Vampires in 1920s Hong Kong? This sounds right up my street, so why didn't I love this book?
As you might expect, the gothic vibes of this novel were fabulous, and the writing style was really perfect for this.
The plot, however, was lacking at best, confusing at worst. I feel like I never really understood where the overall story was headed, because as soon as one interesting plot point was brought up, it was discarded in the next chapter to move onto something else.
I enjoyed my time reading this, but I couldn't tell you what it was about having finished it. Definitely a book when you want all vibes no plot.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eArc!

I feel terrible because this book came around during one of the worst slumps I've ever had for reading. However, this book managed to continue to pull me in and keep me going, and continuously gave me a reason to keep picking up the book. Ling is an entirely believable if not naive storyteller who comes across portrayed as the epitome of female rage by the time she comes into herself. I genuinely want to restart the book again soon so I can actually give it the time and respect it deserves.

A short *synopsis*

In 1925 colonial Hong Kong, young herbalist Ling Shaw witnesses a murder committed by a bloodthirsty creature. When her uncle is wrongfully arrested for the crime, Ling is the only one who can find the real killer. Teaming up with her private academy best friend and a Red Society thug from the Kowloon Walled City, she uncovers dark family secrets, occult rituals, vampires, and a sinister plot tied to the Canton Labor Strikes. To protect her family and all of Kowloon, Ling must overcome ancient and eldritch forces.

Intriguing: 2
Unsettling: 2 (body horror)
Scary: 1

This an interesting historical YA horror novel with lot of body horror (creepy eyeballs), set in Hong Kong. It's has a wonderful writing style which is also very accessible and hooked me from the very first page. Had a fun time with it. (Also the vampires!!!). It's a 4 ⭐ read for me. Highly recommend.

Thank you Ghastly Goings-on press and Netgalley for the ARC.

Chasing Moonflowers is an ambitious novel about Ling, a young woman living British occupied Hong Kong, doing her best to help support her family due to her father's vanishing at sea years previously. She works at her uncle's medicine shop, but where she is learning western medicine at school, and getting a formal (read: British) education so that she may one day go to a 'proper' medical school and truly support her mother and younger brothers.

However, things go awry when she tries to take on too much, and that leads us to the first death of many, drawing Ling in a web in which no one will escape unscathed.

This is a love letter to gothic horror, but also a critique of the place of which is born. Where the monsters of Ling's legends are fierce and horrible, she remarks that the titular character of Camilla, one of the earliest vampire novels, gets to be cultured and refined. Even Europe's monsters thing they're better than others. But it calls out to all the greats-- and the racism inherent in almost all of them. Whether it's Camilla or Lovecraft, they all get a look as they all come up in the novel.

I have only one singular complaint about this book: It's too ambitious. There's too much going on, too many different mythos weaving together until you've lost track of some of the characters and what their monstrosity is, or why they are that way, or their link to other characters. Jam packed with information, whether it be historical, cultural, or simply part of the fiction it was all woven into, it became somewhat unwieldy through the last quarter of the book as things started to go very fast, and change very rapidly, which meant the end sort of became muddled and messy for me, and I couldn't keep track of a bunch of the threads that were suddenly weaving together.

That is really the only thing keeping this from being a 5 star read from me, though. Otherwise, great book, enjoyed it immensely, highly recommended.

Chasing Moonflowers is an unique and fresh historical fantasy set in 1920s Hong Kong with a strong relatable female protagonist. The book was at times eerie, especially with the descriptions of the vampires.

On the Cantonese words/phrases, I felt like since there is no translations for them, it might be hard for non-Cantonese speakers to figure out as there wasn't really enough context. Also, I felt some Cantonese were a bit weird, like there were some Mandarin mixed in but I'm not sure if it's a certain dialect being used.

I enjoyed the setting and tone/vibe of the book and reading Ling's journey throughout. I also liked the version of vampires and the herbal medicine aspects. And I thought the ending was really fitting for what Ling learned throughout the course of the book and how she has changed with that knowledge.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I recommend to others who like fantasy with a historical element. Chasing Moonflowers is definitely one to check out!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy to review.

