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  • The Ghost Bride: A Novel (P.S.)
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The Ghost Bride: A Novel (P.S.) Kindle Edition

by Yangsze Choo (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 out of 5 stars 4,801 ratings
3.8 on Goodreads
36,585 ratings

鶹

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"One evening, my father asked me if I would like to become a ghost bride..."

Part 19th century novel, part magical journey to the Chinese world of the dead, Yangsze Choo's debut novel The Ghost Bride is a startlingly original historical fantasy infused with Chinese folklore, romantic intrigue, and unexpected supernatural twists. Reminiscent of Lisa See's Peony in Love and Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere, The Ghost Bride is a wondrous coming-of-age story from a remarkable new voice in fiction.


Oprah.com's  Book of the Week, Indie Next List pick, Good Housekeeping August Book Pick, Glamour Magazine Beach Read, The Bookseller Editor's Pick, Library Journal Barbara's Pick

"Choo's clear and charming style creates an alternate
reality where the stakes are just as high as in the real world, combining
grounded period storytelling with the supernatural." Publishers
Weekly


"What makes all this work is the sumptuous world of Chinese émigré
culture and the love story that flows under it all--the kind so full of longing,
the pages practically sigh as you turn each one." Oprah.com - Book of the
Week


"'The Ghost Bride', an impressive first novel, takes
readers on one of the wildest rides since Alice fell down the rabbit
hole." San Jose Mercury News


"Choo's remarkably strong and arresting first novel
explores the concept of Chinese "spirit marriages" in
late-nineteenth-century Malaya through the eyes of the highly relatable Li
Lan...With its gripping tangles of plot and engaging characters, this truly
compelling read is sure to garner much well deserved attention."
Booklist


Li Lan, the daughter of a genteel but bankrupt family, has few prospects. But fate intervenes when she receives an unusual proposal from the wealthy and powerful Lim family. They want her to become a ghost bride for the family's only son, who recently died under mysterious circumstances. Rarely practiced, a traditional ghost marriage is used to placate a restless spirit. Such a union would guarantee Li Lan a home for the rest of her days, but at a terrible price.

After an ominous visit to the opulent Lim mansion, Li Lan finds herself haunted not only by her ghostly would-be suitor, but also by her desire for the Lim's handsome new heir, Tian Bai. Night after night, she is drawn into the shadowy parallel world of the Chinese afterlife, with its ghost cities, paper funeral offerings, vengeful spirits and monstrous bureaucracy--including the mysterious Er Lang, a charming but unpredictable guardian spirit. Li Lan must uncover the Lim family's darkest secrets--and the truth about her own family--before she is trapped in this ghostly world forever.
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  1. Print length
    373 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    William Morrow
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    Aug. 6 2013
  6. File size
    915 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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  1. It was strange to think that power in this world belonged to old men and young women.
    Highlighted by 240 Kindle readers
  2. “If I had known how easy it is to lose your life, I would have treasured mine better.”
    Highlighted by 233 Kindle readers
  3. The problem with the dead was that they all wanted someone to listen to them.
    Highlighted by 199 Kindle readers
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Product description

From the Back Cover

A startlingly original voice makes her literary debut with this wondrous coming-of-age story infused with Chinese folklore, romantic intrigue, adventure, and fascinating, dreamlike twists

One evening, my father asked me whether I would like to become a ghost bride. . . .

Though ruled by British overlords, the Chinese of colonial Malaya still cling to ancient customs. And in the sleepy port town of Malacca, ghosts and superstitions abound.

Li Lan, the daughter of a genteel but bankrupt family, has few prospects. But fate intervenes when she receives an unusual proposal from the wealthy and powerful Lim family. They want her to become a ghost bride for the family's only son, who recently died under mysterious circumstances. Rarely practiced, traditional ghost marriages are used to placate restless spirits. Such a union would guarantee Li Lan a home for the rest of her days, but at a terrible price.

After an ominous visit to the opulent Lim mansion, Li Lan finds herself haunted not only by her ghostly would-be suitor, but also by her desire for the Lims' handsome new heir, Tian Bai. Night after night, she is drawn into the shadowy parallel world of the Chinese afterlife, with its ghost cities, paper funeral offerings, vengeful spirits, and monstrous bureaucracy—including the mysterious Er Lang, a charming but unpredictable guardian spirit. Li Lan must uncover the Lim family's darkest secrets—and the truth about her own family—before she is trapped in this ghostly world forever.

