What a beautiful mess this book is. The writing is somewhere between mediocre and brilliant and the plot and ideas appear to be lost even to the author. Maybe it just isn't for me entirely, but I still enjoyed it thoroughly enough to not dnf. And we all know how I like to do that.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher St. Martin's Press for an advance copy of this novel about a magical time in the history of Shanghai, the 1930's where the sound of jazz, the smell of booze, the taste of danger, all mingle together, and something far darker lurks outside of the people's senses.

When reading I always have a mental soundtrack in my head, especially when reading fiction. Sometimes it takes a chapter, weird books get sort of a Brian Eno, ambient sound, adventure peppy music close to Indiana Jones. For this book it was all hot jazz, Louis Armstrong, King Oliver, Count Basie. Swing music that makes the fingers tap on the back of the e-reader. This story also made me think in black and white, like a fine noir movie. Or a Universal monster picture. There was a lot of atmosphere right from the beginning, and it only got darker. Daughter of Calamity is the debut novel of Rosalie M. Lin, and is a gothic story set in Shanghai before the Second World War, a time where the music swung, everything seemed possible, and yet the past never stays far behind.

Jingwen makes her money, and her fun dancing at the premiere dance hall in Shanghai the Paramount. Jingwen spends the night swinging and entertaining the local tourists, all with money to spend, in competition with her friends, who also battle over the cutest person, or more likely the richest. Jingwen also works with her Grandma, who is a surgeon for one of the most powerful underworld groups in the city. Jingwen's grandmother hopes that Jingwen will take over her job, something that Jingwen has no interest in. Jingwen would rather dance and have fun than do magical modifications to gangsters, though one gangster is always pushing her to be more. Jingwen's perfect world is soon ruined when a friend/competitor is attacked and her face stolen away, Jingwen begins to investigate. Soon these faces are appearing on the faces of socialites in the city, powerful people, that people like Jingwen can not touch. However Jingwen is not without her own abilities, abilities that might be stronger than Jingwen suspects.

A big historical novel, with some fantasy, espionage, and lots of atmosphere. There is a lot going on in this novel, and sometimes one might have to read a few pages back just to be sure the story is going the way it is going, but this is a minor matter. Lin mixes fiction, real events and people, along with magic, and a sense that all this, the freedom, music, even way of life, might be ending soon. The characters are quite good, at first meeting Jingwen and her dancer friends seem one-note, but this changes as one realizes this is the face they wear to get money, or more importantly get through everything. As the book goes on the characters grow, their motivations come clearer, and the stakes really do seem to matter. Much of this world was new to me, and I liked the use of magic, mythology, and human greed that explained so much. For a debut this is a very strong start, with a story that holds up well to the end.

Recommended for readers who like big stories with lots of strong female characters. I look forward to more by Rosalie M. Lin.

Daughter of Calamity is a vivid and atmospheric debut. Set in Shanghai, Jingwen is a cabaret dancer who never expects to find violence on the dance floor. When a dancer has her lips stolen by cruel magic, Jingwen decides to investigate. Jingwen must choose whether to sink into the secrets her grandmother and friends have been keeping from her. As a surgeon to gangsters, Jingwen’s grandmother has many mysterious connections. Jingwen must decide whether to trust her new connections as more dancers across the city are targeted.

I loved how Rosalie M. Lin’s writing is filled with sensory description. Readers will feel that they’re walking beside Jingwen as she explores the secrets of Shanghai. There are lots of twists and red herrings to the mystery of who is stealing body parts of the dancers. While Jingwen doesn’t always get along with her fellow cabaret dancers, no one is going to get away with harming them.

Lin explores complex themes of sisterhood and family bonds. I appreciated the clever parallels to the real-world stealing of culture and fetishization of certain features. At times the pacing of the book felt a little off, but I still really enjoyed the story. Daughter of Calamity is perfect for readers who seek a dreamy and atmospheric tale with twists. I’m looking forward to seeing what Rosalie M. Lin writes next!

Thank you to Rosalie M. Lin, St. Martin’s Press, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For publisher: My review will be posted on Goodreads, Instagram, Storygraph, Amazon, Barnes & Noble etc.

