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Demon Song
An eerie and unsettling gothic horror about the heady and hungry price of fame, drawing on Chinese mythology. Perfect for fans of Shirley Jackson and Cassandra Khaw.
Places like this have a history. Desires. And this one is famished.
Megan and her mom have escaped the clutches of an abusive man, who dragged them halfway across the world from Portland to Beijing. On the run and with few options, her mom turns to Wei, an old friend of hers and takes a job cleaning the Huihuang Opera house, a lavish theater in which she used to perform.
Rusty with her Mandarin, and feeling like an outsider in the country, Megan soon finds a group of friends in a young troupe of performers, and especially in Kristy, who takes an immediate shine to her. Torn between a battered copy of Journey to the West and an awkward friendship, Megan begins spending more and more time with Kristy. Her love of singing brings out a whole new side of Megan, who finds a new purpose unlocking within the walls of the ancient building
But the Huihuang Opera house has secrets. There are passages within the walls that shouldn't be there, and the more Megan delves into that old book, the more the myths begin to bleed into real life. As reality and folklore start to merge, and Megan finds it increasingly difficult to tell the two apart, she must uncover a decades-old mystery, and discover the true, horrifying secret of the Huihuang Opera house before it casts its hungry eyes on her.
Places like this have a history. Desires. And this one is famished.
Megan and her mom have escaped the clutches of an abusive man, who dragged them halfway across the world from Portland to Beijing. On the run and with few options, her mom turns to Wei, an old friend of hers and takes a job cleaning the Huihuang Opera house, a lavish theater in which she used to perform.
Rusty with her Mandarin, and feeling like an outsider in the country, Megan soon finds a group of friends in a young troupe of performers, and especially in Kristy, who takes an immediate shine to her. Torn between a battered copy of Journey to the West and an awkward friendship, Megan begins spending more and more time with Kristy. Her love of singing brings out a whole new side of Megan, who finds a new purpose unlocking within the walls of the ancient building
But the Huihuang Opera house has secrets. There are passages within the walls that shouldn't be there, and the more Megan delves into that old book, the more the myths begin to bleed into real life. As reality and folklore start to merge, and Megan finds it increasingly difficult to tell the two apart, she must uncover a decades-old mystery, and discover the true, horrifying secret of the Huihuang Opera house before it casts its hungry eyes on her.
128 pages, Hardcover
First published September 30, 2025
21 people are currently reading
6971 people want to read
About the author
Kelsea Yu
17 books254 followersKelsea Yu is a Taiwanese Chinese American writer who is eternally enthusiastic about sharks and appreciates a good ghost story. Over a dozen of her short stories and essays appear in Clarkesworld, Apex, Nightmare, PseudoPod, Fantasy, and elsewhere. Her debut novella, Bound Feet, was a Shirley Jackson Award nominee, and her next novella, Demon Song, will be published by Titan Books in 2025. Kelsea’s first novel, It’s Only a Game, is published by Bloomsbury. Find her on Instagram and Twitter as @anovelescape or visit her website kelseayu.com. Kelsea lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, children, and a pile of art supplies.
Photograph: ©Katy Weaver Photography
Photograph: ©Katy Weaver Photography
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
September 1, 2025
I didn't know I needed a culturally rich Chinese opera house horror novella, but apparently I did. This was such a unique read in my opinion and the author did a great job with both characters and plot in just under 200 pages. The story follows 16-year-old Megan as she moves from Portland to Beijing where she begins to live and work in an opera house together with her mother. I was immediately in love with the setting and this short book really made the most out of it, introducing Chinese mythology and food and fashion. The opera house is famous for its adaptation of a mythological tale and it was fascinating to read about that, even if the myth was explained in a somewhat infodumpy way. Megan also starts to learn about the grim history of the opera house that tends to repeat itself. The building is both glamorous and unsettling, and very possibly haunted. Let's just say that Megan has a dream about a demon putting its hand down her throat and ripping her tongue out during her very first night there and it never really gets better from that point on. I liked Megan as a character, but she could be rather bratty at times. Part of me wishes that she was older, but her being a teenager made room for the tense relationship with her mother, which is another strong part of this book. Megan had an unstable upbringing that is marked by multiple moves every time her mother flees from another abusive relationship. The portrayal of the mother-daughter relationship was very well done and it showed that both women try really hard with each other even if it's frustrating and difficult. Some parts of the story were surprisingly wholesome even, with Megan beginning to think of the opera house as a real home for herself and her mother. But these nice moments were often followed by the exact opposite or a horror scene, so the entire book was an emotional rollercoaster. Overall, I think that this was a well-crafted novella, but there would have been enough content for a full-length novel as well. At least I would have loved to read more of this story.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Titan Books for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Titan Books for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
October 3, 2025
Title/Author: Demon Song by Kelsea Yu
Format Read: Physical book
Pub date: September 30th, 2025
Publisher: TITAN
Page Count: 176
Affiliate Link: https://bookshop.org/a/7576/978183541...