This would make a good intro to Gothic horror for YA readers who are looking to dip their toes into this specific genre.

The Gothic vibes were definitely on full display in this novel. The mix of Eastern and Western horror tropes and monsters helped cement the story's themes of colonization and Westernization in 1925 Hong Kong. (If you're from one of the Asian Tiger countries, this sense of place and time will feel familiar.)

While the horror was top notch (vampire-like monsters and Chinese ghosts galore!), I really wish the descriptions for the setting were a lot more fleshed out and written more strongly.

It felt very bare minimum and relied too much on the reader's prior knowledge of this time period. There was definitely a missed opportunity there. While I could imagine the setting in my head (I used to live in an Asian country that was also colonized by the British, so a lot of elements were very familiar) I still had to Google pictures of Hong Kong in the 1920s to fully grasp the picture.

Other than that, I had a good time and I'd give this author another try.

Thank you to Ghastly Goings-On Press and NetGalley for this arc.

3.2/5

Set in Hong Kong’s infamous Kowloon Walled City (九龍城寨), this Gothic horror novel promises an atmospheric dive into a place full of urban legends. As a Hong Konger, I was thrilled by the premise. Growing up, I heard tales of the Walled City and visited its remnants. I eagerly anticipated a story, but I was disappointed by the execution.

What I like about the novel is the delightful Cantonese references sprinkled like Easter eggs, but its execution falters, leaving me with mixed feelings. The inclusion of Cantonese phrases and Chinese cultural elements, such as the bone scripts, adds authenticity to the narrative. However, some linguistic inaccuracies, such as using “mm goi” (thank you) in response to a compliment, which feels unnatural, or mixing Mandarin terms like “wu po” with Cantonese phrases like “Ceot loi ba, Ceot loi ba”, distorted my immersion with the story. While I appreciate the author's efforts, they occasionally feel misplaced or inconsistent.

For readers unfamiliar with Cantonese or Mandarin, the sporadic English explanations may not be enough, potentially leaving them confused by the linguistic blend.

The novel begins with a very gripping pace, setting a perfect vibe for this horror story. Chapter 3, in particular, is a standout to me, with the FMC, Ling’s heart-pounding journey keeping me on edge.
The prose is vivid and visceral, painting gory, detailed deaths that amplify the horror. Yet, the momentum falls significantly around the midpoint. The narrative drags, bogged down by unnecessary chapters that dilute the tension. I found myself wishing for deeper character development, particularly for the twins, whose arcs could have heightened the emotional impact of the pivotal plotline since Chapter 28.

While the premise and setting are captivating, the plot often feels disjointed. Major storylines are hard to follow, veering into abstract territory that left even this local Hong Konger perplexed. Some cultural references, though intriguing, are introduced without enough context, making them more confusing than enriching. The result is a narrative that often feels scattered and messy.

Despite these flaws, I don’t regret reading this book. The concept, prose, and horror elements are genuinely compelling, and the Kowloon Walled City is a fascinating backdrop that pulses with eerie life. However, the messy execution and uneven pacing prevent it from fully delivering on its promise.

For fans of gothic horror and Hong Kong culture, it might be an interesting read for its unique setting and vivid moments but be prepared for a story that doesn’t quite live up to its ambitious premise.

Thank you to Netgalley and Ghastly Goings-On Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. I have also posted the same review on goodreads.

Historical Hong Kong gothic vampire story with Traditial Chinese Medicine, herbs, and eyeballs? Yes, please! This is a fun and frightening read with a strong female rotagonist, Ling, proving she will go to any ength to protect her family from an ancient evil. The perfect summer read for those of us looking for something unusual to sink our teeth into.. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this ARC

3 stars - thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

This book was okay. There was a lot (maybe too much) happening at the same time, which made me lose focus a lot. Writing style seemed good for the time period this is set in. Also liked the commentary on some issues (some still present today). Loved the supernatural aspect. The ending was a good one, but I feel like the book could have been longer to explore more with all that was happening.

Set in 1925 Hong Kong, Chasing Moonflowers is a spellbinding mix of historical fiction and supernatural mystery. When Ling Shaw witnesses a vampire attack, her world is turned upside down, especially when her uncle is falsely accused of the murder that follows. With time running out and revolution brewing, Ling must uncover the truth and confront the dark forces threatening everything she loves.

This book is a gothic delight, steeped in rich atmosphere and layered with political tension drawn from real historical events like the Canton–Hong Kong strike. The story masterfully weaves in magical realism through Ling’s connection to plants and flowers, adding depth and symbolism to the eerie mystery.

Ling is a brilliant narrator—resilient in the face of injustice, relentlessly curious as she pieces together the truth, and full of heart as she risks everything to protect her family. Her voice brings a youthful innocence to a story filled with secrets, injustice, and otherworldly danger. As the line between myth and reality begins to blur, Chasing Moonflowers asks powerful questions about identity, sacrifice, and what it means to fight for the truth.

Thank you to the author for a copy of this book.

Unfortunately at 52% finished with this book I just can't make myself go any further. The writing honestly confuses me. I cant understand what is happening, who the characters are, and how it all relates to the over all plot.
The premise sounded really interesting, but I'm having trouble visualizing and connecting what's happening back to the original premise.
I feel like the writing was scattered and that made it difficult to follow as well.

A gothic fantasy steeped in history and East Asian folklore, Chasing Moonflowers brings readers to 1920s Kowloon (九龍), where a young girl named Ling—devoted to herbalism—finds herself fighting to save her family, her city, and her culture from creeping monsters. Vampires, political unrest, and colonial power all intertwine in this atmospheric tale that’s as haunting as it is beautiful.

The writing is incredibly vivid and immersive, filled with a creeping tension that slowly wraps around you. The vampire mythos here isn't just for horror—it doubles as a metaphor for colonialism, where invaders drain the life out of local cultures, languages, and identities. Ling’s reading of Carmilla cleverly bridges Western vampire lore with Eastern legends, highlighting how myth, resistance, and identity all blur together.

That said, the book might be challenging for those unfamiliar with Cantonese or Cantonese Pronunciation—some details hinge on language, tone, and local nuance. The latter parts of the novel also escalate quickly, with surreal and complex elements that might be confusing for casual readers.

This had a lot in it with the political side and what makes a monster, an actual monster vs a movement and people but I couldn’t say it was a fantastic book. It was an ok read but the writing was a bit dull and flat at times and usually I love this genre but I think it just wasn’t for me this time but the author is a good storyteller but there was just something not there for me. I didn’t dnf it but skipped the more ordinary parts but still I couldn’t really get into it .

I definitely would try the author again as she is a good writer I think I just missed something in this one .

I just knew this book will be my thing the moment Carmilla is referenced. Vampires, with admittedly significantly less sapphic undertones, but so lush and so incredibly unique in its setting.

It is 1925 colonial Hong Kong, and Ling needs to be someone important and respected by both the local and the British communities to turn her family's hard life around. Witnessing the gruesome murder of an Englishwoman in the hands of an eldritch creature is absolutely not going to help her cause! Ling is immediately swept up in secrets and diabolism in an already unsettled town gearing up for a labour strike (based on the historical event, Canton–Hong Kong strike). This was both a delightfully gothic but sobering read.

I am however, unsure whether my slight lack of engagement with the writing was due to the multitude of grammatical errors still present in this advanced copy (which I trust will be fixed), or if I truly felt like the flow was clunky. Oftentimes I found myself flipping back and forth between pages to make sure I did not skip a page. I also found the Cantonese romanisations inconsistent, such as the multiple ways the Goddess of Mercy (Guan Yin, Guon Yum, and similar) is romanised. Further, some strange romanisations took me out of the story several times as I speak Cantonese but felt like the romanisations sounded gibberish in my head.

Thank you to the author, Ghastly Goings-On Press (what a wonderful name ✨), and NetGalley for this eARC. I leave this review voluntarily.

Chasing Moonflowers by Pauline Chow
2025 is the year of the vampire in the best way possible. Seems like all of the authors got the memo that we needed something fresh and they have delivered. Chasing Moonflowers is a vampiric story taking place in the Kowloon district of Hong Kong during the 1920s. Normally, I’m not a huge fan of reading books from this specific era (I think after Gatsby it’s a bit overdone) but it being set in Hong Kong immediately piqued my interest. Because of the setting and the time period, you really got an in depth vision of what it means to be a monster, but literally and figuratively. With the British colonization of Hong Kong, political uprising, and the cut away chapters in the Guineas where the sailors have been held captive and forced into slavery, there so much going on and yet it all fit in beautifully into the story. I had my suspicions about some of the characters and was right about one and completely wrong about another. I loved that along with the traditional idea of the vampire (coupled with our main girl Ling literally reading Carmilla) the eastern legends and myths were intertwined. One quick note for readers with possible triggers- there are eyes- literal eyes floating around in this book. If that grosses you out, you may want to skip this one.
This was my first book by Pauline Chow, but I hope to read more! Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing | Ghastly Goings-On Press for the advanced copy. I devoured this one!

3.5 stars.

As a biracial Chinese person who spent a large part of their adolescence in Hong Kong, there was a sense of familiarity when reading this, from the culture, the food and the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). I particularly liked the use of TCM and herbalism to ward off evil spirits and keep vampiric symptoms at bay.

The story moves at an engaging pace - I read this book in about 7 hours - and I enjoyed the setting, having grown up in Hong Kong. The book also had a good conclusion that wasn’t ambiguous, and one or two plot points that may have been unresolved weren’t significant enough to ruin the ending.

Ling is a complex and realistic MC, and I enjoyed her transformation and character development throughout the book. I thought that the themes of the book were well woven together - the commentary on the colonisation of HK, white supremacy, patriarchy and labour strikes with the supernatural. However, I did feel that the other characters could have been fleshed out more - sometimes Ling's relationships with the other characters felt a bit underdeveloped.

A lot is happening in the book, and I think that diluted some of the other plot points, as I couldn’t understand the relevance. For example, at the beginning of the book, Ling is reading Carmilla by Sheridan Le Fanu, which is mentioned again several times throughout the book, but I’m not sure why. After finishing it, I can see that this book is a subtle nod to Carmilla, however, it can’t be assumed that all readers of this book have read it. Perhaps it only serves to highlight that the thought of vampires is at the forefront of Ling's mind, which is why she is so readily able to deduce that vampires are plaguing her town.

I found the writing style quite formal and somewhat constrained, which affected the flow when reading. It also made the dialogue between characters seem stilted, as this isn’t how people would naturally speak with each other.
I’m unsure whether this was intentionally written like this or not. Is it to appear as if the dialogue is between people speaking English as a second language? Although the dialogue was like this between all characters, I would assume that Ling and her family members would speak to each other in Cantonese rather than English.

Although I enjoyed this book and think that others would probably like it, I wouldn’t read it again.

I got this as an arc on Netgalley and it will come out in July. This was pretty great if you like gothic non western stories! There was a lot happening but all of it good and well woven together.

I love how layered this is. I dont usually read the authors notes but i feel it is very important for this novel. The artwork made me feel like this was a statement piece and then i read the note, got a bit into the book and a little more… war time especially in those time was hard on the people and what you make of your life during it is important. This book is very layered. Yes it is a gothic horror and has some very cool graphic scenes in it VERY COOL WRITING STYLE. But this is also very original and opinionated.

Chasing Moonflowers by Pauline Chow is one in a lifetime book. I loved this story so much. I couldn't put it down for a second. So so good.

I didn’t expect to fall this hard for a historical fantasy, but here we are—completely obsessed. This book pulled me in from the first chapter and refused to let go. The worldbuilding? Impeccable. The unraveling of long-buried secrets and ancestral threads? Absolutely addictive.

Ling was such a standout protagonist—complex, determined, and achingly real. Her transformation over the course of the story gave me chills, and by the time I reached the epilogue, I was an emotional mess (in the best way). That final reflection on her strength? Perfection.

This story was transportive, moving, and full of heart. I’ll be shouting about it to anyone who’ll listen—and yes, a reread is definitely in my future. Can’t wait to see what this author does next.