The opening was striking, with the dancing girls, delivery and gangs but I soon lost interest in the meandering plot. Okay prose though but none of the characters were fleshed out well.

I do feel like its very reminiscent of These Violent Delights and not in a good way. Both books rely on line level writing and tropes to compensate for lackluster worldbuilding

The cover and the premise initially drew me in but the story just didn’t do it for me. A lot of plot holes and the characters fell short.

jingwen is a cabaret girl who moonlights as a runner for her grandmother, the surgeon to the most powerful gang in shanghai. though she has no interest in one day taking her grandmother’s place, her worlds collide when someone begins stealing the faces of her fellow dancers—only for them to reappear on foreign socialites. her investigation takes her across the city she loves and deeper into its underworld as she is forced to confront the price of shanghai’s luxurious facade.

the more i think about daughter of calamity, the less i like it. all the reviews about how it’s both overwritten and underwritten are spot-on; while i appreciate the author’s commitment to bringing 1930s shanghai to life, and i found her writing quite lovely at certain points, so much of the novel is spent on (sometimes redundant) imagery that everything else is neglected. the plot, characters, relationships, and magic system are all so underdeveloped that i actually went back to double check that i hadn’t missed something. even jingwen remains a shell of a character throughout the novel, shrugging off the various life-altering, traumatic events she experiences within a page or two.

maybe i’m more disappointed because i had such high hopes; the concept is brilliant, and i really wanted the story to live up to the blurb.

This cover is so beautiful! The book was okay. It had magical realism with historical fiction. It takes place in 1930s Shanghai. Our MC is a showgirl dancer & her fellow dancers are being attacked and having their faces stolen. I thought the concept was interesting but I was a bit lost to the reasons why things were that way. The world building was a bit lacking. It was a unique story overall

This was okay. I think for me there was just something missing in this story. It tried to tackle so much it muddled the narrative. I found myself having so many questions to the why and who and what that it took me out of the story. The concept was really interesting and had me hooked from the start. Girls are being attacked in public and parts of them go missing and start turning up on wealthy foreign socialites. Having multiple genres in this book was unique and interesting. It had historical fiction, magical realism and mystery and horror elements. I loved the setting and world building descriptions. The city of Shanghai almost felt like it was its own character at times it was so integrated into the story. I did find myself struggling to connect with Jingwen the main character and the other side characters too. They just felt a bit underdeveloped. Jingwen felt like she might have her Black Swan moment but we never really understood her motives fully so it left me confused at her actions. I was hoping this story would offer more depth but it included so many subplots I lost the overall scope.

Daughter of Calamity by Rosalie M. Lin is an enchanting blend of historical fiction and dark fantasy, set against the backdrop of 1930s Shanghai. Lin’s evocative prose paints a vivid picture of a city caught between opulent glamour and gritty corruption, drawing readers into a world where every alley and cabaret pulses with life and danger.

The novel follows Jingwen, a cabaret dancer with deep ties to the Blue Dawn gang through her grandmother, who is both a surgeon and a key figure in the city's criminal underworld. When a series of gruesome crimes threatens the safety of her fellow dancers, Jingwen must navigate a treacherous landscape filled with rival factions, gods, and shamans.

Lin’s depiction of Shanghai is a highlight, skillfully blending historical detail with fantastical elements to create a setting that feels both real and otherworldly. The city’s transformation from a glittering jewel to a battleground for power and greed is rendered with impressive depth and nuance.

Jingwen herself is a compelling protagonist, driven by a fierce determination to protect those she cares about. Her journey through the dark corners of Shanghai, while thrilling, is also a poignant exploration of identity and belonging. The relationships she forms—both with allies and adversaries—add layers of complexity to her character and to the narrative.

The novel's pacing is deliberate, with the plot unfolding gradually and reaching its peak in a gripping finale. While some readers may find the slow build-up challenging, the payoff is well worth the wait. The story’s intricate web of characters and motives requires patience, but Lin’s storytelling rewards those who invest in the journey.

Despite its strengths, the book does have some minor drawbacks. Character development can be uneven, particularly in how Jingwen’s understanding of her world fluctuates throughout the story. Additionally, the plot’s dramatic shifts and the introduction of numerous elements can occasionally feel overwhelming.