Daughter of Calamity is a thrilling historical fantasy set in 1930s Shanghai, a city teeming with life and secrets. Jingwen's story as a cabaret dancer caught up in the city's underworld is a captivating tale of mystery and danger. Rosalie M. Lin paints a vivid picture of Shanghai, making it feel like a character itself. While the pacing can be a bit slow, the plot is engaging, with plenty of twists to keep you on your toes.

Lin's blend of fantasy and history is seamless, creating a world that feels both real and magical. The characters, especially Jingwen, are well-rounded and intriguing, each with their own quirks and motives. Despite some rough edges in the writing and pacing, "Daughter of Calamity" is a compelling read that will appeal to fans of historical fiction and fantasy, offering a glimpse into a fascinating era filled with enchantment and intrigue.


St. Martin's Press provided a complimentary digital eARC of this novel. All opinions in this review are my own.

A glittering façade of exotic nightclubs and cabarets illuminate the streets of Jazz Age Shanghai, concealing a seething underworld run by gangsters and villains―an urban anomaly personified in Lin’s historical fantasy debut. Cabaret dancer Jingwen straddles both worlds, and her love affair with the incongruous city of her birth permeates the novel. Raised by her grandmother, Liqing, a renowned black-market surgeon, Jingwen’s regular Friday task since childhood is to deliver a bag of bones to a gang member of the Blue Dawn, who in return provides protection. Jingwen neither knows nor questions the bones’ destination, because she’s happiest in the competitive dance world, where she and fellow-dancer, Beibei, bet on who will snag the wealthiest client for the Firefighters’ Yuletide Ball. Enter Bailey Thompson, a millionaire New York doctor, who sweeps Jingwen off her feet. But Jingwen finds she needs assistance to help her friends when a beautiful dancer is mutilated. Nalan Zikai, a wolf-conjuring shaman from the Court of Exiles, demands a high-ranking death as payment for his help, a death Jingwen can facilitate by agreeing to her grandmother’s request that she apprentice as a surgeon. But is Jingwen willing to risk opposing Liqing’s power and its likely supernatural source?

This is an enticing mix of Chinese mythology and history, using superb world-building. Sometimes it is impossible to tell where reality ends and the green-smoke-induced fantasies begin. Shanghai is an enigmatic city whose culture is disappearing under a stampede from the West; foreigners sucking the essence from it, through illegal trade and profit. There are power struggles and gang politics, goddesses and demons, and weapons made from heavenly steel. Characters are vividly believable and vastly diverse. Jingwen’s efforts to change the city’s power dynamics prove difficult and dangerous, but there’s no turning back. A splendidly imaginative debut.

Omg!! This was an adventure and not quite what I expected from the description!

Jingwen is a dancer at the Paramount in the 1930s with deep familial ties to the Blue Dawn gang. When she discovers that dancers have been getting their body parts removed (and attached to wealthier people) she goes on an adventure through the deep underbelly of Shanghai.

"Daughter of Calamity" captivated me with its exquisite prose, as Lin masterfully wove vivid imagery that transported me into the heart of the narrative. The compelling storyline presented complex adversaries that forced me to reconsider my perceptions of morality. Throughout the narrative, conflicting ideologies clashed — from traditionalism versus modernism to globalization versus localization, and the juxtaposition of technology and spirituality. Yet, Lin's nuanced perspective revealed the inherent flaws within any belief system, prompting a reflection on the necessity of embracing change while safeguarding the well-being of our loved ones.

Although the story unfolds gradually, I found myself deeply engaged by its intricacies. The author introduces numerous characters and concepts that may seem insignificant but later prove pivotal to the narrative.

From the 70% mark onward, the story becomes utterly gripping, making it difficult to put the book down. Patience truly pays off in this tale!

I stopped after chapter 1 (6%). The writing and the story feel generic and somewhat lifeless.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.

The setting and culture were top notch. Gangsters in 1930s Shanghai? Could it get any cooler? The fantasy element was interesting and a little mysterious.

The writing was different than I’m used to but it fit the story. I can see why some would struggle with it but it worked for me. It reads like poetic historical fiction.