--This text refers to the audioCD edition.

Review

“Choo’s clear and charming style creates an alternate reality where the stakes are just as high as in the real world, combining grounded period storytelling with the supernatural.” (Publishers Weekly)

“Captivating epic . . . [this] impressive first novel takes readers on one of the wildest rides since Alice fell down the rabbit hole.” (San Jose Mercury News)

“Choo’s remarkably strong and arresting first novel…is sure to garner much well-deserved attention.” (Booklist)

“Choo’s fascinating debut . . . rich in Chinese folklore, mores and the supernatural…intriguing and enlightening. A haunting debut.” (Kirkus Reviews)

“Li Lan’s odyssey keeps her on the brink of earthly demise and keeps the reader riveted to the page . . .” (New York Journal of Books)

“Delicate and thought-provoking . . . sure to be a hit with supernatural and historical fiction fans alike.” (Library Journal)

“Unlike any book I’ve ever experienced, with its meld of historical fiction coupled with a fascinating culture, murder mystery, the wandering of spirits of the dead and not-so-dead, romance, and adventures in the afterworld . . . one revelatory experience after another.” (Bookreporter.com) --This text refers to the audioCD edition.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00A9V5YN8
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ William Morrow
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ Aug. 6 2013
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ Reprint
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 915 KB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 373 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0062227386
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • 鶹 Rank: #84,212 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 out of 5 stars 4,801 ratings

About the author

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Yangsze Choo

Yangsze Choo

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Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Yangsze Choo is the New York Times bestselling author of The Ghost Bride (now a Netflix Original series) and The Night Tiger, a Reese’s Book Club Pick, and a Big Jubilee Read selection for Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee. She lives in California with her family and loves to eat and read (often at the same time). Her new book, The Fox Wife, and all previous novels would not have been possible without large quantities of dark chocolate.

Yangsze is happy to visit book clubs via Zoom! You can find her on her website, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4,801 global ratings

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Top reviews from Canada

  • E.M. MacCallum
    5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing debut
    Reviewed in Canada on August 12, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Set in Malaya (Malaysia before Independence) in 1893, The Ghost Bride fuses the varied cultures of that time, highlighting their roots as well as their compromises with each other. Primarily, the focus was on the immigrated Chinese under the British Rule.

    The heart of the story lies with a young Chinese girl named Li Lan who's placed in the awkward position of becoming a ghost bride to a dead man. It's a rare tradition for one to be living and the other to be dead and would lead to a childless, lonely life but Li Lan be well taken care of. The first complication strikes when she finds her heart yearning for the living nephew, Lim Tian Bai while suffering dreams from the dead Lim Tian Ching, his cousin.

    Revolted by the idea of being a ghost bride, Li Lan never suspected she may have an opportunity to find out what it meant to be both dead and alive. This then changes everything.

    The remarkable research and masterful storytelling made it hard to put down. I loved reading about the different cultures and seeing what changed because of the British and what still remained from the Islams.
    The superstitions, especially those from Li Lan's Amah (a type of nanny) were fascinating but also hinted at the seriousness of the afterlife.

    There are wonderful, well-rounded characters whose flaws and quirks make them so likeable you kind of wish you knew them. For me it was Amah.
    The Ghost Bride is a fresh take on the paranormal genre and I had a great time reading Yangsze Choo's debut. I'll definitely be watching out for future books by this author.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • feedotbee
    4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
    Reviewed in Canada on December 14, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    A very interesting and engrossing story, a mix of fantasy, mythology, and historical fiction
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  • leila
    5.0 out of 5 stars good book
    Reviewed in Canada on September 27, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I got it from another seller for cheaper, since I am only using it for an assignment. Despite that, I enjoyed reading the book. It arrived pretty quickly and the condition was as described.
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  • Choo C Rosenbloom
    3.0 out of 5 stars A great read at first
    Reviewed in Canada on January 26, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Well, I had to read this book as I'm originally from Malaysia. The first few chapters were great and I almost could not put it down. But later, it got quite strange and I lost interest.
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  • Adriyanna Zimmermann @ Life Writings of a Reader
    4.0 out of 5 stars Captivating story!
    Reviewed in Canada on October 13, 2017
    I absolutely loved THE GHOST BRIDE by Yangsze Choo. I ended up listening to the audiobook, read by the author. The writing is really lovely, I couldn't stop reading/listening to the story and the author did a fantastic performance re: reading the book. Audiobooks are usually a hit or miss for me, but this was probably my best experience yet. Another great thing about the author reading the book, I got to hear how the characters sound to Yangsze, which was pretty cool.