Overall, Daughter of Calamity is a rich and immersive novel that combines historical intrigue with fantastical adventure. Rosalie M. Lin’s debut is a strong and engaging read, and I look forward to seeing how her storytelling evolves in future works.

Trigger warning: scenes with alcohol, scenes with drug use, mention of animal death/dismemberment, mention of blood and gore, general violence

Daughter of Calamity by Rosalie M. Lin is one of those books that is hard to describe. Going by the blurb alone, one could be led to believe the book is one genre. Only when you actually start reading do you realize that it’s something quite different.

As far as the setting, Lin’s descriptions of Shanghai is superb. Her descriptions of the various places the story goes really draw the reader in. From the dance clubs with their glitz and glamour to the back alleys with their hidden shadows, each locale comes alive. The numerous settings are as much a part of the story as everything else.

The characters though were somewhat lackluster. We’re never really given any kind of background on any of them so their motivations can be confusing at times. Jingwen says she doesn’t want to take over her grandmother’s medical practice but never goes into the why. Her relationship with her mother is confusing and again no reason is given as to why these two women do not like one another. It’s not just the women characters this applies to but the men as well. The American doctor Jingwen meets seems to be motivated by greed alone but it’s never explained. Her dance teacher is seeking revenge, but for what exactly? He gives a brief speech towards the end of the book but it’s hard to know if what he says is real or an illusion.

Which leads into the most disappointing aspect of all, in my opinion, the magic. The notion that magic in some form exists isn’t even introduced until about a third of the way into the book. And when it is, there are no solid guidelines or structures around it. Does everyone have the ability to utilize magic or is it only select individuals? Is the concept of magic known to the world at large or is it relegated to “foreign mysticism”? It didn’t help that some of the things characters saw or experienced weren’t always real. It became quite frustrating.

It’s always difficult to review a book when the potential is there, it just doesn’t fully make it to the page. Daughter of Calamity had the potential to be an amazing book in every way. Like I said, the setting of a Shanghai caught between new ideas and old ones, was very well done. Unfortunately, with the lack of character development as well as the half-explained magic, it all kind of fell apart.

As this is Ms. Lin’s first novel, I cannot be too harsh. Creating the ideas behind a book and putting it on the page is an incredibly difficult task. While I somewhat enjoyed Daughter of Calamity, it is Ms. Lin’s future endeavors I look forward to. She has the making of an excellent author and it is my sincere hope I can read and review more of her books in the future.

Jingwen works as a showgirl at the Paramount, the most opulent cabaret in Shanghai. She and the other showgirls are constantly jockeying for prime place and the pick of the wealthiest of the male clients.

When she is not at the Paramount, she runs money for her grandmother, who works for the most powerful gang in the city as a skilled surgeon. Jingwen's grandmother is eager for Jingwen to apprentice herself to her, but Jingwen resists.

When cabaret dancers begin showing up missing parts of their faces, Jingwen fears she's next. Oddly, instead of simply protecting herself, she decides to figure out who the butcher is, thereby protecting all her fellow showgirls. Jingwen begins asking questions, not only of her almost friend Xiao Lei, a gangster, but also of the other girls and her grandmother. She begins to slowly uncover various plots, including danger to her grandmother's employer, secret foreign plans to extract particular resources from China, and hints as to who is harming the showgirls. And more concerning, she finds out gods are eyeing the activities in the city.

1930s Shanghai is lovingly recreated by author Rosalie M. Lin, and the nightlife that has Jingwen in its thrall. I loved the look and feel of Jingwen's world, and the complexities of alliances and interests she blithely walks through, until she can't pretend there are many dark things going on around her.

I loved the first third of this book as I gradually became accustomed to Jingwen, her fellow showgirls and all their jealousies, the wealthy men paying to dance with them, her fierce grandmother, the various secret societies, and the tensions amongst the gangs. But I found that there was almost too much going on, and I sometimes got a little lost in the plot. The pacing was uneven, which did not help.

Though I have some complaints, I think the author beautifully conjured the city and its many fascinating and dangerous people all looking to gain something. I will, therefore, keep my eyes open for more by this author.

Thank you to Netgalley and to St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for my review.

Unfortunately, this book was not really for me. I found it to be a little disjointed, with dense complicated writing. The Chinese mythology was an interesting aspect and the premise was unique but I don't think I'm the intended audience for this novel.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for access to the e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

DNFd at around 30%. I tried, but just couldn't get interested in this story. Which is entirely on me and not on the story itself.

If you think the summary sounds interesting then I'd recommend this. It reminded me a lot of The Night Tiger, which most people like but I also didn't care for.

So I had to DNF this book, not because it was bad. I honestly really love the characters and world building. But somehow there is too much going on in the story that I cannot keep track of it enough to follow what is going on. Which is quite frustrating because I want to be able to continue it, but I cannot due to how overwhelming it is to just make sure I am following the plot.

It was just really difficult for me to get into this writing. The premise is good and I really wanted to enjoy this.

"I found 'Daughter of Calamity' to be dreamy, poetic, and deeply imbued with Chinese essence. Jingwen, the protagonist, initially appears cold, abrasive, and standoffish, yet beneath this exterior lies a strong moral core and unwavering loyalty to those she cherishes.

Much like the city of Shanghai itself, Jingwen embodies multiple facets and complexities. Her Shanghai is a vibrant tapestry of kitsch and life, juxtaposed with shadows of darkness, decay, and hidden intrigues. Crystal palaces and French cafes coexist with abandoned temples and clandestine gang wars in dimly lit alleyways, while foreign powers exploit the city’s wealth. This blend of fantasy with historical memory vividly captures the essence of Shanghai.

An intriguing aspect of the book is its portrayal of Guanyin, typically revered as the compassionate figure akin to Mother Teresa in Chinese mythology. Here, Guanyin takes on the role of the Mother of Calamity and Destruction, embodying her darker origins with clandestine assassinations.

What truly captivated me was the passion for dance suffusing the narrative. Set against the backdrop of a revolutionary era in the dance world at the turn of the twentieth century, Jingwen’s life revolves around this art form. The central performance in the book, reminiscent of the avant-garde shock of Dyagilev's Ballets Russes and 'The Rite of Spring' in Paris, adds an electrifying dimension.

Supporting characters such as the enigmatic Li Beibei, who deserves a tale of her own, along with Jingwen's grandmother, mother, and even the morally repugnant villain with his exploitative colonial attitude, are all intricately layered.

The atmospheric richness and fast-paced plot further elevate the novel, culminating in a thoroughly engaging read that resonated deeply with me. Overall, 'Daughter of Calamity' earns 4.5 stars and was entirely my kind of narrative."

⭐️: 3.25 / 5

Publication Date: June 18, 2024

I want to thank St. Martin’s Press and Net Galley for allowing me to get an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Some of the coolest aspects of this story, was the feeling of being in the streets of Shanghai. I found the descriptions to be vivid and it really swept you up into the double sided coin that is the Shanghai underground. From the luxurious clothes to the shady black market.

As for my reservations, the overuse of similes and metaphors was a bit much at times. I also felt like I couldn’t tell what was really happening and what was not given how many hallucinations the character was undergoing. In part because there was no notable distinction to indicate it was a hallucination or dream such as a different stylization or break. While at times that can be used as a plot device I felt that it took away from the story.

Overall I thought the book was okay. I felt that some of the fantasy elements could have been more flushed out. I also couldn’t really rationalize some of the motivations for some of the character’s actions.

Would recommend for those who are fans of
- Shanghai setting
- 1930s
- Linear timelines

⚠️ violence, gore, mutilation

I stopped reading this book halfway through because I just couldn't get into it. The plot seemed intriguing, but the execution fell flat for me. The first-person narration felt disjointed, the world-building was either confusing or missing, and the story kept jumping around. The characters also lacked depth. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I was first drawn to this book because of the intriguing premise and the stunning cover artwork. Jingwen is a cabaret dancer in 1930s Shanghai with a secret connection to the city’s underworld. Her grandmother, an elite surgeon to one of Shanghai’s most powerful gangs, expects Jingwen to inherit her legacy. When random attacks on other showgirls begin to occur— their body parts harvested and sewn onto foreign clientele—Jingwen takes it upon herself to discover the root of this evil. What she finds is far more deadly than she can imagine and may be considered the work of the gods themselves.