The romance is a slow burn and the tension drawn out which I actually love but if you don’t, this might not be for you. However the romance isn’t central to the story so maybe give it a go anyway.

the setting and elements of Chinese culture in the book were so well done .
Thank you for the Arc .

In Daughter of Calamity, I was immediately drawn to the setting and the characters. I love the idea of Shanghai in the 1930s, and it was cool to see the various cultures and types of folks who called the city home. Part of the fantasy element is that the city itself is personified, and I found that to be an excellent framework on which to build the characters' arcs. We follow along with Jingwen as she traverses the showgirl nightlife as well as the gangster underground. I appreciated the mystery of finding out how and why showgirls' faces were being stolen, and overall the book was a quick read. A big thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for a free copy of this eARC in exchange for my thoughts!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for a digital ARC in exchange for a review!

I ended up not finishing this one mostly because of the issues I had with the characters. They were hard to pin down, and all seemed like archetypes loosely based off other existing characters. The world had lush scenes but in a sort of bland, overly familiar way, relying on the reader's knowledge of similar settings to fill in the blanks. I think this needs to be edited down and the central threads made more obvious. Magic system -- maybe system is the wrong word; magic...stuff? -- is not easy to follow. I'm finding it difficult now to summarize what it is/how it works. I've seen in other reviews that it expands to include more types of magic...I cannot imagine what that could be, at the point I'm at now (about 20% through).

I'm not too familiar with Chinese history, or mythology, but this one was a miss for me. It started out as a strong story, but somewhere around the halfway mark, it started to feel like two different novels being forced into one, There was a disconnect between the plot that I can't quite put my finger on, I almost wish it was a series, with a chance to flesh things out a little more.

Daughter of Calamity had a strong concept but the prose was overblown, like to the extent that I sometimes had a hard time following what was actually going on.

This book fell very flat for me. Which is unfortunate because I was looking forward to it. The plot was not interesting and I had to DNF. The story just did not have a lot of substance for me.

I liked the general concept of the story but I couldn't connect to the character, whenever the tension started to build, the author delayed it. the slow build of the plot makes it less mysterious and less exciting. The eerie elements and fantasy were a great mix with the historical setting and worth revisiting.

1.5/5 - rounded to 2

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC of Daughter of Calamity! Some things may change from now to the final publication. All opinions are my own.

Against the backdrop of 1930's Shanghai, Jingwen is a cabaret dancer, showgirl, and the grand-daughter to the city's most prolific doctor/gangster. When a girl at her dancehall has her lips stolen and two mysterious men enter her life Jingwen must transform into all that she isn’t but must become.

Let me be clear, if my synopsis wasn't enticing or inspired then that's because the story is not and I wasn't. If you're a fan of tumblr level dialogue and watt-pad written "bad ass morally gray women", you will like this story. However, if you have a fully developed frontal lobe, you might be disappointed.

The premise held so much potential, but unfortunately the execution left much to be desired. The book really needed to be edited one or two more times. Confusing sentences littered paragraphs and two consecutive chapters started with the same sentence that felt out of place and not intentional. Lin's writing style here is inconsistent and either delves too deeply into similes or just barely scratches the surface. It felt like she was trying too hard to evoke the exact image of Shanghai she wanted us to see rather than allow us to envision it by ourselves. Afraid of misinterpretation, all of her thematic symbols were so on the nose I felt like she was talking to us as if we were children. Speaking of...until I read that the main character was twenty, I thought Jingwen was sixteen. I think this would have found a better audience within the YA genre even if it was a bit gory in some areas (but the gore lasted a paragraph or so each time, and never truly explicit).

I did not enjoy the romance even if that wasn't at the center of the story. The almost instant love hidden behind a thin veil of "enemies to lovers" made me roll my eyes and quite frankly I really hoped Jingwen would end up with one of the cabaret girls. Queerness isn't really discussed or written about in the book, but if you squint really hard you can see it in a few sentences. But you have to squint really hard. I also hoped we would see greater bonding between the dance girls and explore all their different motivations. I wanted women helping women because if not them, then who? We get this a bit, but I wish it was developed and explored more with the nuance it deserves. What we get instead is random moments of laughter over a quirky event that bonds the dancers because "girlhood".

