Thank you NetGalley and Park Row for allowing me to read and review this debut novel by Jane Yang.

1800 China. Two girls, one noble born, one a maidservant lives collide and evolve as they grow together into women in a society where few were permitted to make choices to control their destiny.

This novel is very character driven and rich with details. In parts the story is slow paced and a little long winded at 368 pages and I found myself starting to skim. However I appreciated the historical references and information in regards to traditions, superstitions and culture.

A solid first novel from J. Yang!

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and the author for an advanced reader copy of this book.

The Lotus Shoes is a beautifully written novel about two women, born of different circumstances in a culture and system meant to oppress women. In this book we come across Linjing, a lady of high class with a father willing to abandon the traditional foot binding in order to advance his station, and Little Flower, who was sold into slavery to be Linjing's muizai.

We follow them from their childhood into their adulthood as they navigate the social pressures and expectations of women, trying to break the cycle but also finding themselves stuck in it.

This a great historical fiction.

In late 19th-century China, Little Flower’s life is one of extreme poverty. Her mother binds her feet at a very young age to elevate Little Flower’s status. Perfect “golden lilies” will mean Little Flower is of good character and have a better life and marriage. When her father dies, her mother’s only option is to sell Little Flower so what meager resources they have can go to pay Little Brother’s apprenticeship. Girls are useless and expendable; Little Brother has a chance at a better life. So, at the age of six, Little Flower becomes a muizai (slave) to the prosperous Fong family to serve the daughter, Linjing.

Linjing’s father forbids the binding of Linjing’s feet, because China is moving toward a modernized future. This means accepting Westerners and their ways, and foot-binding will become the past. This practice is so valued by Chinese society, Linjing is desolate but must obey. A muizai cannot have bound feet while her mistress has shameful, big feet, so Little Flower is forced to remove her bindings, leaving her feet badly deformed. With great sorrow and humility, Little Flower learns to navigate her life of slavery. Linjing is jealous of Little Flower’s superior needlework and the extra attention it brings her. She is cruel to Little Flower, and their relationship is contentious. Upheaval in the Fong family turns Linjing’s future grim. As the girls grow into women, they refuse to surrender to the roles they were allotted – each in their own way.

Little Flower and Linjing are fully dimensional, strong characters who change and grow with life’s hard knocks. This novel is rich in plot and family drama, including fascinating details of Chinese culture, the devalued lives of Chinese women, and Chinese feminist history – an unforgettable, impressive work based on the author’s ancestral history.

Historical Novels Review, Februrary 2025 (Editors' Choice)

The Lotus Shoes
Jane Yang

A Tale of Resilience and Betrayal in 19th-Century China

1800s China. Tightly bound feet, or “golden lilies, are the mark of an honorable woman, eclipsing beauty, a rich dowry, and even bloodline in the marriage stakes. When her mother sells Little Flower into slavery as a maidservant—a muizai—to Linjing, a daughter of the prominent Fong family, she clings to the hope that one day her golden lilies will lead her out of slavery.

Not only does Little Flower have bound feet, uncommon for a muizai, but she is extraordinarily gifted at embroidery, a skill associated with the highest class of a lady. Resentful of her talents, Linjing does everything in her power to thwart Little Flower’s escape.

But when scandal strikes the Fongs, both women are cast out to the Celibate Sisterhood, where Little Flower’s artistic prowess catches the eye of a nobleman. His attention threatens not only her improved status but her life—the Sisterhood punishes disobedience with death. And if Linjing finds out, will she sabotage Little Flower to reclaim her power, or will she protect her?

Yang masterfully depicts the harsh realities of foot binding, servitude, and the complexities of female relationships in a male-dominated society. The historical details, especially regarding silk-making and social hierarchies, add depth to the narrative. The Lotus Shoes is an empowering story of two women from different worlds, bound by fate and tested by betrayal, ambition, and love. It’s a stunning debut that lingers long after the final page. 5 stars.

