I love that the author left a note referring to her book as “the unhinged Old Hollywood ghost story” about 2 Vietnamese actresses doing whatever it took to achieve their dreams, when just the idea of having a dream seemed foreign to so many.

Content warnings include death, grief, family trauma and the occult.

This is my first book from this author and while I loved the idea of this book, I hate to say that I put it down a few times before I had to know how it ended.

There is so much going on in this book but the author created such a beautiful world with her words I could see the girls when they were young, then older and sneaking off to see Issa’s grandmother and aunt.

Van Hoang introduces us to the misogyny of old world Hollywood and the racism of two Vietnamese actresses that look different but are often mistaken for each other or told “it doesn’t matter, just one of you”.

I am really glad I was given the opportunity to read this book. Thank you to the author, NetGalley

#SilverAndSmoke #VanHoang #NetGalley #AsianAmerican #Occult #Horror #20thCenturyHistoricalBooks #OldWorldHollywood #Shamans #Witches #Fantasy #HistoricalFiction #Supernatural

Old Hollywood with a paranormal twist! This was a fun novel for someone who loved The Seven Husbands and wants to crack into the paranormal/fantasy genre. A great read!

Silver and Smoke delivers a satisfying mix of mystery, romance, and supernatural tension.

Hosng’s writing is immersive and sharp, balancing vivid descriptions with a fast-moving plot that keeps you hooked from the opening chapter. The character development stands out, with the leads feeling complex and flawed in ways that make their struggles and triumphs feel authentic

Fans of atmospheric fantasy with morally grey characters and rich historical detail will find a lot to love here.

Thank you NetGalley and 47North publishing for the eARC.

Silver and Smoke follows two Vietnamese women, Issa and Olivia, as they aspire to be actresses in 1936 with the help of a seemingly nice spirit. Issa has Shaman blood in her and is able to call upon spirits. Wanting to break into the industry, she makes a deal with her dead Grandma and her living Aunt to connect her and Olivia to a dead actress, Ava, for advice and be stars, but if by the end of the year she isn’t a star, Issa will take her place as the rightful heir to the family’s shady business. With Ava’s help they improve and get more screen time, but at what cost will they go to continue their trajectory to fame?

This was a good read. The foreboding setup was well done, and the details of Issa and Olivia’s experience and life during production were very intriguing and enjoyable. Their friendship felt very real to me. They were supportive of one another and at times felt jealous and guilty. I loved seeing their growth from the beginning and end, as well as their anger about the racism and patriarchal aspect of the industry, especially back then in the 1930’s, when interracial marriage was illegal.

As for critiques, the pacing of the plots weren’t balanced at times. Sometimes I would forget the Shaman aspect of the story because we got too into the acting plot, then the subplot of the Uncles would pop up and it turned out not as relevant. The easy solutions for some of the situations to help move the plot was very glaring. For example, they summon Ava and all she had to do was whisper in someone’s ear to persuade them to do something, and suddenly Issa would be able to do something a powerful Shaman could do on her first try and just be able to do it afterwards.
Side characters were just used as props in an obvious way. Issa’s Ma disappears once Issa moves out and doesn’t come back until she needs help near the end of the book. Jem’s character was a very minor romance plot and he showed up at convenient times. I really wish their romance had developed better. When we first met Jem it was very forgettable as they barely talked and their first date wasn’t much better, but I thought a little romance was a good touch to add in.
Lastly, there was a lot of back and forth on what we were presented with. For example, we were told by the grandma in the beginning that possession can happen and it’s dangerous, but later she would undermine it and say it isn’t as dangerous because it was unlikely to happen. Then when Jem is mad at her we are told he was upset and walked away from her because he didn’t want to talk to her, but then pages later he is chasing after her imporing her to talk to him. Huh?

Otherwise, I enjoyed this book.

This story centres on two friends Issa and Olivia who are Vietnamese. Both dream of being stars.
The story takes place in the 1930's.
The two give each other support and friendship and they want the best for each other.
They are advised by the spirit of one of their grandmother's to seek the advice of a silent screen star however when they summon her they get more than just her spirit.
It was a bit creepy and turned a bit darker however they somehow survived it.
The book did have fun bits but it also had creepy bits.
Thanks Netgalley and the publisher.

Old Hollywood with a paranormal twist best describes Silver and Smoke by Van Hoang. Silver and Smoke follows best friends Issa and Olivia in 1930’s Hollywood as they try to become movie stars. Though they’re aiming for the silver screen, Issa’s family are powerful shamans that call on those who have passed on to help them achieve stardom.

