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Shanghai Immortal #2
Paris Celestial
Now a Minister of Hell, Lady Jing is mind-numbingly bored. All she wants is to escape yin Shanghai and spend time with her mortal beau Tony Lee. So when a visiting Irish deity turns up boneless and drained of qi, Jing offers to deliver him to his pantheon's healer in Paris.
Accompanied by Tony and her friends Gigi and Ah Lang, Jing plans to turn the trip into an impromptu holiday. But Jing's trips seem to be cursed. Last time she left yin Shanghai, her hulijing grandmother abducted her. This time, vampires hijack her train because her other grandmother has designs on her friends.
And as Jing and her friends are drawn into the vampires' schemes, soon Jing is faced with an impossible the family she was born to, or the family she has found along the way . . .
Accompanied by Tony and her friends Gigi and Ah Lang, Jing plans to turn the trip into an impromptu holiday. But Jing's trips seem to be cursed. Last time she left yin Shanghai, her hulijing grandmother abducted her. This time, vampires hijack her train because her other grandmother has designs on her friends.
And as Jing and her friends are drawn into the vampires' schemes, soon Jing is faced with an impossible the family she was born to, or the family she has found along the way . . .
Audible Audio
First published June 9, 2026
About the author
A.Y. Chao
5 books235 followersAlice is a Chinese Canadian fantasy author. She's fascinated by the interplay between self-perceived versus imposed identity and how this intersects with belonging and explores these spaces in her stories.
Pre-order her debut SHANGHAI IMMORTAL (1 June 2023, Hodderscape) here.
Pre-order her debut SHANGHAI IMMORTAL (1 June 2023, Hodderscape) here.
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Want to Read
July 3, 2023So excited for this book!
The publisher hasn't released a blurb yet but I did get a sneak peak from AY Chao about what book 2 is going to be about...
https://www.tiktok.com/@genevieve.rea...
The publisher hasn't released a blurb yet but I did get a sneak peak from AY Chao about what book 2 is going to be about...
https://www.tiktok.com/@genevieve.rea...
April 29, 2026
4.5 stars.
I am so happy book 2 is out and I got to reunite with Lady Jing!!
Paris Celestial is a good sequel to Shanghai Immortal (though I think book 1 is better). Fortunately, I did not need to reread Shanghai Immortal because A. Y. Chao reminded her readers of what happened in book 1. Lady Jing would recount events of SI to the readers when needed and relevant for context. Chao leaves PC open for a third book (it is supposed to be a trilogy) but this book wraps up its arc nicely.
A new feature to PC is multiple POV and delivering those new POV from third person present tense. Lady Jing is still our protagonist and she narrates the majority of this book in first person. The new POVs were strange at first and caught me off guard because it happened nearly halfway in. However, I liked Chao writing in third person. It had an almost whimsical feel to it, reflective almost. If there had been a new POV earlier in the book (within the first 10% maybe), then it would not have been as weird to adjust to later on. For example, maybe Big Wang could have had a POV just after Jing and co left for Paris. I did develop a small theory regarding the inclusion of new POV - that Chao is representing dragon sight. OR, (bigger theory) Lord Black is actually telling the story by reading Lady Jing's mind. Maybe book 3 will have the answers.
That being said - if Chao writes a new series in third person, then I am confident in her skills writing from a new POV shift.
Like book 1, this was a fun time. There was not as much time physically in Paris seeing the sights as I expected. But it was quite fun considering a guy got his head ripped off. Where the story went in the last 25% is what I would have expected from the third book. Despite the stakes getting suddenly raised, the ending was quite sweet and provides closure while keeping it open for the next book. Considering the real life historical events happening/yet to happen both in China and France, I am curious where Chao will take her story and how Lady Jing will react.
Jing's character was well done. She felt like she had learned her lessons from book 1 and taken the next step up. There was a sense of maturity while also still being her chaotic "half-hulijing, half-vampire, all trouble" self. The way I squealed when she called Mr Lee "Tony" and pronounced Tootsie rolls correctly?? Oh my god it was brilliant. Even I can't call Mr Lee by his first name. My girl is growing up (she's 121 or something).