Recommended for readers who enjoy:
- The Phantom of the Opera
- Mother/Daughter domestic drama/relationships
- Chinese folklore and mythology
- A strong sense of place
- Themes of cultural and sexual identity, ancestry, loneliness, and otherness
- A young FMC
__
Minor complaints:
- This is an adult horror novel but it does read a little young. When a story has a young narrator, it's tricky to pick a lane--YA or Adult Horror. So, I'll compare another debut horror book I read this year with a young FMC, The Lamb. The Lamb also leans into Mother/Daughter relationship dynamics but the difference is the POV in combination with the tone, tension and the risks. In the Lamb, the terror comes from reading a story told from a child's POV who is in a situation where everyone knows how bad it is except the narrator--the adults in the room are playing a game the child can't win and it's terrifying and scary to know the risks are so high against impossible odds--Like IT by Stephen King. The odds are stacked against the children. Just like real life. Very disturbing--Adult.
A YA novel is told from a position of the perception where the reader spends most of the time in the mind of the protagonist as they meet the challenges before them--the adults in the room are barely there (or nonexistent) and mainly there to create conflict or obstacles but the risk isn't very high so the tension and the horror is a low level buzz while the inner turmoil and the character's emotional well-being or growth is the major thrust of the story. And that's the case with Demon Song.
Final recommendation: This is a beautiful homage to the Phantom of the Opera set in a historical theater in Beijing. Megan is ripped away from her home in Portland due to her mother's unstable relationship issues to live in an old opera house. There is a strong sense of place and I always love that Kelsea Yu describes food so deliciously.
I enjoyed exploring the opera house and the interludes with the on-going readings of “The Monkey King and the White Bone Demon” after Megan finds a copy to read.
The gothic undertones paired with Chinese mythology and folklore and the FMCs struggle with queer and cultural identity make Demon Song an important addition to any horror fan's horror library.
Comps: The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux , Nothing but Blackened Teeth by Cassandra Khaw
Format Read: Physical book
Pub date: September 30th, 2025
Publisher: TITAN
Page Count: 176
Affiliate Link: https://bookshop.org/a/7576/978183541...
Recommended for readers who enjoy:
- The Phantom of the Opera
- Mother/Daughter domestic drama/relationships
- Chinese folklore and mythology
- A strong sense of place
- Themes of cultural and sexual identity, ancestry, loneliness, and otherness
- A young FMC
__
Minor complaints:
- This is an adult horror novel but it does read a little young. When a story has a young narrator, it's tricky to pick a lane--YA or Adult Horror. So, I'll compare another debut horror book I read this year with a young FMC, The Lamb. The Lamb also leans into Mother/Daughter relationship dynamics but the difference is the POV in combination with the tone, tension and the risks. In the Lamb, the terror comes from reading a story told from a child's POV who is in a situation where everyone knows how bad it is except the narrator--the adults in the room are playing a game the child can't win and it's terrifying and scary to know the risks are so high against impossible odds--Like IT by Stephen King. The odds are stacked against the children. Just like real life. Very disturbing--Adult.
A YA novel is told from a position of the perception where the reader spends most of the time in the mind of the protagonist as they meet the challenges before them--the adults in the room are barely there (or nonexistent) and mainly there to create conflict or obstacles but the risk isn't very high so the tension and the horror is a low level buzz while the inner turmoil and the character's emotional well-being or growth is the major thrust of the story. And that's the case with Demon Song.
Final recommendation: This is a beautiful homage to the Phantom of the Opera set in a historical theater in Beijing. Megan is ripped away from her home in Portland due to her mother's unstable relationship issues to live in an old opera house. There is a strong sense of place and I always love that Kelsea Yu describes food so deliciously.
I enjoyed exploring the opera house and the interludes with the on-going readings of “The Monkey King and the White Bone Demon” after Megan finds a copy to read.
The gothic undertones paired with Chinese mythology and folklore and the FMCs struggle with queer and cultural identity make Demon Song an important addition to any horror fan's horror library.
Comps: The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux , Nothing but Blackened Teeth by Cassandra Khaw
September 14, 2025
3.5 Stars
As someone always looking for horror from different perspectives, I enjoyed the Chinese cultural elements.
The main character was young and presented in a way that made the story feel more like YA horror. I wish the story had been written from a more mature perspective with a punchier style.
I would still recommend it to fans of YA horror but I felt like this one felt a bit shy of it's potential.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
As someone always looking for horror from different perspectives, I enjoyed the Chinese cultural elements.
The main character was young and presented in a way that made the story feel more like YA horror. I wish the story had been written from a more mature perspective with a punchier style.
I would still recommend it to fans of YA horror but I felt like this one felt a bit shy of it's potential.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
August 14, 2025
3.5 stars.
The vibes, straightforward storyline, and the character's voice (the FMC is a teen/young adult) made this novella read a lot more YA than adult. But despite that, I still had a good time.
The historical Chinese opera house definitely gave off the perfect Gothic vibes and the building itself pretty much became another main character. I liked how we experienced its tragic past and its ghosts alongside Megan. It was like being in a literary haunted house, combining on-screen horror, tragedy, and drama.
I really liked how the author managed to flesh out the FMC's childhood and family situation in such a short book. It was developed enough so that I actually cared and was invested in the story. It felt like Megan was already my friend.
I think the best part of the novella was how the author really infused her Chinese heritage into the story. Being an immigrant myself, I could relate to how Megan felt like an outsider in her mother's homeland. Wanting to belong somewhere is a universal human feeling.
