Oh my goodness – I am so happy that I was offered a spot on this blog tour because I loved this novel so much! I’m a huge fan of Lisa See’s historical novels of China and this novel reminded me of Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, one of my favorite books ever. It is beautifully written and with interesting and multi-dimensional characters. I found the story fascinating, though sad at times, and I gained so many insights into Chinese cultures, and particularly into the systems of privilege and stations that existed.

Thank you so much for including me on the tour!

This book was just fantastic. I felt like I traveled to this time, and was walking alongside the characters. It was tough to put down, and I just couldn’t stop reading.

Following Little Flower and Linjing, I felt for both characters. They both were in places based circumstances and society, with little hope for change. Was I a fan of them both throughout? No. Definitely not. But I really felt for them.

And the ending. It was just….the perfect ending for this amazing story. This was a book that I’m still thinking about and remember vividly. A fantastic historical fiction novel.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, received from Sphere and Jane Yang through NetGalley. However, all thoughts and views reflected are strictly my own opinions.

I have always found novels about China's past (especially when centered on women) to be tragic. This book is no different. I found the ending to be less bleak than others though it's somewhat rushed and told to us instead of shown (the only written pitfall of this novel.) The book is beautifully written with a complex character and one that takes too long to grow and develop but that is human nature. Some of us are forced to grow up too soon and some of us never grow up. The Lotus Shoes follows two girls as they grow up is a China that is joining the modern world but fighting to keep their customs and these Little Finger and Linjing are trapped in the fight.

This book transports you to 1800s China. It follows the stories of Little Flower (sold to a wealthy family when 6 to be a muizai (slave) to Linjing) and Linjing (girl from wealthy family). The lives of these girls become intertwined forever when Little Flower enters Linjing’s household. The book follows the girls as they grow up and experience the trials and tribulations of life when born into such paralleling families. It is a story of heartbreak, betrayal, and ultimately love and forgiveness. I loved how the author used the Chinese language and accompanying dictionary throughout her writing. You will be horrible stricken by the details about foot binding and the treatment of women. If you enjoy being transported to another time and place you will enjoy this well researched and written book.

When I was young I read a book called Ties that Bind Ties That Break. That book opened my eyes to the tradition of foot binding. The Lotus Shoes felt like the grown up, follow up to that book. I really liked the juxtaposition of classic Chinese beliefs with the encroaching Christian beliefs. I thought this was a very vulnerable and interesting look at honor, tradition and a young woman climbing out of the life that she was born into.

Some reads are mirrors and some reads are windows. This book was a great window for me to learn about something I was unfamiliar with. I will be seeking out more books from this author in the future.

1800s China. Little Flower is sold by her mother to the Fong family to be a muizai (maidservant) to young Linjing Fong. When Little Flower shows herself to have immense skills with embroidery, jealousy plants itself in Linjing. As these girls grow up, we see those lasting effects of jealousy and how bonded these two lives are destined to be.

I looove a women-centric historical fiction and I definitely got that in this story. I really enjoyed the picture this book painted of what the landscape of the mid to late 1800s looked like in China as forced westernization was growing and in many cases bucking against old long held traditions and how that made for unrest even between family members.

I was so interested to see where the lives of these two girls went. There were some turns I wasn’t expecting! I loved how much of this story was inspired by the author’s own family members and their stories.

I so wanted to love the book because the overall premise sounded so interesting. However ,
I found the first 150 or so pages to be really slow and they could have been edited down considerably … and more details/ background on the “scandal” would have been more interesting then two perspectives of the same story. Perhaps a third POV in the first half of the book would have made it more interesting.
The second half moved much faster and was a bit more interesting albeit predictable .at times . For a book so long the ending kinda of felt rushed

My rating 3:5 ⭐️

I’m disappointed that I didn’t enjoy this book as I thought I would. The premise of the story is good but it fell flat, I found myself bored and considered not finishing it multiple times.

While I am glad I finished the book, I would probably recommend other books from the same time period to friends, or mention that it’s a good story but perhaps a bit wordy.

Thank you NetGalley for this book, I wish I had a more favourable review.

Thank you NetGalley and Park Row for allowing me to read and review this debut novel by Jane Yang.

1800 China. Two girls, one noble born, one a maidservant lives collide and evolve as they grow together into women in a society where few were permitted to make choices to control their destiny.

This novel is very character driven and rich with details. In parts the story is slow paced and a little long winded at 368 pages and I found myself starting to skim. However I appreciated the historical references and information in regards to traditions, superstitions and culture.

A solid first novel from J. Yang!

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and the author for an advanced reader copy of this book.

The Lotus Shoes is a beautifully written novel about two women, born of different circumstances in a culture and system meant to oppress women. In this book we come across Linjing, a lady of high class with a father willing to abandon the traditional foot binding in order to advance his station, and Little Flower, who was sold into slavery to be Linjing's muizai.

We follow them from their childhood into their adulthood as they navigate the social pressures and expectations of women, trying to break the cycle but also finding themselves stuck in it.