I absolutely loved this book! I was hooked from the very beginning. I would even venture to say that this is my favorite book that I have read so far this year. Hoang did an amazing job of blending Old Hollywood glamour with the paranormal elements of this story to make an engaging and gripping story of two young women trying to make it in Hollywood.

The setting for this book was perfect. I could truly imagine the studio lots and I could picture what it would be like on the various different sets. Additionally, the scenes that took place with Issa’s family showed a grittier side of 1930’s Los Angeles. Hoang did a great job with the juxtaposition between the studio lots and the glamour of Hollywood scenes with the grittier aspects of Issa and Olivia’s lives outside of the movie studios.

I also found the exploration of Issa’s familial relationships to be very interesting. Hoang did a wonderful job exploring Issa’s personal struggle with her own desires, her mother’s desires, and the desires of her extended family. Issa’s relationship with her friend Olivia was very interesting and complex. The sister-like bond that the two shared added a lot to the story and made the characters seem more realistic.

Issa was an even more dynamic character due to her ability to speak to the dead, especially the former actress, Ava. No spoilers, but Ava is a fascinating character that will keep you guessing throughout the whole story. Like some other books I’ve read recently, this was not a particularly short book, but it read very quickly. It was fast paced without being jarring, and I didn’t feel as though there were many loose ends when it was finished.

While there were not many loose ends, I do feel like there were a few characters, especially some of the male characters, that I would have liked to have gotten some more closure with. Overall, though, I was happy with their roles in the book, and they added to the overall story without too much of a focus on romance.

I also really liked that the plot had varying focuses that were explored with different characters. There was tension around Issa and Olivia’s movie careers. There was familial tension throughout the book with various characters and relationships. Additionally, there was the paranormal element that added to the tension in the book.

Overall, this was an extremely enjoyable and well written book. It was a real pleasure to be able to read it. I would happily recommend this book to those that enjoy books with a more young adult feel, historical fiction, or fiction with a paranormal element. I also want to thank 47North for providing a copy of Silver and Smoke to me via NetGalley for review. Any opinions offered in this review are mine alone

I'm so happy that stories like this are being told! Reminded of 'Daughter of Calamity' by Rosalie M Lin in particular, it's a pleasure to read about the real lives and magical journeys of non-white, non-male protagonists. Here we have two strong young women fighting hard to be heard, and I was entirely on board for it.

I've been reading a lot of Lovecraftian fiction recently (also being turned on its head by featuring characters that HPL would've run from!), so it was a pleasure to be pulled into this historic period. The difficulties faced by women, let alone obviously 'foreign' women, are sadly still understandable in this world of 2025, but the attraction of Hollywood is too. Taking the very familiar tale of a youngster seeking fame and fortune in the big city, this tale skilfully adds its own perspective with the issues of race, class and gender, and the crucial aspects of family and tradition.

I loved that the women in Issa's family have seized power through their shamanic abilities, and how that works within a 'modern' world is compelling. Is it selling one's soul if it's a family business? Are you fated to follow a certain path as dictated by your ancestors, or can you - should you - carve your own way in this strange new world that doesn't seem to want you?

An excellent heroine's journey that walks a glitzy-dark path between magic and reality. Definitely a recommend.

Big thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing / Brilliance audio for the free digital and audiobook arc in exchange for an honest review.


I honestly had a good time with this book. I liked it more than I expected. I like the characters and can't help to root for Issa And Olivia who are more like sisters than friends. Issa's grandmother and Ava are also interesting characters. I can't stop listening to the audio book even though I am doing something else and I just wanted to know what's going to happen next. It was narrated perfectly and the narrator did a great job with the other voices as well.. although the ending wasn't really that climactic, still was a fun and entertaining read.

I won't be reading this. I've tried multiple times and haven't gotten into it. Thank you though for the opportunity. If I read it in the future I will come back and change this review.

Silver and Smoke by Van Hoang didn’t feel like a debut novel! It was gripping from the beginning, the story just took off!!
I loved the plot, the characters, boy, this was a great story!! I really loved Issa, she was so inspirational. She had a really full and relatable character. I was absorbed into this story straight away!!
Issa and Olivia, two young Vietnamese girls want to be famous actresses, and despair for their future. They live in a tiny apartment with Issa’s mother. They have left family behind and are estranged. The reason for this becomes clear. So there are all sorts of ongoing issues that make this story so very interesting! There’s some magic, love and positivity that will make this book really popular.
Can’t wait to see future books from this author!!
Many thanks to 47 North for the opportunity to read this arc copy via Netgalley. My opinion is my own.
#Netgalley, #47North, #VanHoang.