Thank you to Titan Books and NetGalley for this arc.
The vibes, straightforward storyline, and the character's voice (the FMC is a teen/young adult) made this novella read a lot more YA than adult. But despite that, I still had a good time.
The historical Chinese opera house definitely gave off the perfect Gothic vibes and the building itself pretty much became another main character. I liked how we experienced its tragic past and its ghosts alongside Megan. It was like being in a literary haunted house, combining on-screen horror, tragedy, and drama.
I really liked how the author managed to flesh out the FMC's childhood and family situation in such a short book. It was developed enough so that I actually cared and was invested in the story. It felt like Megan was already my friend.
I think the best part of the novella was how the author really infused her Chinese heritage into the story. Being an immigrant myself, I could relate to how Megan felt like an outsider in her mother's homeland. Wanting to belong somewhere is a universal human feeling.
Thank you to Titan Books and NetGalley for this arc.
August 5, 2025
Demon Song by Kelsea Yu is a must-have for your Fall reading list. This gothic horror novella blends Phantom of the Opera with Chinese mythology while simultaneously telling the story of Megan and her mother.
After moving from Portland to Beijing, Megan finds herself living in the opera house with her mother. From there she struggles with fitting in and standing out as the 'American girl'. The longer Megan stays at the old opera house however, the weirder things get. She is haunted by strange voices and nightmares, and has a growing suspicion that her mom has been hiding things and lying to her.
I loved learning about the story of Sun Wukong and Baigujing, and how Kelsea combines this tale with her story rich in history, vengeance, and the all-consuming hunger for more.
I've said it before, but Kelsea writes horror with heart, and Demon Song is no exception.
This book comes out September 30 and I highly recommend checking it out!
I received an e-galley for review! All opinions my own.
After moving from Portland to Beijing, Megan finds herself living in the opera house with her mother. From there she struggles with fitting in and standing out as the 'American girl'. The longer Megan stays at the old opera house however, the weirder things get. She is haunted by strange voices and nightmares, and has a growing suspicion that her mom has been hiding things and lying to her.
I loved learning about the story of Sun Wukong and Baigujing, and how Kelsea combines this tale with her story rich in history, vengeance, and the all-consuming hunger for more.
I've said it before, but Kelsea writes horror with heart, and Demon Song is no exception.
This book comes out September 30 and I highly recommend checking it out!
I received an e-galley for review! All opinions my own.
September 5, 2025
Oofta this was creepy, but good! Review to come! 💀
(FINAL REVIEW:)
Look, I’m not one for horror ANYTHING. I get scared easily and can’t even watch a simple jump scare without screaming my head off. So when I saw that this novella was a horror reimagining of one of the adventures of Sun Wukong, I guess I might’ve blocked out the fact that this was a horror before going in for a request. 😅
The novella follows Megan, a young Chinese American woman who finds herself and her mother fleeing from yet another abusive relationship on the latter’s side. Megan is recounting the tale almost as if it is a diary entry and the reasons for it are revealed at the end of the novella, so I won’t be going into too much detail about this to avoid spoiling it for others. Her story is heavily influenced by The Phantom of the Opera’s story and while I’m not exactly familiar with this story (nor musicals in general), I know the gist of the story and thought it was an interesting tale to take influence from. I did find myself feeling a bit frustrated along with her that her mother just refused to reveal anything of note about her past and why she felt she needed to hide it in the first place. This continued to be a question that I felt wasn’t really answered at the end, and so I would say that I think this book could’ve benefited from a few more pages to just scratch that extra itch that the reader has at the ending. 🤔
While yes the horror vibes of the book were spot on (I won’t lie that I was a bit afraid of what my dreams would be like that night as I tend to dream about the books I read and they can be VIVID), it didn’t feel so bad to the point that I had to hide behind my hands like I do when I watch horror movies. So maybe I can read horror books? 🤨
In the end, I thought this was still a very interesting novella that combines fascinating elements of Chinese opera and mythology. Thank you goes to Titain Books and NetGalley for accepting my request to read this in exchange for an honest review. And a thank you goes to the author, Yu, for sparking my interest in Chinese opera and making me think that maybe I’m okay with horror books now. ❤️
Publication date: September 30!
Overall: 4.25/5 ⭐️
(FINAL REVIEW:)
Look, I’m not one for horror ANYTHING. I get scared easily and can’t even watch a simple jump scare without screaming my head off. So when I saw that this novella was a horror reimagining of one of the adventures of Sun Wukong, I guess I might’ve blocked out the fact that this was a horror before going in for a request. 😅
The novella follows Megan, a young Chinese American woman who finds herself and her mother fleeing from yet another abusive relationship on the latter’s side. Megan is recounting the tale almost as if it is a diary entry and the reasons for it are revealed at the end of the novella, so I won’t be going into too much detail about this to avoid spoiling it for others. Her story is heavily influenced by The Phantom of the Opera’s story and while I’m not exactly familiar with this story (nor musicals in general), I know the gist of the story and thought it was an interesting tale to take influence from. I did find myself feeling a bit frustrated along with her that her mother just refused to reveal anything of note about her past and why she felt she needed to hide it in the first place. This continued to be a question that I felt wasn’t really answered at the end, and so I would say that I think this book could’ve benefited from a few more pages to just scratch that extra itch that the reader has at the ending. 🤔
While yes the horror vibes of the book were spot on (I won’t lie that I was a bit afraid of what my dreams would be like that night as I tend to dream about the books I read and they can be VIVID), it didn’t feel so bad to the point that I had to hide behind my hands like I do when I watch horror movies. So maybe I can read horror books? 🤨
In the end, I thought this was still a very interesting novella that combines fascinating elements of Chinese opera and mythology. Thank you goes to Titain Books and NetGalley for accepting my request to read this in exchange for an honest review. And a thank you goes to the author, Yu, for sparking my interest in Chinese opera and making me think that maybe I’m okay with horror books now. ❤️
Publication date: September 30!
