La regina di Shanghai

by Hong Ying, Marco Fumian (Traduttore)

1907. L'alba illumina un piccolo villaggio sullo Yangtze. La quindicenne Yuegui non ha dormito tutta la notte, è rimasta sulla spiaggia ad aspettare la nascita del nuovo giorno: oggi la sua vita potrebbe cambiare per sempre. In paese è attesa la tenutaria del bordello più famoso di Shanghai: cerca giovani ragazze da istruire fino a renderle le concubine più ricercate della città. E l'occasione che Yuegui attende dall'età di sette anni, quando è rimasta orfana e ha giurato a sé stessa di fuggire dal duro lavoro nelle risaie. Ma a Shanghai il suo sogno si spezza in un istante: non potrà mai diventare concubina. Colpa di quel fisico così prorompente, lontano dai canoni di bellezza in auge in Cina. Una serva, occupata nei lavori più umili: è questo il suo destino. Almeno fino al giorno in cui il venerabile Chang Lixiong, capo della Triade, non si accorge di lei. Colpito dal suo sguardo spavaldo e dalle sue forme generose, Chang, dopo averla iniziata alle raffinate arti dell'erotismo, ne fa la sua concubina. Sotto la sua protezione Yuegui entra nei meandri più oscuri della malavita cinese, ne impara le dure regole e conosce i pericolosi intrighi tra mafia e politica. E alla fine, quando la città sembrerà voltarle le spalle ancora una volta, Yuegui troverà la forza di riscattarsi. Saranno le sue doti amatorie e la sua personalità ad aprirle la strada fino a farla diventare la stella più splendente dell'Opera di Shanghai. Ora lei è la regina, la città è ai suoi piedi. Ma a quale prezzo?

Genres: China, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Historical, Romance, Love, Asia

364 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Hong Ying was born in Chongqing in 1962, towards the end of the Great Leap Forward. She began to write at eighteen, leaving home shortly afterwards to spend the next ten years moving around China, exploring her voice as a writer via poems and short stories. After brief periods of study at the Lu Xun Academy in Beijing and Shanghai’s Fudan University, Hong Ying moved to London in 1991 where she as writer. She returned to Beijing in 2000.
Best known in English for the novels K: the Art of Love, Summer of Betrayal, Peacock Cries, and her autobiography Daughter of the River, Hong Ying has been published in twenty- nineteen languages and has appeared on the bestseller lists of numerous countries, she won the Prize of Rome for K: the Art of Love in 2005 and many of her books have been or are now in the process of being turned into television series and films.
Hong Ying has long been interested in the stories of homosexuals living in China, a theme explored here and in her short story collection, A Lipstick Called Red Pepper: Fiction About Gay and Lesbian Love in China 1993-1998. In her work, she likes to focus on human stories, hardship and history. Her responsibility as a writer, she believes, is in part to explore the lives of marginalised groups struggling for visibility – and for compassion – in contemporary China.

Chinese Profile: 虹影

Reviews

[Tessa Nadir · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Ji Li Fa Cai! Noroc si prosperitate!"
Romanul a aparut in 2008 si a devenit bestseller international autoarea primind numeroase distinctii literare in Taiwan.
In ceea ce priveste actiunea, ne aflam in era imparatului Xuantong (1907) si o avem in prim plan pe Cassia, o fata orfana de la tara crescuta de matusa ei si vanduta la un targ de sclavi. Ea ajunge sluga intr-o bordel de lux din Shanghai, numit Pavilionul Ducesei, condus de frumoasa concubina Smarald. Cassia e considerata prea uratica pentru a fi si ea concubina, asadar e nevoita sa faca toata munca de jos.
Intr-o zi, in odaile stapanei sale are ocazia sa-l intalneasca pe Chang Lixiong, celebrul si temutul conducator al Fratiei Hong. Acesta devine fermecat de ea si o alege drept amanta. Norocul nu tine insa mult cu Cassia pentru ca stapanul Chang este asasinat de catre membrii Fratiei Qing si ea isi pierde protectorul ajungand intr-un final in strada.
Cu greutati reuseste sa se puna pe picioare si formeaza o trupa de teatru cantand balade populare de la tara si introducand un concept nou in teatru si anume 'femeile pe scena'. Pana atunci absolut toate rolurile, chiar si cele feminine erau jucate de catre barbati.
Ajunge apoi amanta noului lider al Fratiei Hong, Huang Peiyu, redevenind o piesa importanta in acest univers primejdios al Triadelor Shanghai-ului anilor '30.
Romanul este interesant caci zugraveste viata intr-un bordel de lux aratand obiceiurile curtezanelor, felul in care decurgeau petrecerile si ofera o descriere complexa a orasului Shanghai si a transformarilor prin care trecea, sub interventia occidentalilor.
Se pot retine o gramada de lucruri printre care de exemplu regulile bordelului:
"Regulile distractiei in pavilion erau clare: mai intai, se lua ceaiul cu invitatii; pe urma, se canta muzica; dupa care urma banchetul. Abia dupa ce aceste 3 etape erau trecute cu succes, se putea vorbi despre o intalnire amoroasa."
Am extras si o descriere in ceea ce priveste limbajul concubinelor ("Invata si ea limbajul special pe care-l foloseau prostituatele cand beau cu barbatii"):
- O pereche de rate mandarin insemna iubirea adevarata;
- O sala impodobita toata in rosu insemna succes;
- Doua crengi incarcate cu flori de primavara insemna frumusete;
- Cinci petale de flori de prun insemna urari de bun augur.
De asemenea mi-a ramas in minte si o balada populara draguta (putin deocheata) care suna cam asa:

