He’s a super sweet yet absolutely terrified person, but the blooming friendship between him and Jing is so endearing; especially during the times when he ends up chuckling at her. This is a very impressive debut that left me wanting for more, I was not even finished and I knew it would instantly become a cozy reread. When the King requests that she escorts a human guest to meet him, she has to make sure no one or something eats him. I respect your privacy and your right not to scream if you don’t feel like it or have a sore throat or are in a room full of people who aren’t signed up to my newsletter.

Lady Jing has other plans though, she wants to wear trousers and be comfortable whilst avoiding the court for as long as possible!It's very sarcastic, deeply emotional and at times self-depricating, and conveys Jing's anger and fear in a way that is not always pleasant.

But when her hijinks put the mortal in danger, she must decide which is more important: avenging her loss of face, or letting go of her half-empty approach to life for a chance to experience tenderness – and maybe even love. Finally, the two worlds within one space, as we discover both Shanghai and the immortal counterpart. Yes, we got vampires and hulijings, Chinese mythology, jazz-era Shanghai (the 30s to be accurate), the sassy main character, and humor, nevertheless, the story is mostly carried by dialog. The world-building was vivid, and I loved the opposition of Yin and Yang Shanghai, mortal and immortal versions of the city separated a veil. However, she soon finds herself distracted by the handsome Tony Lee as they travel across immortal then mortal Shanghai.

Do not pass up this book if you are a lover of vampires, strong female characters, and magical lands.

Wang" by the way, means "king") She's feisty and mischievous and burgeoning with nascent power, but like many adolescents on the verge of adulthood, she's too impatient to sit for lessons.I was caught by surprise with this heart-wrenching debut fantasy novel, and I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone. Adventures ensue, with plenty of earthy observations by Jing, as she painfully comes to terms with aspects of her birth and early years.