A review by mrtvavrana
Shanghai Immortal by A.Y. Chao

adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.5

 

At first, I did not know what I felt like after reading Shanghai Immortal. While I enjoyed the story and came to like the characters, there are things I definitely did not like. 

 

What excited me the most was the century-old female main character with a younger love interest, as we usually see the opposite. Unfortunately, my hopes were kind of crushed. I expected a grown-up, serious woman, but instead Lady Jing is a rude and annoying kid. She constantly swears, spits, and acts recklessly, causing trouble not only for herself but for everyone around. 

 

I am not saying I disliked Lady Jing—I actually grew fond of her as the novel progressed. I simply hoped for something else. I liked the other characters from the start, and I was pleasantly surprised that Mr. Lee was a clumsy, shy dummy. I am so fed up with all the alpha-macho man bullshit we are seeing in romance and fantasy lately. 

 

The pace of the book was nice and very steady up until the end. I loved the storytelling; A Y Chao´s descriptions are captivating, and I was sucked in immediately. I am not a fan of the miscommunication trope, and I was worried about how it would affect the story. Honestly, I can´t say I enjoyed it (I was shouting “JUST TALK TO EACH OTHER!” every few chapters), but it was not the worst I have encountered. I am also not a fan of the first-person narrative, but I think it went well with the story. 

 

Also, when picking up the book, I had no idea there would be a sequel next year. I am already so excited to read it. I really hope we will see more growth and much less spitting.