"Cand fata culegea din iaz castane rosii,
Baiatul de pe mal o fusta-i azvarli.
Ei, haide, mai baiete!
De vrei sa gusti castana, poti s-o iei,
Dar daca vrei ceva mai mult,
Chiar poti sa-ti pui pofta in cui.
De-i fusta lunga sau fusta scurta,
Parintii mei imi pot lua orice,
Dar fusta asta rosie de o port,
Stiu ca va trebui sa fiu a ta de tot."

Iata alta la fel de indrazneata si jucausa:

"Surioara culegea lotusi din gradina;
Tanarul indraznet arunca de-afara o caramida.
Zise fata: Tinere, daca esti in cautare de lotusi,
Am destui in camera mea,
Dar, daca esti in cautare de iubire,
Atunci vino la noapte."

In incheiere va recomand romanul, fiind interesant si captivant, mai ales primele 200 de pagini, devenind dupa aceea mai greoi si mai putin atragator. Iata si cateva citate pline de intelepciune chineza:
"Din momentul in care ce e chinezesc incepe sa se amestece cu ce e occidental, se pornesc toate necazurile."
"Uite un barbat inteligent, care intelege ce simt si, totusi, ma pune la incercare cu buna stiinta."
"Soarta ta e prea necrutatoare: de cate ori dai de noroc, atragi dupa tine si nenoroc!"
"Era o femeie care trecuse prin multe si vazuse multe. Stia ca nu se cade sa exagereze, nici macar atunci cand era vorba de razbunare."
"Prietenul iti croieste un drum nou, in vreme ce dusmanul face un zid ca sa-ti inchida calea."

[Lila · Rating 3 out of 5]

This "made up biography" gives us insight as to what life was like in Shanghai in 1930s.

While I've read many books by Chinese authors, I have to admit that I didn't completely understand this one. The dialogues and certain actions, I could never see people doing them.

I like Cassia, how strong she is. I love how she worked for everything she got, relying on no one but herself. I don't deride her for her beginnings. It was not her fault, she was a child. Even if it was, it was a precarious time to be a woman. It sometimes still is. A girl's got to do what a girl's got to do. She rose above it. It is a perfect story of how The Concubine of Shanghai rose to reclaim her place in the world.

But overall, I found the story to be confusing and not engaging at all. I give it 2.5 out of 5 stars. For obvious reasons, I am rounding it up to 3 stars.

[Veronika Can · Rating 3 out of 5]

Knyga apie stiprią, atkaklią ir protingą moterį, kuri sugebėjo savo grožiu ir aktoriniu talentu sužavėti Šanchajų. Per visą gyvenimą - du mylimieji, kuriems buvo visiškai atsidavusi ir mylėjo juos visa širdimi. Ir nors jai teko išgyventi skaudžius likimo smūgius, ji visada atsitiesdavo, eidavo iškėlusi galvą, rengdavosi gražiausiais rūbais, keldavo nepaprastą aistrą ir aplinkinių - tiek vyrų tiek moterų, susižavėjimą. Moteris, kuri žinojo, kad aplinka nenuspėjama ir pasikliauti gali tik savimi.