This a great historical fiction.

In late 19th-century China, Little Flower’s life is one of extreme poverty. Her mother binds her feet at a very young age to elevate Little Flower’s status. Perfect “golden lilies” will mean Little Flower is of good character and have a better life and marriage. When her father dies, her mother’s only option is to sell Little Flower so what meager resources they have can go to pay Little Brother’s apprenticeship. Girls are useless and expendable; Little Brother has a chance at a better life. So, at the age of six, Little Flower becomes a muizai (slave) to the prosperous Fong family to serve the daughter, Linjing.

Linjing’s father forbids the binding of Linjing’s feet, because China is moving toward a modernized future. This means accepting Westerners and their ways, and foot-binding will become the past. This practice is so valued by Chinese society, Linjing is desolate but must obey. A muizai cannot have bound feet while her mistress has shameful, big feet, so Little Flower is forced to remove her bindings, leaving her feet badly deformed. With great sorrow and humility, Little Flower learns to navigate her life of slavery. Linjing is jealous of Little Flower’s superior needlework and the extra attention it brings her. She is cruel to Little Flower, and their relationship is contentious. Upheaval in the Fong family turns Linjing’s future grim. As the girls grow into women, they refuse to surrender to the roles they were allotted – each in their own way.

Little Flower and Linjing are fully dimensional, strong characters who change and grow with life’s hard knocks. This novel is rich in plot and family drama, including fascinating details of Chinese culture, the devalued lives of Chinese women, and Chinese feminist history – an unforgettable, impressive work based on the author’s ancestral history.

Historical Novels Review, Februrary 2025 (Editors' Choice)

The Lotus Shoes
Jane Yang

A Tale of Resilience and Betrayal in 19th-Century China

1800s China. Tightly bound feet, or “golden lilies, are the mark of an honorable woman, eclipsing beauty, a rich dowry, and even bloodline in the marriage stakes. When her mother sells Little Flower into slavery as a maidservant—a muizai—to Linjing, a daughter of the prominent Fong family, she clings to the hope that one day her golden lilies will lead her out of slavery.

Not only does Little Flower have bound feet, uncommon for a muizai, but she is extraordinarily gifted at embroidery, a skill associated with the highest class of a lady. Resentful of her talents, Linjing does everything in her power to thwart Little Flower’s escape.

But when scandal strikes the Fongs, both women are cast out to the Celibate Sisterhood, where Little Flower’s artistic prowess catches the eye of a nobleman. His attention threatens not only her improved status but her life—the Sisterhood punishes disobedience with death. And if Linjing finds out, will she sabotage Little Flower to reclaim her power, or will she protect her?

Yang masterfully depicts the harsh realities of foot binding, servitude, and the complexities of female relationships in a male-dominated society. The historical details, especially regarding silk-making and social hierarchies, add depth to the narrative. The Lotus Shoes is an empowering story of two women from different worlds, bound by fate and tested by betrayal, ambition, and love. It’s a stunning debut that lingers long after the final page. 5 stars.

** My thanks to the publisher for a complimentary review copy. The opinions are my own.

Book review: 4.5/5 ⭐️
Genre: historical fiction
Themes: slavery, the class system, women in society
📖 Read if you like: Memoirs of a Geisha, The Invention of Wings, Washington Black

An upstairs downstairs story set in Song China. Little Flower is sold to the wealthy Fong family in desperation as a child. Told by her loving mother that if she is obedient and industrious she will one day make a good match, Little Flower has her goal. With perfect golden lotus bound feet and the gift of embroidery she is the envy of her maiden Linjing. Spoiled and outspoken, Linjing is determined to set her will upon her handmaiden for stealing her mother’s love. Selfish cruelty and misplaced jealously colours her personality as she first forces Little Flower to unbind her feet and then prevents a most advantageous marriage for her own purposes. She cannot seem to see Little Flower as anything beyond a tool and honestly believes her actions are those of good will. While given an interesting POV, she is certainly a villain in this story.

Books on slavery are never going to be easy to read and this novel led me down a rabbit hole to investigate golden lillies: what were they, how they came to be, and why did they persisted in this culture for so long. The culmination of this research has lead me to understand that: 1) an emperor decided he wanted his consort to dance on bound feet on the mural of a lotus flower, and then everyone (most likely more men) thought this was the ideal standard for femininity. 2) The golden lilly is an ideal 3 inches, which requires the bones to be broken and bound from childhood. 3) the act of creation will ensure a girl is obedient and can undergo cruelty in silence, apparently ever mother-in-law’s dream. 4) bound feet ensure a woman can never run away, yet the women are often the ones to enforce said practice.

Sold into bondage or sold into marriage with broken feet, it seems Chinese women of the age had few options, with autonomy a distant dream. While this type of cruelty left me seething, I did find myself fully immersed in this story waiting for Little Flower to find her voice and her vengeance. As the tides of time and fortune change, we discover the depth of understanding it takes to overcome bitterness. While the bond between Linjing and Little Flower evolves, so to do old hurts and a sense of betrayal. When Little Flower’s star finally rises, Linjing will take desperate actions against her seeing it as her right based on class.

