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

Based on the synopsis, I was really looking forward to this. But I was unfortunately disappointed. The dialogue was awkward, and the middle of the novel DRAGGED.

“If you wish to survive in this world of ours, it’s best not to dwell on others’ pain.”

“Daughter of Calamity,” by Rosalie M. Lin

Jingwen is a showgirl at the Paramount, one of the most lavish clubs in Shanghai. After her shifts she runs mother for her grandmother who is a surgeon for the most powerful gang in the area. When dancers are being targeted to steal portions of their faces that are reappearing on wealthy socialites in the city, Jingwen thinks she might be next. Jingwen decides to find out who is doing it to not only save herself but the other dancers.

This story and plot were interesting and unique, very stand out. The imagery and allure of Shanghai was my favorite part of the book. There were a lot of boring parts of the book, but I really wanted to know what was going to happen. I liked seeing the glitz and glam with the beautiful places, internally ugly people, and drug use but in a different country as the backdrop. 3 out of 5 stars.

Thank you for the ARC, Netgalley.

I adored this book. It was very much one where I just had to trust the vibes and roll with it. But I did really enjoy it.

The main character is naive and has the memory of a goldfish sometimes. But it weirdly worked for me? She felt relatable in a way. I just wanted to follow along more.

In "Daughter of Calamity" by Rosalie M. Lin, the narrative orbits around Jingwen, a showgirl at the Paramount, a hub of Shanghai's nightlife, ensnared in a perilous labyrinth of deception. By day, she vies for the favor of affluent patrons through her dance performances; by night, she aids her grandmother, a surgeon entrenched in the city's most formidable criminal syndicate. Lin adeptly portrays Jingwen's dual existence, skillfully depicting the opulent facade of her world juxtaposed with its grim underbelly.

Set in 1930s Shanghai, "Daughter of Calamity" unfolds an adult historical fantasy narrative. Jingwen, a cabaret dancer, finds herself entwined in the intricate web of her family's ties to a local gang when a shocking incident occurs during a bet among her fellow dancers. As one of them falls victim to a bizarre theft right on the dance floor, Jingwen is propelled into a journey of self-discovery, unearthing the secrets of her lineage and her city.

Love this book!

Thank you to NetGally for the ARK

the story was incredibly shallow and had no depth. also the pacing was all over the place so it's difficult to immerse yourself in the story.

Review copy provided by the publisher. Also I know the author a bit because we share an agent.

Jingwen is a cabaret dancer in a 1930s Shanghai quite a bit, but not entirely, like our own. She also goes by Vilma, for a little Western glamour when she's lighting up the tiles with her fancy footwork and practiced flirtation. She loves her life of dancing, drinking, and beautiful qipaos and shoes. Her grandmother, a doctor with the ability to make people new limbs out of a magical silver substance, is disgusted by Jingwen's frivolity. She has made her bargains with the seamier side of Shanghai life in the gang of the Blue Dawn, and she expects Jingwen to follow in her footsteps.

When another dancer is attacked in a horrifying and unnatural way, Jingwen can't be comfortable running the occasional errand for her grandmother and her gang contacts any more. Gradually competing with the other cabaret girls for the richest patron feels less important--and the rich patrons look more dangerous. When her diurnal dance troop is bought out by one of them and its artistic director replaced by a mysterious figure who makes her the lead dancer, she knows she's playing with fire, but she has to pursue justice for the other dancers--and safety for herself.

There are powers beyond the human in play in Jingwen's Shanghai. She will have to try to sacrifice to them, embody them, control them, work around them--but she can't ignore them, or not just her way of life but her life itself--will be in danger. This is not our Shanghai, quite, but it is still a crossroads of the world, keeping its culture and making it new in the face of dozens of outside forces and divided desires from its own people.

I was given an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press

Daughter of Calamity is told from the point of view of Jingwen, a cabaret dancer and the granddaughter of an infamous doctor in fantasy 1930s Shanghai. The city is full of action, magic, gang conflicts, drugs, and dancing. Someone is stealing the faces of other dancers, and it is up to Jingwen to uncover what is going on and save them all.

Overall I enjoyed reading Daughter of Calamity, though I thought I sometimes had trouble believing the decisions Jingwen made. I also felt like the ending dragged on a bit, and the last couple of chapters could have been shortened. But it was very well written!