As for Mr Lee, if you don't like jealous love interests then be aware: Mr Lee's jealousy reared its head again. I will say, I preferred Mr Lee in book 1 to book 2. I feel like he and Jing were missing a tender moment like they shared in book 1 with the meal on the terrace with the sunrise. Chao incorporated character conflict and a major challenge to their relationship. Mr Lee's mortality is a question that hangs heavily over their romance and it offered a great obstacle for them to overcome. However, I was mostly reading this for Jing and Mr Lee as separate characters rather than to witness their romance.
Gigi and Ah Lang returned!! They were fun if a little bit one note - Paris Celestial really was more about Lady Jing and her French roots. Although Gigi and Ah Lang did make me laugh, especially Ah Lang's hyper fixation on a specific card game in the middle of the book. The new characters introduced were good. Lord Aengus was hilarious from page 1 while the vampires were compelling and stood out as individuals. Language and communication barriers were a great theme - both being unable to understand French as well as Jing and Mr Lee unable to understand their mortal-immortal predicament. In Jing's POV, Chao narrated the actions to convey meaning and emotion when Jing did not know what was being said. It was a good example of show, don't tell. Also, I appreciated the translations at the back of the book. One of them made me laugh.
In the acknowledgments, Chao mentions/references some things in her personal life that happened while writing this book. One of those things is she received an adult ADHD diagnosis. I'm not kidding: I suspected she got a diagnosis by like, page 10?? While the hints are there in Shanghai Immortal that Jing may have ADHD, in this book it's soooooo clear Jing has ADHD (even though ADHD is not explicitly stated on page since the term does not exist in the 1930s). The most obvious example of ADHD rep is Ah Lang being unable to do anything but play that card game for days on end (which he promptly forgets about after a week and, according to Gigi, won't remember exists for YEARS). I don't know why but Chao making the effort to do anything but time travel to 2026 just to make it obvious that at least two of her characters are neurodivergent just made me so happy. Lady Jing shines in this book because Chao makes her feel so real and human and relatable but also unique.
I ABSOLUTELY cannot wait for book 3. I want A. Y. Chao to share this story with the world. Also, the mix of hulijing and vampire lore is perfect for me.
I am so happy book 2 is out and I got to reunite with Lady Jing!!
Paris Celestial is a good sequel to Shanghai Immortal (though I think book 1 is better). Fortunately, I did not need to reread Shanghai Immortal because A. Y. Chao reminded her readers of what happened in book 1. Lady Jing would recount events of SI to the readers when needed and relevant for context. Chao leaves PC open for a third book (it is supposed to be a trilogy) but this book wraps up its arc nicely.
A new feature to PC is multiple POV and delivering those new POV from third person present tense. Lady Jing is still our protagonist and she narrates the majority of this book in first person. The new POVs were strange at first and caught me off guard because it happened nearly halfway in. However, I liked Chao writing in third person. It had an almost whimsical feel to it, reflective almost. If there had been a new POV earlier in the book (within the first 10% maybe), then it would not have been as weird to adjust to later on. For example, maybe Big Wang could have had a POV just after Jing and co left for Paris. I did develop a small theory regarding the inclusion of new POV - that Chao is representing dragon sight. OR, (bigger theory) Lord Black is actually telling the story by reading Lady Jing's mind. Maybe book 3 will have the answers.
That being said - if Chao writes a new series in third person, then I am confident in her skills writing from a new POV shift.
Like book 1, this was a fun time. There was not as much time physically in Paris seeing the sights as I expected. But it was quite fun considering a guy got his head ripped off. Where the story went in the last 25% is what I would have expected from the third book. Despite the stakes getting suddenly raised, the ending was quite sweet and provides closure while keeping it open for the next book. Considering the real life historical events happening/yet to happen both in China and France, I am curious where Chao will take her story and how Lady Jing will react.
Jing's character was well done. She felt like she had learned her lessons from book 1 and taken the next step up. There was a sense of maturity while also still being her chaotic "half-hulijing, half-vampire, all trouble" self. The way I squealed when she called Mr Lee "Tony" and pronounced Tootsie rolls correctly?? Oh my god it was brilliant. Even I can't call Mr Lee by his first name. My girl is growing up (she's 121 or something).
As for Mr Lee, if you don't like jealous love interests then be aware: Mr Lee's jealousy reared its head again. I will say, I preferred Mr Lee in book 1 to book 2. I feel like he and Jing were missing a tender moment like they shared in book 1 with the meal on the terrace with the sunrise. Chao incorporated character conflict and a major challenge to their relationship. Mr Lee's mortality is a question that hangs heavily over their romance and it offered a great obstacle for them to overcome. However, I was mostly reading this for Jing and Mr Lee as separate characters rather than to witness their romance.
Gigi and Ah Lang returned!! They were fun if a little bit one note - Paris Celestial really was more about Lady Jing and her French roots. Although Gigi and Ah Lang did make me laugh, especially Ah Lang's hyper fixation on a specific card game in the middle of the book. The new characters introduced were good. Lord Aengus was hilarious from page 1 while the vampires were compelling and stood out as individuals. Language and communication barriers were a great theme - both being unable to understand French as well as Jing and Mr Lee unable to understand their mortal-immortal predicament. In Jing's POV, Chao narrated the actions to convey meaning and emotion when Jing did not know what was being said. It was a good example of show, don't tell. Also, I appreciated the translations at the back of the book. One of them made me laugh.
In the acknowledgments, Chao mentions/references some things in her personal life that happened while writing this book. One of those things is she received an adult ADHD diagnosis. I'm not kidding: I suspected she got a diagnosis by like, page 10?? While the hints are there in Shanghai Immortal that Jing may have ADHD, in this book it's soooooo clear Jing has ADHD (even though ADHD is not explicitly stated on page since the term does not exist in the 1930s). The most obvious example of ADHD rep is Ah Lang being unable to do anything but play that card game for days on end (which he promptly forgets about after a week and, according to Gigi, won't remember exists for YEARS). I don't know why but Chao making the effort to do anything but time travel to 2026 just to make it obvious that at least two of her characters are neurodivergent just made me so happy. Lady Jing shines in this book because Chao makes her feel so real and human and relatable but also unique.
I ABSOLUTELY cannot wait for book 3. I want A. Y. Chao to share this story with the world. Also, the mix of hulijing and vampire lore is perfect for me.
April 1, 2026
I haven’t been this excited for a sequel in years. I always get nervous for sequels, especially when the first book was a 5-star read, as they don’t always live up to the expectations the first book put in place. But Paris Celestial exceeded all expectations. None of the magic, chaos and fun was lost from Shanghai Immortal, and there was more drama, more stakes and way more emotional moments. Lady Jing was an absolute delight to read, and I absolutely loved witnessing her antics once again. Lady Jing's growth from immaturity in the first book to maturity in this one is remarkable. She’s dealing with way more responsibility this time whilst also (without spoiling anything) trying to figure out where she belongs. The plot is honestly kind of insane—in a good way. You’ve got immortal train rides, vampires causing chaos, and a trip to Paris that obviously doesn’t go to plan. The chaos in the plot is well-executed and adds to the story's appeal. The world-building builds even more on the first book without feeling like anything was left behind. The world A.Y. Chao has created is really vivid and creative, mixing mainly Asian mythology with a fun, slightly chaotic vibe. The only reason it’s not a full 5 stars is because sometimes it felt a bit all over the place, like there was so much happening that some things didn’t have time to fully settle. But overall, it was such a fun read and definitely one of those sequels that keeps you hooked on the series. Here’s to hoping for more of these books, because I could honestly read 100 books set in this world.
‘Year by year, the tea slowly revealed itself. Its layers, its sweetness and bitterness, its colour, changing with time. Just as you did. The tea taught me patience; that initial astringency bloomed into a sweet complexity. You were the same.’
Book 1 - Shanghai Immortal Review
‘Year by year, the tea slowly revealed itself. Its layers, its sweetness and bitterness, its colour, changing with time. Just as you did. The tea taught me patience; that initial astringency bloomed into a sweet complexity. You were the same.’