Other thoughts:
- Pacing was off the charts weird. Time didn't exist and neither did rest/rumination
- A perfect blue/black swan moment appeared just as quickly as it left and left me stunned in both good and bad ways
- The main twist was :/ it was pretty predictable in a lot of ways, and the secondary twist was cooler than the first but still not revolutionary

With all of this said, I will name a few pros to end this review:
- It ended in a way that definitely alludes to a sequel, so if you like the book there's probably more coming
- Some of the sentences did hit the way poetry is meant to hit
- The theme of colonial powers in China and the way foreign power pervades & forces assimilation was interesting and a large theme in the book which I appreciated

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the advanced reader copy.

I ended up DNF this book at 23%. I had expected the plot to follow more of a thriller/mystery solving path but unfortunately, that was not the case for this book. It reads more like a historical fiction without any compelling fantasy elements that kept me want to continue reading. The first face-stealing case happens and then is not mentioned again for another two or three chapters. The worldbuilding with the gods & demons being mentioned also came out of nowhere.

Overall this book wasn't for me. The pacing was way too slow and the characters felt dull and boring.

I wanted to enjoy this book so much more, but unfortunately it fell a bit flat for me. It had an interesting premise, and the vivid setting was the most compelling aspect, but the characters were a bit one-dimensional. I wanted more from them, and ultimately it didn’t hold my attention.

Jingwen is a dancer in Shanghai in the 1930s. Her grandmother, who raised her, is a doctor… and works for one of the local high ranking gangs. Jingwen does errands for her grandmothers to make extra money; this is dangerous as these errands often involve gangsters. She dances in the evenings where men buy dance tickets to dance with the girls, and during the day, she is learning a routine with a group of dancers (none have had formal dance training) so they are not well-known nor particularly sought after.

An American doctor-turned-businessman dances with Jingwen one night and charms her (and/or vice versa?)), but at the dance, there is a horrifying scream. One of the other dancers is crying on the floor and when she turns her face up, they see her lips have been cut off.

The next day, the building and dance company Jingwen is dancing with during the day has been bought and she, herself, is going to be the next star of the company. They are switching from ballet to traditional Chinese dancing (this type of dance is new to all the dancers).

There is a lot going on! It does all end up meshing together, with Chinese mythology and fantastical elements weaved in, as well. The mythology was told like a story-within-a-story (which I’m not a fan of), so I kind of skimmed that. Also not a big fantasy fan, so the fantasy stuff didn’t peak my interest, either. The book was very dark. I like horror, so the “type” of darkness in a book doesn’t always bother me, but dark mysteries, for example, are not always appealing to me. The darkness in this book also didn’t “do it” for me. I really didn’t like any of the characters in the story, either. So, this one is definitely not for me.

I loved the Shanghai created by Rosalie Lin in this book. It's lush and decadent with an oily undercurrent that reminds you of the period in history and what kind of colonial violations have both allowed for this kind of a cultural whirlpool to happen in the first place and will also be it's undoing in a short time. In spite of Jingwen's very clear view of the seedy underbelly to this city of nightlife, you can still see why she loves it and fights for it, because it also captures that feeling of borrowed glamour, anticipation, and the allure of the unknown that all the greatest night's out involve . (I'm also a sucker for detailed descriptions of what people wore, what they ate, and glamorous locations and she delivers on almost every page on that front. Even when dark deads are happening, I would still kill to take a peep into some of the venues she describes because she makes them seem that appealing)

While the world building really captivated me, the actual plot seemed like it could have been condensed. There were almost too many different semi-antagonists to fully focus on and certain characters seemed plopped in compared to others who felt like they belonged in the world. The love interest for example basically shows up in a tree and from then on we're told that he's alluring and deeply connecting to the heroine but it's a lot of telling rather than showing. I can honestly think of several characters Jingwen had fewer scenes with where the chemistry felt significantly more natural, whereas this one almost felt like it existed to tick romantasy trope boxes.

That being said, you can tell this is a good writer at work, and I enjoyed being in this world enough that I'm excited to see what's next