    Li Lan was a very interesting protagonist. Sometimes things would happen to her and she'd act totally calm or she'd go do things she probably shouldn't. Half of it was probably bravery and if she didn't do them the plot wouldn't move along but the other half was like curiosity or something. So I'd be like "no don't do that" but also "why are you doing this *very confused*". So I liked the protagonist but I also had mixed feelings re: her actions. Li Lan doing certain things that were obviously a bad idea didn't create suspense but confusion.

    I'm torn between giving this a 4 or 4.5/5 stars. I would also categorize this book as historical fiction with fantastical elements. The story was very captivating and I didn't want to stop listening to the audio. My favourite part was probably part 2 or 3, when the MC was exploring the afterlife. I'm not entirely sure how I feel about the ending - it kind of ended on a cliffhanger. This may be an effect of listening to the audiobook so I plan to check out a physical copy; I might get a sense of closure that way.

    The book does use the slur c*olie a few times and while technically accurate (the book is set in 19th century colonial Malaysia) I think the author should have acknowledged it's a slur. I'm not 100% sure if it was necessary, considering the MC doesn't think of those in a different class as below or less than her.

    This book is also told from the POV of an upper class Chinese woman (I think she's around 18?) living in colonial Malaysia. The family have fallen on hard times, so they aren't exactly rich but have been able to (mostly) hide their debt and still have a good name. It should've probably been acknowledged the sort of privilege the MC has over other classes of people living in 19th century colonial Malaysia.
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  • 鶹 Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars My new favourite book
    Reviewed in Canada on December 7, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    I bought this book for my birthday earlier this year and I loved it. I only bought it to get the free shipping on my order of Peony in Love, but saw that this was recommended for lovers of Chinese historical fiction. It was a total impulse buy and I wasn't expecting to love it as much as I did but Yangsze Choo is an amazing writer. Would recommend to anyone who wants a very creative, beautifully imagined love story set in traditional Malacca.
    One person found this helpful
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  • D. T.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Epic
    Reviewed in Canada on June 2, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a wonderful story. Each page draws you in and keeps you wanting more until the beautiful and satisfying ending.
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  • Ria Bridges
    4.0 out of 5 stars A slow-paced supernatural mystery filled with lush historical detail.
    Reviewed in Canada on April 6, 2019
    It took me ages to get around to reading this, but I’m glad I finally did. Choo writes a vivid story set in 19th century Malaya, of a young woman (Li Lan) haunted by the spirit of a man who wishes to marry her. Yes, even after his death. Li Lan, for her part, wants absolutely nothing to do with this afterlife marriage to a ghost, and instead would much prefer to marry the dead man’s still-living cousin. But unsurprisingly, things aren’t that simple. The Chinese afterlife, through which Li Lan ends up traversing after an accident leaves her essentially comatose, are full of mystery and intrigue, corruption and complications, and she has to solve the mystery of the hated dead man’s death before she loses her connection to her living body entirely.

    It’s a story filled with lush detail and fascinating glimpses into an oft-unvisited part of the world and period of history, with a style that reminded me at times of Arthur Golden’s Memoirs of a Geisha, only with a brilliant supernatural element that never once felt cheesy or over-the-top, supernatural for the sake of being supernatural. It’s a great piece of literary fiction, and if you’re into slow-paced steady mysteries and non-Western cultures, this might be one you’ll want to give your time to.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • mme Louisy Denise
    5.0 out of 5 stars Love love love it
    Reviewed in France on December 9, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    This book takes you on a fantastic tale of ghost, ancient culture, mystery and much more. It's an excellent read, once you start it you can't let it go...
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  • Val
    4.0 out of 5 stars Genial!
    Reviewed in Brazil on May 24, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    A história é maravilhosa e os personagens são lindos (MEU SHIP, NINGUÉM SAI), mas a melhor parte é o mundo que a Yangze Choo construiu: ele é riquíssimo em seus detalhes e recheado de superstições e crenças tradicionais da Malásia (que eu nem conhecia, mas já procurei para saber mais!!).

