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Harbour of Hungry Ghosts
Not yet published
Expected 28 Jul 26
"My name is not Kim, it's Kiamling. It means Sword Spirit. I was forged to cut down the undead. Demons and monsters aren't just in your storybooks, they walk among us."
The Au family serve the people of Hong blessing shrines, honouring the dead and dealing with dangerous monster incursions. The expectations on eldest daughter Kiamling are high, which is not something her strict grandmother will let her forget.
When the British disrupt the Hungry Ghosts festival and her grandmother is seized by a strange new monster, Kiamling must step up and lead the search. She is aided by unexpected Archie, an earnest civil servant, Hoi gor, childhood sweetheart turned merchant-pirate and Jingling, her younger sister keeping secrets of her own. Kiamling must figure out who is behind the incursion and more importantly, how to defeat them.
With British fables mingling with local Chinese monsters, can Kiamling prove herself, when the old rules no longer seem to apply?
Babel meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer - a family of demon hunters find their hands full when unfamiliar monsters start stalking the streets of Opium War-era Hong Kong, in this historical fantasy adventure from No. 1 Sunday Times bestseller Eliza Chan.
The Au family serve the people of Hong blessing shrines, honouring the dead and dealing with dangerous monster incursions. The expectations on eldest daughter Kiamling are high, which is not something her strict grandmother will let her forget.
When the British disrupt the Hungry Ghosts festival and her grandmother is seized by a strange new monster, Kiamling must step up and lead the search. She is aided by unexpected Archie, an earnest civil servant, Hoi gor, childhood sweetheart turned merchant-pirate and Jingling, her younger sister keeping secrets of her own. Kiamling must figure out who is behind the incursion and more importantly, how to defeat them.
With British fables mingling with local Chinese monsters, can Kiamling prove herself, when the old rules no longer seem to apply?
Babel meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer - a family of demon hunters find their hands full when unfamiliar monsters start stalking the streets of Opium War-era Hong Kong, in this historical fantasy adventure from No. 1 Sunday Times bestseller Eliza Chan.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication July 28, 2026
About the author
Eliza Chan
24 books363 followersEliza Chan is a Scottish-born fantasy author who writes about East Asian mythology, British folklore and reclaiming the dragon lady, but preferably all three at once. Her short fiction has been published in The Dark, Podcastle, Fantasy Magazine and The Best of British Fantasy.
Her debut novel FATHOMFOLK is inspired by mythology, folklore, East and South-East Asian cities and diaspora feels. It will be published by Orbit in Spring 2024 with the sequel to follow.
In her free time, Eliza can be found tabletop gaming, cosplaying, crafting and toddler wrangling. She lives in Manchester with her family and a sizeable collection of dragons, Totoros and (mostly toy) weapons.
Her debut novel FATHOMFOLK is inspired by mythology, folklore, East and South-East Asian cities and diaspora feels. It will be published by Orbit in Spring 2024 with the sequel to follow.
In her free time, Eliza can be found tabletop gaming, cosplaying, crafting and toddler wrangling. She lives in Manchester with her family and a sizeable collection of dragons, Totoros and (mostly toy) weapons.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
dnf @43% 05/19/26 𖥻𓈒 ꒱ ੭
Unfortunately I'm going to have to dnf this one 😔
I'm so disappointed that this didn't work out for me because I had really high hopes. The premise sounded incredibly fun, but the story felt like it was missing something and never fully captivated me the way I expected it to.
The prose was overly descriptive, which made a lot of the scenes drag and slowed the pacing down significantly. I found the characters quite dull, so I struggled to feel emotionally invested in anyone or anything that was happening. The portrayal of British colonialism was also very watered down.
I was promised epic demon hunting!!! Instead, the entire story felt strangely lacking 🙁
Thank you to Eliza Chan and Orbit Books for the ARC! Harbour of Hungry Ghosts releases July 28, 2026.
────
pre read: 05/03/26 𖥻𓈒 ꒱ ੭
ꗃ aapi read #1
in honour of asian heritage month, what better book to read than a demon hunting epic fantasy set in opium war-era hong kong?!! thank you to the publisher for accepting my arc request within hours 🤭 really hoping this one delivers as i'm in dire need of a good epic fantasy <3
side note: i have SO many promising books planned for aapi month, so i think may will be a really good reading month. i'm excited 🤭
Unfortunately I'm going to have to dnf this one 😔
I'm so disappointed that this didn't work out for me because I had really high hopes. The premise sounded incredibly fun, but the story felt like it was missing something and never fully captivated me the way I expected it to.
The prose was overly descriptive, which made a lot of the scenes drag and slowed the pacing down significantly. I found the characters quite dull, so I struggled to feel emotionally invested in anyone or anything that was happening. The portrayal of British colonialism was also very watered down.
I was promised epic demon hunting!!! Instead, the entire story felt strangely lacking 🙁
Thank you to Eliza Chan and Orbit Books for the ARC! Harbour of Hungry Ghosts releases July 28, 2026.
────
pre read: 05/03/26 𖥻𓈒 ꒱ ੭
ꗃ aapi read #1
in honour of asian heritage month, what better book to read than a demon hunting epic fantasy set in opium war-era hong kong?!! thank you to the publisher for accepting my arc request within hours 🤭 really hoping this one delivers as i'm in dire need of a good epic fantasy <3
side note: i have SO many promising books planned for aapi month, so i think may will be a really good reading month. i'm excited 🤭
Want to Read
March 22, 2026i've been seeing more novels based on/in hong kong lately and it makes me so happy :)) the cover & premise also look amazing!!
