... 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.
While a brief read, Chung’s debut weaves together the past and present ably and creates a well-wrought and elegant story that will, hopefully, be followed by many more. Recommended for those who enjoy historical fantasy fiction and magical realism and for anyone seeking a quiet and relaxing read for a lazy afternoon.
...dark, original ... Speaking to the difficulties that faced women, particularly immigrants in the 1800s, this is a powerful if bleak look at the nature of California’s Barbary Coast. Recommended for fans of unique historical fiction.