🖋 Ji buvo susijaudinusi ir sunerimusi kaip į liepsną lekiantis drugys, bet turėjo likti rami. Tai pats geriausias būdas bendraujant su vyrais.
🖋 Jei myliu kelis vyrus, aš vis dar jauna. Jei myliu tik vieną - jau pasenusi; jei nieko nemyliu, manęs nebėra.
🖋 Kad laikas eina, žmonės paprastai pastebi tik išvydę, kokį poveikį jis padarė kitiems.
🖋 Giliai slepiami žodžiai niekam nerūpi.
🖋 - ..kada moteris turi prisipažinti senstanti? <...>
- Kai ji pradeda savęs gailėtis.

[Megres. · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Sabbia bagnata attaccata alle mani,
Povera me che mi aspetta domani?"

Carino. Anche se la prima parte è la migliore, dopo un pò inizia a diventare un pò troppo ripetitivo. Se fosse stato più corto poi sarebbe stato meglio, alcune parti possono tranquillamente essere saltate senza che la trama ne risenta minimamente.

[Susie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was left a little unsatisfied at the ending of the book. We are told that we all know what happened to Cassia, Lily and Wu!!

It was quite a long story and that I thought would lead to something more dramatic alas it did not.
Cassia's story was modern and slightly tragic for the time. It is worth reading if you enjoy books of this genre.

[Nakia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Plenty of drama but this book was entirely too long. The fact that it was translated in to English made it very hard to understand the nonchalant transitions. One minute, an intimate conversation about love is being had, and in the next sentence the characters are in the middle of a full blown party. I was lost a few times because nothing transpired smoothly and the scenes did not flow into each other. The author has a very active imagination though and I am still wondering if this is a biography or fiction. In the author's notes, she described it as a fictional biography. I still find it hard to believe that anything in this story was remotely true. Regardless, it was entertaining, but had it not been a book club selection, I would have put this rambling novel down after the first two chapters.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

I realized almost halfway through this book that it was being told as a flashback by someone interviewing. It was a fascinating read. I am curious who this actress/singer was in real life. I think the story could have been told without the author having to interject her opinions of herself into the picture, not really sure that was necessary. But it was an enjoyable venture for me through the early years of the 20th century in Shanghai.

[Sephreadstoo · Rating 3 out of 5]

LA CONTURBANTE SHANGHAI

La lettura di "La regina di Shanghai" non è andata liscia come mi aspettavo. Appassionata di libri storici, la parte più interessante è stata la narrazione della Shanghai anni '30, briosa, elegante, piena di vita, moderna. La storia della protagonista che da giovane contadina assume pian piano al rango di "regina" dell' opera ha avuto alti e bassi, complice anche lo stile semplice ma confusionario dell'autrice Hong Ying.

Yuegui è infatti una bellezza non canonica per gli standard cinesi dell'epoca, anzi, con i piedi non fasciati (caratteristica prima di sensualità fino a fine 1800), curve "da occidentale", sembra destinata a vivere da domestica. L'incontro fatale con il boss della Triade di Hongmen cambierà completamente la sua vita sul piano sentimentale e carnale, facendole conoscere il volto oscuro della criminalità.

Si tratta di un romanzo o una biografia fittizia? A termine della lettura mi sono lambiccata il cervello, soprattutto perché appare prepotente la voce di una narratrice onnisciente che mi ha non poco infastidito e solo il finale svela gli altarini.

Tutto sommato si tratta comunque di un'ottima lettura di intrattenimento, ricca di colpi di scena, ambientata nell'epoca d'oro di una Shanghai splendida e conturbante, che esplora l'ambiente della mafia cinese, delle Triadi, e della prostituzione.

Non è stata una sorpresa scoprire che l'autrice Hong Ying ha una vita molto movimentata: in adolescenza scopre della relazione illecita della madre e intreccia una relazione con il suo professore di storia, di cui rimane incinta, che poi si suiciderà. La sua esperienza durante la Primavera di Pechino del 1989 sarà raccontata in un altro libro, scritto nel 1991 e bandito in Cina, "L'estate del tradimento", che mi aspetta in libreria per essere letto.

