Shanghai Immortal: A richly told romantic fantasy novel set in Jazz Age Shanghai

Reviews

Amazon Customer

Nothing more than exploring further her origins and this intriguing world. Chao's debut is an absolute delight to a market that is still so very white-centred, and just tingles the need for more. He’s a super sweet yet absolutely terrified person, but the blooming friendship between him and Jing is so endearing; especially during the times when he ends up chuckling at her.

Luchia Houghton

She is a handful for sure! *insert some fangirling screams*After entering immortal Shanghai on a business trip, and almost getting dried dead by Lady Jin, Mr Lee becomes a constant companion. Home to the likes of Chang-e and dragon lords. Well, let me telling you one thing about our Lady Jin, she ain't having none of that.

When we first encounter Lady Jin, we quickly come to realize that the one thing that seems to drive her is revenge for the ones who wronged her the most. Where Jing is a rule breaker who doesn’t really care for traditions, she’s tasked with taking care of a human in Hell, Tony Lee, who is pretty much the antithesis of Jing, at least for the most part. Get ready to have some fun, because mostly, that is what Immortal Shanghai is: fun, swoony, and unapologetically diverse. Added to that, the story revolves around her trying to stop the hulijing (fox-spirit) clan she’s part of from stealing something from Big Wang.

This is just a little part of the large amount of world-building Chao has put into Shanghai Immortal, and everything fits together just so perfectly. After turning the last page, Lady Jin's behaviour reads, at least for me, as that of someone who buried trauma deep, deep down, within herself. Cue the cutest xiao long bao of the whole lot: Mr Lee! When it comes to relationships, they're both shy, uncertain and so damn cute.

He wants her to live up to her title, to wear nice dresses and excel in her lessons so she can take her place in court. First in a useful way, then in a shy, pleasurable way.

Mr Lee is kind, fair and caring in a very swoony way. Shanghai Immortal starts off with our main character, Lady Jing explaining what’s she’s doing waiting for a delivery at 3am in the morning. In essence, I loved this. I wanted nothing more than keep on feeling giddy while inhaling Mr Lee and Lady Jin's interactions.

Relationships, whether romantic, friendly or familial, play an important part in the story throughout and yet Jing can’t seem to shake those self-doubts. Not even Lady Jin fully understands the origins that shaped the individual she has become.