Entwining fairytale, Chinese history and exquisite storytelling, this entrancing first adult novel from the author of Six Crimson Cranes revolves around a magical girl, a family curse and a golden bracelet whose links are shaped like fishbones.
A bracelet. A curse. And golden fishbones to be returned to the sea...
Guangdong, 1940. When Ha Yut Ying narrowly escapes Japanese soldiers by turning invisible, she knows her new-found magic must be kept a secret. But her mother, whose dreams foretell the future, suspects her daughter has changed, and warns her of a curse upon their family. For her protection, she gives her a gold bracelet whose links are shaped like fishbones.
After the war, Ha Yut Ying is sent to live with her father and his second wife, who have become wealthy factory owners in Hong Kong. Her stepmother, jealous of her beauty, forces her to work in the family's shoe factory.
But when Yut Ying collides with a boy on a bicycle on her way to work, she loses her bracelet. The boy is Tommy Yeung, scion of a local soymilk tycoon. And their encounter will change both of their destinies forever...
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
ISBN: 9781399750813
Number of pages: 448
Dimensions: 236 x 160 x 44 mm
Weight: 700 g
Language: English
Everything you want in a book - mothers and daughters bound by love and fracture, an aching, fate-twined romance, women carrying the weight of inherited magic, and a sweeping history that crosses borders and generations - Fishbone Cinderella by Elizabeth Lim is utterly unforgettable - Stacey Lee, New York Times bestselling author of The Downstairs Girl
Elizabeth Lim's dazzling Fishbone Cinderella is an enthralling fairytale with a Chinese twist. A family curse dooms the women in Helen and Marigold's family, entwining their fates through a dark ability. Their secrets are traced against the richly evocative and lusciously detailed backdrop of Hong Kong and Berkeley in the 1940s and 60s, where uncertainty and love bloom. Enthralling, thought-provoking, and heartfelt, Fishbone Cinderella is a must-read for historical fiction fans - Yangsze Choo, New York Times-bestselling author of The Fox Wife
A gorgeous, haunting story of magic, memory and loss. Fishbone Cinderella is an aching exploration of the lengths we go to protect the ones we love, and the bonds between mothers and daughters in all their forms. Lim's story has all the hallmarks of a new fable: elegant, atmospheric, and resonant across time and space - Vaishnavi Patel, New York Times bestselling author of Kaikeyi
YA author Lim (A Forgery of Fate) dazzles in her dark and deftly woven adult debut . . Blending the historically grounded and complex mother-daughter narratives of Amy Tan with the rich fantasy of Yangsze Choo, this stunning tale will delight Limʼs fans and newcomers alike. This is a gem - Publishers Weekly
With Hearts of Flame
Between Two Fires
Under the Iron Sky
Disenchanted
The Ascended
The Fires of December
Assassin’s Apprentice
The Handmaid's Tale
The Song of Achilles
Runebreaker
Once Upon a Broken Heart
Songs of the Dead
The Unicorn Hunters
Vine of Hearts
The Devils
Firstly thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the advanced copy of the book in return for my honest opinion.This book tells the story of of Yut Ying who lives through the World War and the occupation of the... More
This book is unlike any of Elizabeth Lim’s previous novels, delving into a tale of generational love, trauma, and the sacrifices that family makes for one another. It was endlessly endearing and devastating.This was... More
Wow. Absolutely blew me away. I devoured and binged this like there was no tomorrow. I was so hooked and invested in Yut Ying and Marigold. I felt everything they were feeling, it was such a heart achingly beautiful... More
Please sign in to write a review
Would you like to proceed to the App store to download the Waterstones App?