[Paula Monica · Rating 3 out of 5]

So what did actually happen with the three characters? The question is still unanswered.
This story of Cassia and her struggles is quite amazing. I don't know for what reason, but it made me think about Scarlet O'Hara. Anyway, I expected more insights about what it meant to be a woman in Shanghai. Maybe write some things about the footbinding (it is only mentioned in the book) and why it was so important that Cassia's legs were normal. Anyway, probably the ending is just frustrating, because we dont know what really happens with them.

[Sidonia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cassia Xiao, personajul principal al cartii, este o femeie deosebit de frumoasa si foarte inteligenta.
infrunta si rastoarna prejudecatile unei Chine in care femeilor nu li se cere decat sa fie decorative si supuse. Nu doar in teatru (desi este prima care aduce pe scena femei, intr-o lume in care toate rolurile erau interpretate de barbati), ci in primejdiosul univers al Triadelor, unde aliantele se fac si se desfac cu repeziciunea fulgerului iar prietenii se pot transforma peste noapte in asasini.
Din umbra, alaturi de capeteniile Fratiei Hong, Cassia, va deveni cea mai puternica femeie din Shanghai.
Cassia este vanduta la 16 ani de catre matusa ei unui bordel de lux din Shanghai numit Pavilionul Ducesei. Deoarece ea nu corespundea standardelor de la acea vreme si nu avea picioarele bandajate, Doamna de Smarald, patroana bordelului si una dintre cele 4 mari frumuseti ale Shanghaiului, ju o va face pe Cassia curtezana, ci sluga. In aceasta casa a placerilor, cel mai puternic om din Shaghai-Chang Lixiong, conducatorul fratiei Hong, fermecat de unicitatea si fruusetea Cassiei, o alege drept concubina sa.
Cassia va trai momente minunate alaturi de Chang, insa aparitia lui Huang Peiyu va insemna si ghinionul stapanului Chang, ucis de Huang in inscenarea unui atac intre bandele din Shanghai.
Dupa moartea lui Chang, Cassia este alungata de doamna Smarald, deoarece o data0 cu disparitia lui Chang, Pavilionul Ducesei isi pierde puterea si stralucirea de odinioara.
Cassia, isi intemeiaza o trupa de teatru care aduce in atentia publicului balade populare chineze si astfel revine in atentia lui Hung si acesta ajunge sa o intretina pe Cassia, ea devenindu-i amanta.
Povestea lor va dura catva ani, timp in care Cassia se afirma in lumea buna a Shanghaiului si capata popularitate.
Mi-a placut aceasta carte foarte mult, mi-a placut si povestea de dragoste dintre Cassia si Yu Qiyang (vechiul ajutor al lui Chang si acum al lui Huang), mi-a placut inteligenta si taria de caracter ale Cassiei si am admirat felul in care si-a construit viata.
Cartea este foarte interesanta, actiunea este dinamica cu personaje puternice si pasionale iar Cassia este fermecatoare, o femeie frumoasa, care de-a lungul timpului a trebuit sa se foloseasca de puterea barbatilor pentru a reusi sa supravietuiasca intr-o lume sclipitoare a Shanghaiului. V-o recomand!

[Lidija · Rating 2 out of 5]

Malo da, malo ne. Ne znam zašto to ljudi tako rade - na trenutke imam osjećaj da sve ide najboljim i najzanimljivijim mogućim tijekom, a onda odjednom počne nekakva čudna kombinacija pričanja, povijesti, nelogičnosti i - davljenja. Kao da su knjigu pisale ne dvije, nego tri osobe.
Pokušala sam se prenijeti u Kinu s početka 20. stoljeća - što mi i ne bi bilo teško, s obzirom na dosta pročitanog, a što je povezano s tom temom (ili temama), a pokazalo mi se jako zanimljivim - ali ovaj put mi to baš i nije uspjelo. Dakako, ima i ovdje vrlo dobro ispričanih dijelova priča, ali kad se radi samo o dijelovima, onda je to sve skupa za baciti. Šteta, a moglo je biti vrlo dobro i zanimljivo, čak za film. Ovako, kad bi se zamislilo na ekranu, za mene bi to bila samo jedna od dosadnih verzija kriminalističnih serija. Ili nešto jednako zamorno.

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

C'è qualcosa in questo libro che non mi ha convinto del tutto... la storia, anche se abbastanza scontata, è comunque carina, i personaggi un po' "meh", però lo stile di scrittura è quello che mi è piaciuto di meno. Boh, forse è stato penalizzato anche dalla traduzione, non saprei dire. Certamente non 3 stelle

[Valentine.a]

After reading "K, the art of love" by this author I was disappointed by this book. I find it less find of all those things that made K so interesting, less exciting, less erotic, less savory... The story didn't convince me so much and I found the style more flat.