May 6, 2026
4.5⭐️
Harbour of Hungry Ghosts was such a unique and thought provoking read! What drew me to this book was not only the gorgeous cover but also the fact that it is set in Hong Kong. As someone who is from British/European background and who’s partner was born and raised in Hong Kong, this book solidified the deep respect and admiration towards the culture and customs that make Hong Kong such a unique city and country, and all the ways the British forcibly attempt to diminish their culture.
We follow the Au family, in particular Kiamling, who serve the people of Hong Kong by blessing their shops, shrines and homes, ensuring the ghosts and spirits are honoured. Kiamling, as the eldest daughter, is expected to take over the family business. As the British disrupt the annual Hungry Ghost festival and her grandmother disappears, Kiamling takes charge of the search alongside the help of Archie, a British civil servant, Jingling, her sister, and Hoi gor, a childhood friend. As Chinese and monsters begin to intermingle with the introduced British folklore, loyalties are tested under the exploration of colonialism.
The historical aspects of this book highlight the profound impact that the British had on the culture, language and built environment of Hong Kong during the beginning of their occupation in the 1800s. Many of the things the British men said in the book enraged me at their efforts to diminish and, at times, try and convert the Hong Kong people’s religion and way of dressing to the “correct British way” when in reality it is an attempt to extinguish the Hong Kong culture (the fact that Archie, who is learning Cantonese can’t even address Kiamling by her read name and instead addresses her as Miss Kim???)
When it clicked to me that the “hungry ghosts” named in the title refers to, of course, the hungry spirits that Kiamling and her family ensure are fed well and honoured, but also the British people due to their hunger to take over the Island of Hong Kong in order to benefit their Empire (also known in Cantonese as ‘gweilo’ - literally meaning ghost person) I was SHOOK by the incredible creativity and complexity of this fantasy novel.
If you love historical fantasy and urban fantasy books about ghost hunters and relationships with A LOT of tension, then you will love this book! Harbour of Hungry Ghosts is releasing on the 28th July.
Harbour of Hungry Ghosts was such a unique and thought provoking read! What drew me to this book was not only the gorgeous cover but also the fact that it is set in Hong Kong. As someone who is from British/European background and who’s partner was born and raised in Hong Kong, this book solidified the deep respect and admiration towards the culture and customs that make Hong Kong such a unique city and country, and all the ways the British forcibly attempt to diminish their culture.
We follow the Au family, in particular Kiamling, who serve the people of Hong Kong by blessing their shops, shrines and homes, ensuring the ghosts and spirits are honoured. Kiamling, as the eldest daughter, is expected to take over the family business. As the British disrupt the annual Hungry Ghost festival and her grandmother disappears, Kiamling takes charge of the search alongside the help of Archie, a British civil servant, Jingling, her sister, and Hoi gor, a childhood friend. As Chinese and monsters begin to intermingle with the introduced British folklore, loyalties are tested under the exploration of colonialism.
The historical aspects of this book highlight the profound impact that the British had on the culture, language and built environment of Hong Kong during the beginning of their occupation in the 1800s. Many of the things the British men said in the book enraged me at their efforts to diminish and, at times, try and convert the Hong Kong people’s religion and way of dressing to the “correct British way” when in reality it is an attempt to extinguish the Hong Kong culture (the fact that Archie, who is learning Cantonese can’t even address Kiamling by her read name and instead addresses her as Miss Kim???)
When it clicked to me that the “hungry ghosts” named in the title refers to, of course, the hungry spirits that Kiamling and her family ensure are fed well and honoured, but also the British people due to their hunger to take over the Island of Hong Kong in order to benefit their Empire (also known in Cantonese as ‘gweilo’ - literally meaning ghost person) I was SHOOK by the incredible creativity and complexity of this fantasy novel.
If you love historical fantasy and urban fantasy books about ghost hunters and relationships with A LOT of tension, then you will love this book! Harbour of Hungry Ghosts is releasing on the 28th July.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
On paper, I loved a lot about what Eliza Chan presented us with in her newest novel. The era and setting is fascinating and there are a lot of really good ideas and themes. I absolutely adored the idea of a colonising/occupying force also bringing with it its very own monsters and myths, and the way these myths collide and engage with the native ones. It's what really made this book shine.
The story is exciting too: a young demon hunter, ostracised but also needed by society and full of ideas to change and improve upon old traditions of her trade that are constantly being shut down by her demon hunter big shot grandmother suddenly has to fend for herself and put all these ideas to the test when said grandmother disappears. Also, of course, she has to find a way to get her grandmother back and last but not least also has to take care of her sister. Lots of different kinds of mythological beings and monsters she has never seen before stand in her way. It's very colourful and very fun while never shying away from the realities of a Hong Kong occupied by the British who not only barely see the actual rightful inhabitants of Hong Kong as worthy human beings, but are all also more or less just biding their time until even the tiniest thing happens that might justify all out war with the Chinese emperor. There is honestly a lot of complexity in the way Chan tells her story and I really commend her for that.
I genuinely had a really good time with all of that premise.