Book 1 - Shanghai Immortal Review
April 17, 2026
I alternated reading the ebook and listening to the audiobook which is fantastically narrated by Mei Mei. She is such a vivid and great narrator, and really brings the story to life.
Another great book in the Shanghai Immortal world. I would read ten more. All of the great characters from book 1 are back, while adding some fun fresh new ones. The pacing is so good in this book, the world building is so lush and immersive.
I love this book as much as Lady Jing loves tootsie-rolls.
Also would love two Pixiu pets. They are so cute.
Another great book in the Shanghai Immortal world. I would read ten more. All of the great characters from book 1 are back, while adding some fun fresh new ones. The pacing is so good in this book, the world building is so lush and immersive.
I love this book as much as Lady Jing loves tootsie-rolls.
Also would love two Pixiu pets. They are so cute.
Review of advance copy
I wanted to love this one a lot more than I did, but then I was also cynical because Shanghai Immortal wrapped up nicely and I don't usually love sequels. Not to say it's not a good book, to be fair to it. I did overall enjoy it.
The bad things first- The random POV changes. I have a visceral dislike of them, they remind me of two terrible reading experiences- Desolation- a sequel to a surprisingly enjoyable one-person POV book which added three terrible characters who all had terrible POVs for absolutely no reason whatsoever; and also bad fanfiction from back in the Fanfiction.net days when you could read hilariously bad Mary-Sue stories with even more hilariously bad piss-takes of those stories, where love-interests popped up with POVs just to talk about how gorgeous the MC was.
Paris Immortal unfortunately gave me the vibes of Desolation, since the new POV characters are Marianne and Max, who aren't overly interesting and don't add anything much to the story with their POVs. But definitely not as awful as that was, because the characters aren't as bad and don't take up as much time and space in the story, thank God.
In general, I didn't love the new vampire additions. Like, they're fine, but much weaker and less enjoyable as characters than the people we see less of in this book- Bullhead, Horsey, Old Zao, Big Wang etc.
It kind of meant there were sections in the middle that I felt dragged a bit. I also feel that not enough of Paris was shown. Not that I needed to see much of Paris because it's depicted so often in fiction, but considering how it's named in the title and Shanghai is such a major part of the series, it could have been nice to see.
On the other hand, I loved Lord Aengus, who felt like someone that might have existed in the first book, and was a nice addition to the themes of family and acceptance. He was just the right amount of irritating and endearing, and it was nice to see an Irish character show up.
So looking at the good things- Jing's growth for starters. She's become more mature and less closed-off, while still retaining her general quirkiness from the first book. I especially liked her relationships with Big Wang and Gi, which have developed along with her newfound maturity. Gi and Ah Lang both remain two of my favourite characters in this series, they're just very likeable, funny and loyal.
Tony, meanwhile, kind of wrecked my head in this one. I still like him and think he compliments Jing, but while she's learned to be more rule-abiding and principled, he actually still has a lot of growing to do, and needs to be less righteous and jealous. He still has this definite sense of virtue, morality and honour, which are usually positive traits, but which do negatively impact on his views of Jing. He obviously loves and cares about her, while at the same time, seeing her as a monster. It's an interesting concept and does get explored a bit, but I'd like to see more of this aspect to their relationship, particularly in the next book and particularly following the events of this one.
Completely surprisingly, despite my dislike of sudden changing POVs and love-interest POVs giving me those fanfiction flashbacks, the one POV addition I did like was Tony's, and maybe because it was used to develop his characterization and flaws. This goes against everything I would usually say, but I think I actually might have preferred if the additional POVs were his rather than the vampires.
I still love the focus on Chinese myths and culture, but missed the bit of history that came up in the first book. Like in theory this book could have taken place at any point in time, which is fine, but the bit in the first book with the Japanese soldiers contrasting with the vibes of the surface-level carefree 1920s is one of the standout scenes, and there was no equivalent in this book.
The focus on family in all its forms is particularly nice in this book, and did ultimately make the sequel worth reading, even if this book didn't hold up quite as well as the first. So although I didn't love it as much as I hoped, it was still a better book than a sequel can usually be expected to be.
