Asian fairytale. Well done.
Great book – learned a great deal. Interesting and educational!
Magnificent use of Chinese folklore
This was a surprising find. The author did a great job of creating a unique world full complex characters set in a culture trying to stay true to its beliefs in a new world. The story was also full of twists that kept me on my toes, and made it very difficult to put the book down.
An unusual setting in early China Town, San Francisco has memorable characters mixing up martial arts with magical elements. The protagonist must deal with traditional Chinese customs and her unsympathetic father while contending with town gangsters and ghosts..
Very original and entertainment
Excellent story wrapped around Chinese mythology
A very interesting view into a totally foreign culture with a very determined heroine as a guide.
This novel combines Chinese mythology, martial arts wisdom, the historical world of Chinese San Francisco to fascinating effect.
Basically you get a really detailed world that is fundamentally different that the current fair. The main character is mentally using a different frame than in most girl/chick fantasy and the writer is very good at drawing a sympathetic, yet humble, character who says within the frame of thinking established.
Very interesting view of culture in Chinatown latter part of the 1800’s.