Books from China

June Hayward and Athena Liu were supposed to be twin rising stars of the literary world. Instead, Athena is a wildly successful, critically adored Chinese American novelist, and June is a struggling white writer no one remembers. When Athena dies in a freak accident, June impulsively steals her just-finished manuscript, a sweeping novel about the Chinese laborers of the First World War, and revises and publishes it as her own, under the racially ambiguous pen name Juniper Song. The book is a smash, and June finally has the fame she believes she deserves. But the lie is fragile. As readers, journalists, and the internet begin to probe the story's origins, accusations of plagiarism and cultural appropriation gather, and June is pulled into a spiral of justification, paranoia, and escalating deceit. Narrated entirely in June's slippery, self-serving first-person voice, this contemporary novel is a sharp, propulsive satire of the publishing industry, performative diversity, racism, and the outrage machine of social media. It is Kuang's first departure from fantasy, turning her eye on the very business that made her, and on who gets to tell which stories.

• unreliable narrator
• morally grey

Oxford, the 1830s. Robin Swift, orphaned by cholera in Canton and raised in London by the enigmatic Professor Lovell, has spent his childhood drilled in Latin, Greek, and Mandarin for one purpose: enrollment at Babel, Oxford's Royal Institute of Translation and the source of the British Empire's power. At Babel, translators inscribe silver bars with the meaning lost between languages, unlocking magic that keeps the Empire's ships, factories, and armies running. Robin finds a fierce found family among his cohort of fellow outsiders — Ramy, Victoire, and Letty — but as Britain's hunger for silver pushes it toward war with China over opium, Robin is forced to choose between the institution that made him and the revolutionary resistance sworn to bring it down.

• dark academia

An alien signal arrives, igniting a decades-long crisis for humanity. As scientists race to understand the implications of first contact, a secret organization prepares for an inevitable invasion. This foundational novel in the Remembrance of Earth's Past trilogy launches an epic fight for humanity's future.

• first contact
• mystery box
• multiple povs

Humanity knows the Trisolaran invasion fleet is coming — and that it will take four centuries to arrive. Earth also knows Trisolaris can monitor every human communication and structure in real time, leaving strategists nowhere to hide their plans. In response, the United Nations launches the Wallfacer Project: four individuals are given sweeping authority and resources to devise defense strategies entirely inside their own minds, safe from alien surveillance, with no obligation to explain their true intentions to anyone — even their own governments. Among them is Luo Ji, an obscure astronomer-sociologist who has no idea why he was chosen, and whom Trisolaris has, inexplicably, marked for assassination above all others. As the other Wallfacers pursue grand, very public schemes, Luo Ji drifts through personal indulgence before slowly realizing that an offhand conversation years earlier may hold the key to humanity's only real chance of survival — a theory about the nature of the universe itself, and why civilizations that reveal themselves rarely survive the encounter.

• reluctant hero
• survival

In a world where giant mechs are the only defense against alien threats, a young woman named Zetian seeks vengeance for her sister's death. She becomes an 'Iron Widow,' a pilot who can power her mecha by sacrificing boys. Zetian must navigate a treacherous political landscape and a forced partnership with a controversial male pilot, all while fighting for her own survival and aiming to dismantle the oppressive system.

• revenge
• sacrifice
• forced proximity
• morally grey

Sadie Wen is the picture of a perfect senior: top of her class, endlessly helpful, universally liked. Her secret is a private outlet. She pours her real, unfiltered feelings into draft emails she never intends to send, venting about classmates, teachers, and above all her infuriating academic rival, Julius Gong. Then the drafts go out. Every one of them, to the entire school. Overnight Sadie's spotless reputation detonates, and the only person willing (or forced) to help her contain the fallout and track down whoever hit send is Julius himself, the boy she has spent years competing against. Ann Liang's young-adult rom-com is a sharp, funny enemies-to-lovers story about the masks high achievers wear, and what happens when the mask slips.

• enemies to lovers
• rivals
• slow burn
• coming of age

A brilliant, unorthodox cultivator who pioneered a path of demonic cultivation and was branded a villain for it, Wei Wuxian is dead — or so the world believes. Thirteen years later, he is forced into a new body and a new name, Mo Xuanyu, and must navigate a world that has moved on without him while unraveling the mystery of a disembodied corpse terrorizing the cultivation sects. As he and Lan Wangji, his former classmate and the only person who truly knows him, are drawn together again, the truth of Wei Wuxian's past, his choices, and his feelings for Lan Wangji slowly come to light.

• slow burn
• redemption arc
• mystery box
• second chance

Alice Sun feels like she's fading into the background at her prestigious Beijing school. But when she literally starts turning invisible, her life takes a wild turn. Facing mounting tuition fees, Alice decides to monetize her strange new ability by digging up secrets for her wealthy classmates. What starts as small-time scheming quickly escalates into something far more dangerous, forcing Alice to reckon with the consequences of her actions.

• enemies to lovers
• rivals
• boarding school
• morally grey

Rival gang heirs with a shared romantic past must team up against a mysterious madness devouring 1926 Shanghai, in this Romeo and Juliet retelling.

