What do you think?
Rate this book
China Shadow
new- copy-quick ship- --b2420
448 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1974
About the author
Clarissa Ross
64 books15 followersWilliam Edward Daniel Ross, W. E. Daniel "Dan" Ross (born 1912) is a bestselling Canadian novelist from Saint John, New Brunswick who wrote over 300 books in a variety of genres and under a variety of mostly female pseudonyms such as Laura Frances Brooks, Lydia Colby, Rose Dana, Jan Daniels, Ross Olin, Diane Randall, Clarissa Ross, Leslie Ames, Ruth Dorset, Ann Gilmer, Jane Rossiter, Dan Ross, Dana Ross, Marilyn Ross, Dan Roberts, and W.E.D. Ross. As Marilyn Ross he wrote popular Gothic fiction including a series of novels about the vampire Barnabas Collins based on the American TV series Dark Shadows (1966-71).
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 20, 2013
I give it 3.5.
It's often silly & the writing is littered with flaws, but this book has a certain charm. The inclusion of Charles Dickens as a character has made me reconsider the purpose behind such plot devices as the bizarrely comic burial scene (worst funeral ever, y'all), the skeevy madhouse (a staple in 1860s/70s sensational fic), & Flora's unbelievable innocence at the beginning of her adventures (literal & metaphorical virginity is the starting point for most Victorian heroines) -- not to mention (revealed at the last possible moment, but entirely expected if you're familiar with genre tropes). In fact, the more I mull over everything in my mind, the more I suspect a certain purpose behind this one, warts & all. China Shadow isn't a bodice-ripper, & it's barely even a gothic romance -- rather, it's a sensational novel with gothic elements, much like Dickens or Mary Elizabeth Braddon. Taken as a whole, this book is a sloppy homage to penny-dreadful sensation storytelling of the mid-Victorian period.
So...yeah. While it's 'trash' in the sensational sense, with plenty of goofy WTFery to keep the entertainment factor rolling, I do think there's a healthy sense of literary roots & appreciation of Dickens, Braddon, etc. (Lady Dudley's Secret? I SEE WHAT YOU DID THAR, Dan Ross. >:D) I also liked the way the romance was resolved -- a bunnies-and-rainbows HEA wasn't wedged into the plot, but rather we're shown the first glimmer of what will become a HEA after time has passed.
It's unfortunate that Ross's writing isn't up to par with others of his ilk. I don't recommend them to general audiences because the quality varies & the narrative ticks can make a bumpy ride, especially in his longer novels. But I do think the sprawling Ross oeuvre has merit in the context of campy 70s paperbacks. His style is something of an acquired taste, like chai tea without milk. (And yes, I love chai without milk. Don't judge.)
It's often silly & the writing is littered with flaws, but this book has a certain charm. The inclusion of Charles Dickens as a character has made me reconsider the purpose behind such plot devices as the bizarrely comic burial scene (worst funeral ever, y'all), the skeevy madhouse (a staple in 1860s/70s sensational fic), & Flora's unbelievable innocence at the beginning of her adventures (literal & metaphorical virginity is the starting point for most Victorian heroines) -- not to mention (revealed at the last possible moment, but entirely expected if you're familiar with genre tropes). In fact, the more I mull over everything in my mind, the more I suspect a certain purpose behind this one, warts & all. China Shadow isn't a bodice-ripper, & it's barely even a gothic romance -- rather, it's a sensational novel with gothic elements, much like Dickens or Mary Elizabeth Braddon. Taken as a whole, this book is a sloppy homage to penny-dreadful sensation storytelling of the mid-Victorian period.
So...yeah. While it's 'trash' in the sensational sense, with plenty of goofy WTFery to keep the entertainment factor rolling, I do think there's a healthy sense of literary roots & appreciation of Dickens, Braddon, etc. (Lady Dudley's Secret? I SEE WHAT YOU DID THAR, Dan Ross. >:D) I also liked the way the romance was resolved -- a bunnies-and-rainbows HEA wasn't wedged into the plot, but rather we're shown the first glimmer of what will become a HEA after time has passed.
It's unfortunate that Ross's writing isn't up to par with others of his ilk. I don't recommend them to general audiences because the quality varies & the narrative ticks can make a bumpy ride, especially in his longer novels. But I do think the sprawling Ross oeuvre has merit in the context of campy 70s paperbacks. His style is something of an acquired taste, like chai tea without milk. (And yes, I love chai without milk. Don't judge.)
August 24, 2026
China Shadow relies almost entirely on cliches and set pieces, which still manage to be entertaining at times.
Unfortunately, it is wildly miscategorised and the blurb presents it as something completely different. It is marketed as a passionate romance, but this novel is predominantly a historical drama. There is very little romance at all, and the romantic subplots are written as just that - subplots secondary to the main drama, with absolutely no insight whatsoever into Flora's feelings, thoughts, or state of mind.
