Tall Poppy Review: Yin, Yang and All Things in Between

Three Souls by Janie Chang

I love books that take me somewhere else entirely, especially if I learn new things in the process, and Three Souls (HarperCollins) by Janie Chang manages to hit both marks. Set in China in 1935, the novel follows the ghost of young Leiyin who seeks entry to the afterlife, but must first make amends. To achieve this, she runs through the events leading up to her untimely death, starting with a forbidden schoolgirl crush on a charming poet. As she uncovers her missteps along the way, she must learn how to right wrongs from the spirit world, guided only by her three souls. Yang is rather harsh: “You were dreaming to think he would approve of your marrying such a man.” Yin, naïve and romantic: “But you did so enjoy being in love. It’s like being pleasantly ill.” And Hun, the mentor of the bunch, says that “That’s the trouble when you’re young. You think you have all the time in the world. You think the world will wait until you’re ready…” I read this with hunger, interested in every layer of the story— romance, class hardship, betrayal, historical context, and a series of complex family dynamics. Chang uses language that at times reminded me Ken Follett: “She was a merchant’s daughter. Her father owned several silk and cotton mills and she tended to classify things simply, as either wasteful or worthwhile.” She has a way of moving the story forward without needless words. I highlighted passages throughout, but the line that pierced me the sharpest was “How cruel we can be to the ones we love.” Fans of historical fiction greats like Lisa See and Ken Follett will find that Chang delivers. The past weaves into this conflict-driven narrative effortlessly until the last unexpected revelation. Three Souls is now available for purchase. Want more BookTrib? Sign up NOW for news and giveaways!