I actually couldn’t believe this was a debut. It featured two opposing voices, yet the storyline flowed with ease. I lost track of time as I read, pages flying by as I immersed myself in the lives of these complex characters despite their youthful perspective. It managed to encapsulate misguided kindness and the cruelty of privileged ideology so beautifully as to demonstrate all the layers to humanity based on experience and circumstance. I just found the end a bit too rushed and easily resolved, given all the history in these relationships. While Little Flower proved herself insightful and thoughtful throughout, Linjing’s epiphany and transformation was a little harder to believe. Still it was a satisfying conclusion and a beautiful story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an early copy of this novel. I now want my own for my book collection!

This was a good book! At first, I had a little trouble getting into the story when the two protagonists were children, but when they grew up, I did like it more.

I enjoyed following the women in 1800s China. I knew about the foot binding that occurred in their history, but the beliefs and family structures were very interesting to follow. I also think that the main characters were fascinating to follow, especially with their dynamic as muizai and mistress. Linjing, the mistress, was a terrible person and I just couldn't help but hate her. Still, you truly understand her motivations and I do think she was a fully fleshed out character. Little Flower, the muizai, I kind of struggled with. She does have agency but she also felt a little passive to me. Still, these were strong, complicated characters which are my favorite thing to read.

One thing about this story that I didn't like was the pacing. Like I said, I had trouble getting into the beginning. There was a lot of set up that was kind of a drag to get through. However, I was immediately hooked about 30% into the book when a specific thing happened that seemed to give Little Flower character more agency. And while Little Flower and Linjing have always had tension between them, this specific action really made the tension rise, and kept me engaged. But then the story slows down again. The pacing just felt inconsistent and some of the book felt like it was meandering to get to the point.

Overall, I did enjoy this. I liked following the characters and it was interesting being in this historical time period. Just wish the pacing was a little bit better.

This is a heartfelt story of historical fiction about the chasm between the different classes in 19th century China and the coming-of-age story of two young girls as their lives change over their years together. I've always enjoyed historical fiction books about the lives and customs of the people in China and this book is just that. The story immediately transports readers to mainland China in the 1800s. Much of the narrative dwells on the ancient custom of female foot binding, but not gratuitously. The explanations educate the reader on how this custom played such an important role in class designation, social status, and marriage contracts.

With extraordinary tenderness and beautiful prose, this debut novel follows the path of Little Flower and Linjing. (See my link to my Goodreads review for more details that I included about the story itself.) This is an immersive, emotional, and wonderfully crafted novel from a new voice in Asian literature. I would highly recommend this book to fans of LIsa See and Amy Tan. I look forward to reading whatever Ms. Yang writes next.

My sincere thanks to NetGalley and Sphere for giving me the opportunity to read a DRC of this novel. All opinions expressed are my own.

Oh I how I loved this book and it's amazing characters. This was set during a time that I didn't know much about. I learned while reading and even looked things up to make myself understand more. I read this book late into the night and even dreamed about it while sleeping. This is a fantastic historical fiction book that I really enjoy! I received an advanced readers copy and all opinions are my own.

I felt this was a little overdone and hard to follow but overall a good story but I think it needed more editing because it just felt long winded
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review book

Step into 19th century China, where tradition clashes with change, and two girls—Little Flower, a servant with bound feet, and Linjing, her privileged yet flawed mistress—navigate a world of jealousy, betrayal, and resilience.

Through twists of fate, their rivalry becomes an unlikely alliance. Will their shared struggles unite them, or tear them apart?

With eloquent prose and rich cultural depth, “The Lotus Shoes” is a journey of self-discovery and the bonds that shape us. Fans of Lisa See will adore this poignant debut from Jane Yang 💕✨

"The Lotus Shoes" is a great, great book! It’s not the type of book you will read in a seat. It is that type of book you are invited to emerge in a completely different culture, in a different time, and we still have the same issues. Imagine you are walking through a museum, and Jane Yang paints to us a vivid imagery of what happened during that period, with all the elements, we need to almost sit down with Little Flower and feel her happiness while she embroiders her sadness when she sees her future slip away or even her desperation and hopelessness when she sees herself alone, in a stranger family, stranger house, without her mother.

The Lotus Shoes by Jane Yang is a fast paced novel with multiple plots twists covering the lives of a rich young woman and her muizai (maidservant). Taking place in nineteenth century China, The Lotus Shoes transports readers to a time of great social change for women. Linjing, the rich young woman is an entitled selfish young woman who is jealous of her artistically talented muizai, Little Flower. The chapters of this book alternate from the perspectives of Linjing and Little Flower. The author brilliantly captures the inner thoughts of each character, creating a characters that are so vivid you feel like you are a part of the story.

I highly recommend this book. I could not put it down.

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.