As a romance, this was absolutely awful - almost unparalleled in how atrocious it is. As a historical drama, it is mediocre, and let down by a truly horrific ending. The pulpiness is fun, and nearly works, up until that absolutely dreadful final plot twist.
This was written in the 70s (I believe) so I was certainly expecting some political incorrectness, which is what I got. However, Flora encourages one of the characters to be proud of her Chinese heritage, which I really appreciated because it shows that the racial missteps throughout the book were a simple sign of the times and the author is not actually racist.
But this goodwill was completely undone by that damn ending. I'll put it in a spoiler just in case, even though I would highly recommend nobody read this book ever.
Even if this was upfront about being a historical drama and not a romance, the writing was still middling and relies too much on tropes while having basically no innovation or unique flair.
The fact that this was marketed as a romance just makes the novel even more atrocious - possibly this is the publisher's fault and not the author's. But there is no romantic feeling in this novel whatsoever - it's actually quite impressive how detached the romance felt, like a Victorian gentleman writer. (And this book was, in fact, written by a man under a female pen name. There's nothing wrong with that, but at least WRITE ROMANCE PROPERLY if you're going to do that, otherwise what's even the point!)
The female pen name makes me think that Ross genuinely was trying to write a romance, since the only real reason for a man to write under a female pen name is if he's writing romance because a romance written by a woman is far more marketable than that written by a man (especially in those days).
I nearly gave this 2 stars - it was entertaining in parts and a wild ride- but have dropped down to 1 star since I felt horribly misled by the blurb marketing this as a romance, and even if it had been correctly marketed as a historical drama, the romantic subplots were still atrociously written. Finally, the racist ending really clinched that 1 star, I cannot in good conscience give it more than that. I love pulpy crazy shit, but not when it ends up being racist.
Unfortunately, it is wildly miscategorised and the blurb presents it as something completely different. It is marketed as a passionate romance, but this novel is predominantly a historical drama. There is very little romance at all, and the romantic subplots are written as just that - subplots secondary to the main drama, with absolutely no insight whatsoever into Flora's feelings, thoughts, or state of mind.
As a romance, this was absolutely awful - almost unparalleled in how atrocious it is. As a historical drama, it is mediocre, and let down by a truly horrific ending. The pulpiness is fun, and nearly works, up until that absolutely dreadful final plot twist.
This was written in the 70s (I believe) so I was certainly expecting some political incorrectness, which is what I got. However, Flora encourages one of the characters to be proud of her Chinese heritage, which I really appreciated because it shows that the racial missteps throughout the book were a simple sign of the times and the author is not actually racist.
But this goodwill was completely undone by that damn ending. I'll put it in a spoiler just in case, even though I would highly recommend nobody read this book ever.
Even if this was upfront about being a historical drama and not a romance, the writing was still middling and relies too much on tropes while having basically no innovation or unique flair.
The fact that this was marketed as a romance just makes the novel even more atrocious - possibly this is the publisher's fault and not the author's. But there is no romantic feeling in this novel whatsoever - it's actually quite impressive how detached the romance felt, like a Victorian gentleman writer. (And this book was, in fact, written by a man under a female pen name. There's nothing wrong with that, but at least WRITE ROMANCE PROPERLY if you're going to do that, otherwise what's even the point!)
The female pen name makes me think that Ross genuinely was trying to write a romance, since the only real reason for a man to write under a female pen name is if he's writing romance because a romance written by a woman is far more marketable than that written by a man (especially in those days).
I nearly gave this 2 stars - it was entertaining in parts and a wild ride- but have dropped down to 1 star since I felt horribly misled by the blurb marketing this as a romance, and even if it had been correctly marketed as a historical drama, the romantic subplots were still atrociously written. Finally, the racist ending really clinched that 1 star, I cannot in good conscience give it more than that. I love pulpy crazy shit, but not when it ends up being racist.
March 22, 2013
DNF. Really tried to get into this one, but the dialogue was stilted, the hero was a mega-beta (blech), and some of the plot contrivences were too ridiculous even for a 1970's gothic.
If you're looking for a good gothic with an oriental overtones, I recommend Moondragon by Noel Vreeland Carter instead.
Not even the hero's last name could save this one...
If you're looking for a good gothic with an oriental overtones, I recommend Moondragon by Noel Vreeland Carter instead.
Not even the hero's last name could save this one...
June 29, 2025
It was given to me. I felt obliged to read it. Don't do it.
September 27, 2015
I did not like this at all. I could figure out who the heroine was as it was obvious but if Henry was supposed to be the hero he was an utter failure. When I found out what the mystery was I felt utter distaste for him and his family. To be so negligent of the safety of others just to prevent scandal was hideous.
November 27, 2015
I love the old Gothics and this one involves another of my loves - China.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews