This was such a nice take on friendship, power and familial ties. I obviously saw where this was going a mile away, but learning about Issa and her family was the most fun of it. I loved their dysfunction and the silent love they held with one another even after so long without chatting.

I wanted more scenes from their grandma and mom and establishing a stronger connection when it came with the conflict with Issa’s uncles. A lot of good plot was downcast in order to focus on Olivia and Issa. I also felt like there were times when nothing was really happening where we could have put mire plot there in order to boost their world.

⅘ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Silver and Smoke
Author: Van Hoang

Thank you Netgalley and 47North for this ARC! This released tomorrow 2/4! Overall, I really enjoyed it. The story is about two Vietnamese best friends trying to make it in 1930s Hollywood. Issa is also from a family of shamans. Her mother and Aunt are feuding; and her mother has tried to keep her from the magical side of her family. Unfortunately she ends up getting drawn in, and her and Olivia end up consulting with a ghost for assistance in achieving their Hollywood dreams. The pacing was really good, and the story was interesting. I really enjoyed all the ghost stuff in this read and I also enjoyed reading Issa and Olivia’s friendship, and their struggles with trying to obtain fame. It was a little predictable at times, and the end was a bit anticlimactic but overall it was not a bad read! Thank you @herkindletravels for the rec and our first buddy read of February!

I went into this blind, and I’m so glad I did! Set in 1930s Hollywood and Culver City, this story follows Issa as she navigates racism, poverty, and the struggle to break into acting alongside her best friend. But here’s the twist—she comes from a long line of shaman witches, and while her grandmother wants her to take over the family business, Issa has other plans. In her attempt to carve her own path, she accidentally conjures the spirit of a former actor to help them chase their dreams. Interesting and nothing could go wrong right?

I had a lot of fun with the premise and loved the blend of historical fiction and paranormal elements. However, the pacing felt a bit slow at times, and I found myself wanting things to move along. While the characters are in their 20s, they sometimes read younger, making it harder to fully connect with them. The family dynamics at times felt relatable validating in a way that added some depth to the story.

The writing style occasionally felt structured like an essay, so a little more editing could have helped with flow. But overall, this gave me Charmed vibes with its matriarchal and sibling relationships x paranormal elements. It would be cool to see this continue as a paranormal mystery series following Issa’s shaman journey!

Thank you to 47north and the author for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

I was looking forward to reading this book because supernatural elements and Vietnamese stories are totally up my alley. The 1930s Hollywood setting plus supernatural occurrences is reminiscent of Tower of Terror or The Twilight Zone. I appreciate the references to LA, of Hollywood and Chinatown to Culver City and Burbank as these used to be some of my old haunts, so the imagery of the setting is great.

However, I didn’t really vibe with the prose, as this book is plot-forward and dialogue-heavy, but the characters’ motivations and time period didn’t really make sense. The characters are also not compelling and at times feel like caricatures, especially in regards to the descriptions of characters in Hollywood, complete with sleazy producers, rude staff, and the villainous background family clan members.

Overall, a lot of details were stuffed in this novel but at the same time, too surface-level in terms of ghosts, shamanism/witchcraft, mafia crime bosses, Hollywood dreams of breaking out, intergenerational relationships, and even a little romance. Although this is a fictional story, Vietnamese culture historically does include spiritualism elements like fortune-telling and soothsaying, and I felt that cultural piece could’ve been explored more especially if shamanism and the fact that the two main characters are Vietnamese is a big part of the story, so that the story would feel more grounded rather than just left as a consequence of excess ghost summoning.

A good effort on crafting a creative and imaginative story but not my cup of tea.

Special thanks to 47North and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest, independent review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

Silver and Smoke has to be one of my favorite reads this year - what a story, and what a lush world Van Hoang has created with Issa and Olivia!! The vivid use of description in the imagery brought the sultry, glamorous world of 1930's Hollywood to life, and was impossible to put down. The sexism and racism was infuriating to read, but added to the depth of the relationship the girls shared and made you root for their success even more.

The fantasy and mysticism surrounding Issa and her family was so intriguing. I wish we could have learned more about her Aunt, and the empire she ran!

I can't wait to recommend this book to everyone, and if you're in the mood for a gothic noir Hollywood tale with a hint of fantasy, this is beyond the book for you!!

First I wanna thank Van Hoang, the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this early for an honest review.
I don't read much of historical fiction but this synopsis really sounded so interesting and got me curious for the book.
This was definitely a great read and took a turn I wasn't expecting, which was really good.
I love our two main characters Issa and Olivia, even tho Olivia got on my nerves a few times and I think Issa should stand up for herself more. I LOVE Issa's interactions with Grandma cause Grandma is sassy and made me laugh quite a lot. Also I love Issa and Jem, they're adorable.
The concept of her shaman heritage was really an interesting one and that I haven't read about in other books before. Ava's appearance at the beggining and how she helped them with her influence was kinda wholesome but that twist and the way things happened at the end left me shook. I definitely didn't see that coming. It made the book even better cause it was already a great book and that unexpected twist made it even more surprising.
This book is a solid 4.5 stars for me. I definitely recommend to everyone who likes fantasy and historical fiction.

