Reviews

La sposa fantasma by Yangsze Choo

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arwenstelter's review against another edition

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mysterious medium-paced

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

4.5

bookdragonism's review against another edition

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5.0

// buddy read with lily

this may be one of the most unpredictable books i have ever read. i didn't read the synopsis before diving into this and I WAS DELIGHTFULLY SURPRISED BY EVERYTHING. i expected this to be more on the horror side because it was eerie with all the intrusive dreaming and haunting at first. however, the ghost bride is not just that. it's a heady mix of paranormal, adventure, fantasy, mystery, romance, and folklore. this book possesses basically everything that i love in a book and i can proudly say that i have found myself a new favorite in the ghost bride.

i could hardly put down my phone because i just wanted to keep listening to this addictive tale of ghosts, afterlife, and dreams. the audiobook was also narrated by the author and i loved every second of it. im just rambling now but whatever. THIS BOOK TOOK ME ON A ROLLER COASTER RIDE and i couldn't get enough of it. so many things happened in just a span of one book. i appreciate li lan's character development so much. she went from reserved lady to impulsive lost soul, and finally to a young woman who is capable of making decisions for herself. ahhh if i keep on talking we'd probably be here until tomorrow. my brain is mush but one thing is sure: THIS BOOK IS PHENOMENAL. pick it up.

lionessramping's review against another edition

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1.0

This book is a great lesson in how to make vengeful ghosts, tales based on classic myth and travels between planes empty-headed, boring and way too laced with stupid heroines and even more stupid romances.

shanbonan's review against another edition

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3.0

Oh, I wanted to like this book. I really did. It started with so much promise! I loved the supernatural aspect, and I did enjoy the look at the Malayan (now Malaysian) cultural beliefs about the afterlife, as it's something I know nothing about. But the "heroine," Li Lan, is no heroine. She's a Mary Sue: she does nothing special, needs to be rescued regularly, and yet three men want to marry her. Why? She's foolish, she's gullible, she jumps to conclusions, and she constantly gets in scrapes of her own making.

Despite the numerous story lines, huge sections of this book dragged terribly. The author could have easily focused on just one story - say, Lim Tian Ching's efforts to marry Li Lan from beyond the grave - and there would be plenty to fill out a novel. Instead, there's the ghost bride story line, a murder story line, one about Li Lan's mother, one about Li Lan's body being possessed by another spirit...on and on and on it went. After awhile, I just didn't care anymore.

Yangsze Choo is a good writer and, overall, I enjoyed her style. I see that the author has recently published a second book, The Night Tiger. Despite my ambivalence over The Ghost Bride, I would absolutely take a look at her latest effort. I'm just hoping it's better than this one.

2.5 stars, rounded up to three for the look at an unfamiliar culture and a promising start