This was not what I expected at all - in a good way! It didn’t go where I was expecting it at all, but I really enjoyed it.

2.5 stars.
I wanted to really like it, the cover is beautiful and i was intruiged by the blurb. But it was just alright.

Ella Kaltenbach works as a nurse at a Hamburg hospital in 1898 and she has a keen interest in homeopathic medicine. When her adopted father suddenly dies, Ella want’s to learn about her birth family and she’s shocked to discover her father returned with her as a baby from one of his sea voyages. Ella uncovers for nineteen years a monthly payment is made to a bank in Hamburg, and it comes from a bank in the British Colony of Malaya. Ella leaves Hamburg, she’s traveling to the Far East to solve the mystery about her origins and a family friend Rudolf Van Stetten is going with her.

Ella arrives in Malaya during tense time and dangerous between the local resistance and the British forces. The only clue she has, is the name ‘Richard. F.’ and she discovers a Richard Foster owns a rubber plantation in the area. Richard Foster passed away years ago, his widow Marjory and daughter Heather still live at the plantation and Marjory comes across as very secretive and controlling.

Ella meets a local rebel Amar, she finds him rather attractive and any relationship between them is extremely dangerous. Ella puts herself at risk by trying to discover the truth about her birth mother, someone will do whatever it takes to keep long kept secrets hidden and the family name untarnished. On Far Malayan Shores is a story full of secrets, mystery, danger, corruption, and Ella's a courageous and a determined woman. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, a quick read and three stars from me.

Ella might not have anything left in Hamburg but what a leap of faith to head to Malaya in the search for the mysterious Richard F. In 1898 no less. This is a tale of family secrets and lies in a terrific setting. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

It's fantastic that the setting of this book is good old Malaya! I have not read one with that for a very long time. But why put Johore (a town?) in Malacca? Penang is in Farther India? I got very distracted by all these geographical placements.

I also found myself strangely unable to connect with any of the characters. The dialog was good but maybe I just couldn't imagine the expressions on their faces.

This is my opinion based on the review copy I received from the publisher.

I started reading this with a huge dose of skepticism. I mean, a German lady writing about Malaya? HMMMM. Anyway, it had a bit of a slow start for me, probably because I don't often read in this genre; On Far Malayan Shores seemed to plod along at a slower pace compared to majority of the fantasy books I've been reading, especially in the beginning. The build-up is beautifully crafted though, and even though I hit the 75% mark going COME ON I CAN GUESS WHO HER PARENTS ARE, REVEAL IT ALREADY (and I was right), there's enough tension and intrigue for it to still be exciting.

On authenticity, I'm not from the early 1900s so I cannot comment on how historically accurate it is, but there's definitely a feel of old Malaysia, from eating with your hands, to having roti canai (though it was translated flatbread) and curry for breakfast, also the obligatory Chinese temple, Indian temple, and Malay mosque near each other.

The only puzzling part was the odd references that made it sound like Johor was part of Malacca? Since we're talking about British Straits Settlements, Johor should already be a separate state as there was a Johor Sultanate after the end of the Malaccan empire. Ok wait. When I search up instances of Malacca and Johore (as it's spelt) in the book, Haigh references Johore as a town/city in Malacca... which ultimately makes no sense.

"Most of the plantations are located in Malacca, on the Malay Peninsula. Mainly in the south, in a region called Johore, which is also under British control..."
("region" may be an accurate term, but...)
"...in the south of Malacca, most likely between Singapore and Johore..."
(err, which would mean the sea? lol)
"Ella was told that the journey to Johore was perfectly safe, since they only had to travel northwards across Singapore...before making a short ferry crossing to the south coast of Malacca."
I get the feeling that she means "Johore Bahru", as in the capital of Johor, but either way, the Johor-as-part-of-Malacca bit is wrong.

I feel like docking another star now for bad research lol.

Culturally though, nothing feels terribly off. Verdict, I guess, is to read it for the feels and oo Malaysia vibes but not for the geographical content.

An informative and well written story. This was a really interesting historical novel. It was fascinating to read about life in Penang. It makes you wonder how many babies there were like Ella.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

In 1877 a sailor makes a pact with a man, who could very well be the devil. He is offered a package, which turns out to be a newborn baby girl. Fast forward to 1898 where we find that girl, Ella. Raised in Germany, she knows she is adopted, but knows nothing of her birth parents or the country she came from. Her adopted father now dying tries to give her some clues as he writes what he can on a piece of paper. Now passing away, he leaves Ella and her mother with more question than answers as they search through his diary looking for those answers. To make matters worse, they find out from a friend of the family that the annuity they have been receiving all these years was also a lie, as it wasn't from Ella's uncle as her father claimed. The money was in pounds sterling from a numbered account with no given name. It comes from a bank in Farther India (an old term for Southeast Asia in Colonial times) with no name disclosed. The only clue written by her father is "Richard F." and with that in mind she and a friend leave Hamburg buying 2 tickets to sail upon a boat going to Jahore (Malaysia). The journey begins and the search is on to find her birth parents.

Now in Jahore Ella finds a mix of people, with a plethora of cultural differences, personal biases and their own personal plans. It is on one of the rubber plantations where the answers may lie. Will she find her birth parents? If so, how will she feel? Caught up in Malaysia's quest for independence, Ella has more than her search on her plate as she has to decide where her future lies.

As historical fiction goes, it is interesting to step into the past, enjoy a story while learning what history lies dormant in the present. To sum it up, the story was enjoyable and well written. My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It’s the end of the nineteenth century as Ella cares for her dying adoptive father in Hamburg. Before he dies, he writes down the name Richard F. Sure that the man has something to do with her mysterious origins, she searches for more information and uncovers a ledger displaying monthly monetary payments from Malaya. There is nothing to keep her in Germany, so Ella heads for Malaya and lands at a rubber plantation owned by the Foster family. Do they know something about Ella’s past or Richard F? Caught between her desire to know the truth about her own past and the Malayan struggle for independence, Ella will have to decide what matters most, her past, or her future.