Overall: 4.25/5 ⭐️
December 14, 2025
This is a YA Asian horror novella that deepened my appreciation for Chinese mythology and made me want to experience a Chinese opera firsthand. The atmosphere is haunting, with eerily beautiful descriptions of the opera house. The story is an emotional rollercoaster, and I truly felt for Megan as she navigates her life with her mother at the opera house. This is the second book I’ve read by Kelsea Yu, and once again, she’s left me thoroughly impressed.
October 13, 2025
Haunted Chinese Opera House! I think I was expecting this to be a bit scarier, but it was still a great October read, and I liked the style in which it was told.
September 12, 2025
I like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me a read.
Seeing that I am a Phantom of the Opera fan, I try to read every Phantom book or Phantom adjacent book that is released. Seeing that I also enjoy Asian authors writing about horror (fantasy, too), this was an instant request.
I think Kelsea Yu has written a very interesting book. One that might hit harder for those of Asian descent or looking for something with alludes to the Monkey God tales. Since, our villain of the piece comes from that story (or adapts their persona from the villain of the story).
There is also a story about belonging, wanting to fit in / achieving dreams and the price one could make by folding or being desperate in order to achieve it.
The Phantom of the Opera comps come from the opera house where the girl stays, the specter / ghost / demon who grants the power to achieve the dreams that lives within the opera house and is killing people over the years.
Since the book is short, the story is very centralized to a small cast of characters and takes place within the opera house. Not much horror per=se but the vibes are of the horror kind. Again, if you are coming to this looking for something meatier or bloodier then this won't be the book for you. But if you're looking for something gothic with a Chinese twist this will be your thing.
Seeing that I am a Phantom of the Opera fan, I try to read every Phantom book or Phantom adjacent book that is released. Seeing that I also enjoy Asian authors writing about horror (fantasy, too), this was an instant request.
I think Kelsea Yu has written a very interesting book. One that might hit harder for those of Asian descent or looking for something with alludes to the Monkey God tales. Since, our villain of the piece comes from that story (or adapts their persona from the villain of the story).
There is also a story about belonging, wanting to fit in / achieving dreams and the price one could make by folding or being desperate in order to achieve it.
The Phantom of the Opera comps come from the opera house where the girl stays, the specter / ghost / demon who grants the power to achieve the dreams that lives within the opera house and is killing people over the years.
Since the book is short, the story is very centralized to a small cast of characters and takes place within the opera house. Not much horror per=se but the vibes are of the horror kind. Again, if you are coming to this looking for something meatier or bloodier then this won't be the book for you. But if you're looking for something gothic with a Chinese twist this will be your thing.
November 11, 2025
3.5/5
I may lower this rating down later on. For now, I'm feeling magnanimous towards the brief, the queer, the women of color, with no small amount of shared 'Phantom of the Opera' musical obsession lighting the way. In all seriousness, though, the main flaw of this work is when it lost its confidence two thirds of the way through. From chapters one to thirteen, you could get away with labeling the pacing as reasonable, and had it continued in that vein, you certainly wouldn't have finished in the next forty pages as does the current incarnation, but it would have been all the stronger for it. As it stands, the technicolor fireworks of the narrative within a narrative, the mirroring of the original material collapsing boom boom boom in the space of five action packed pages, all got in the way of a fascinating blend of Third Republic France and 21st century Hong Kong filtered through a teenager far more credibly interesting than her usual narrator ilk.
Of course, I have my own troubled/minority majority upbringing to thank for my patient interest in the young narrator's East/West/East trajectory, her instincts honed over decades of domestic abuse, and of course her own burgeoning sexuality, all of which could have been utterly magnificent if allowed to stand on its own . I understand, though, that the Anglo publishing market still isn't as open minded as it constantly tells itself otherwise, and a novella is a pretty good way of following up on a not too strong YA novella and various short stories and essays. As such, I'm keen on Yu's future trajectory in longform, and her upcoming October 2026 Stormraven publication, promising a gothic horror riff on Rebecca rooted in Chinese American history, is one I will be keeping my eye on. In the meantime, if Netflix wants to take this novella here on an expansionist journey à la 'The Haunting of Bly Manor' building off of The Turn of the Screw, who am I to say no to a good time?