The bad things first- The random POV changes. I have a visceral dislike of them, they remind me of two terrible reading experiences- Desolation- a sequel to a surprisingly enjoyable one-person POV book which added three terrible characters who all had terrible POVs for absolutely no reason whatsoever; and also bad fanfiction from back in the Fanfiction.net days when you could read hilariously bad Mary-Sue stories with even more hilariously bad piss-takes of those stories, where love-interests popped up with POVs just to talk about how gorgeous the MC was.
Paris Immortal unfortunately gave me the vibes of Desolation, since the new POV characters are Marianne and Max, who aren't overly interesting and don't add anything much to the story with their POVs. But definitely not as awful as that was, because the characters aren't as bad and don't take up as much time and space in the story, thank God.
In general, I didn't love the new vampire additions. Like, they're fine, but much weaker and less enjoyable as characters than the people we see less of in this book- Bullhead, Horsey, Old Zao, Big Wang etc.
It kind of meant there were sections in the middle that I felt dragged a bit. I also feel that not enough of Paris was shown. Not that I needed to see much of Paris because it's depicted so often in fiction, but considering how it's named in the title and Shanghai is such a major part of the series, it could have been nice to see.
On the other hand, I loved Lord Aengus, who felt like someone that might have existed in the first book, and was a nice addition to the themes of family and acceptance. He was just the right amount of irritating and endearing, and it was nice to see an Irish character show up.
So looking at the good things- Jing's growth for starters. She's become more mature and less closed-off, while still retaining her general quirkiness from the first book. I especially liked her relationships with Big Wang and Gi, which have developed along with her newfound maturity. Gi and Ah Lang both remain two of my favourite characters in this series, they're just very likeable, funny and loyal.
Tony, meanwhile, kind of wrecked my head in this one. I still like him and think he compliments Jing, but while she's learned to be more rule-abiding and principled, he actually still has a lot of growing to do, and needs to be less righteous and jealous. He still has this definite sense of virtue, morality and honour, which are usually positive traits, but which do negatively impact on his views of Jing. He obviously loves and cares about her, while at the same time, seeing her as a monster. It's an interesting concept and does get explored a bit, but I'd like to see more of this aspect to their relationship, particularly in the next book and particularly following the events of this one.
Completely surprisingly, despite my dislike of sudden changing POVs and love-interest POVs giving me those fanfiction flashbacks, the one POV addition I did like was Tony's, and maybe because it was used to develop his characterization and flaws. This goes against everything I would usually say, but I think I actually might have preferred if the additional POVs were his rather than the vampires.
I still love the focus on Chinese myths and culture, but missed the bit of history that came up in the first book. Like in theory this book could have taken place at any point in time, which is fine, but the bit in the first book with the Japanese soldiers contrasting with the vibes of the surface-level carefree 1920s is one of the standout scenes, and there was no equivalent in this book.
The focus on family in all its forms is particularly nice in this book, and did ultimately make the sequel worth reading, even if this book didn't hold up quite as well as the first. So although I didn't love it as much as I hoped, it was still a better book than a sequel can usually be expected to be.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. - Freya, arc & monthly book box pick reviewer (on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/athenafreya... )
Initial thoughts: Oh how I loved this world and these characters!! I missed them a lot so I was ecstatic that I got approved of this earc!
About the book: Little Jing is a Minister of Hell and is quite responsible in this book. She cares about her duty and does her best to control her temper and not cause a diplomatic disaster. However, a guest, Lord Aengus, is found drained of yin qi and they end up putting him in a vase. (haha) Little Jing is tasked with taking him to his healer in Paris. Her friends and Tony are to escort her, and well, they end up meeting lots of vampires in Paris, and since Little Jing is half vampire, things get very interesting.
What I liked 🤩: I love this world and these characters so much! I would read ten books set in this universe following Little Jing's adventures and others'. I love how the author chose an almost whimsical, quirky narrating style. It reminded me of the irreverent style of some danmei novels. I think that is why some people have had a hard time with it because it breaks the norms and is different from almost all fantasy books I've read. If you have read danmei novels like A Thousand Autumns and any MXTX novel, you will LOVE this book! This quirky book is perfect for us!!
