Shanghai Immortal: A richly told debut fantasy novel set in Jazz Age Shanghai

Description

This richly told adult fantasy debut teems with Chinese deities and demons cavorting in jazz age Shanghai. Half vampire. Half fox-spirit. All trouble. Pawned by her mother to the King of Hell as a child, Lady Jing is half-vampire, half-hulijing fox-spirit and all sasshole. As the King's ward, she has spent the past ninety years running errands, dodging the taunts of the spiteful hulijing courtiers, and trying to control her explosive temper - with varying levels of success. So when Jing overhears the courtiers plotting to steal a priceless dragon pearl from the King, she seizes her chance to expose them, once and for all. With the help of a gentle mortal tasked with setting up the Central Bank of Hell, Jing embarks on a wild chase for intel, first through Hell and then mortal Shanghai. But when her hijinks put the mortal in danger, she must decide which is more important: avenging her loss of face, or letting go of her half-empty approach to life for a chance to experience tenderness - and maybe even love.

Alice is a Chinese Canadian author of fantasy. She's fascinated by the interplay between self-perceived versus imposed identity and how this intersects with belonging and enjoys exploring these spaces in her stories. A recovering lawyer and xiaolongbao enthusiast, she knits to soothe anxiety and has a deep abiding love for Hobonichi planners and kawaii planner stickers. She is grateful for the support of the Canada Council for the Arts. Find her online at aychao.com and on Twitter and Instagram at @ay_chao.

Shanghai Immortal is the must-read debut of 2023, both intensely fun and heart wrenching. A wild ride through a Shanghai you've never seen before * Tasha Suri, award-winning author of The Jasmine Throne * A delightfully wild ride through a fantastical Shanghai filled with rich mythology, endearingly snarky characters, and laugh-aloud mischief. Entertaining from start to finish! * Chelsea Abdullah, author of The Stardust Thief * A thrilling adventure packed to the hilt with attitude, Shanghai Immortal will have you laughing, cheering, and screaming along with the inimitable Lady Jing. From the glittering settings and vivid characters to the thoughtful exploration of family and sacrifice, this is a story you won't soon forget * Vaishnavi Patel, New York Times bestselling author of Kaikeyi * The most fun you'll ever have in hell! With her debut, Chao takes you on a high-octane, snark-filled adventure through the underworld, where the celestials are bloodthirsty and out for a good crime time. Lady Jing is a hot-headed triumph of a leading lady, with a wicked sense of humour that never fails to delight. If you're looking for your next fantasy obsession, look no further than Shanghai Immortal * Kate Dylan, author of Mindwalker * Shanghai Immortal is a gritty, glittering tale of gods and monsters in a reimagining of 1930s China. The fearsome half-vampire half-deity Lady Jing swaps anger management lessons for a crash course in the mortal realm and you can't help but root for her and the chaos she leaves in her wake. Full of fury, passion, and beauty, this is a debut that will grip you in its fangs and make you bleed-all the while wanting more * Saara El-Arifi, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Final Strife * A love letter to Chinese mythology, Shanghai Immortal is a compulsive read that will have you laughing and gasping at once. Lady Jing is delightfully irreverent and charming as she takes us on a wicked, exciting adventure through hell. With skillful worldbuilding and attentive prose, Chao has crafted the delectable fantasy feast you've been waiting for! * Tanvi Berwah, author of Monsters Born and Made * This outstanding debut grips you from the first page and doesn't let go. With characters that leap off the page and a compelling story filled with fantastical creatures, Chao has crafted something so utterly original and delightful I couldn't help but fall in love. Shanghai Immortal is a stellar start to what should be an incredible series * T.L. Huchu, author of The Library of the Dead * A wildly inventive and moving romp that goes through the mortal and immortal realms of China, with an endearing and tumultuous main character * Aliette de Bodard, award-winning author of the Dominion of the Fallen Series * Thrilling to the very last page, Shanghai Immortal is an immersive and exuberant journey through the dazzling realms of the wicked and the divine. And there's no better guide through worlds both mortal and immortal than Lady Jing-her razor-sharp wit and tongue is sure to captivate any reader, by force if necessary! * Victor Manibo, author of The Sleepless *