Deathly Fates

Gr 9 Up–Siying has followed in her father’s footsteps, becoming a ganshi priestess. It is her job to shepherd the dead home and perform burial rites. But since her mother died and her father became sick, she has depended on smuggling goods for extra money to send home to her father and sister. Her most recent job has her traveling to Wen to retrieve a fallen soldier for a palace official. But she gets a surprise when she places the reanimation talisman on the corpse’s forehead and the man comes back to life. Not only that, the common soldier is actually Prince Meng Renshu of Sian. While Ren is now alive, he is missing most of his qi. To make sure Ren can make it home, Siying will have to collect qi from evil spirits and give it to Ren. This story is a standalone fantasy inspired by Chinese folktales and practices. There is also some compelling court intrigue and mystery. While the world and kingdoms are made up, it is easy to see parallels between China and Taiwan. In this same way, it is easy to sympathize with the many characters and their experiences, from both sides of the conflict, as victims of war. The romance is a slow burn and quite chaste. Readers will be glad to have a neat wrap-up at the end of the story with a happily ever after. There is some violence and depictions of violent deaths.