Issa comes from a long line of witches, but her mother forbids her from participating since the family deals in shady business. However, Issa reconnects with her aunt after the passing of her grandmother and agrees to help them run the family business if she doesn't become a movie star in a year. She then begins using her magic to summon a late movie star named Ava, who helps her and her best friend Olivia become actresses, despite her family's warnings that building a strong connection with a ghost can have bad consequences.

The story itself was pretty predictable. As I was reading, I was basically waiting around for something bad to happen. I did like how it ended though.

4.5⭐
During the Golden age of Hollywood, in order for 2 Vietnamese young dreamers to gain success, they need to conjure their magical 'break' - they soon learn that fame definitely comes at a price.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish! The story-telling, & pace kept me engaged and wanting to know what happened next.

* Elise Roth narrated the audiobook, and oh is she talented! The way she played each character (& there was definitely a lot of characters) was amazing, each person

Thank you NetGalley, Brilliance Publishing & Brilliance Audio for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

The best parts of Silver and Smoke are the relationships between Issa and Olivia, and between Issa and her mother. Hoang really nails the emotional complexities of navigating relationships as a young adult; I come from a very different cultural background but found Issa's struggles in loving her mother but also wanting more for her own life very relatable, as well as the tensions in Issa and Olivia's relationship as their friendship was tested by the dreams they'd once shared.

I would have loved this book if it had just honed in on those relationships much further. Instead, there's also a background plot about Issa's mobster uncles (who we never see on page, but who are posed as a huge threat) and some attempts to show the awful misogyny and racism of Hollywood, but these plot points are never given enough space to breath, so unfortunately just distract from the wonderful character relationships that are at the heart of the story. I also found the romance between Issa and Jem rather tepid, because Jem is simply not given enough page time as a character to feel fully developed.

All that said, I still enjoyed this book, and the 1930s is such an underutilised time period in SFF- so I hope we see more of it.

Short Synopsis:
Issa and her best friend Olivia dream of becoming famous actresses. But it’s the 1930s, and the world works against two young Vietnamese women. So Issa turns to her family - that her mother walked away from - to get help. Oh and their witches.

My Thoughts:
This is my first book by Van Hoang (though I do own the ebook of The Monstrous Misses Mai), and I really enjoyed the blend of history and fantasy.

Issa is a character you can’t help but root for. And her relationship with Olivia and her family members added so much depth to her character. The setting was so fun and vibrant. I felt like I was walking the streets of MGM Studio along with Issa and Olivia.

The blatant racism the girls faced had me raging. (Stay angry girls.) But unfortunately it reflected history accurately.

The paranormal/magical elements elevated the intensity of the plot. I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next. Definitely one I’d recommend!

What You’ll Find:
Standalone fantasy
Hollywood drama
Paranormal elements
Secrets
Themes of racism and belonging

Hoang did a great job of creating atmosphere — 1930s Hollywood is such an alluring, mysterious setting and the story felt completely submerged in the time and place from page one. I love how the story was equal parts fantasy, mystery, and family drama. All of those parts was well-explored and unique, yet woven together so well. The author did a great job striking an emotional chord with the relationships in the story, particularly the complexities and growth of friendship between Olivia and Issa. The pacing on the book was quick, which kept me reading, and the nuanced characters kept me deeply invested. The book definitely lived up to its beautiful cover!

I very much wish that this wasn't the case, but unfortunately I'm DNFing this book. While the premise is SO interesting - golden age of Hollywood from a POC perspective, with some fantasy elements!! - the writing is where I stumbled. It wasn't quite working for me, and felt quite boring at times. While usually I might push on past initial boredom for a story, I really didn't gel with the writing. Which is unfortunate, again, because I would love to champion I book like this.

⭐️⭐️⭐️½

**"Sliver and Smoke" by Van Hoang** is a fast-paced paranormal fantasy set in 1930s Hollywood, blending elements of crime, racism, and found family with a touch of magic. The book dives into complex themes like racism and the dynamics of interracial marriage, all while building a world filled with intriguing paranormal elements. The historical setting of 1930s Hollywood adds a unique flair, bringing the glamour and grit of the time to life.

The pacing is strong, keeping the reader engaged with a mix of action, tension, and emotional moments. The dynamics between the characters are one of the book's strongest aspects, with well-crafted relationships that evolve over the course of the story. From messy friendships to a deep sense of found family, the character interactions are layered and authentic. The inclusion of a crime family element adds an exciting and dangerous backdrop to the narrative, making for a compelling mix of fantasy and crime drama.

