In the gridlocked harbor of San Francisco's Barbary Coast, a ship hung with red paper lanterns draws crowds eager to gamble and drink. Aboard this red-lit ship, the fates of two young women will be altered irrevocably and tied forever to that of an ancient lighthouse keeper who longs to be free. Set against the backdrop of Gold Rush-era San Francisco's Chinese immigrant community.
... wondrous ... With beautiful, tempered language, Ship of Fates weaves history and lore into a captivating, otherworldly tale. Its characters are as vibrant as its chaotic and carousing backdrop, centered around Mei’s desperate, restless spirit.
The art of storytelling features an engrossing tale and pitch-perfect delivery; Caitlin Chung excels at both in her debut, Ship of Fates ... Desire, deceit and regret come together in this spellbinding mixture of legend and heartbreak.
Caitlin Chung delivers a stunning read that is a literary treat, with lovely descriptions, and an intricate fairytale that brings the historical setting to life. The stories of these characters interconnect and unfold across generations. The writing is full of beautiful descriptions and metaphors which bring each of these journeys together. This lovely debut will appeal to those who enjoy historical reads, the Gold Rush, fairytales, and coming-of-age journeys.
