The Manor of Dreams by Christina Li is a gothic story about the price of fame and the haunting secrets of a Chinese American family whose lives become entangled in a dark history that has threatened their family for generations.

The story follows Vivian Yin, the first Chinese American actress to win an Oscar and her tragic life as a once famous star, wife, and mother only to lose everything in the end, including her life. Her mysterious death and strange house in California beckons her family and friends back to the manor where unnatural things begin to occur. Soon, the family realizes that they have stepped back into a nightmare, built on the dreams of Vivian Yin and her troubled life.

The Manor of Dreams is a haunting story about family secrets and the immigrant experience that pulled me into its pages. It is very much a Gothic with a psychological horror aspect to it, with the explanations of what was really gone, never fully resolved. The juxtapositions between Hollywood glamour and Chinese culture was interesting and helped to highlight the challenges and bravery of Vivian Yin as she navigated the dark world of the entertainment industry. The story was a little slow paced at times but it helped to increase the tension and suspense, with the mystery deepening the further the story went along.

If you like Gothic stories involving generational trauma, I would recommend The Manor of Dreams by Christina Li.