Somber, evocative, and poignant!

The Concubine’s Child is a compelling tale that sweeps you away to a country where money is power, freedom is often beyond reach, and the people are governed by the ancient superstitions, traditions, and spirituality that have been passed down and ingrained from generation to generation.

The prose is vivid and rich. The characters are multi-layered, sympathetic, and vulnerable. The plot is well crafted and uses a back-and-forth, past/present style to unravel all the motivations, relationships, and personalities within it. And the story set in Malaysia during both the 1930s, as well as present day, is full of familial drama, heartbreak, lost love, jealousy, obsession, discord, mystique, culture, courage, grief, self-discovery, hope, solace, and survival.

Overall, I would have to say that The Concubine’s Child is a heart-wrenching tale that does an exceptional job of highlighting the indomitable spirit of women and their ability to face, endure, survive, and conquer any challenges, struggles, or tragedies that come their way.

In 1930s Malaysia, Yu Lan is sold to a concubine. She is illiterate and helps in her father’s apothecary shop.

In 2016, we are introduced to her grandson and his life, The book is very visual and richly descriptive. The characters are very well fleshed-out.
I was intrigued by the people, scenery and customs in this book and it is obvious that a lot of effort has gone into background research.

The story is both sad and humbling..

Thanks to Carol Jones and Aria, an Imprint of Head of Zeus, for my ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

When cultures collide…

In 1930 in Kuala Lumpur sixteen-year-old Yu Lan is distracted from her lessons by a rich woman theatrically complaining to the gods at the clan house opposite. She should be concentrating hard as she has the rare privilege of attending school; a privilege most girls can only imagine. Little does she know as her teacher rebukes her, that the woman she was watching will have a devastating effect on her future. One day she hopes to marry her friend Ming. A few weeks later the matchmaker calls and Yu Lan is sold as a second wife or concubine to the wealthy but childless Chan family.

In Hampshire, England at Christmas 2015, Nick Chan and his wife Sarah, both Anglo-Chinese, are travelling through a storm to spend Christmas with Nick’s mother. Nick and Sarah have a good life, he a college lecturer and she has set up her own successful business. On arriving they find that Nick’s mother, June, has uncharacteristically set up a small altar to Guan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy.

So begins a journey spanning the lives and fortunes of the Chan family over 85 years. What unfolds is a tale of duty, treachery, misery and superstition, and a ghost which floats through the years in its search for revenge.

This is a compelling tale with convincing characters and a strong and credible storyline. It moves at a good pace and is well written, the author disclosing just enough details to intrigue the reader, but not so many as to spoil the suspense.

This will appeal to anyone who is interested in Chinese history, or in the effects of their ancestry on the lives of modern Chinese.

A really enjoyable read with a touch of inscrutability.

Pashtpaws

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.

Many thanks to Carol Jones, Netgalley and Head of Zeus for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Concubine’s Child is a superb blend of historical fiction, life circumstances, the choices we make, and the aftermath in the wake of those choices. There is suspense and a bit of folklore to mix it up. The story is told in alternating time lines between 1930 and present day.

The setting is Malaysia 1930. Daughters from less fortunate families are often sold to more affluent families and used as laborers, prostitutes, or in this case as a second wife to bear children..

At the tender age of 16 years, Yu Lan is sold for the purpose of becoming a second wife to a much older man (in his 50’s) and bears him an heir to carry on the family name. She endures many cruelties by the first wife who becomes jealous and threatened by Yu Lan’s relationship with their husband as his fondness begins to grow towards the younger girl.

Yu Lan must escape and take control of her body and her life. She attends her first opera and the storyline changes her destiny, a seed is planted. She sees a way out along with a plan to get revenge.

Get your copy to find out how it all ends. I was completely hooked and I must admit I didn’t see some of the turns coming. Masterful story telling at its finest.

The Concubine’s Child by Carol Jones

As I began to read this book I was afraid it might not hold my interest but at 3am in the morning, after being unable to stop reading, I decided that indeed it had caught and kept my interest after all. That said, it was a sad book that left me thinking that all of the women in the book seemed to have more sorrow than happiness in their lives.

In 1930 Yu Lan is sold at sixteen to become a concubine thus dashing all her hopes and dreams of a happy life. The author then takes us to 2016 where we meet her great grandson Nick who seems to be longing for roots and the child his wife Sarah is not ready for. The story flips between the past and present weaving the life stories of the characters together seamlessly while painting their backgrounds and personalities with a vibrant if sometimes dark palette.

All of my senses were engaged as well as my mind as I read of what is now Malaysia – past and present. I thought of the difficulties faced by each female character in the book and how she chose to deal with what she was facing. I thought of the relationships between the women and those that were part of their lives and then thought of the choices they made, why they made them and whether or not they would have been my own if I found myself in their situation.

This was a multi-layered, thought provoking, rather depressing look at life with only a bit of hope given that the final characters in 2018 and beyond might lay their ghosts to rest and find their way to a happier future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Aria-Head of Zeus for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4-5 Stars

Wow! What a fantastic book! Wonderful writing, characters very well developed, a truly rich read! I read this book in one night. It's a great story and I loved it. I look forward to more from this author!
I received an advanced copy of this book from Netgalley. Thank you, Netgalley!

I absolutely loved the Concubine's Child by Carol Jones. The book is wonderfully written and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. The Concubine's Child tells the story of a young sixteen year old girl, Yu Lan, who is "sold" to the Master Chan a man in his sixties by her father to clear his gambling debt. Master Chan's wife , who bullies and treats the young girl badly, is unable to have children so Yu Lan is taken into the Chan household as a concubine with the objective of bearing a son, which she does. The story moves from 1930's in Malaysia to the present time in London. In London the story focuses on the concubine's grandaughter, June and her son Nick and his wife Sarah. As the novel progresses and Sarah and June return to Kuala Lumpa under tragic circumstances, the past begins to unravel and the sad, poignant and beautiful story of the Concubine and her sad short life are told through the eyes of the amah, Ho Jie, Yu Lan, Sarah, June, Nick and other characters in the book. The novel spans four generations and gives an insight into the world of the concubines, ghosts, gods and demons.

A beautiful novel covering a sad topic wonderfully and sensitively told by the author Carol Jones. Thank you Netgalley for the advance review copy and thank you to the publisher Head of Zeus ltd for approving my request and thank you Carol Jones for such a memorable book.

I love stories set in and around Asian and this didn't disappoint my expectations. The Concubine's Child is a beautiful and moving novel.

A moving novel but a little long winded at times. Enjoyable though.

A beautiful novel! It was a bit longwinding at times for me, but never theless I enjoyed it!