Reviews

Red Thread of Fate by Lyn Liao Butler

atuin's review against another edition

3.5

This book revolved around 2 deeply flawed women, Tam and Mia. My favorite parts of this book revolves around the strange family formed by Angela, Tam, and later Charley. The interactions they all have were the highlight of the book for me. I also enjoyed the journey Tam has with her own mother, where she learns to let her in more. I'll admit I did not enjoy Mia's journey nearly so much, as she seemed rather self pitting and never fully grasped why what she did was so bad.

She rapes Tony, but whenever she thinks about her situation, her biggest regret is ruining her relationship with Tam?

My biggest problem with the narrative was how the character Kenny was handled.

He became abusive, stalking and threatening Mia. I found the books explanation of how he "accidentally" spilled coffee on his friend and got Mia killed to be downright unbelievable. I would have thought he was trying to cover for his deliberate murder, but the text of the book explicitly absolves him of any wrongdoing. It says his only crime was "loving Mia too much" which is bullshit. constantly calling and intimidating Mia was not love, and it is distressing the book seemed to think it was.

Despite my issues, it ultimately does not detract too much from an interesting book about deeply flawed people. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage and Stalking

Moderate: Rape and Abandonment

genthebookworm's review

4.0

I loved Lyn Liao Butler's debut novel the Tiger Mom's Tale, which is a family drama mixed with the complexities of relationships and uncovering secrets from the past. ⁣
⁣
I so enjoyed learning more about the Taiwanese culture and I couldn't wait to see what Liao Butler wrote next, and now Red Thread of Fate is here! ⁣
⁣
This new release has her signature story telling, with themes of family and the multitude of ways we build them. I loved the focus on motherhood and the various paths to parenthood including adoption.

The meaning of belonging is explored I loved the way she weaved in the ancient Chinese concept of destiny and all being tied together by invisible threads.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing for my gifted review copy. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

erpedraja's review

2.0

I honestly disliked pretty much every character in this book. They tried to make them likable even though they did some awful things.

cryomango's review

4.5

Kind of weird with the sort of romance between the “cousins” but overall great

thepagelady's review

4.0

Red Thread of Fate is many things mystery, suspense, family bonds and heartbreaking! The character building was great! I couldn't help but feel with them and for them! Lyn Liao Butler is an amazing author! She can take complex stories and weave a story you will struggle to put down but also characters that stay with you long after your finish! Great story! Thank you Berkley Publishing for sharing another great story with me!

bek67's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful lighthearted mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

When I started this book I was immediately hooked and hated to put it down. But then things just fell flat. I was pulled in that Tam was on the phone with Tony when he was killed. And then the mystery of why he was with his cousin Mia who he supposedly had no contact with had me intrigued. 

I liked how you'd see glimpses of Tam's contempt with Tony and then eventually you found out why. But I knew, everyone knew that Mia's baby was Tony's. So no big reveal. How that conception occurred though was rather odd that it was sorta glossed over in the book for me. Mia was journaling to explain to her daughter what happened, and although in general she apologized, but what she did to Tony IMO required a sincere apologize to both her daughter and Tony and I don't feel like we ever got that. Mia was another level of stalker IMO. And how deliciously divine that she inserts herself into their life so cleverly and innocently. And Mia is journaling to explain and as for forgiveness, I never really got the sense that Mia understand just how fucked up she was for all that she had done. This goes WAY past having a crush when you are a child. 

I also liked how the relationship between Tam and her mom was portrayed. The rawness Tam felt about her mom always criticizing her felt very real to me. I liked how they eventually worked through their relationship. And mom had more to offer.

The entire plot with Mia's ex Kenny was just dumb, dumb, DUMB. It could have been more interesting if there was intent on Kenny's part actually. The whole set up that Kenny as a passenger in a truck is so shocked to see Mia and Tony that he (Kenny), throws his coffee in such a way that it hits the driver's face and because of that, the driver of the truck steps on the gas and plows Mia and Tony down? I'm laughing really! To throw your coffee in such a way that it lands on the driver's face who is sitting a few feet from you seems pretty implausible, unless it was intentional. They were in a dump truck right? That cabin has to be huge. I can see spilling your coffee, or dropping your coffee. But actually launching your coffee so that it hits the driver's face is another level and if you consider the physics it's not going to happen accidentally. So this entire plot twist was just laughable at best. Kenny was set up to be a controlling threatening colossal jerk but I'm suppose to believe he did not intentionally launch his coffee at the driver is pretty weak. 

It felt a significant amount of time was spent on the adoption process and there were developmental concerns of the child being adopted. Such as, he is suppose to be 3 but is not really walking well, doesn't speak, weighs 17lbs!! But then it's just very glossed over and a month later he speaks and everything is grand?!? But in general although disturbing, the adoption process was interesting to me. 

So all in all what started out as unputdownable turn into MEH for me. I can't rate it better than ok so 3 stars.

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Rape

kath_watts's review

emotional reflective medium-paced

4.0

novelvisits's review

3.0

Thanks to Berkley Books for an electronic copy of this book.

THE RED THREAD OF FATE tells the story of Tam Kwan, on the brink of adopting a son from China AND just widowed. Her husband and estranged cousin were killed in a horrible accident. If that’s not enough, she’s also named guardian of that cousin’s 5-year old daughter, Angela. Tam is left with heartbreak, regret, and a whole lot of questions.

The “red thread of fate” was a theme that wound its way through Tam’s life. Parts of her story I really enjoyed, especially Tam’s relationships with her own mother and with Angela. However, while I think the writing was very well done, I had a hard time becoming invested in Tam’s journey. It all felt like too much, too many coincidences, and too many times I needed to suspend disbelief.

canadiancat's review

3.0

3.5/5 stars

I enjoyed this book, but I wish there was more depth to a lot of the characters.

sometimesleelynnreads's review

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0