What a character development Little Jing has shown us here! She was unable and unwilling to control her temper, taking risks without thinking of consequences much, but here, she embraces her role as a Minister of Hell, is responsible, and thinks a lot before acting. She really grows and I loved it.
The rest of the cast was fabulous, as usual. I feel like I've known these characters for a long time, and like I would be able to have full conversations with them. The plot had both unexpected twists and predictable twists, and featured many tropes found in danmei novels, which only made this book even more authentic and true to its nature. I love and respect the author's choice to utilize storytelling tropes and narrative devices found in Chinese storytelling and not adhere to Western storytelling norms.
What I didn’t like 🙃: Nothing. I had a great time with this book and made me love this story (books 1+2) even more.
Overall: This story is perfect for fans of c-dramas and danmei novels. The characterization, the worldbuilding, the almost whimsical vibes have all made this series a strong favourite of mine. I already miss them!! I will def keep my eye on this author. It feels like her books and taste match mine perfectly.
SE info: Goldsboro and Fairyloot have a SE of this to match Shanghai Immortal. I own the Goldsboro editions as I find them prettier.
Initial thoughts: Oh how I loved this world and these characters!! I missed them a lot so I was ecstatic that I got approved of this earc!
About the book: Little Jing is a Minister of Hell and is quite responsible in this book. She cares about her duty and does her best to control her temper and not cause a diplomatic disaster. However, a guest, Lord Aengus, is found drained of yin qi and they end up putting him in a vase. (haha) Little Jing is tasked with taking him to his healer in Paris. Her friends and Tony are to escort her, and well, they end up meeting lots of vampires in Paris, and since Little Jing is half vampire, things get very interesting.
What I liked 🤩: I love this world and these characters so much! I would read ten books set in this universe following Little Jing's adventures and others'. I love how the author chose an almost whimsical, quirky narrating style. It reminded me of the irreverent style of some danmei novels. I think that is why some people have had a hard time with it because it breaks the norms and is different from almost all fantasy books I've read. If you have read danmei novels like A Thousand Autumns and any MXTX novel, you will LOVE this book! This quirky book is perfect for us!!
What a character development Little Jing has shown us here! She was unable and unwilling to control her temper, taking risks without thinking of consequences much, but here, she embraces her role as a Minister of Hell, is responsible, and thinks a lot before acting. She really grows and I loved it.
The rest of the cast was fabulous, as usual. I feel like I've known these characters for a long time, and like I would be able to have full conversations with them. The plot had both unexpected twists and predictable twists, and featured many tropes found in danmei novels, which only made this book even more authentic and true to its nature. I love and respect the author's choice to utilize storytelling tropes and narrative devices found in Chinese storytelling and not adhere to Western storytelling norms.
What I didn’t like 🙃: Nothing. I had a great time with this book and made me love this story (books 1+2) even more.
Overall: This story is perfect for fans of c-dramas and danmei novels. The characterization, the worldbuilding, the almost whimsical vibes have all made this series a strong favourite of mine. I already miss them!! I will def keep my eye on this author. It feels like her books and taste match mine perfectly.
SE info: Goldsboro and Fairyloot have a SE of this to match Shanghai Immortal. I own the Goldsboro editions as I find them prettier.
Read
April 24, 2026Je ne sais pas trop quoi penser de ce livre.
J'ai aimé retrouver l'impertinence de Jing, même si son coté très immature peut parfois être agaçant.
J'aime le found family dans ce livre, j'ai trouvé qu'il y avait beaucoup d'émotions. J'ai ri, j'ai aussi pleuré car certains moments m'ont vraiment fait de la peine.
Je n'ai pas trop apprécié que Jing ne respecte pas le choix de Tony, même si je me doutais que ça allait arriver car ce point était prévisible. Par contre il lui a pardonné trop vite à mon gout pour être crédible.
J'ai aussi trouvé la fin un peu abrupte, en mode "Ah c'était la dernière page?" et en réfléchissant, je me suis rendue compte qu'il ne se passe pas grand chose dans le livre, même si c'était tout de même agréable à lire. Il est aussi relativement court, ce qui fait qu'on avance vite.
