The former Chinese colony of Malaya (current day Malaysia) is now under British rule, but the Chinese population there still try their best to stick to their ancient customs. Li Lan’s family was once wealthy, but after her mother died from chickenpox, her father tried to cover his grief by taking opium and now they are nearly bankrupt, with very few promising marriage prospects for Li Lan. One day, however, her father claims that the wealthy and influential Lim family have offered her a ghost […]
I’m Haunted By the Lives That Wove the Web
I want to say that I enjoyed this novel more than I did, as it is I waver between two and three stars in rating this. I liked the concept well enough, but that wasn’t quite enough to cover the writing flaws. Ghost Bride is the June pick for the Vaginal Fantasy book club, and honestly I think it’s kind of a weird pick. Although the story contains a romance, it isn’t a love story. I mean, I definitely tend to prefer stories that contain […]
When Does Pastiche Cross the Line into Copying?
Iron and Velvet is October’s Vaginal Fantasy pick, I blew threw it this weekend as I’ve been feeling guilty about not reading the last couple of picks. Anxiety is a hell of a thing you guys, it doesn’t make sense, but there it is. Anyway, even though I finished it on Saturday there isn’t a whole lot of the book that’s sticking with me, it’s evaporated into the ether of mediocre books. The book isn’t terrible taken all together, though if it hadn’t improved half-way through […]
Suspend Historical Knowledge, All Ye Who Enter Here
This was September’s pick for Vaginal Fantasy, and as I finished it before the hangout it totally counts as having been read in time. Yup. Totally. It’s a light, fluffy read that had me crying with laughter in some spots and grimacing in frustration in others, so kind of a mixed bag. The first half of the book was completely and utterly delightful and ridiculous and then somewhere in the second half, it just kind of all fell apart. Part of the reason for the […]