** My thanks to the publisher for a complimentary review copy. The opinions are my own.

Book review: 4.5/5 ⭐️
Genre: historical fiction
Themes: slavery, the class system, women in society
📖 Read if you like: Memoirs of a Geisha, The Invention of Wings, Washington Black

An upstairs downstairs story set in Song China. Little Flower is sold to the wealthy Fong family in desperation as a child. Told by her loving mother that if she is obedient and industrious she will one day make a good match, Little Flower has her goal. With perfect golden lotus bound feet and the gift of embroidery she is the envy of her maiden Linjing. Spoiled and outspoken, Linjing is determined to set her will upon her handmaiden for stealing her mother’s love. Selfish cruelty and misplaced jealously colours her personality as she first forces Little Flower to unbind her feet and then prevents a most advantageous marriage for her own purposes. She cannot seem to see Little Flower as anything beyond a tool and honestly believes her actions are those of good will. While given an interesting POV, she is certainly a villain in this story.

Books on slavery are never going to be easy to read and this novel led me down a rabbit hole to investigate golden lillies: what were they, how they came to be, and why did they persisted in this culture for so long. The culmination of this research has lead me to understand that: 1) an emperor decided he wanted his consort to dance on bound feet on the mural of a lotus flower, and then everyone (most likely more men) thought this was the ideal standard for femininity. 2) The golden lilly is an ideal 3 inches, which requires the bones to be broken and bound from childhood. 3) the act of creation will ensure a girl is obedient and can undergo cruelty in silence, apparently ever mother-in-law’s dream. 4) bound feet ensure a woman can never run away, yet the women are often the ones to enforce said practice.

Sold into bondage or sold into marriage with broken feet, it seems Chinese women of the age had few options, with autonomy a distant dream. While this type of cruelty left me seething, I did find myself fully immersed in this story waiting for Little Flower to find her voice and her vengeance. As the tides of time and fortune change, we discover the depth of understanding it takes to overcome bitterness. While the bond between Linjing and Little Flower evolves, so to do old hurts and a sense of betrayal. When Little Flower’s star finally rises, Linjing will take desperate actions against her seeing it as her right based on class.

I actually couldn’t believe this was a debut. It featured two opposing voices, yet the storyline flowed with ease. I lost track of time as I read, pages flying by as I immersed myself in the lives of these complex characters despite their youthful perspective. It managed to encapsulate misguided kindness and the cruelty of privileged ideology so beautifully as to demonstrate all the layers to humanity based on experience and circumstance. I just found the end a bit too rushed and easily resolved, given all the history in these relationships. While Little Flower proved herself insightful and thoughtful throughout, Linjing’s epiphany and transformation was a little harder to believe. Still it was a satisfying conclusion and a beautiful story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an early copy of this novel. I now want my own for my book collection!

This was a good book! At first, I had a little trouble getting into the story when the two protagonists were children, but when they grew up, I did like it more.

I enjoyed following the women in 1800s China. I knew about the foot binding that occurred in their history, but the beliefs and family structures were very interesting to follow. I also think that the main characters were fascinating to follow, especially with their dynamic as muizai and mistress. Linjing, the mistress, was a terrible person and I just couldn't help but hate her. Still, you truly understand her motivations and I do think she was a fully fleshed out character. Little Flower, the muizai, I kind of struggled with. She does have agency but she also felt a little passive to me. Still, these were strong, complicated characters which are my favorite thing to read.

One thing about this story that I didn't like was the pacing. Like I said, I had trouble getting into the beginning. There was a lot of set up that was kind of a drag to get through. However, I was immediately hooked about 30% into the book when a specific thing happened that seemed to give Little Flower character more agency. And while Little Flower and Linjing have always had tension between them, this specific action really made the tension rise, and kept me engaged. But then the story slows down again. The pacing just felt inconsistent and some of the book felt like it was meandering to get to the point.

Overall, I did enjoy this. I liked following the characters and it was interesting being in this historical time period. Just wish the pacing was a little bit better.

This is a heartfelt story of historical fiction about the chasm between the different classes in 19th century China and the coming-of-age story of two young girls as their lives change over their years together. I've always enjoyed historical fiction books about the lives and customs of the people in China and this book is just that. The story immediately transports readers to mainland China in the 1800s. Much of the narrative dwells on the ancient custom of female foot binding, but not gratuitously. The explanations educate the reader on how this custom played such an important role in class designation, social status, and marriage contracts.

With extraordinary tenderness and beautiful prose, this debut novel follows the path of Little Flower and Linjing. (See my link to my Goodreads review for more details that I included about the story itself.) This is an immersive, emotional, and wonderfully crafted novel from a new voice in Asian literature. I would highly recommend this book to fans of LIsa See and Amy Tan. I look forward to reading whatever Ms. Yang writes next.