Sadly, I wasn't really enamored with most of the characters involved. The most interesting ones are Kiamling, our protagonist, and her little sister Jingling. Not only do they have an interesting family dynamic as a whole, with lots of trauma and secrets in their past, but their sibling dynamic is also just really well done. Sadly, this is not the central relationship. It's definitely important, but it also regularly takes the back seat for the love interests to be more prominent. And they're just not good at all. The clear main love interest is interesting on paper but also a very predictable kind of character, and the way their relationship progressed didn't make the final I love you feel earned at all. It was a lot of tell and too little show, because what was shown had potential and was at times cute but never provided the kind of depth and development that would organically lead into big love declarations. Which did take away a lot of the emotional punches of later scenes between them. There's also a second love interest and while he, once again, was interesting on paper and provided yet another insight into the historical setting, he was barely a character at all. We were told about the kind of relationship he has with Kiamling and it's clear what Chan was trying to do with them, but I felt him a rather unnecessary addition the the character cast. Or well, at least the fact that he was built up as a love interest, which I do think will take on a more prominent role in a sequel. It does have to be said that the romance is not the major focus of this novel, and everything apart from it is a lot more fun.
There were also some story developments that I felt very a bit on the nose and one bit in the epilogue that made me roll my eyes a little because it suddenly made Kiamling's little gang a MUCH bigger historical deal than I felt made sense for them, but these are admittedly subjective and obviously I wouldn't want to spoil anything.
Still, despite my criticism (and mind you, I'm just a really character driven reader) I do recommend interested readers to check this one out. It's more complex than I first thought, though at times not quite as complex as I was then hoping it would be. It has a good protagonist you can easily root for and that is allowed to have flaws while also not being the most beautiful girl ever to walk the Earth, which I'm always grateful for, there's a really well done sister dynamic that has potential to become even better, the fantastical parts of the world building are great and the historical parts fascinating and enraging at the same time. A quintessential 3 star book that I'm sure will find its audience.
Many thanks to Orbit/ Little Brown Book Group and Netgalley for the arc!
The story is exciting too: a young demon hunter, ostracised but also needed by society and full of ideas to change and improve upon old traditions of her trade that are constantly being shut down by her demon hunter big shot grandmother suddenly has to fend for herself and put all these ideas to the test when said grandmother disappears. Also, of course, she has to find a way to get her grandmother back and last but not least also has to take care of her sister. Lots of different kinds of mythological beings and monsters she has never seen before stand in her way. It's very colourful and very fun while never shying away from the realities of a Hong Kong occupied by the British who not only barely see the actual rightful inhabitants of Hong Kong as worthy human beings, but are all also more or less just biding their time until even the tiniest thing happens that might justify all out war with the Chinese emperor. There is honestly a lot of complexity in the way Chan tells her story and I really commend her for that.
I genuinely had a really good time with all of that premise.
Sadly, I wasn't really enamored with most of the characters involved. The most interesting ones are Kiamling, our protagonist, and her little sister Jingling. Not only do they have an interesting family dynamic as a whole, with lots of trauma and secrets in their past, but their sibling dynamic is also just really well done. Sadly, this is not the central relationship. It's definitely important, but it also regularly takes the back seat for the love interests to be more prominent. And they're just not good at all. The clear main love interest is interesting on paper but also a very predictable kind of character, and the way their relationship progressed didn't make the final I love you feel earned at all. It was a lot of tell and too little show, because what was shown had potential and was at times cute but never provided the kind of depth and development that would organically lead into big love declarations. Which did take away a lot of the emotional punches of later scenes between them. There's also a second love interest and while he, once again, was interesting on paper and provided yet another insight into the historical setting, he was barely a character at all. We were told about the kind of relationship he has with Kiamling and it's clear what Chan was trying to do with them, but I felt him a rather unnecessary addition the the character cast. Or well, at least the fact that he was built up as a love interest, which I do think will take on a more prominent role in a sequel. It does have to be said that the romance is not the major focus of this novel, and everything apart from it is a lot more fun.
There were also some story developments that I felt very a bit on the nose and one bit in the epilogue that made me roll my eyes a little because it suddenly made Kiamling's little gang a MUCH bigger historical deal than I felt made sense for them, but these are admittedly subjective and obviously I wouldn't want to spoil anything.
Still, despite my criticism (and mind you, I'm just a really character driven reader) I do recommend interested readers to check this one out. It's more complex than I first thought, though at times not quite as complex as I was then hoping it would be. It has a good protagonist you can easily root for and that is allowed to have flaws while also not being the most beautiful girl ever to walk the Earth, which I'm always grateful for, there's a really well done sister dynamic that has potential to become even better, the fantastical parts of the world building are great and the historical parts fascinating and enraging at the same time. A quintessential 3 star book that I'm sure will find its audience.
Many thanks to Orbit/ Little Brown Book Group and Netgalley for the arc!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Orbit Books and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
First of all, what a beautiful cover! Harbour of Hungry Ghosts by Eliza Chan is an amazing historical fantasy that features Hong Kong and the Cantonese language. The story revolves around Kiamling, the oldest daughter of a family of exorcists. When her grandmother is kidnapped by a monster, it's up to Kiamling and a group of unlikely allies to defeat the monsters and find the culprit who released these monsters into the world. Will Kiamling be able to find her inner strength and banish these monsters from Hong Kong? And will she end up finding love along the way?
Here is an enchanting excerpt from Chapter 1:
"The dozens of joss sticks had already burnt to red spikes, ash like ribbons of shed snakeskin, and still Por Por had not returned. Kiamling threw another handful of hell notes onto the fire. They curled up in the flames, bright as tiger stripes before fading into the darkness. The heat rose to greet her. White and orange tongues flickered hungrily against the shadows between sunset and nightfall, the living and the dead.