I may lower this rating down later on. For now, I'm feeling magnanimous towards the brief, the queer, the women of color, with no small amount of shared 'Phantom of the Opera' musical obsession lighting the way. In all seriousness, though, the main flaw of this work is when it lost its confidence two thirds of the way through. From chapters one to thirteen, you could get away with labeling the pacing as reasonable, and had it continued in that vein, you certainly wouldn't have finished in the next forty pages as does the current incarnation, but it would have been all the stronger for it. As it stands, the technicolor fireworks of the narrative within a narrative, the mirroring of the original material collapsing boom boom boom in the space of five action packed pages, all got in the way of a fascinating blend of Third Republic France and 21st century Hong Kong filtered through a teenager far more credibly interesting than her usual narrator ilk.
Of course, I have my own troubled/minority majority upbringing to thank for my patient interest in the young narrator's East/West/East trajectory, her instincts honed over decades of domestic abuse, and of course her own burgeoning sexuality, all of which could have been utterly magnificent if allowed to stand on its own . I understand, though, that the Anglo publishing market still isn't as open minded as it constantly tells itself otherwise, and a novella is a pretty good way of following up on a not too strong YA novella and various short stories and essays. As such, I'm keen on Yu's future trajectory in longform, and her upcoming October 2026 Stormraven publication, promising a gothic horror riff on Rebecca rooted in Chinese American history, is one I will be keeping my eye on. In the meantime, if Netflix wants to take this novella here on an expansionist journey à la 'The Haunting of Bly Manor' building off of The Turn of the Screw, who am I to say no to a good time?
September 29, 2025
Horror is not usually my cup of tea but the premise of Demon Song intrigued me; a Chinese twist on The Phantom of the Opera. I haven't actually seen the musical but I have read the book so I'm not sure if that makes any difference in my perception of this novella. However, I can definitely say that both books are quite eerie in atmosphere but Demon Song (with its supernatural twist) leans toward freaky The FMC, Megan, is a 16-yo girl of Chinese descent who is struggling with living in China (I could very much empathise on many points!) and with her relationship with her mother who subsequently found herself haunted. There seems no end to her troubles! Or is there?
Being a novella, Demon Song was a single sitting read for me. I enjoyed the author's prose and especially, this clever twist to the story. I hope to see more from her.
My thanks to Titan Books for ecopy of book via NetGalley in exchange of my honest thoughts
Being a novella, Demon Song was a single sitting read for me. I enjoyed the author's prose and especially, this clever twist to the story. I hope to see more from her.
My thanks to Titan Books for ecopy of book via NetGalley in exchange of my honest thoughts
September 30, 2025
A beautifully written horror novel that draws you in with its haunting atmosphere and emotional power. I love the way Chinese culture is embedded throughout the story through myth, setting, and family dynamics. It never feels forced or added for the sake of it. Instead, it shapes the narrative from the inside, giving the supernatural elements more weight and meaning.
So much of the horror throughout the story comes from relationships and bad memories. There is a strong theme of familial tension that makes the story feel extremely personal. I genuinely didn’t expect the ending, but I think it worked perfectly.
(I received a free copy of this book from the publisher)
So much of the horror throughout the story comes from relationships and bad memories. There is a strong theme of familial tension that makes the story feel extremely personal. I genuinely didn’t expect the ending, but I think it worked perfectly.
(I received a free copy of this book from the publisher)
September 30, 2025
This very much did not end the way I was expecting, but it was a spectacularly satisfying ending.
I ended up reading this in just one day, because I'm in bed sick, and it was enough to hold my attention, which is pretty impressive when I'm miserable, but an easy enough read that it didn't wear me out. Feeling very lucky that I happened to pick this up on a whim and now it's one of my hardbacks to display.
This book has good ace / demi rep, queer rep, a little blood and gore, domestic violence and character development. Highly reccomend for a pallet cleanser after something heavy.
I ended up reading this in just one day, because I'm in bed sick, and it was enough to hold my attention, which is pretty impressive when I'm miserable, but an easy enough read that it didn't wear me out. Feeling very lucky that I happened to pick this up on a whim and now it's one of my hardbacks to display.
This book has good ace / demi rep, queer rep, a little blood and gore, domestic violence and character development. Highly reccomend for a pallet cleanser after something heavy.
October 13, 2025
A unique gothic horror that blends cultural influences of both Chinese mythology and superstitions.
Set in an ancient Asian opera house with darkened hallways and hidden passages, ornate costumes and a play that is reminiscent of of a Chinese past with twists of modernized art form.
A dream/fantasy of sudden fame, waking up and away from a life of previous poverty.
Yearnings of a life where a parent chooses their child over lascivious male characters.
There is desire, and desperation; an odd book that feels like stepping through the portal of time, creating nightmares so real, one can taste it and a demon at the center of it all!
Thanks to Titan Books for this short story arc and a look into cultural differences.
Set in an ancient Asian opera house with darkened hallways and hidden passages, ornate costumes and a play that is reminiscent of of a Chinese past with twists of modernized art form.
A dream/fantasy of sudden fame, waking up and away from a life of previous poverty.
Yearnings of a life where a parent chooses their child over lascivious male characters.
There is desire, and desperation; an odd book that feels like stepping through the portal of time, creating nightmares so real, one can taste it and a demon at the center of it all!
Thanks to Titan Books for this short story arc and a look into cultural differences.
June 16, 2025
It was chilling and immersive! If I were to describe it, reading this book felt like getting lost in an abandoned, haunted, Chinese opera house where shadows lurked in every corners. I love the storytelling, the history and classic tales included, the angst, and everything about it!