Je suppose qu'il y aura une suite mais je n'ai aucune idée de ce sur quoi cela pourrait porter, j'attendrai de voir. En tout cas, il n'y a pas de cliffhanger donc je pourrais sans problème abandonner la série après ce 2e tome.
J'ai aimé retrouver l'impertinence de Jing, même si son coté très immature peut parfois être agaçant.
J'aime le found family dans ce livre, j'ai trouvé qu'il y avait beaucoup d'émotions. J'ai ri, j'ai aussi pleuré car certains moments m'ont vraiment fait de la peine.
Je n'ai pas trop apprécié que Jing ne respecte pas le choix de Tony, même si je me doutais que ça allait arriver car ce point était prévisible. Par contre il lui a pardonné trop vite à mon gout pour être crédible.
J'ai aussi trouvé la fin un peu abrupte, en mode "Ah c'était la dernière page?" et en réfléchissant, je me suis rendue compte qu'il ne se passe pas grand chose dans le livre, même si c'était tout de même agréable à lire. Il est aussi relativement court, ce qui fait qu'on avance vite.
Je suppose qu'il y aura une suite mais je n'ai aucune idée de ce sur quoi cela pourrait porter, j'attendrai de voir. En tout cas, il n'y a pas de cliffhanger donc je pourrais sans problème abandonner la série après ce 2e tome.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 14, 2026
This is developing into a solid series, even if it has some rough edges here and there, and by that I refer to some of the over-the-top threats that Lady Jing utters to get the vampires to help her in something I won’t say any more about because of spoilers. Also, Tony Lee comes across as less likable than necessary through most of the book. Other than that, I’m enjoying this series very much.
I don’t know whether to be sad about the small number of readers who reviewed this one compared to others on Goodreads, or happy that I’m one of the select few (the chosen ones) who’ve discovered this wonderful urban fantasy. A.Y. Chao may never wind up among the superstars of the genre, but she deserves a solid audience for this.
I hope you are well and can write more, A.Y., because I’m expecting more of Lady Jing’s continued adventures.
I don’t know whether to be sad about the small number of readers who reviewed this one compared to others on Goodreads, or happy that I’m one of the select few (the chosen ones) who’ve discovered this wonderful urban fantasy. A.Y. Chao may never wind up among the superstars of the genre, but she deserves a solid audience for this.
I hope you are well and can write more, A.Y., because I’m expecting more of Lady Jing’s continued adventures.
April 6, 2026
Definitely better than the first book!
I loved seeing Jing mature in this book compared to the whiny brat she started out as in the first book 😂
I also enjoyed reading more of the various cultural nuances Chao introduces us to.
Although this was a roundabout way, it was nice to see Jing get to meet her extended family and get to know what happened with her parents. By the end it feels like Jing has really settled into herself and is ready for the next chapter in her life.
What I didn't like is the ending with Tony. It felt rushed and a complete cop out to delving into his feelings about everything that has happened to him. I hope that in the next book we really see him develop and become more assertive.
Bring on book 3, I'm ready for cabaret, blood and debauchery!
I loved seeing Jing mature in this book compared to the whiny brat she started out as in the first book 😂
I also enjoyed reading more of the various cultural nuances Chao introduces us to.
Although this was a roundabout way, it was nice to see Jing get to meet her extended family and get to know what happened with her parents. By the end it feels like Jing has really settled into herself and is ready for the next chapter in her life.
What I didn't like is the ending with Tony. It felt rushed and a complete cop out to delving into his feelings about everything that has happened to him. I hope that in the next book we really see him develop and become more assertive.
Bring on book 3, I'm ready for cabaret, blood and debauchery!
Review of advance copy
Once again Goodreads is insisting that this book isn't published yet and demanding to know how I've read it. Answer: it's published in the UK, and I pre-ordered it so I got it as soon as it came out - which I'm very glad about! I've been excited to read this ever since I picked up the first one, shortly after it was released, and this sequel has certainly made the wait worthwhile.