Back in Canton, an auspicious date would have been chosen for the ceremony. Preparations and offerings made for days beforehand. Here they only had one night. Kiamling was tempted to start the ritual without her grandmother. She knew exactly what needed to be done."
Overall, Harbour of Hungry Ghosts is a wonderful #ownvoices fantasy novel that will appeal to fans of The Ghost Bride and Jentry Chau vs the Underworld. One highlight of this book is how it is an #ownvoices novel. My parents were immigrants from Hong Kong, and I grew up speaking Cantonese, so I can't explain how validating and emotional it felt to see these aspects of my culture in a fantasy novel. This is one of very few times when I've seen this happen, I can't support the author enough for having Asian representation, particularly people from Hong Kong, in this novel.
Another highlight of this book is how fast-paced it was. Although this book is on the longer side, I sped through it because I had to know what happened next. I also loved how the author blended British myths with Chinese ones. If I had to complain about 1 thing, I would have to say that I wasn't a fan of the romance. While I don't mind romance in fantasy novels, and I am actually a huge fan of romantasy, I just wasn't really rooting for the main couple to end up together. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of fantasy books in general, I highly recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in July!
First of all, what a beautiful cover! Harbour of Hungry Ghosts by Eliza Chan is an amazing historical fantasy that features Hong Kong and the Cantonese language. The story revolves around Kiamling, the oldest daughter of a family of exorcists. When her grandmother is kidnapped by a monster, it's up to Kiamling and a group of unlikely allies to defeat the monsters and find the culprit who released these monsters into the world. Will Kiamling be able to find her inner strength and banish these monsters from Hong Kong? And will she end up finding love along the way?
Here is an enchanting excerpt from Chapter 1:
"The dozens of joss sticks had already burnt to red spikes, ash like ribbons of shed snakeskin, and still Por Por had not returned. Kiamling threw another handful of hell notes onto the fire. They curled up in the flames, bright as tiger stripes before fading into the darkness. The heat rose to greet her. White and orange tongues flickered hungrily against the shadows between sunset and nightfall, the living and the dead.
Back in Canton, an auspicious date would have been chosen for the ceremony. Preparations and offerings made for days beforehand. Here they only had one night. Kiamling was tempted to start the ritual without her grandmother. She knew exactly what needed to be done."
Overall, Harbour of Hungry Ghosts is a wonderful #ownvoices fantasy novel that will appeal to fans of The Ghost Bride and Jentry Chau vs the Underworld. One highlight of this book is how it is an #ownvoices novel. My parents were immigrants from Hong Kong, and I grew up speaking Cantonese, so I can't explain how validating and emotional it felt to see these aspects of my culture in a fantasy novel. This is one of very few times when I've seen this happen, I can't support the author enough for having Asian representation, particularly people from Hong Kong, in this novel.
Another highlight of this book is how fast-paced it was. Although this book is on the longer side, I sped through it because I had to know what happened next. I also loved how the author blended British myths with Chinese ones. If I had to complain about 1 thing, I would have to say that I wasn't a fan of the romance. While I don't mind romance in fantasy novels, and I am actually a huge fan of romantasy, I just wasn't really rooting for the main couple to end up together. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of fantasy books in general, I highly recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in July!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Oh I really didn’t enjoy this book. A month for me to read a fiction book is eternity. On paper it should have been a perfect book for me, young woman and her grandmother fight demons and try to settle hungry ghosts in Hong Kong as the British start… invading. There is some additional parts that mention witchcraft from the uk but not as much as I’d hoped. I guess I’d hoped for Buffy meets charmed where everyone gets on well and fight the demons and look after the hungry ghosts finding a shared purpose and make friends……….
I think, as a white British person, the red flag should have been the time this was set. Maybe if it had been before the British got there it would have been more enjoyable and that’s my fault for not thinking the book through. I’ve read enough history to realise this was not a good time, maybe I thought it was fiction and everyone would be lovely.
The British were horrific, the racism was just horrible to read and the guilt I felt was not nice. I know other people might not take that on board or not struggle with it but I spent much of the book cringing. I think if you have any sense you will realise there was extremely bad behaviour towards non white people in Hong Kong, it did feel even worse with the current political climate. It made me think how humans can just behave so badly. I guess that’s not what I enjoy in a book.
I did not really notice the romance, others might.
The protagonist and her sister were characters I liked but I wanted them to just get out of the place they were in. The action was never ending and felt overwhelming.
Why, with all the complaints, is it a 4 ⭐️. Well I’ve never written a book. This is a very well written book and if you are interested in demons, hungry ghosts, lots mystical action and Hong Kong and Western imperialism then you will love this book. I could imagine it being a film and it doing very well.
I can see a set up for another book and it’s set in the uk, I think. I would want to read it but think I would be scared to. I’m glad I read this, it reaffirmed how awful British imperialism was and whilst I don’t think any of my ancestors left Wales or moved far beyond the mines the sense of collective guilt for racism can’t be a bad thing.
I hope it does well and I’m sure it will find its readers, Sod’s Law it will be the new Hunger games and I do thing I would have loved it before I’d had my son and gone totally soft.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing this book for my consideration, this is all my own extremely rambling, honest and personal opinion.
I think, as a white British person, the red flag should have been the time this was set. Maybe if it had been before the British got there it would have been more enjoyable and that’s my fault for not thinking the book through. I’ve read enough history to realise this was not a good time, maybe I thought it was fiction and everyone would be lovely.