Want to read
June 17, 2025"Perfect for fans of Shirley Jackson and Cassandra Khaw, an eerie and unsettling gothic horror about the heady and hungry price of fame, drawing on Chinese mythology."
Read
September 28, 2025Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy
Demon Song by Kelsea Yu is a first person-POV YA paranormal inspired by The Phantom of the Opera set in Beijing at an opera house. When Megan’s mom moves them to China to escape an abusive partner, Megan is confronted by how much of an other she is in her own culture after having lived in the US for most of life. But the opera house at least provides her a group to be part of. Until she starts seeing strange visions of a young woman who might be connected to her mother.
A decent amount of Megan’s POV is making note of where her Mandarin isn’t as strong and where she feels like she’s an outsider due to what she doesn’t know and due to how the other teens around her talk to and about her. This is something I think a lot of returnees will be able to relate to as the longer you live in a new culture, the more your way of thinking changes and if you don’t use a language, even your native language, for a while, you do start to lose it.
This is not a retelling or reimagining of Phantom of the Opera, it is purely ‘inspired by.’ A lot of the details, such as the love triangle and the confusion about who the phantom is, are missing. Perhaps it could be stretched to be Phantom of the Opera from the POV of a side character, but I wouldn’t go that. That being said, I do think that it does have elements that Sapphic fans of Phantom could appreciate and putting the concept in Beijing but letting it be its own story is very cool.
Besides Phantom of the Opera, the classic that takes a lot of page time is part of the story of Journey to the West, a classic tale in China. My main source of familiarity with Journey to the West is through Dragon Ball and I’m aware that it’s not a pure retelling, so I cannot say if the part of the tale that takes up page time is actually in Journey to the West. The parts that use this story are very engaging and we read it with Megan instead of the reader being given a brief synopsis.
I would recommend this to fans of works loosely inspired by The Phantom of the Opera and readers of YA who want a spooky paranormal that isn’t quite horror
Demon Song by Kelsea Yu is a first person-POV YA paranormal inspired by The Phantom of the Opera set in Beijing at an opera house. When Megan’s mom moves them to China to escape an abusive partner, Megan is confronted by how much of an other she is in her own culture after having lived in the US for most of life. But the opera house at least provides her a group to be part of. Until she starts seeing strange visions of a young woman who might be connected to her mother.
A decent amount of Megan’s POV is making note of where her Mandarin isn’t as strong and where she feels like she’s an outsider due to what she doesn’t know and due to how the other teens around her talk to and about her. This is something I think a lot of returnees will be able to relate to as the longer you live in a new culture, the more your way of thinking changes and if you don’t use a language, even your native language, for a while, you do start to lose it.
This is not a retelling or reimagining of Phantom of the Opera, it is purely ‘inspired by.’ A lot of the details, such as the love triangle and the confusion about who the phantom is, are missing. Perhaps it could be stretched to be Phantom of the Opera from the POV of a side character, but I wouldn’t go that. That being said, I do think that it does have elements that Sapphic fans of Phantom could appreciate and putting the concept in Beijing but letting it be its own story is very cool.
Besides Phantom of the Opera, the classic that takes a lot of page time is part of the story of Journey to the West, a classic tale in China. My main source of familiarity with Journey to the West is through Dragon Ball and I’m aware that it’s not a pure retelling, so I cannot say if the part of the tale that takes up page time is actually in Journey to the West. The parts that use this story are very engaging and we read it with Megan instead of the reader being given a brief synopsis.
I would recommend this to fans of works loosely inspired by The Phantom of the Opera and readers of YA who want a spooky paranormal that isn’t quite horror
October 7, 2025
*3.5
My feelings about Demon Song are mixed but skew positive. I really liked the exploration of Chinese opera and lore—elements I’ve never read before. Those cultural threads added texture and originality to the story.
Although this is marketed as an adult horror novel, it reads a little younger. I’m not entirely sure if that’s because the main character is a teenager or because of the writing style itself, but it gave the story a tone closer to upper YA/new adult than adult horror. That said, I did enjoy Yu’s prose overall—her writing has a lyrical quality that fits the operatic themes well.
Much of the story itself lacked tension. Megan’s connection to opera performance felt like more of a plot device rather than an authentic part of her character. The choice to structure the story as a letter was an interesting one, but it didn’t fully work for me. Aside from a few scattered sentences written in second person, it didn’t actually read much like a letter, making the framing more ornamental than necessary. This is also a rare instance where I think the story would have benefited from being a little longer. The characters and their relationships felt somewhat underdeveloped, and a few extra pages could have given their dynamics more depth and emotional weight.
Even with these shortcomings, Demon Song was a good introduction to Yu’s work for me. Her imagination and prose stood out, and I’d be interested to see what she can do with a full-length novel where there’s more space to build tension and explore character complexity.
My feelings about Demon Song are mixed but skew positive. I really liked the exploration of Chinese opera and lore—elements I’ve never read before. Those cultural threads added texture and originality to the story.
Although this is marketed as an adult horror novel, it reads a little younger. I’m not entirely sure if that’s because the main character is a teenager or because of the writing style itself, but it gave the story a tone closer to upper YA/new adult than adult horror. That said, I did enjoy Yu’s prose overall—her writing has a lyrical quality that fits the operatic themes well.
