The Girl with Ghost Eyes by M H Boroson
The Girl with Ghost Eyes was such a great read that I simply have to start this review by saying go and give it a whirl.
The story is set in the late 1800s in San Francisco’s Chinatown and brings to us a compelling story with a wonderful protagonist. Li Lin is a Daoist priestess, daughter to a powerful exorcist who protects the neighbourhood from harmful spirits. Unfortunately Li Lin’s father has enemies who will go to great lengths to harm him and increase their own power and would use Li Lin to try and gain advantage. At the start of the story Li Lin is betrayed by a friend and tricked into a situation that places both her and her father at great risk and sets her on a course to seek the truth and prevent further damage.
How best to start this review. Well, firstly this story is packed with imagination. There are all sorts of spirits and monsters that frankly are great to read about. On top of this the author manages to evoke the period and open your eyes to the wealth of superstitions, folklore and myth that surrounded the people of the era. And, on top of that, I just feel like the author does an excellent job of bringing to us a likable protagonist who you can really feel for and get behind, especially given the restrictions of the era not only for a young woman but a young woman dealing with the loss of a husband and the shame of having yin eyes (the ability to see spirits). Li Lin struggles with her own self belief and also constantly strives to gain the affection of her strict father. In that respect this almost has a coming of age feel as we follow Li Lin on her journey and watch her develop not only her powers but her confidence in her own abilities. As the story gathers we learn more of Li Lin and her family circumstances which help to give her a very rounded feel although there are no info dumps, just steady development.
There is plenty of action and the story has almost a Ghibli feel to it. Fantastic monsters coupled with kung fu and Chinese gangsters plus fast pacing that have you jumping from one incredible dilemma to the next.
I don’t know how true to the period this is or how correct the terminology but it certainly reads well and feels as though the author has researched this well. It sort of put me a little in mind of the Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo although this story I felt had more action and more detail in terms of the spirit world.
In terms of criticisms. I didn’t really have anything to be honest. There was the odd occasion where the dialogue felt a little forced and i had the odd occasion of frustration with some of the limitations that Li Lin faced but frankly, given the era, it would have been unrealistic if Li Lin didn’t face such barriers.
To conclude, I really enjoyed this. It’s a fast paced and wonderfully fantastic tale with monsters and spirits, a great main character, evil baddies and friends where you least expect them with an excellent and dramatic ending. Although I’m trying desperately to avoid spoilers I simply have to mention Mr Yanqiu – he’s one of the best sidekicks I can ever remember reading about.
I have no hesitation in recommending. If you enjoy fantasy, myth, folklore, incredible monsters, spirits, excitement and kung fu then what you waiting for! Go and grab a copy and prepare to be thoroughly entertained.
I received a copy of this courtesy of the publishers. The above is my own opinion.
Yay, so glad you loved this!! it’s seriously one of my favorite books this year. I hope more readers discover it:-)
I hope so too – very entertaining indeed and just so different than anything I’ve read recently.
Lynn 😀
I have this book coming in the mail! I am so excited to read it 😀
Ohh, I hope you like it and will look forward to your thoughts – will you drop me your link when you review just in case I miss it.
Lynn 😀
OK, you and Tammy are both making me try to figure out the time to read this one!
It’s really good. I had a couple of very minor issues but on the whole this was very enjoyable to read.
Lynn 😀
Yeah, I’m with Lisa, you and Tammy are making it very difficult to resist this now! I’ll have to check it out 🙂
I hope you enjoy it – I loved the cultural aspects and the superstition. I did have a couple of minor niggles but not enough to detract from the read and I really hope this book does well.
Lynn 😀
I already saw a glowing review of this book, and now I received confirmation of my… “book vibes” 🙂
Added to the list! And thanks for a great review.
Thanks. I hope you get chance to read it – very original, fun, entertaining and unusual!
Lynn 😀
Great review. I’ve been curious about it since Tammy reviewed it. It’s the folk lore. Folklore is very hard for me to resist.
Well, if you like folklore you’ll love this – there is oodles of folklore and superstition.
Lynn 😀
I hadn’t even heard of this until I saw Tamm’y review the other day (like a lot of others apparently), but this is also a 5 star review. Big fan of Chinese myth and folklore. And that mixed with kung fu: yes, please.
The kung fu was such an unexpected surprise and really enjoyable to read. I loved the folklore mostly though!
Lynn 😀
This sounds great! Ghost Bride was an interesting read, and while I didn’t love it (I felt it wasn’t quite sure what it was trying to be), I felt like the form had a lot of potential. And 1800s San Francisco sounds like an awesome fantasy setting!
I did like the Ghost Bride – not as much as I expected – but still good (like you, I didn’t love it though). I think this one definitely knows what it’s trying to be and there’s such a lot of myth and folklore going on that it’s really intriguing – at the same time the ‘out there’ thermometre just gets hotter and hotter – kung fu, ghosts, gangsters, walking eyeballs! Crazy good fun.
Lynn 😀
That sounds awesome! You had me at walking eyeballs.
Haha – I hope you pick up a copy – would love to know what you make of it.
Lynn 😀
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