However, while the world-building is realistic and immersive, the twist at the end felt a bit predictable. Though it didn’t necessarily detract from my overall enjoyment, it did lessen the impact of what could have been a jaw-dropping revelation. Despite this, I'm still intrigued by the direction the story will take in future installments and look forward to seeing where the plot goes next.

**Rating:** ★★★½ (3.5/5)

*Sliver and Smoke* is an enjoyable read with strong pacing, rich character dynamics, and a unique setting, though the twist at the end might not have the shock value I was hoping for. The exploration of racism, interracial marriage, and found family adds depth to the story, and I’m excited to see how the series progresses.

Thank you to NetGalley and 47 Nort for an eArc of this book in exchange for an honest, unbiased review!

SILVER AND SMOKE - VAN HOANG

I am *obsessed* with this book. I couldn't stop reading it and, when I wasn't reading, I was definitely thinking about it. Here's what to expect:

More like sisters than best friends, Issa Bui and Olivia Nong grew up dreaming of becoming movie stars. But for young Vietnamese women in 1930s Hollywood, the MGM back lot seems unreachable. Undeterred, Issa knows she’s meant for great things. The blood of shamans runs through her veins. To find fame in this town, for herself and for Olivia, Issa needs to make connections. For starters, with her dead grandmother Bà Ngoại.

There's so much more, but this is one of those books where the less you know going in, the better the experience. What you do need to know is how thoroughly intoxicating this book is. Set in the 1930s - the Golden Age of Hollywood - when movies were being churned out back to back, this is a fascinating insider look into the film industry at the time. But through the unique lens of 'other', as Issa, the main character, is Vietnamese, and is therefore subject to many forms of racism, from casual slurs to actual legal limitations.

While this book is classified as a fantasy, I would say that this is more a touch of the paranormal, as suggested in the synopsis. But this is so effective and believable, and I felt like it was the perfect device to keep the story moving at a strong pace. With each page turned, you're desperate to find out the effects of the paranormal interventions.

I really liked Issa, as well as the wider cast of characters. Issa was especially endearing to me, as a person who is very much trying to find her place in the world, specifically within the film industry and her community.

In summary, I can't recommend this book enough and if I could give it more stars, I would!

Release date: 4 February 2025

Review score: 5/5

TWs: racism, d*ath, injury detail

I was weary of the story to begin with since I’ve always had trouble connecting with these type of period pieces. But this is not my first Ava Hoang book, I should have realized the impact. I feel that the writing is considerably better, the characters, environment, and plot. I didn’t put it down once, kept wanting to read more about the two women and their stories. Though I personally have not been so blatantly discriminated, I come from an immigrant family and have “exotic” features. I felt so passionately when they were so obviously scrutinized for who they were and placed into certain roles just because of their looks. I couldn’t stand it, the connection I felt with Issa was not blatant but I recognized parts of myself in her. I loved the story and its progression. The relationship between the two women was so heart warming and I loved seeing their ups and downs in the story. Definitely give this book a try you’ll be pleasantly surprised on how fun it is and how invested you’ll become in their lives.

Thanks to NetGalley and 47North publishing, I received a ARC for an honest review !

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Silver and Smoke by Van Hoang is a third person paranormal historical set during the Golden Age of Hollywood. Best friends Issa and Olivia are aspiring actresses who plan to become stars together but are struggling to find roles. When Issa’s family tries to bring her back into the family businesses, both of the illegal and paranormal varieties, Issa and Olivia see a chance to communicate with a deceased rising movie star, Ava, and finally get their big breaks.

One of the things I really appreciated was how Van Hoang depicted the anti-Asian racism that was common in 1936 and the various ways it plays out. There are several times where white characters will point to Issa’s eyes and essentially say ‘because, you know’ when it’s mentioned that her white love interest isn’t actually legally allowed to be her love interest. The anti-interracial marriage laws come into play again later with Issa’s romantic interest, Jem, who is half-Filipino but white-passing. There’s a decent amount of microaggressions that play out and Ava hints at her own issues with racism when she was forging her career.

The paranormal elements are mostly limited to spirit summoning with fairly firm rules. Issa has an easier time summoning Ava whenever she pleases because she’s the heir to her family’s spiritualist powers. Olivia, on the other hand, has to sacrifice blood every time in order to communicate with Ava. There’s also mentions of demons and the breaking of possessions, so there is a deeper magic system that Issa could learn later but is only touching the surface in this book as she chooses to focus on her budding film career over learning more about her powers. I actually found it really cool that a main character who finds out they can learn magic says ‘no, thanks. I’m gonna do this instead’ because I’m so used to the idea of a character wanting an escape from their life so bad that they’ll jump at the chance to have magic.

