Shanghai Immortal

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What to expect

Half vampire. Half fox-spirit. All trouble.

Pawned by her mother to the King of Hell as a child, Lady Jing is half-vampire, half-hulijing fox-spirit and all sasshole. As the King's ward, she has spent the past ninety years running errands, dodging the taunts of the spiteful hulijing courtiers, and trying to control her explosive temper - with varying levels of success.

So when Jing overhears the courtiers plotting to steal a priceless dragon pearl from the King, she seizes her chance to expose them, once and for all.

With the help of a gentle mortal tasked with setting up the Central Bank of Hell, Jing embarks on a wild chase for intel, first through Hell and then mortal Shanghai. 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.

This richly told adult fantasy debut teems with Chinese deities and demons cavorting in jazz age Shanghai.

'The must-read debut of 2023' Tasha Suri

'Bursting with personality' Xiran Jay Zhao

'Absolutely rooting for Lady Jing forever' Hannah Kaner

'A delightfully wild ride' Chelsea Abdullah

'A gritty, glittering tale' Saara El-Arifi

'A love letter to Chinese mythology' Tanvi Berwah

'Outstanding' T.L. Huchu

'Absolutely delightful' Judy I. Lin

(P) 2023 Hodder & Stoughton Limited

Critics Review

A brilliant, vibrant world with a joyous, irreverent and chaotic cast of characters. Absolutely rooting for Lady Jing forever
Hannah Kaner, Sunday Times bestselling author of Godkiller
Shanghai Immortal is the must-read debut of 2023, both intensely fun and heart wrenching. A wild ride through a Shanghai you've never seen before
Tasha Suri, award-winning author of The Jasmine Throne
A delightfully wild ride through a fantastical Shanghai filled with rich mythology, endearingly snarky characters, and laugh-aloud mischief. Entertaining from start to finish!
Chelsea Abdullah, author of The Stardust Thief
A thrilling adventure packed to the hilt with attitude, Shanghai Immortal will have you laughing, cheering, and screaming along with the inimitable Lady Jing. From the glittering settings and vivid characters to the thoughtful exploration of family and sacrifice, this is a story you won't soon forget
Vaishnavi Patel, New York Times bestselling author of Kaikeyi
The most fun you'll ever have in hell! With her debut, Chao takes you on a high-octane, snark-filled adventure through the underworld, where the celestials are bloodthirsty and out for a good crime time. Lady Jing is a hot-headed triumph of a leading lady, with a wicked sense of humour that never fails to delight. If you're looking for your next fantasy obsession, look no further than Shanghai Immortal
Kate Dylan, author of Mindwalker
Shanghai Immortal is a gritty, glittering tale of gods and monsters in a reimagining of 1930s China. The fearsome half-vampire half-deity Lady Jing swaps anger management lessons for a crash course in the mortal realm and you can't help but root for her and the chaos she leaves in her wake. Full of fury, passion, and beauty, this is a debut that will grip you in its fangs and make you bleed-all the while wanting more
Saara El-Arifi, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Final Strife
A love letter to Chinese mythology, Shanghai Immortal is a compulsive read that will have you laughing and gasping at once. Lady Jing is delightfully irreverent and charming as she takes us on a wicked, exciting adventure through hell. With skillful worldbuilding and attentive prose, Chao has crafted the delectable fantasy feast you've been waiting for!
Tanvi Berwah, author of Monsters Born and Made
This outstanding debut grips you from the first page and doesn't let go. With characters that leap off the page and a compelling story filled with fantastical creatures, Chao has crafted something so utterly original and delightful I couldn't help but fall in love. Shanghai Immortal is a stellar start to what should be an incredible series
T.L. Huchu, author of The Library of the Dead
A wildly inventive and moving romp that goes through the mortal and immortal realms of China, with an endearing and tumultuous main character
Aliette de Bodard, award-winning author of the Dominion of the Fallen Series
Thrilling to the very last page, Shanghai Immortal is an immersive and exuberant journey through the dazzling realms of the wicked and the divine. And there's no better guide through worlds both mortal and immortal than Lady Jing-her razor-sharp wit and tongue is sure to captivate any reader, by force if necessary!
Victor Manibo, author of The Sleepless
An absolutely delightful romp of a book. It's impossible not to be charmed by Lady Jing as she gets up to shenanigans in mortal and hell Shanghai. I was entranced from start to finish
Judy I. Lin, New York Times bestselling author of the Book of Tea duology
Charmingly irreverent and led by a protagonist bursting with personality, Shanghai Immortal brings a hilarious fresh spin on the deep lore of Chinese mythology, tinged with a dash of unexpected sweetness
Xiran Jay Zhao, author of Iron Widow & Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor
A sparkling new voice in fantasy! Chao captures the imagination from the first page with a snarky heroine you'll fall in love with, immersive and inventive worldbuilding, and most of all, a lot of heart
June CL Tan, author of Jade Fire Gold
This novel is a glitzy, fast-paced and fun-filled joyride. Vividly imagined and packed with family drama and a charming romance, Shanghai Immortal is a light and entertaining read, assuring us that A.Y. Chao is here to stay
Locus Magazine
A high-spirited, romantic romp that will appeal equally to fans of Fonda Lee and Hong Kong action films!
Elizabeth Bear, Hugo award wInning fantasy author
Sparking Joy
Locus

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