The Ghost Bride

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"One evening, my father asked me if I would like to become a ghost bride..." Though ruled by British overlords, the Chinese of colonial Malaya still cling to ancient customs. And in the sleepy port town of Malacca, ghosts and superstitions abound. Li Lan, the daughter of a genteel but bankrupt family, has few prospects. But fate intervenes when she receives an unusual proposal from the wealthy and powerful Lim family. They want her to become a ghost bride for the family's only son, who recently died under mysterious circumstances. Rarely practiced, a traditional ghost marriage is used to placate a restless spirit. Such a union would guarantee Li Lan a home for the rest of her days, but at a terrible price. After an ominous visit to the opulent Lim mansion, Li Lan finds herself haunted not only by her ghostly would-be suitor, but also by her desire for the Lim's handsome new heir, Tian Bai. Night after night, she is drawn into the shadowy parallel world of the Chinese afterlife, with its ghost cities, paper funeral offerings, vengeful spirits and monstrous bureaucracy--including the mysterious Er Lang, a charming but unpredictable guardian spirit. Li Lan must uncover the Lim family's darkest secrets--and the truth about her own family--before she is trapped in this ghostly world forever.

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A Magical Read submitted by majean on December 2, 2017, 2:02pm The plot of Yangsze Choo's historical and supernatural novel The Ghost Bride is unusual to modern readers. Taking place in late 19th century Malaysia, the main character is offered the chance to become a "ghost bride" to a wealthy family's dead son. Choo beautifully brings to life not only colonial Malaysia, but a Chinese afterlife filled with wonder and perils. For fans of Amy Tan, Lisa See, and the film Spirited Away.

Good submitted by zmclaugh on July 12, 2018, 7:31pm An interesting, fantasy look into the Straits settlements.