The British were horrific, the racism was just horrible to read and the guilt I felt was not nice. I know other people might not take that on board or not struggle with it but I spent much of the book cringing. I think if you have any sense you will realise there was extremely bad behaviour towards non white people in Hong Kong, it did feel even worse with the current political climate. It made me think how humans can just behave so badly. I guess that’s not what I enjoy in a book.
I did not really notice the romance, others might.
The protagonist and her sister were characters I liked but I wanted them to just get out of the place they were in. The action was never ending and felt overwhelming.
Why, with all the complaints, is it a 4 ⭐️. Well I’ve never written a book. This is a very well written book and if you are interested in demons, hungry ghosts, lots mystical action and Hong Kong and Western imperialism then you will love this book. I could imagine it being a film and it doing very well.
I can see a set up for another book and it’s set in the uk, I think. I would want to read it but think I would be scared to. I’m glad I read this, it reaffirmed how awful British imperialism was and whilst I don’t think any of my ancestors left Wales or moved far beyond the mines the sense of collective guilt for racism can’t be a bad thing.
I hope it does well and I’m sure it will find its readers, Sod’s Law it will be the new Hunger games and I do thing I would have loved it before I’d had my son and gone totally soft.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing this book for my consideration, this is all my own extremely rambling, honest and personal opinion.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
📚 Harbour of Hungry Ghosts
By Eliza Chan
Pub Date: 28 July 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Harbour of Hungry Ghosts delivers a richly atmospheric blend of historical fantasy, folklore, and monster hunting set against the backdrop of Opium War-era Hong Kong—and honestly, the premise alone had me hooked.
Eliza Chan creates a world where Chinese mythology collides with British folklore in such a fresh and fascinating way. The concept of a family tasked with honouring the dead while battling supernatural threats felt incredibly original, and I loved how deeply rooted the story was in culture, tradition, and history.
Kiamling was a compelling protagonist—strong, determined, and carrying the heavy burden of family expectations. Her relationship with her strict grandmother added emotional depth, while the supporting cast brought plenty of intrigue. I especially enjoyed the childhood sweetheart turned merchant-pirate angle (because who doesn’t love a little tension 👀).
The real standout for me was the setting. Hong Kong during the Opium War felt vivid, immersive, and alive, with the Hungry Ghost Festival adding such a hauntingly beautiful layer to the story. The monsters were imaginative, eerie, and made the story feel like Buffy meets historical fantasy in the best possible way.
At times, the pacing slowed in places where I wanted the action to move faster, but the rich world-building and unique mythology kept me invested throughout.
Overall, this was an imaginative and culturally rich fantasy filled with monsters, family duty, folklore, and historical intrigue. If you love stories like Babel mixed with supernatural action similar to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, this one is definitely worth adding to your TBR.
Perfect for readers who love:
✨ Historical fantasy
✨ Mythology & folklore
✨ Monster hunters
✨ Family drama
✨ Strong female leads
✨ Atmospheric settings
#BookReview #HarbourOfHungryGhosts #ElizaChan #HistoricalFantasy #FantasyBooks
By Eliza Chan
Pub Date: 28 July 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Harbour of Hungry Ghosts delivers a richly atmospheric blend of historical fantasy, folklore, and monster hunting set against the backdrop of Opium War-era Hong Kong—and honestly, the premise alone had me hooked.
Eliza Chan creates a world where Chinese mythology collides with British folklore in such a fresh and fascinating way. The concept of a family tasked with honouring the dead while battling supernatural threats felt incredibly original, and I loved how deeply rooted the story was in culture, tradition, and history.
Kiamling was a compelling protagonist—strong, determined, and carrying the heavy burden of family expectations. Her relationship with her strict grandmother added emotional depth, while the supporting cast brought plenty of intrigue. I especially enjoyed the childhood sweetheart turned merchant-pirate angle (because who doesn’t love a little tension 👀).
The real standout for me was the setting. Hong Kong during the Opium War felt vivid, immersive, and alive, with the Hungry Ghost Festival adding such a hauntingly beautiful layer to the story. The monsters were imaginative, eerie, and made the story feel like Buffy meets historical fantasy in the best possible way.
At times, the pacing slowed in places where I wanted the action to move faster, but the rich world-building and unique mythology kept me invested throughout.
Overall, this was an imaginative and culturally rich fantasy filled with monsters, family duty, folklore, and historical intrigue. If you love stories like Babel mixed with supernatural action similar to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, this one is definitely worth adding to your TBR.
Perfect for readers who love:
✨ Historical fantasy
✨ Mythology & folklore
✨ Monster hunters
✨ Family drama
✨ Strong female leads
✨ Atmospheric settings
#BookReview #HarbourOfHungryGhosts #ElizaChan #HistoricalFantasy #FantasyBooks
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Orbit Books and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review.
The Au family have been yiugwai (demon) hunters for generations. Family legend says their line leads all the way back to the sister of the god of demon hunting himself, Chung Kwai. As the eldest daughter, Kiamling shoulders the responsibility of carrying on the family legacy, taught and guided by her grandmother's painstakingly official ways. Since the British have claimed Hong Kong as a colony, they have gotten in the way of the local customs and traditions. After disrupting the Hungry Ghosts festival, a dangerous new beast appears and seizes Kiamling's grandmother. Together with her sister, a childhood friend, and an English gentleman, Kiamling must exorcise the new beasts and save her grandmother before it's too late.
I've loved mythology and folklore inspired stories ever since I got into the Percy Jackson series in middle school! The blending of European and East Asian mythology in Harbour of Hungry Ghosts was something I never knew I needed! I adored each of Kiamling's relationships. Her grandmother putting her under intense pressure while always lecturing without praise. Her sweet and friendly sister who is always by her side but whose dreams may not be the family ideal. Her childhood friend who ran away heartbroken years ago but has returned as a merchant-pirate. The slightly awkward and endearing English civil servant who came from a humble background as a scholarship student and wants to improve his Cantonese. They all make for such an interesting and lively crew! Hitting on themes of colonization, racism, greed, tradition, family, and love, this historical fantasy was everything I wanted and more!
The Au family have been yiugwai (demon) hunters for generations. Family legend says their line leads all the way back to the sister of the god of demon hunting himself, Chung Kwai. As the eldest daughter, Kiamling shoulders the responsibility of carrying on the family legacy, taught and guided by her grandmother's painstakingly official ways. Since the British have claimed Hong Kong as a colony, they have gotten in the way of the local customs and traditions. After disrupting the Hungry Ghosts festival, a dangerous new beast appears and seizes Kiamling's grandmother. Together with her sister, a childhood friend, and an English gentleman, Kiamling must exorcise the new beasts and save her grandmother before it's too late.
I've loved mythology and folklore inspired stories ever since I got into the Percy Jackson series in middle school! The blending of European and East Asian mythology in Harbour of Hungry Ghosts was something I never knew I needed! I adored each of Kiamling's relationships. Her grandmother putting her under intense pressure while always lecturing without praise. Her sweet and friendly sister who is always by her side but whose dreams may not be the family ideal. Her childhood friend who ran away heartbroken years ago but has returned as a merchant-pirate. The slightly awkward and endearing English civil servant who came from a humble background as a scholarship student and wants to improve his Cantonese. They all make for such an interesting and lively crew! Hitting on themes of colonization, racism, greed, tradition, family, and love, this historical fantasy was everything I wanted and more!
Did Not Finish
May 18, 2026 Thank you to Netgalley and Little brown books/Orbit UK for the eARC
There is a lot working for “Harbour of hungry ghosts”. The setting, to begin with. Historical, with tweaks to fit with the author’s vision, but still keeping a good sense of the “reality” of Hong Kong at that time period. Richness of the culture and spirituality, too, with the ghosts and the talismans, imbued into the world, colliding with the religion and monsters from the colonisers. The atmosphere is a little gritty, showing the complexities of the colonial impact.
Then comes the theme of family. And finding your place, making it, centered around a young main character, still learning her trade from her grand-mother, trying to keep food on the table for them and her little sister. Of course things get complicated, what with the new monsters and everything, as well as some sort of romantic subplot.
On paper, things I could enjoy a lot. In reality, I couldn’t get into it. I don’t really know why. It’s not badly written. There are enough things going on to make it interesting, as stated above. The characters are nice enough. But they felt too shielded away for me to care about what was happening. Maybe because a lot of elements are very well known if you have read a lot of fantasy books. It was similar enough that my mind simply blanked off and wanted to skip ahead, not having something new enough to latch upon.
Honestly, I’m a bit sad I couldn’t get into it. Reading something familiar isn’t an issue most of the time, especially with a setting that hasn’t been that used yet. But, well, here it didn’t work for me.
Despite all this, I think it will appeal to a good readership, interested in the impact of colonisation, angry female character and a good pinch of ghosts.
There is a lot working for “Harbour of hungry ghosts”. The setting, to begin with. Historical, with tweaks to fit with the author’s vision, but still keeping a good sense of the “reality” of Hong Kong at that time period. Richness of the culture and spirituality, too, with the ghosts and the talismans, imbued into the world, colliding with the religion and monsters from the colonisers. The atmosphere is a little gritty, showing the complexities of the colonial impact.
Then comes the theme of family. And finding your place, making it, centered around a young main character, still learning her trade from her grand-mother, trying to keep food on the table for them and her little sister. Of course things get complicated, what with the new monsters and everything, as well as some sort of romantic subplot.
On paper, things I could enjoy a lot. In reality, I couldn’t get into it. I don’t really know why. It’s not badly written. There are enough things going on to make it interesting, as stated above. The characters are nice enough. But they felt too shielded away for me to care about what was happening. Maybe because a lot of elements are very well known if you have read a lot of fantasy books. It was similar enough that my mind simply blanked off and wanted to skip ahead, not having something new enough to latch upon.
Honestly, I’m a bit sad I couldn’t get into it. Reading something familiar isn’t an issue most of the time, especially with a setting that hasn’t been that used yet. But, well, here it didn’t work for me.
Despite all this, I think it will appeal to a good readership, interested in the impact of colonisation, angry female character and a good pinch of ghosts.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book is little history, a little fantasy, folklore, romance, and demon slaying all encased in a pretty cover. The story takes place during the early part of the British occupation of Hong Kong and the Opium Wars. With all of the British arriving, it only makes sense that they bring their myths and lore with them. And when the foreign fabled monsters start making mischief, it falls on the local demon hunter to deal with the mess. Kiamling is a bit of a mess, herself, an imperfect protagonist with family issues, romantic issues, and a need to grow up (though she is sure that she knows everything already). The adventure packs some action as well as a mystery, but the strength of the story lies in the progression of Kiamling as she learns and matures. The other central characters, her sister, her recently returned childhood friend, and the Brit who is determined to make her his tutor, shine in their own way and add more charm to the story. The twist as the mystery unravels was interesting and I am curious to see where the sequel takes the main characters. Overall, an entertaining read for anyone who wants a bit of a monster mystery with a romp through nineteenth century Hong Kong.
I received access to this eARC thru NetGalley (for which I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher, Orbit Books) for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own.
I received access to this eARC thru NetGalley (for which I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher, Orbit Books) for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
"You are a stubborn bull, an iron-beaked chicken, a ghost-stirrer, but not a two-faced snake. You think I've never thought a bad word about you and Por Por before? Wanted to villain-hit the pair of you? We all have those feelings. We're only human."
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ || 🫑
Oh fantasy, how I have missed you. 🥹 Harbour of Hungry Ghosts was the PERFECT book to pull me out of my romance era and straight back into epic fantasy.
Described as Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets Babel, the story follows Kiamling, the eldest daughter of a family of demon hunters in 19th-century Hong Kong. When her grandmother, Por Por, is kidnapped by an insidious monster, Kiamling sets out on a dangerous mission to bring her home.
This story felt so clever and original. It’s culturally rich, witty, atmospheric, and packed with action right until the very end. I absolutely loved Kiamling in all her stubborn, naïve, flawed glory. She is brave, resilient, determined, occasionally hilarious, and at times SO frustrating that I wanted to shake her through the pages. 🤣
The found family dynamics were one of my favourite parts of the book. The banter between the characters genuinely made me laugh out loud and balanced the darker moments perfectly.
This feels like the start of a truly incredible fantasy series and I already cannot wait to see where the story goes next. ✨
Thank you so much to @orbitbooks_uk for the ARC!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ || 🫑
Oh fantasy, how I have missed you. 🥹 Harbour of Hungry Ghosts was the PERFECT book to pull me out of my romance era and straight back into epic fantasy.
Described as Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets Babel, the story follows Kiamling, the eldest daughter of a family of demon hunters in 19th-century Hong Kong. When her grandmother, Por Por, is kidnapped by an insidious monster, Kiamling sets out on a dangerous mission to bring her home.
This story felt so clever and original. It’s culturally rich, witty, atmospheric, and packed with action right until the very end. I absolutely loved Kiamling in all her stubborn, naïve, flawed glory. She is brave, resilient, determined, occasionally hilarious, and at times SO frustrating that I wanted to shake her through the pages. 🤣
The found family dynamics were one of my favourite parts of the book. The banter between the characters genuinely made me laugh out loud and balanced the darker moments perfectly.
This feels like the start of a truly incredible fantasy series and I already cannot wait to see where the story goes next. ✨
Thank you so much to @orbitbooks_uk for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The worldbuilding of Harbour of Hungry Ghosts is amazing if you're like me and unfamiliar with this period of Chinese history, culture, and customs. The magic system is tied into those things, which gives it a grounded quality. Chan is so successful with the immersion that everything feels real. The strong themes surrounding the complexity of family relationships and expectations, as well as relevant feminist issues, are worked cohesively into the storylines. The friction of British economic imperialism in China is enhanced by a blending of Chinese and British folklore.
I have to say that Kiamling is probably one of the most frustrating main characters I’ve ever read. This is part of her coming-of-age style character arc, but she really infuriated me at times. I did enjoy the developing relationship between Kiamling and Archie–it’s the sort of subtle, slow-burn you might find in a Leigh Bardugo book.
The dialogue and prose has a youthful modernity that took me out of the historical setting a number of times, making me forget we were in mid-19th-century China; it felt like we were actually in the mid-20th-century. That being said, I think a modern prose versus a more historical one will resonate better with most readers, so this is very much a Me Problem.
Thanks to Orbit for the eARC via NetGalley.
I have to say that Kiamling is probably one of the most frustrating main characters I’ve ever read. This is part of her coming-of-age style character arc, but she really infuriated me at times. I did enjoy the developing relationship between Kiamling and Archie–it’s the sort of subtle, slow-burn you might find in a Leigh Bardugo book.
The dialogue and prose has a youthful modernity that took me out of the historical setting a number of times, making me forget we were in mid-19th-century China; it felt like we were actually in the mid-20th-century. That being said, I think a modern prose versus a more historical one will resonate better with most readers, so this is very much a Me Problem.
Thanks to Orbit for the eARC via NetGalley.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Babel meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Kpop Demon Hunters.
A historical fantasy set in Opium War-era Hong Kong, following a dysfunctional family of demon hunters.
With an epic cover, a blurb that ticked all my boxes, and enjoying Chan’s previous duology; I was excited.
Sadly, this featured a main character who was so arrogant and proud, she was annoying to follow. There was little character development and it mainly relied on the other characters standing up to her.
The romance didn’t know what it wanted to be.
A love triangle? A tragedy? A love triangle? A cultural bridging? I didn’t fall for any of it, partially due to the main character’s self-obsessiveness.
The action scenes were good, but the book was packed full of them which became repetitive.
The folklore mixed with the historical setting of Britain occupying Hong Kong worked quite well and I appreciated how Chan critiqued the historical period.
Alas, a miss for me.
Physical arc gifted by Orbit.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
A historical fantasy set in Opium War-era Hong Kong, following a dysfunctional family of demon hunters.
With an epic cover, a blurb that ticked all my boxes, and enjoying Chan’s previous duology; I was excited.
Sadly, this featured a main character who was so arrogant and proud, she was annoying to follow. There was little character development and it mainly relied on the other characters standing up to her.