Interesting concept for sure. We were introduced to a lot of characters fairly quickly, so it was hard to keep up with who would be important to the story - it turns out everyone is, which made it a little overwhelming. A lot of things happen very quickly, so the book moves along well and never really had any downtime, which was nice.

This is going to be one of those books I visit again and again. Every time I tried to set the book down, even just long enough to grab a bite to eat, I felt compelled to pick it up again immediately. I love an ending I can’t see coming, and Daughter of Calamity delivered.

Book synopsis was intriguing. I loved how the story was set up in the beginning, but it felt like it lost momentum. Character development needs a bit more work. At some points, it got too complex that I just lost interest.

A deliciously volatile historical crime fiction novel. I liked the Shanghai setting, and the flawed characters. The fantasy integrated well, and in a way was thought provoking.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I was immediately engrossed in this book! I felt completely immersed in the setting and loved following the cabaret and gangster scene in Shanghai. The author does not waste time propelling the story forward and I could not put this book down. I audibly gasped multiple times while reading and felt the pain and conflict that Jingwen experienced. Overall, the story progressed really well. Towards the end, it felt a little rushed. I wanted more explanation and to be eased to the conclusion. I so enjoyed this book, that I would have wanted to read 100 pages more to get the ending that I think this book deserved. If you are looking for a magical realism story set in the hustle and bustle of Shanghai nightlife, this book will serve you an absolute adventure!

This was great! I loved the concept, and the imagery was so masterful that I felt like I was there. I loved the FMC!

This debut is transportive - its writing brought me into the story.

Magical realism mixed with Shanghai gangster historical fiction, beautifully atmospheric and gritty at the same time, the story’s vibrancy shines through.


I will look forward to reading Ms Lin’s upcoming works.

Recommended!



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

💃 ARC REVIEW 💃

This book was a fun ride from start to finish. The author does an AMAZING job painting a beautiful picture of both characters and the setting of Shanghai, which is a character of its own. Really enjoyed this one and would love to read more from this author!

Jingwen is a cabaret dancer in Shangai, a city being taken over by gangsters and foreigners. She's also the granddaughter of Liqing, the surgeon who makes this all possible by grafting the steel from melted down swords onto the bodies of gangsters giving them almost godlike strength. Jingwen cares nothing for these political powerplays between the new and the old until one night one of her fellow dancers is maimed in a most brutal fashion right under everyones noses. As Jingwen gets drug deeper and deeper into the fight for the heart Shangai she realizes that her first priority should be to protect those she cares for at all costs, even if it means dancing with the devil.

Guys, this genuinely should have been right up my alley and yet I could never fully get into it. Jingwen's motivation evolves throughout the book which is good, it should evolve in than manner and yet I never felt like she was really resolved to anything. Even when she does find her resolve. There's kind of a Joy Luck Club thing going on between her mom and her grandmother as well that I don't think gets the attention it deserves. Especially since her grandmother is kind of the center of the entire book. Jingwen's relationships with the other cabaret girls is kinda weird too. Like, I get that given the circumstances they are rivals for certain and yet it just feels like they are indifferent to each other more than anything. And her reactions to anything her co-workers say (hell really anything anyone says) is just weird. She's supposed to come across as having bravado but it's just kinda awkward.

I know I went on a giant rant here and I genuinely hope you read this far because Lin has potential, I honestly can not stress this enough. I really, truly can't. I felt like this was an excellent skelton of a story, a unique story of the changes in Shangai, but really China period was going through at this time. I believe 100% that Lin has the ability to write on par with and possibly exceed Kuang in this unique little sub genre of fantasy that Asian and Asian American Women have carved out recently. I will be buying this book simply because I want to see more of what Lin has in store for me. Because I think it's going to be amazing.

So to the overall portion and the most important question; do I recommend this book? The answer to that is yes. Even though it's not going to make my Top Ten this year, I found this to be a really unique blend of really horror (not sure that's what Lin was going for but that's what I felt it was), fantasy, mythology, and social commentary. I am very glad I read it and I'm looking forward to more books by this author.

As always many thanks to St. Martin's Press, Netgalley for the eArc!