[Wanzhen Liu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reads like fiction. Some parts were not required, others lacked more explanation. Not really recommended as a good read.

[Frieda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually wanted to rate it with fewer stars, but I appreciate the intention of the book. Although not clear and not well executed, it is really centered on feminist issues. I understand that it was set in Shanghai during the Republican era, so we can't expect much, but there's a superficiality in confronting certain dynamics. The way sex and men are viewed seem apologetic. Why on Earth should a certain someone agrees to an 18 years old almost raping (even explicitly said in the book!) and having intercourse with a man double her age "oh, because she's attractive and young, you're a man and can't contain yourself! Plus, I have only you two in my life, I can't lose you". The story is told by an external viewer who lives in our era and, although it might not seem like it, she subtly tells her opinion on some questions. Why not say anything about this? I'm not saying we should condone it, because that is not the intention of the book. But if the content laments patriarchal ideas (like the fact that a woman can't be an entrepreneur or express her opinion) to give space to female liberation, why is it normal? I'm not trying to be excessively critical of this, because I appreciate the contemplation of female freedom this book presents, but it looks like there are missing pieces. The characters are humans, realistic, they're flawed and sometimes irrational, but the way their actions are explained, they all seem out of the blue. I suppose the author wanted to give too much to the book (eros, suspense, political elements, etc.) and didn't succeed.
I would also like to give credit to how the writer was able to give the books a big sense of suspense. I was hooked on continuing reading because eager to know what would happen next.
An interesting book, but sometimes less is more.

[Kamile · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting story, showing the side of the World I had very little knowledge of. Was nice to know more.

[Jurgita Jurgė · Rating 5 out of 5]

👍

[Aneta · Rating 2 out of 5]

Little background story:

I bought and read this book for the first time more than 10 years ago, in the middle of the Memoirs of Geisha book craze, and the subsequent Geisha movie craze. I feel in love with the Far East stories immediately and took on also the Snow Flower And The Secret Fan by Lisa See. That one charmed me to the bits, so rummaging through the bookshop for anything remotely similar, I soon bought this new title from Hong Ying. I hardly remember my first feeling when I dug in back then, but I see I originally gave the book 3 stars, so apparently I couldn't have been much charmed, right? Now, more than a decade later, I am charmed even less so.

Disclaimer: I read this book in Czech translation, and I believe (based on the metadata), it was translated from the English instalation. So perhaps the problems of the book lie in the double translation, unfortunately I doubt so.

I was really struggling with the structure - to the point where some 50 pages in I had to often flip back and forth between pages as to find out where the main story is taking me and where I should focus my attention. All of this because the story went from day 1 to day 2 to flashback to day -10 back to day 2 and to day 3 in about three paragraphs, then made a fastforward, naming 20 people with very similar names in the process. ( It felt like reading gameofthrones in that aspect, but with less linear storytelling. :))
*SPOILER*
Specifically I remember a scene where Cassia is almost kicked out, then she has a sudden realization why Madame Emerald acts the way she does (we are never told what the reason is, just that Cassia realized it - and no, you don't get it from the context either in this case), then she and a flashback of Jü (Yi) sitting under a tree, we go back to her present (flashback has little to no impact), and bam, next paragraph is like Jü coming back from prison or something. I mean, you really can write some Basic transitions between scenes, it has been done before...
*END SPOILER*

In any case it was confusing and exhausting and took a huge toll on my reading experience.

The book could also do with some factographic notes about the era and culture, or generally work with the less known trivia better. For instance, I knew what the deal with Cassia's feet is because I previously read the Lisa Fan's book dealing with the footbinding topic, but most readers must have been confused as hell.
Another example is that a lot of info about how Shanghai worked, what the brotherhoods' role was, all of this little things... could either be incorporated into the story directly, adding some volume, or it could have been made into a footnote. The way it was done often felt half-assed. . Another example from the first 100 pages: When we fast forward between 1907 and 1913, I could use more description on the revolution or what was happening in the brotherhood in the mean time. The story barely mentioned it while it must have been such an important time for the country, and the life of the characters developed, too! I expected more and was left confused and disappointed. Perhaps the reason was that the book is mostly intended for Chinese audience that already knows all this? I have no clue, but I would expect the translator to correct it with some footnotes, as mentioned.
Generally, I didn't much like the language as at times it was unnecessarily flowery and then unnecessarily laconic, no middle ground.