The romance didn’t know what it wanted to be.
A love triangle? A tragedy? A love triangle? A cultural bridging? I didn’t fall for any of it, partially due to the main character’s self-obsessiveness.
The action scenes were good, but the book was packed full of them which became repetitive.
The folklore mixed with the historical setting of Britain occupying Hong Kong worked quite well and I appreciated how Chan critiqued the historical period.
Alas, a miss for me.
Physical arc gifted by Orbit.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really really wanted to love this book. It is being marketed as for Buffy fans, and its main premise is a Hellmouth opening in Victorian Hong Kong! The setting is great! The cultural details are strong. The protagonist undergoes a major journey of development. The family connections are charming and real. The horrific British racist assholes are authentic. The local Chinese collaborators are stuck between a rock and a hard place. The use of Cantonese instead of Mandarin is refreshing and culturally fascinating.
And yet, the pace is glacial, even in the (many) action scenes. I am normally a fast reader, but it took me three days to get through this because it just...lagged. The characters who weren't Au Kiamling were largely mere sketches. The monster fights were repetitive. The whole novel felt both weirdly bloated and insufficiently detailed at the same time. Which was disappointing and frustrating.
And yet, the pace is glacial, even in the (many) action scenes. I am normally a fast reader, but it took me three days to get through this because it just...lagged. The characters who weren't Au Kiamling were largely mere sketches. The monster fights were repetitive. The whole novel felt both weirdly bloated and insufficiently detailed at the same time. Which was disappointing and frustrating.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Dnf at 56%
3.5 stars
I was enjoying the first 30%, but as the story moves forward, it feels like nothing is happening. I might be missing the point of why this story is being told this way. I expected more action to move the plot forward. I was enjoying the historical aspects. I wish the characters had more substance. I can’t connect to them which makes it hard for me to care about what is going on. I’m disappointed that I didn’t enjoy this book. I was excited to get to read this book early. I usually like most books that I request or read from Orbit. Sadly, this book wasn’t for me. I’m sure it will find its audience.
Thank you to NetGalley, Eliza Chan, and Orbit for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars
I was enjoying the first 30%, but as the story moves forward, it feels like nothing is happening. I might be missing the point of why this story is being told this way. I expected more action to move the plot forward. I was enjoying the historical aspects. I wish the characters had more substance. I can’t connect to them which makes it hard for me to care about what is going on. I’m disappointed that I didn’t enjoy this book. I was excited to get to read this book early. I usually like most books that I request or read from Orbit. Sadly, this book wasn’t for me. I’m sure it will find its audience.
Thank you to NetGalley, Eliza Chan, and Orbit for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
May 12, 2026
3.5 rounded up for Goodreads and Netgalley.
It was an atmospheric and compelling read. It was also gritty and mysterious. The plot was quite interesting, and there was also a tense political climate that added some layers to the novel. The main characters were overall well-developed and flawed. I liked the relationship between the sisters the most. I just did not really understand the need to add some romantic undertones between two characters. I believe it was unnecessary. I would still absolutely recommend this book though.
Thank you to Netgalley for an e-ARC in exchange for a honest review.
It was an atmospheric and compelling read. It was also gritty and mysterious. The plot was quite interesting, and there was also a tense political climate that added some layers to the novel. The main characters were overall well-developed and flawed. I liked the relationship between the sisters the most. I just did not really understand the need to add some romantic undertones between two characters. I believe it was unnecessary. I would still absolutely recommend this book though.
Thank you to Netgalley for an e-ARC in exchange for a honest review.
May 14, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown Book Group for the arc of Harbour of Hungry Ghosts.
I really loved this; the setting, the historic details, the characters and the family relationships. I was sure this would be a 5 ⭐️ read but I just didn’t love the ending. I didn’t realise this wasn’t a standalone so I was expecting something different, now I need to eagerly await the sequel and hope for the ending I wanted!
There’s so much to enjoy here though, the fusion of history, folklore and family legacy - it’s definitely one I will reread.
I really loved this; the setting, the historic details, the characters and the family relationships. I was sure this would be a 5 ⭐️ read but I just didn’t love the ending. I didn’t realise this wasn’t a standalone so I was expecting something different, now I need to eagerly await the sequel and hope for the ending I wanted!
There’s so much to enjoy here though, the fusion of history, folklore and family legacy - it’s definitely one I will reread.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
a woman returns home after her mother’s death and ends up caught between ghosts, family drama, and growing tension between spirits and humans in a supernatural hong kong. the atmosphere here sounds insane.. haunted city, messy grief, angry ghosts, political tension.. like everyone desperately needs therapy but instead they’re dealing with supernatural chaos.
👻 ghosts, spirits, and supernatural hong kong
🖤 family grief + generational conflict
🏙️ urban fantasy with political tension
👻 ghosts, spirits, and supernatural hong kong
🖤 family grief + generational conflict
🏙️ urban fantasy with political tension
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Loved the story of Kiamlingand her family loved the monster hunting this is a very good fantasy story highly reccomened
Review of advance copy received from Author
With a vibrant world, non-stop demon-slaying action, and a stubborn mess of a main character you can’t help but root for, Harbour of Hungry Ghosts explores colonialism and the weight of familial expectations, set against the backdrop of a Hong Kong where Chinese folklore clashes with the intruding British. Propulsive, fun, and complex: this is the monster-hunting fantasy I’ve been craving! If you liked Foul Days, you'll love this one.
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