At a glance
A young woman makes a bargain with a shapeshifting demon who promises her power, if she will give up love—a painful price that sets her on a dark journey in this historical fantasy inspired by Taiwanese myth.
Eleventh century Kangzhu. In a small village, far from the political conflicts of the royal dynasty, a too-young Yu’er is sold off to be married at the word of a jing, a shapeshifting-demon who prophesizes that her parents will thus gain wealth beyond their imagination. Her new husband Xiaozhu is, like her, barely more than a child himself—but he’s kind, and, over the years, Yu’er heals as they build a home together. They become allies, then friends, then lovers.
Until misfortune befalls them, once again at the hands of a demon. They’re left destitute and estranged. Reeling from loss, and determined to never leave her fate in another’s hands, Yu’er decides to strike her own bargain with a jing: she will have all the agency and riches she desires. She just has to leave Xiaozhu and their home together, forever—a price that will cost her more than she then understands.
Yu’er’s choice sets off a saga that will lead her to the heart of the royal court, and bring her more power than she ever dreamed of, but may kill her humanity along the way, in this sweeping tale of love, revenge, and redemption.
Don’t just take
our word for it
“An utterly transportive story, both mythic in scope and deeply personal at heart. Love and loss is an old classic, but in Marsden’s masterful hands the familiar is made new again in a propulsive, intricately-woven narrative. You may devour this work in one sitting, but you’ll be thinking about it for a long, long time.”
- Vaishnavi Patel, New York Times bestselling author of Kaikeyi
“[An] impressive historical fantasy debut…Marsden luxuriates in moral grayness, refusing to let her heroine be simply good or simply ruined. Steeped in Taiwanese folklore, the story’s fairy tale cadence persists even in its bleakest turns through a court rife with treachery. The plotting is propulsive enough to make a heavy, often brutal narrative feel urgent rather than punishing, and the sense of grounded emotionality remains throughout. Fans of Shelley Parker-Chan’s morally complex fantasies, and readers willing to stomach graphic violence and body horror, should seek out this mesmerizing, deeply human tragedy.”
- Publishers Weekly, starred review 🌟
“Drawing from Taiwanese mythology, Marsden crafts a rich and immersive world filled with breathtaking imagery and vivid prose. The imagery serves as a powerful reflection of grief, loss, and the harsh realities of the characters’ lives…This is a beautifully written and emotionally resonant novel whose atmosphere lingers long after the final page. Marsden debuts with a brutal and engrossing story of love, greed, and sacrifice that explores what it truly means to be human.”
- Library Journal, starred review 🌟