    Recomendo MUITO este livro para quem gosta de um enredo intrigante, reviravoltas e conhecer um pouco mais de outras culturas!

    P.S.: EU QUERO TANTO QUE ESTE LIVRO VIRE UM MANHWA DA YUN MI-KYUNG (de "Bride of the Water God") <3
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  • 鶹 Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Must read!
    Reviewed in Australia on April 3, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Not going to give any spoilers but definitely hoping for a squeal to it. Beautifully written and brings you into a world of imagination that you would never dream of.
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  • Richard Abbott
    5.0 out of 5 stars A bold and adventurous exploration of two worlds
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 9, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    'The Ghost Bride', by Yangsze Choo, begins as though it were a piece of historical fiction. However, like the characters involved in the story, it soon begins to cross over between the worlds of the living and the dead, between history and fantasy. Yangsze has blended a well-researched background in the Chinese community of 1890s Malaya, with equally convincing portrayals of parts of the world of the dead, as conceived by the people of that place and time.

    As she explains in the author's note, these beliefs about the dead differed in certain respects from those held in mainland China, and did not comprise a consistent "theology". Rather like the ancient Egyptian ideas that I am more familiar with, there was a collection of disparate tales and images. These provide windows of insight into a vivid and credible world of experience, but not a systematic attempt to catalogue it. Indeed, I was struck by the many ways in which the Chinese images dovetailed with the much older Egyptian ones: no doubt there is a fascinating field of study there!

    Back to the story. This combines elements of several different genres, all told in first person perspective. The main character is centrally involved with a detective mystery, a coming of age tale, a gently-sketched romance, and a spiritual hero quest. Of these, I personally found the whodunit aspect the least convincing, and it seemed to rely rather too much for my taste on coincidental discovery and good fortune rather than skill. But in contrast, the personal and spiritual explorations were riveting, and at times beautifully lyrical in their descriptions. I was completely captivated by the images and concepts presented. On first reading I soaked up the text in what seemed to be a thorough baptism by immersion - a second, more sober reading picked up aspects that I had rushed by at first!

    In terms of influence, there seem to be a great many factors at work here in addition to the traditional Chinese sources. There are similarities with Dante's Divine Comedy in the reliance on various guides, and the overall schematic arrangement of the world of the dead - though in the Chinese conception, a person's place is negotiable rather than fixed. There are echoes of Faust and the bargain he made. Some descriptions remind me of passages in Tolkien's writing. But Yangsze reworks these elements in an imaginative and vivid manner to create something new, and the book does not at all suffer from these points of contact.

    Yangsze admits in her blog to a love of food, and indeed there would be no prizes for guessing this from her book. Meals and snacks in both worlds are described in considerable detail and delight, with certain key differences between them that maintain a clear separation.

    Readers who prefer "straight" historical fiction (or for that matter straight fantasy) might be perplexed by the cross-genre nature of this book. And as mentioned before, I feel that some aspects of the whodunit plot sit a little awkwardly. However, I loved 'The Ghost Bride', would very happily recommend it to others, and overall have no hesitation in giving it five stars.
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  • Ella
    5.0 out of 5 stars "Chihiros Reise ins Zauberland" trifft "Die Geisha"
    Reviewed in Germany on February 1, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Zuallererst, die Geschichte spielt natürlich in Malaysia und nicht in Japan aber ich denke der Titel beschreibt die Atmosphäre ganz treffend: Eine Story, die uns in eine mysteriöse Geisterwelt und eine fremde Kultur entführt und eintauchen lässt; gespickt mit viel Folklore und Sagen aus einer anderen Welt.
    Ich war vom Anfang bis zum Ende begeistert von dem Buch und vor allem von dem Ende. (Ich wünschte mehr Young-Adult-Bücher würden mit so einem ermutigendem Schluss enden - keine Sorge, es gibt ein Happy End!)
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