Thanks to NetGalley and 47North for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

3.5 stars

Tagline: It’s the golden age of Hollywood. For two Vietnamese dreamers, success means conjuring a magical break in a spellbinding novel about the frightening price of fame by the author of The Monstrous Misses Mai.

This was one of those random late-night NetGalley requests I made days before the title was archived. Issa Bui and Olivia Nong were well-written characters, and I enjoyed spending time with them on the MGM and Warner Brothers lots. Sure, there were some predictable plot points, but that didn't deter me from sitting back and enjoying my reading sessions. Although I only started this on Wednesday and finished on Sunday, it was only because I had so many other books on the go that it took me a while to finish this novel. Note to self, try not to request all ARCs that will end up being published on the same day.

Overall, a good paranormal fantasy to sink your teeth into!





#SilverandSmoke #NetGalley.
Publication Date 04/02/25
Goodreads Review 23/02/25

Two friends, almost sister from a Vietnamese descend, share a dream of being superstars. But getting a foot in the door is much harder than they anticipated. When a dead grandma of a shamanic powers come knocking on their mirrors, Issa and Olivia take the chance to try something new, something that will not only get their foot in the door of the big MGM lots, where dream are made, but also raise them higher and higher into the circles they dream about.

As beautiful as the themes of the story were, the characters were just as powerful and interesting. Sisterhood between Issa and Olivia was the focal point of the story. Each character was given time to develop and expand before problems hit their relationship in the form of an ill intentioned, ghost actress. There was a certain premise, certain expectations the story set itself up for and fulfilled them to the dot. But I must say, the plot seemed stalling before the big problems, to develop the characters and I felt hard pulling through some parts of the middle. The career seemed more of a focal point and sometimes I felt like more interesting things were happening in Olivia's point of view. While the shamanic abilities are as much a part of the story as the careers, I longed to read about it from Olivia's point of view at time. However, it wasn't so much that it took away my interest from the story.

A subtle subject of the story, I loved majorly was the difference in dreams, thoughts and wants of the three generations of Issa's family. It showed a depth of understanding in the east Asian family culture, like living with family, getting involved in the business, trying to break away from expectations and such.

If you love to read about sisterhood, like character development, shamanic abilities or stories about career, Silver and Smoke makes a worthwhile and memorable read.

There’s a lot going on in this book, but it’s all remarkably balanced. Somehow it manages to be about Old Hollywood, ghosts, early Asian American history, friendship, betrayal, and family without any one element overriding the others too heavily. All of the ingredients complement each other nicely, and the result is some very satisfying world-building. For all its complexity, the book is also a surprisingly light read, with quick pacing and the kind of dynamic, character-driven story that would make a good movie, fittingly enough. The supernatural element here is really interesting because it’s so focused. Ancestral and cultural ghosts are often used as broad stand-ins for various types of injustice and trauma, but these ghosts are very personal and very relationship oriented, which is what the book really revolves around. They also bring a good amount of spookiness and even humor when needed, although the biggest emotional arcs are reserved for the living humans.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this eARC.

Silver and Smoke follows friends Issa and Olivia as they enlist the help of a silent film star's ghost to stake their claim on the silver screen.

There's little that's better than Old Hollywood and ghosts, both of which this book has in spades. This was such an entertaining read! It was just the right amount of fast-paced that kept me glued to the page without feeling rushed, the characters and world were fully realized, and the plot was intriguing and ultimately reached a satisfying and heartwarming conclusion. I did feel like there were some plot elements that could have done with a bit more development and screen time -- the uncles kind of felt like an afterthought, used just to propel other plot elements -- but this wasn't a huge detractor for me.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this self-contained supernatural read, and I think it's perfect for anyone looking for an eerie historical read.

3.5 / 5 stars
Two young Vietnamese-American women who are basically sisters try to make it in 1930s Hollywood, with a bit of help from the beyond. This was an interesting blend of historical fiction, fantasy and thriller that is unfortunately somewhat oddly paced, but nonetheless quite enjoyable. The characters are excellently fleshed out, and especially the dynamic between Issa and Olivia is wonderfully built up. However, this building up of their relationship was also the reason I almost DNFed this book around 50%. The thriller aspect of the plot only really starts going after the halfway mark, which did make the first half a bit too slow and uneventful, for my taste. During this part of the book, fundamental building blocks of the story are established; the relationship between Issa and Olivia, both of their ambitions to become actresses, the seedy magical background of Issa's family and their complex relationships to each other. Additionally, the first seeds of discord are sown between the main characters. All of this build-up is necessary for the story-beats latter part to hit as hard as they do, but it is done too slowly, too uneventfully. I loved the second half of the book, I did not love the first half, yet I also have to acknowledge that I probably would not have loved the second half had it not been for the first.