Much of the story itself lacked tension. Megan’s connection to opera performance felt like more of a plot device rather than an authentic part of her character. The choice to structure the story as a letter was an interesting one, but it didn’t fully work for me. Aside from a few scattered sentences written in second person, it didn’t actually read much like a letter, making the framing more ornamental than necessary. This is also a rare instance where I think the story would have benefited from being a little longer. The characters and their relationships felt somewhat underdeveloped, and a few extra pages could have given their dynamics more depth and emotional weight.
Even with these shortcomings, Demon Song was a good introduction to Yu’s work for me. Her imagination and prose stood out, and I’d be interested to see what she can do with a full-length novel where there’s more space to build tension and explore character complexity.
September 1, 2025
3.5! An enjoyable and twisty “haunted house” but make it a Chinese opera house, this plays cleverly on the interaction of past and present, identity and belonging.
Thank you Titan Books for the early copy!
I’d have liked more horror elements, I think this could have gone harder, but I liked the exploration of Chinese opera mixed with Phantom of the Opera - it made for an interesting read. I think due to the length of the novella some elements were underdeveloped and I would have loved more exploration into past relationships, the twisted dynamic between Megan and the Opera house and Deng Aili, a previous singer, and the demonic entities/presence in the house itself.
The narrator is 16, framed as an adult looking back, so it reads more YA than adult, but this doesn’t take away from the fast-paced intrigue. A new to me author I’m going to be keeping an eye on!
Thank you Titan Books for the early copy!
I’d have liked more horror elements, I think this could have gone harder, but I liked the exploration of Chinese opera mixed with Phantom of the Opera - it made for an interesting read. I think due to the length of the novella some elements were underdeveloped and I would have loved more exploration into past relationships, the twisted dynamic between Megan and the Opera house and Deng Aili, a previous singer, and the demonic entities/presence in the house itself.
The narrator is 16, framed as an adult looking back, so it reads more YA than adult, but this doesn’t take away from the fast-paced intrigue. A new to me author I’m going to be keeping an eye on!
August 19, 2025
I loved the setting (descriptions of the opera house were phenomenal) and found Megan’s attitude and feelings to be deeply understandable (her complicated relationships with Mandarin/China as a whole and her mother really sang throughout the story).
However, so much of the story lacked tension. Megan’s compulsion to perform didn��t feel genuine to Megan, more of a device to bring her closer to a plot decision - the demon came before the song, as it were. And structuring the story as a letter (that didn’t read very much like a letter except for a handful of random sentences in second person) didn’t work for me.
I really wanted more horror moments especially, because those were awesome
{Thank you Titan for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review}
However, so much of the story lacked tension. Megan’s compulsion to perform didn��t feel genuine to Megan, more of a device to bring her closer to a plot decision - the demon came before the song, as it were. And structuring the story as a letter (that didn’t read very much like a letter except for a handful of random sentences in second person) didn’t work for me.
I really wanted more horror moments especially, because those were awesome
{Thank you Titan for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review}
October 20, 2025
This was another bsky discovery. I *really* enjoyed it and read it in one go on a train journey. It was a lovely spooky story about a teenage girl and her frequently abused mother being forced to move into an opera house in Beijing. Which was haunted but in a really intersting way. There was a lot about being an outsider when you should feel at home, the trauma of living with a parent whose been abused, language challenges, Journey to the west, in particular Monkey and white bone demon, as well as spooky opera house, and demons. Throughly enjoyable and definitely recommended. I look forward to reading more books by this author.
August 14, 2025
After fleeing abuse with her Mother, Megan finds shelter in a Beijing opera house, where myth and reality blur.
I absolutely devoured this book, it was beautifully written and so easy to read. The opera house setting was fantastic and the Chinese folklore elements were blended throughout so seamlessly. I really felt for Megan as she navigated the complex relationship with her mother.
Thank you NetGalley and Titan books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I absolutely devoured this book, it was beautifully written and so easy to read. The opera house setting was fantastic and the Chinese folklore elements were blended throughout so seamlessly. I really felt for Megan as she navigated the complex relationship with her mother.
Thank you NetGalley and Titan books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 5, 2025
I liked Demon Song! It was a short novella around 160+ pages long that I was super excited to read! It's described as Phantom of the Opera with Chinese mythology and as a lover of Phantom of the Opera, I knew I had to read it!
The gothic vibes throughout were really good and the descriptions of the opera house were amazing and made me want to visit!
The horror scenes were great and I highly enjoyed them. I also loved the mythology and learning about Sun Wukong and Baigujing.
The novella did feel pretty YA which isn't a bad thing but I wasn't expecting it.
This was probably due to the main character Megan being sixteen years old.
I would have also loved Demon Song to have been a full-length novel as it did leave me wanting more. I wanted to learn more about Kristy and other characters and I would have loved getting to see more of the opera house.
The ending was still great and wrapped up the story well but I can't help but want more! Overall I definitely liked this novella and would recommend checking it out!
The gothic vibes throughout were really good and the descriptions of the opera house were amazing and made me want to visit!
The horror scenes were great and I highly enjoyed them. I also loved the mythology and learning about Sun Wukong and Baigujing.