My sincere thanks to NetGalley and Sphere for giving me the opportunity to read a DRC of this novel. All opinions expressed are my own.

Oh I how I loved this book and it's amazing characters. This was set during a time that I didn't know much about. I learned while reading and even looked things up to make myself understand more. I read this book late into the night and even dreamed about it while sleeping. This is a fantastic historical fiction book that I really enjoy! I received an advanced readers copy and all opinions are my own.

I felt this was a little overdone and hard to follow but overall a good story but I think it needed more editing because it just felt long winded
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review book

Step into 19th century China, where tradition clashes with change, and two girls—Little Flower, a servant with bound feet, and Linjing, her privileged yet flawed mistress—navigate a world of jealousy, betrayal, and resilience.

Through twists of fate, their rivalry becomes an unlikely alliance. Will their shared struggles unite them, or tear them apart?

With eloquent prose and rich cultural depth, “The Lotus Shoes” is a journey of self-discovery and the bonds that shape us. Fans of Lisa See will adore this poignant debut from Jane Yang 💕✨

"The Lotus Shoes" is a great, great book! It’s not the type of book you will read in a seat. It is that type of book you are invited to emerge in a completely different culture, in a different time, and we still have the same issues. Imagine you are walking through a museum, and Jane Yang paints to us a vivid imagery of what happened during that period, with all the elements, we need to almost sit down with Little Flower and feel her happiness while she embroiders her sadness when she sees her future slip away or even her desperation and hopelessness when she sees herself alone, in a stranger family, stranger house, without her mother.

The Lotus Shoes by Jane Yang is a fast paced novel with multiple plots twists covering the lives of a rich young woman and her muizai (maidservant). Taking place in nineteenth century China, The Lotus Shoes transports readers to a time of great social change for women. Linjing, the rich young woman is an entitled selfish young woman who is jealous of her artistically talented muizai, Little Flower. The chapters of this book alternate from the perspectives of Linjing and Little Flower. The author brilliantly captures the inner thoughts of each character, creating a characters that are so vivid you feel like you are a part of the story.

I highly recommend this book. I could not put it down.

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Jane Yang was inspired to write this story because of the stories her grandmothers told her about bygone China. Her great - great aunt Autumn Moon was born in the 1880’s. Women were given few choices - wife, nunnery, working hard labor jobs such as in rice fields or a life long pledge to a celibate community. Poor women were often slaves or prostitutes.

The Lotus Shoes follows two female characters from the age of six. Little Flower, sold by her mother into slavery (to avoid starvation) and Linjing, a member of a high ranking, respected family.

There is so much interesting history in this book. It doesn’t seem heavy or loaded with facts. We see and feel the young women dealing with the fate of the times. Traditions, superstitions, and the fact that pretty much everything is out of their control.

Little Flower and Linjing make their way through life trying the best as they can to be happy and live life on their terms.

Really good!! I hope to read more from this author.

I received an ARC copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you for the ARC! However I was not able to finish this book in time, I really think it will become a success. The cover is approachable to a wide range of people. The cover is clean and polished which I feel lends itself to the content since it is a historical piece. From what I did read, this was well written, looking forward to finishing the title.

This was such a heartbreaking work of historical fiction, beautifully told but I had to keep setting it down to process the pain and struggle these girls went through. Much of the story revolves around the need and reverence for 'golden lilies,' the tightly bound feet that were the mark of honorable, upper class women of that time, required to secure respect and marriage.

The Lotus Shoes is a story about survival and status in 1800s China, told in the alternating viewpoints of a young woman of privilege and her muizai, a slave maidservant. Little Flower has been sold into slavery by her desperate mother, who cannot afford to keep her after her husband's death. Her new mistress, Linjing, is fiercely jealous of Little Flower's valuable and admired embroidery talent, and sabotages her at every turn. She thwarts Little Flower's dream of escaping slavery though marriage. When scandal rocks Linjing and her mother, both girls find themselves seeking refuge in The Celibate Sisterhood, working long factory hours producing silk thread. When Little Flower's talents capture the attention of a nobleman, Linjing's jealousy reaches a fever pitch.

It was so difficult to read the power struggles and betrayals between women just trying to survive or find a path among so few options. Little Flower was obviously a brilliant artist with rare vision, but no amount of hard work was enough for other women to see her as a valuable human being. Linjing was a product of her circumstances, raised to view slaves as obligated to serve her every whim; it was almost impossible to believe any type of redemption arc for her character after how many times she betrayed Little Flower.