Silver and Smoke follows Vietnamese American girls Issa and Olivia. They've graduated high school in Los Angeles around the 1930s and have the same dream that a lot of young women have. They want to be movie stars! They spend their days at the gates of MGM waiting to be picked from the crowd to be extras in hopes of getting their big break. In need of some money for an acting coach, the girls visit Issa's grandmother and aunt. Women that her mother has forbidden her to see because of their unique talents and sometimes questionable businesses. While visiting, Issa learns that she is a shaman and with her aunt's help, they conjure her grandmother who recently passed away. They're informed of an actress named Ava Lin Rang, a huge silent film actress, who's spirit is close by and the girls decide to conjure Ava for help. Now they're landing rolls, getting signed to contracts, given a beautiful dressing room apartment to live in on the lot. They're getting everything they could have ever wanted right? It's when Issa realizes that Ava is always around without her conjuring her that she starts to physically feel like something is amiss.

This was a wonderful story. I felt it was a little slow to start and it took until close to half way through for it to really catch and hold my attention. While I have never been an actress or wanted to be one, I have had a friend who felt like a sister to me that as we got older, we grew apart and when we did spend time together it almost felt like I was being used and that's what I felt with Issa and Olivia. Olivia time and time again whined about something and Issa being so sweet and kind would just let her have her way even if it came back to hurt Issa's feelings. This was a solid 4.5 for me simply because of the slow start and then almost the rushed ending. I was about 85% of the way through the story when I wasn't sure if there was supposed to be a sequel after this to address another big part of the story. Those are the only things keeping it from a 5 star for me but it's not enough to round down to a 4 star.

Two Vietnamese best friends, Issa and Olivia, dream of stardom against the odds in 1930s Hollywood. Issa's family has a history of shamanic ability, so they summon the spirit of her dead grandmother Bà Ngoại for assistance. The grandmother suggests that they take advice from the spirit of Ava Lin Rang, an Asian star of the silent movie era. What Issa and Olivia don't realize is that Ava has desperate goals of her own, and they may have summoned more than they bargained for.

I wanted to know so much more about Issa's family: their history and abilities. What was the origin behind their various family feuds; when did their shamanic abilities start and how? I loved the friendship between the two women and how they supported each other. Issa was so naive but it made me feel protective of her; I wanted her story to end well.

Thank you so much to 47North and Netgalley for this ARC!

Silver and Smoke is a historical fantasy that explores the sacrifices and bond between sisters. Facing the racism within Hollywood, how can Olivia and Issa chase their dreams of fame? How can they get ahead when so many opportunities are denied to them before they even get in the door? You make a deal with a demon. Silver and Smoke begins by asking us what we would do for our dreams. And it turns into a story about who we would sacrifice and how much we'd give up to save the ones we love.

Silver and Smoke by Van Hoang pulled into this story from the start, and each chapter just pulled me further and further in.
The characters are so well developed and the story flows so easily.
This is that story filled with moments that will grip you and hold you well after you finish reading.
With amazing paranormal/magical elements. Made for an amazing story.

Issa Bui and Olivia Nong are best friends who grew up dreaming of becoming movie stars. Young Vietnamese women in 1930s Hollywood aren't called up for roles, but Issa is descended from shamans and plans to connect with her dead Bà Ngoại for help. Bà Ngoại introduces Issa and Olivia to the late Ava Lin Rang, who had been an Asian star of the silent screen. Ava coaches them and uses her influence to open doors for her protégés. Issa uses her power more and more, and her dreams are coming true. But what is the cost of magic?

Issa is the latest in a long line of shamans, able to connect with the dead and summon them to the land of the living. The more a spirit connects with the living, the stronger it gets and the more powers it will develop, including the potential to possess the living. Her mother walked away from her family, who not only summoned the dead but were involved in the criminal underworld. Issa's Bà Ngoại gave them the semblance of distance but wants Issa to take her place within the family business. Issa wants to be a movie star and gets a year to make it big or get pulled back in. Between the two of them, Olivia is the driven one; she does whatever she can to get seen by the movers and shakers in Hollywood, is more willing to lie, and sacrifices to get the guidance of ghosts to advance her career.

Of course, everything goes smoothly at first, but then the cracks begin to show. Issa has multiple things grabbing her attention besides the lure of fame, and Ava continues to push both women forward. While you can probably guess some aspects of the novel if you're genre-savvy, it's still fun to see how it all plays out. I was drawn into the story and had to find out what happened next. I was rooting for Issa and Olivia, hoping they would make it work in Hollywood. It's a rough time for young women, let alone Asian ones, and the journey they take is well worth the read.