The novella did feel pretty YA which isn't a bad thing but I wasn't expecting it.
This was probably due to the main character Megan being sixteen years old.
I would have also loved Demon Song to have been a full-length novel as it did leave me wanting more. I wanted to learn more about Kristy and other characters and I would have loved getting to see more of the opera house.
The ending was still great and wrapped up the story well but I can't help but want more! Overall I definitely liked this novella and would recommend checking it out!
August 23, 2025
Thanks so much to Titan Books and NetGalley for the ARC!
The idea of a Phantom of the Opera retelling set in a Beijing opera house was fantastic. I loved the way it was interwoven with the story of Baigujing from Journey to the West (psst, publishers: more Chinese spec fic based on Journey to the West, please. It's only the number one most famous novel in China that's barely represented in the West). And I could really relate to Megan's feelings of isolation as a Chinese American suddenly living in China and struggling with the language.
If anything, I just wanted more. More about the Huihuang Opera House, more about Beijing (Peking) opera, more about this book's version of the Phantom.
Definitely recommended as a quick, spooky autumn read!
The idea of a Phantom of the Opera retelling set in a Beijing opera house was fantastic. I loved the way it was interwoven with the story of Baigujing from Journey to the West (psst, publishers: more Chinese spec fic based on Journey to the West, please. It's only the number one most famous novel in China that's barely represented in the West). And I could really relate to Megan's feelings of isolation as a Chinese American suddenly living in China and struggling with the language.
If anything, I just wanted more. More about the Huihuang Opera House, more about Beijing (Peking) opera, more about this book's version of the Phantom.
Definitely recommended as a quick, spooky autumn read!
October 1, 2025
A Phantom of the Opera retelling, told from the perspective of the character of Meg Giry, here Megan. Megan and her mother have recently escaped to Beijing. With few options, her mother secures a cleaning job at Huihuang Opera House. Megan is wary of her mother's relationship with Wei, the owner, while they've tried to break the cycle of the predatory men her mother dates. Megan befriends Kristy, one of the performers, and finds herself getting caught up in the mysteries of the opera house and its dark and haunted passageways.
This is exactly what you want out of a retelling of a popular story: familiar characters that you can recognize but with brand new setting and a deep dive into a character who deserves their own story. Yu gives us a setting of Chinese opera, a tradition revived after the Cultural Revolution, and here in this story at Huihuang Opera House, a haunting occurrence every decade.
Demon Song is a novella with few frills, and an atmospheric chill, perfect for a haunted fall. The audiobook is narrated by Natalie Naudus, making it a must listen for audiobook fans.
Thank you to Titan for an eARC. Demon Song is out 9/30/2025.
This is exactly what you want out of a retelling of a popular story: familiar characters that you can recognize but with brand new setting and a deep dive into a character who deserves their own story. Yu gives us a setting of Chinese opera, a tradition revived after the Cultural Revolution, and here in this story at Huihuang Opera House, a haunting occurrence every decade.
Demon Song is a novella with few frills, and an atmospheric chill, perfect for a haunted fall. The audiobook is narrated by Natalie Naudus, making it a must listen for audiobook fans.
Thank you to Titan for an eARC. Demon Song is out 9/30/2025.
December 20, 2025
Dark Gothic.
September 30, 2025
Demon Song by Kelsea Yu is a chilling Gothic tale based on Chinese mythology, but it’s also a bittersweet coming of age story of a girl being raised by a single mother who moves her from place to place fleeing a string of abusive relationships.
The latest escape is a return of sorts for Megan’s mother, as an old friend of hers gives them jobs as cleaners along with room and board at a Beijing Opera House.
As Megan explores the opera house, uncovering its secrets, the line between myth and reality begins to disappear, and she finds herself faced with a terrible choice in order to keep herself and her mother safe.
Demon Song is a beautiful Gothic novella with some quite scary moments, a classic brave and sympathetic heroine, and an unanticipated conclusion, and I highly recommend it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Titan Books for the advance copy for my honest review.
The latest escape is a return of sorts for Megan’s mother, as an old friend of hers gives them jobs as cleaners along with room and board at a Beijing Opera House.
As Megan explores the opera house, uncovering its secrets, the line between myth and reality begins to disappear, and she finds herself faced with a terrible choice in order to keep herself and her mother safe.
Demon Song is a beautiful Gothic novella with some quite scary moments, a classic brave and sympathetic heroine, and an unanticipated conclusion, and I highly recommend it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Titan Books for the advance copy for my honest review.
July 10, 2025
Haunting and gorgeous.
September 30, 2025
wahhh i loved this! the perfect little creepy story for fall hehe. i loved the phantom of the opera vibes. reading about Megan's struggles with "being Chinese enough" really resonated with me as a mixed Chinese person who also doesn't speak the language. it was also neat to see how the author wove in the story of Sun Wukong and Baigujing within the story of Megan and the opera house. i am a sucker for a story in a story haha. definitely recommend for fans of haunted house stories, people wanting to try a horror story that isn't *too* scary, and Phantom of the Opera fans!
REP: demisexual Chinese main character; sapphic side characters [Taiwanese Chinese author]
REP: demisexual Chinese main character; sapphic side characters [Taiwanese Chinese author]
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