Issa and Olivia’s friendship goes back to their childhood and feels solid until they start getting more roles. Because we see everything from Issa’s point of view, there are various points where there is a question mark if Olivia was subtly sabotaging Issa to get better roles for herself or if Issa was just imagining it. My impression was certainly that Olivia was being self-centered at times and might have been trying to take the spotlight, but I do also believe that Olivia fully planned on bringing Issa up with her, which makes it more complicated. Issa wants to keep Olivia in her life, but when their careers start moving in different directions, she also struggles to not want to pursue those new opportunities even if that means upsetting Olivia. I was so glad when Issa chose her career because Olivia was being controlling and stifling and Issa needed time for her to learn who she can be as an actress independent of Olivia.

Content warning for depictions of anti-Asian racism and implications of sexual assault and sexual harassment

I would recommend this to fans of paranormal novels looking for something set in the Golden Age of Hollywood and fans of slower-paced novels focused on messy relationships between women

Issa Bui and her best friend, Olivia Nong, have wanted to be stars since they watched their first film on the silver screen. But as a shaman and heir of her grandmother's gang, her grandmother gives Issa an ultimatum: try to become famous stars and if she doesn't succeed, she must take her role as heir. So Issa and Olivia use a spirit's help to enter Hollywood, but things aren't as easy as it seems.

This was an interesting rollercoaster ride. But I did feel bad for the girls as in that era there was a lot of racism straight to your face and there wasn't much they could do about it other than show their worth, that they are better than the racists. However, it did start dragging towards the end but I still had difficulty putting the book down.

I want to start this review by acknowledging that this isn't my typical genre, but I found a lot to like in this book!

Issa comes from a long line of Shamans. But instead, she wants to be a movie star. She make a 1-year deal to succeed at in the movie business and if she isn't a start after that year, she has to run her grandmother's gang. Using the help of a ghost, Issa and her friend Olivia work their way through the twisty world of studios and filmmaking. Issa learns that nothing is what it seems, particularly as their ghost friend gets closer and closer.

I loved the setting and the tone of this book! Issa's mom, the world of the gang, and the world of the movies all feel distinct and build off of each other to create a fully realized world. As the story progresses, all of these places become tainted with creepiness and anxiety brought on by the supernatural elements. These things build on top of each other to fully immerse the reader in the story.

The place where I struggled in this book was Issa's naivete about pretty much everything. Somehow Olivia knows about attacks and violence in the gang world but Issa doesn't even though they live in the same house. Olivia also knows about the politics of the film world while Issa, who for the beginning of the book at least, spends every waking moment with Olivia. The final and most frustrating moment for me with Issa is that she is a woman of color in the 1930s, but has no awareness of the social and legal blocks to interracial relationships. This combination of unawareness makes Issa a frustrating protagonist to follow.

Overall, I enjoyed the world building but needed more from the characters. I would still reccomend this to anyone looking for a creepy but not scary read.

**I will post a Goodreads review and a review on my blog after 1 day of publication date (Feb 4 2025)**

Simply amazing! Silver and Smoke is a fast paced thrilling fantasy that connects readers to the early 90 s Hollywood era. It has a gothic magic vibe, amazing world building especially with the Vietnamese culture in US, and well driven plot that keeps you hooked till the end. I loved the whole dynamic with Issa, Olivia and Ava and Isaa's family dynamics. Although for me the twist at the end was expected, I still loved the writing and the whole premise of the book. I can't wait to read more from Van Hoang. Thank you so much publisher 47North and NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

Summary: It’s the 1930s and being a movie star is a glamorous dream for many young actors. This story covers the journey of two best friends, Issa and Olivia, as they seek the limelight together. As two Vietnamese women, they are ostracized and othered by Hollywood elites. Issa hopes that by gaining fame, she will be recognized for her talent rather than her race. Since Issa comes from a family of supernatural ability, she decides to conjure a famous Vietnamese actress, Ava, to help her and Olivia to improve their acting and navigate racism in Hollywood. However, Issa and Olivia don’t anticipate the toll this will take. This is a story of found family, big dreams, dark pasts, and the supernatural.

Review: This was a truly great read! Hoang did an excellent job in bringing together realistic Hollywood narratives with supernatural elements. Hoang emphasizes the racism experienced by the main characters in both nuanced and explicit ways. Additionally, each character has a depth and unique voice that allows the reader to connect with them individually. I also really enjoyed the Bui family dynamics and how Olivia is welcomed as one of their own. I felt hooked on the story and invested in Olivia and Issa’s friendship and careers. I look forward to reading more of Hoang’s work!

Themes: 1930s Hollywood, found family, crime families, supernatural