Jing's feisty nature remains as fun to read as ever, though continues to learn to temper her outbursts. The other characters are as fun as ever, and there's a new setting to explore. The stakes felt a little lower this time, so it didn't feel as tense, but the action wasn't what I loved in the first book anyway, so it didn't feel like a great loss.
Jing's feisty nature remains as fun to read as ever, though continues to learn to temper her outbursts. The other characters are as fun as ever, and there's a new setting to explore. The stakes felt a little lower this time, so it didn't feel as tense, but the action wasn't what I loved in the first book anyway, so it didn't feel like a great loss.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.
I think my critical opinion of this book would probably land it around a 3.5, but I've bumped it up the extra half due to it being a light-hearted breath of fresh air in a genre dominated by tragic narratives. It was fun to read about Lady Jing's latest adventures, even if I do wish the characters were a little better developed, particularly Tony, I'm not sure if there'll be more in this series, but I'd definitely read them.
I think my critical opinion of this book would probably land it around a 3.5, but I've bumped it up the extra half due to it being a light-hearted breath of fresh air in a genre dominated by tragic narratives. It was fun to read about Lady Jing's latest adventures, even if I do wish the characters were a little better developed, particularly Tony, I'm not sure if there'll be more in this series, but I'd definitely read them.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I adored the first book in this series "Shanghai Immortal". The second book does not disappoint! I'm loving the returning characters - especially Lady Jing and Big Wang - but the new characters are also well-drawn and engaging. The author has crafted a dramatic travelogue of love, loss and adventure, with deepening character history, whilst also enhancing the beautiful and vibrant fantasy world of yin Shanghai. The colours, scents, and scenic imagery leap from the page - and there's more delicious food than ever! Highly recommended.
February 26, 2026
It was a quick and enjoyable read. I liked the plot and the universe a lot, the author did not waste time with long and unnecessary descriptions. I also liked to read about the main character’s family. However, I did not connect with the characters very much and I did not like Tony at all. Though I can understand his thoughts sometimes, he was so ungrateful, rude and close-minded.
Thank you to Netgalley for an e-ARC in exchange for a honest review.
Thank you to Netgalley for an e-ARC in exchange for a honest review.
July 3, 2026
Sometimes you pick up a book without expecting much, and it turns out to be much better than you imagined.That was exactly my experience here. The pacing felt natural,and I never became bored. It is easy to see that a lot of care went into creating this book. I especially appreciated how accessible everything felt. I would definitely recommend giving it a try if you're looking for an enjoyable read.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
More madcap fun with Lady Jing, this time in the Parisian streets. I love this series so much, it is funny, emotional and I love all the characters so much. It made me laugh out loud a lot and Lady Jing is golden - I love her so much. More please! Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
March 31, 2026
Damn I absolutely adored this book
, I have no idea how I held onto the first without reading it for so long. I flew through these pages like a bat out of hell…. Well maybe not quite so dramatic but honestly I loved this book, its varied characters and plot just made this feel so vibrant and fun.
, I have no idea how I held onto the first without reading it for so long. I flew through these pages like a bat out of hell…. Well maybe not quite so dramatic but honestly I loved this book, its varied characters and plot just made this feel so vibrant and fun.
Want to Read
June 13, 2024June 13. 2024
2025 can’t come sooner! The cover is gorgeous and so is the title!! 💙😍📚💕
2025 can’t come sooner! The cover is gorgeous and so is the title!! 💙😍📚💕
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you for NetGalley for providing me with this book for review. Apologies for the late review. This book so cute and quirky, absolutely loved the characters. Read over one weekend.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
The way I was sobbing at the end of this book!! 😭 I absolutely adore Lady Jing and her found family. This is the perfect blend of fantasy and drama that I needed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 29, 2026
2.75 ⭐
Did Not Finish
June 23, 2026DNF pg. 89
DNFing because Tony sucks. WTF? I do not remember him being this way in the first book. It's also upsetting because Lady Jing is so entertaining! I really can't waste time reading about shitty men and shitty relationships, though.
DNFing because Tony sucks. WTF? I do not remember him being this way in the first book. It's also upsetting because Lady Jing is so entertaining! I really can't waste time reading about shitty men and shitty relationships, though.
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