I loved the character of Little Flower, her empathy for others, and how she stayed true to herself even when offered a life of luxury. I wanted a happy ending for her so badly, or at least no more torment!

Thank you so much to Harlequin Trade Publishing / Park Row and Netgalley for this book!

Read if you like: dual perspectives, Chinese history
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The book follows Little Flower and Lingjing. Little Flower is sold into slavery by her mother and becomes Lingjing's handmaiden, tying the two together for the rest of their lives; a bond that will have consequences.
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This book was amazing. The writing was beautiful and I loved Little Flower. She was so strong and just wanted to fight for her freedom, which was constantly thwarted by Lingjing, who was ruthless and selfish. But really, Linjing also just wanted to be loved and didn't know how to voice her frustrations. My heart broke for these two women who lived in a society where they would always be second class citizens. I appreciated the story of their resiliency and highly recommend it!

Such an interesting story line! It gave me "Memoirs of a Geisha" vibes, which is one of my favorite books that I have read. Full of tension and beautiful writing.

This book is a mini history lesson on the traditions many women of China faced and endured. It’s eye opening and maddening. It explores the strength and resilience of women but also the levels of betrayal some will take for self gratification. The characters are multilayered, some facing the worse of circumstances. It questions and tests the lengths of humanity and redemption.

The Lotus Shoes is a stunning story of struggle, loss, and resilience, set in 1800’s China. I thought the complex political, religious, and gendered dynamics at play were so interesting and well-executed. The way this book explored how both men and women within Chinese society at this time upheld patriarchal standards was nuanced and captivating. One of my favorite things about this genre is being immersed in a culture that I’m unfamiliar with and feel like I’m learning something as I watch these characters try to navigate the context they find themselves in. Jane Yang really captured that here.

Due to the treatment of slaves and women at the time, this book is sometimes BRUTAL. The practice of foot binding is hard to read about, and Little Flower’s time in slavery was not easy. There are moments of violence committed against the enslaved characters and basically constant misogyny that impacts all of the women throughout the story.

Speaking of, Little Flower is my GIRL. She was so intelligent and compassionate and determined. I loved following her story. She was put in so many difficult and impossible situations, but responded with grace and strength. Though I liked Linjing much less (actually she was infuriating, but I think that was intentional), I still appreciated her role within Little Flower’s journey. Both of their goals and motivations were very understandable and the way their desires clashed made for gripping conflict as they tried to find their own sense of security and purpose in a society that devalued them as women.

Some of the pacing was quite slow towards the beginning, but once I got a good sense of the characters and their motivations, I was much more invested and devoured the latter 60% or so in a day. I would highly recommend this to fans of historical fiction.

Historical Fiction • China • Dual POV
Pub Date • 7 January 2025

Thank you to @htphive and @parkrowbooks for the free ARC package!

🍵🫖 𝙎𝙝𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙈𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙞𝙧𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙖 𝙂𝙚𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙖, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝘾𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙖. 𝘼 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜-𝙤𝙛-𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖 𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙨𝙪𝙗𝙥𝙡𝙤𝙩. 🪷

Told from the perspectives of Linjing, an upper class girl, and her 𝘮𝘶𝘪𝘻𝘢𝘪 and handmaiden. What an pretty-sounding word to mean slave.

I have read 3 books with slave main characters this month. There’s no world from antebellum South, to ancient Mesopotamia, to 1800s China in which it is less evil. Where there is slavery, people will yearn to be free. And escape attempts are universally squashed by the masters with a hand that treats slaves worse than animals.

There are other evils in 1800s China including the class system among the gentile, which pits woman against woman in a multi-tier wife and consort system led by the head of household, the patriarchy. Wives must produce sons, who are most valued as heirs, but if it’s a girl, she must have Golden Lillies. Another sweet sounding word for the barbaric practice of binding feet.

However, I still somehow bristled at the Western woman who sweeps in with her white savior mentality. Talking of progress, modernization, embracing the more evolved religion of Christianity, for whom no barbaric things were ever done...it was really insightful to check my own biases through the book.

The story-telling has depth. I was heartbroken for all that Little Flower endured. I could have never been as forgiving. However, she just may triumph in the end..! You’ll have to read to find out. Impressed by this debut.

TW: Mutilation, Death, Suicide, Torture, Sexism, Classism