The book "Calamity" captivates with vivid descriptions of 1930s Shanghai's glamorous cabaret clubs and its underworld, blending ancient gods and modern intrigue. Despite the immersive setting, the characterization, especially of Jingwen, felt muddled and her motivations unclear. As a cabaret dancer torn between wealth and loyalty to her grandmother's gang, Jingwen faces shocking violence and mystifying acts. The narrative's unique blend of Roaring 20s Shanghai, gang dynamics, and mystical elements creates an intriguing backdrop, though the magic system and character depth left some aspects underdeveloped, particularly in the rushed and confusing ending.

This was great! A historical fantasy sent in 1930s Shanghai was beautifully written with vivid descriptions and a touch of dark horror that kept me invested from beginning to end.

I was first drawn to this book because of the intriguing premise and the stunning cover artwork. Jingwen is a cabaret dancer in Shanghai with a secret connection to the city’s underworld. Her grandmother is an elite surgeon to one of Shanghai’s most powerful gangs and Jingwen is expected to inherit her legacy. When random attacks on other showgirls begin to occur — their body parts harvested before being sewn onto foreign clientele — Jingwen takes it upon herself to discover the root of this evil. What she finds is far deadly than she can imagine and may be considered the work of the god’s themselves.

My favorite parts of this book were the descriptions of Shanghai, its criminal underworld, and the glamorous cabaret clubs. I felt fully immersed in the setting and found myself dazzled by the city at the heart of the story. Unfortunately, the rest of the novel’s execution left much to be desired. My largest hang up was with the portrayal of Jingwen. I couldn’t get a read on her motivations and her reactions to the heinous and mystifying acts that occurred were confusing. She was flippant one moment and ruthless the next. Instead of appearing complex, her character ended up feeling muddled.

This is just a personal preference, but I am also not a fan of long chapters. The length often made the pacing feel slow and it was difficult to maintain interest.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

In 1920; Shanghai there is a melting pot due to the influence of colonialism, the Jazz Age in China has taken root. Jingwen is a dancer, hoping to sip champagne and get gold ingots. Jingwen finds herself torn between the life of wealth and merrymaking that she yearns for and the city she calls home. A web of back-alley politics and ancient gods reveals itself to Jingwen, and the mirage that is Shanghai’s nightlife comes crumbling down. Jingwen is harsh, despite the loyalty and love she shows to those she holds dear. She’s present during several shocking acts of violence.. Jingwen is there when a fellow dancer Huahua is found without her lips. Only to see those precise lips on a white woman shortly after. Jingwen’s grandmother is a healer of sorts. Her grandmother wants her to become a healer. One bound to the will of Wang Daojun, the leader of the Society of the Blue Dawn – who are colloquially known as “silverhands” due to their magical prosthetics. Fighting not just for her own safety but that of the other dancers―women who have simultaneously been her bitterest rivals and only friends―Jingwen has no choice but to delve into the city’s underworld. In this treacherous realm of ancient grudges, silver-armed gangsters haunt every alley, foreign playboys broker deals in exclusive back rooms, and the power of gods is wielded and traded like yuan. Jingwen will have to become something more dangerous than her grandmother ever imagined if she hopes to survive the forces.

This is an about the fusing of the luxury of Shanghai, its criminal underbelly, and the powers of the gods. It is a dark read.

I received a copy of Daughter of Calamity by Rosalie M. Lin from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I remember reading the promotional blurbs for Daughter of Calamity in which it was compared to the writing of Nghi Vo. And I'm here to corroborate on this claim. And for someone who is a huge fan of Nghi Vo, this is a compliment of the highest degree. I really got pulled into the dark and fantastical Shanghai that is depicted in Daughter of Calamity as we follow our MC, Jingwen, who is torn between family loyalties and her bond to the showgirls that she spends her time dancing and being rivals with. When something begins to steal the faces of her fellow showgirls, Jingwen finds herself needing to get behind the mystery to protect those around her. It was a story with unexpected twists and intrigue that sinks its claws into you until the very end.