Jane Yang
Park Row
7 January 2025
368
eBook - PDF
Historical Fiction
ARC via NetGalley
An empowering, uplifting tale of two women from opposite sides of society, and their extraordinary journey of sisterhood, betrayal, love and triumph.1800s China. Tightly bound feet, or "golden lilies," are the mark of an honorable woman, eclipsing beauty, a rich dowry and even bloodline in the marriage stakes. When Little Flower is sold as a maidservant—a muizai—to Linjing, a daughter of the prominent Fong family, she clings to the hope that one day her golden lilies will lead her out of slavery. Not only does Little Flower have bound feet, uncommon for a muizai, but she is extraordinarily gifted at embroidery, a skill associated with the highest class of a lady. Resentful of her talents, Linjing does everything in her power to thwart Little Flower's escape. But when scandal strikes the Fongs, both women are cast out to the Celibate Sisterhood, where Little Flower’s artistic prowess catches the eye of a nobleman. His attention threatens not only her improved status, but her life—the Sisterhood punishes disobedience with death. And if Linjing finds out, will she sabotage Little Flower to reclaim her power, or will she protect her?
The Lotus Shoes was a tale that gripped me right from the first chapter. It was easy to get behind Little Flower as the protagonist and to suffer with her as she went through so many hardships. Linjing was a character less likeable but with whom it was still possible to sympathise at times. Both women were well presented in their respective chapters, as was the sense of time and place expressed in beautiful, descriptive prose without info dumping. I was caught up in the tale from start to finish, and the ending itself was satisfying after all the drama that came before it. The Lotus Shoes was an excellent piece of historical fiction that I would recommend to fans of the genre. I am giving it 4.5 stars.
I received this book as a free eBook ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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