Overall, the book didn't make me very happy (especially now on re-read) but as mentioned, it was mostly because of the writing.
The story, the core idea itself, even though it felt improbable at times, was interesting and for anyone interested in this corner of the world, in the era, or simply in yet another story of a strong woman breaking from her given role - by all means, give it a go.

Personally, 2.5 stars is it for me and the book is on my For Sale list.

[Ostap Bender · Rating 2 out of 5]

An interest premise, life in some of the seamier areas of Shanghai over a couple of decades in the early 20th century, but it’s not well executed. It’s like a melodramatic romance novel set to this period, and unfortunately Hong Ying’s writing is mediocre at best, and immature otherwise. She doesn’t go into any depth or provide any real insights into the period either, so set your expectations to ‘fluff’ if you decide to pick this one up.

After we learn early on that the young woman sold into servitude has “mysteriously large breasts,” (lol) she’s soon the happy lover of one of the most powerful men in the underworld of Shanghai, which aside from being implausible, also takes attention away from possibly describing what such a life might really have been like. The story that has her rising to fortune on the stage while going through a few men was somewhat interesting, and Ying pulls off a nice plot twist in a murder, but it goes on far too long. The bits with her child growing up to be an actor and the author inserting herself as a fictional researcher get to be tedious in a book that wears out its welcome.

As for the sex bits, they suffer because of her writing, and aren’t very erotic. Maybe if you’re into being watched you find something of interest, as it’s a recurring theme (e.g. sex in front of someone watching, sex while looking in a mirror). Otherwise be prepared for passages like this: “Her chest protruded like a statue and the breasts he had fantasized about for so many years were firm, the nipples standing up cockily, like warriors.” (what?) And: “His hair was messy and his eyes were burning with passion; even his Adam’s apple was pulsating.” (I was giggling).

The best quote was this one:
“If I love several men, I am still young. If I only love one man, I am already old; if I don’t love anyone, I do not exist.”

[Nelda Brangwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I chose this book after I read an article comparing the author, Hong Ying to Amy Tan. I have to agree. This lengthy book was just as enjoyable as the books by Amy Tan or Lisa See. The translator, Liu Hong, is equally important in conveying the feeling of a book originally written in Chinese. Sold by her aunt to a Shanghai madam, Cassia manages to rise in fame and fortune, ending her life as a well-regarded actress. The reader will feel the freedom experienced in early 20th century Shanghai, with its Bund and active foreign residents. I won’t call this a Cinderella story, but it is a feel-good story for the most.

[Rita · Rating 2 out of 5]

So the book had it's moments when I couldn't take my eyes of it, but sometimes I would just get so bored that I would want to return it to the library (it was about twice) . I also didn't like that the story was a bit too long, and the name of the book is quite confusing - I was afraid to read it because I thought it would be pornography (which I do not like very much) but it wasn't like that... ^^ Overall though the story was interesting I wouldn't recommend it to a friend, because it would only waste his time.
P.S. Sorry for my English ad I hope I didn't offend anyone.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the simplicity of this, of falling in love with a China that has gone, of brothels and brotherhoods and sworn loyalty. The main character is one you root for, and you want her to find the love and power she deserves.

My only gripe is the horrible ending, which was really not an ending at all, but an afterthought. It just could've been so much better.

[Marie Halloran · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I thought the characters were well developed. It is surprisingly good especially since it was translated from Japanese. The ending was a little confusing but still worth the read.

[HediBähren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ein armes Dorfmädchen steigt zur mächtigsten Konkubine von Shanghai auf.Etwas verwirrend die politischen Verhältnisse der damaligen Zeit und ihre Herrscher mit denen die hohe Geliebte zu tun hat. Beruht auf einer wahren Geschichte.

[Dilys Myhill · Rating 1 out of 5]

Read half but the plot to complex for my taste.

[Iulia · Rating 2 out of 5]

prima jumatate a cartii e interesanta, apoi devine plictisitoare si previzibila. cred ca ideea putea fi exploatata mult mai bine.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF

[Ling Ling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bellissimo ✨ ma finale insoddisfacente