• enemies to lovers
• second chance
• forbidden love

Emika Chen is a notorious hacker who makes a living by betting on the Warcross games. When she hacks into the opening tournament, she accidentally glitches herself into the game and becomes an overnight sensation. But her newfound fame comes with a dangerous secret, as she uncovers a conspiracy that could threaten the entire Warcross empire.

• secret identity
• found family
• morally grey
• heist

Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji reach a final confrontation at Guanyin Temple as the mysteries surrounding their investigation come together. This concluding volume also includes eight bonus stories exploring their lives beyond the main narrative.

• slow burn

In 1954 San Francisco, seventeen-year-old Lily Hu navigates the complexities of her Chinese American identity and burgeoning sexuality amidst the Cold War. As her father faces the threat of deportation, Lily finds herself drawn to a Caucasian classmate, Kath, exploring a forbidden relationship in the city's underground lesbian clubs. This story explores love, identity, and the courage to be true to oneself in a time of fear and prejudice.

• forbidden love
• coming of age
• family saga

In a future America divided by war, a military prodigy named June hunts down the nation's most wanted criminal, Day. Their paths collide when June's brother is murdered, and Day becomes the prime suspect. As they are drawn into a deadly game of cat and mouse, they uncover a conspiracy that threatens to expose the dark secrets of their country.

• enemies to lovers
• reluctant hero
• multiple povs
• coming of age

A cruel emperor kills himself and wakes up back in the body of his younger, disgraced self, determined to make everyone who wronged him pay. But his fury at the teacher who once betrayed him starts curdling into something else entirely. A classic danmei reincarnation-revenge romance.

• second chance
• redemption arc
• enemies to lovers
• morally grey

In 1931 Shanghai, Rosalind Lang is a Nationalist spy with the ability to resurrect the dead. Tasked with uncovering a series of murders that threaten to ignite a war, she must infiltrate the city's glamorous society. As she delves deeper into the investigation, Rosalind finds herself entangled with a rival Communist spy, Orion Li, and uncovers a conspiracy that could change the course of history.

• secret identity
• morally grey
• revenge
• court intrigue

Noble-born Mo Xi is the foremost general of Chonghua, known for his ruthless temper and ascetic air. Once he was one of two promising young commanders, twin stars of the empire. His comrade, the lowborn Gu Mang, was Mo Xi's brother-in-arms, best friend, and--secretly--his lover, until the day Gu Mang turned traitor and joined the ranks of their nation's greatest enemy. Now Gu Mang has been returned to the empire a ruined man, a shadow of the military genius he once was. The public clamors for his death, and no one yearns for vengeance more than Mo Xi. Or so he thought--for faced once more with his bitterest enemy, Mo Xi is left with more questions than answers. Why did the man he loved betray him? And what secrets hide behind Gu Mang's tortured eyes?

Shen Qiao rescues Yuwen Song from war-torn Chang'an and helps him start over as a trainee at Bixia Sect. Before long, Shen Qiao's mischievous Demon Lord, Yan Wushi, turns up as well. The sect is buzzing about the upcoming Sword Trial Conference, but Shen Qiao learns of tensions that could turn the gathering into a bloodbath.

As emperors, generals, and kings vie for dominance, martial sects mount bloody clashes to determine who will influence the nations' leaders. Fallen and humbled, former sect leader Shen Qiao searches for direction in a tumultuous world. He finds an unlikely companion in the nefarious Yan Wushi. The roguish and powerful demonic practitioner has helped Shen Qiao begin to rebuild his lost martial abilities. As the two travel and work together, the gentle Daoist master dares to imagine that the famed Demon Lord is warming to him. But all is not as it seems, and old treacheries draw fresh blood. As Shen Qiao confronts dangerous new enemies, the struggle for control of the Central Plains ignites!

Explore the foundational text of Taoism with this direct translation of the Tao Te Ching. This edition emphasizes the original Chinese characters, allowing for a deeper personal understanding of Lao Tzu's ancient wisdom. It's an excellent resource for those seeking a clear and accessible entry into the philosophy.

Twelve-year-old Zack, unfamiliar with his Chinese heritage, discovers he's destined to host the spirit of the First Emperor of China. This unexpected role thrusts him into a mission to seal a leaking portal to the Chinese underworld before Ghost Month unleashes its spirits. When the Emperor accidentally binds to Zack's AR headset and his mom's soul is taken by demons, Zack must journey across China. With the ancient tyrant's voice in his ear, Zack must heist magical artifacts, battle mythical figures, and master water dragon powers to save his mom and prevent the underworld from flooding the mortal realm.

• chosen one
• reluctant hero
• quest
• fish out of water

After a series of mysterious plane crashes linked to birds, seventeen-year-old Reese and her debate partner, David, find themselves in a secret government facility. They soon uncover a conspiracy that Reese's friend Julian believes involves aliens and UFOs. As they navigate this strange new world, Reese must figure out who to trust and what is truly happening.

• coming of age
• first contact

When a man from our time wakes up in the body of Klein Moretti, he finds himself in an alternate Victorian world powered by steam and shadowed by secrets. To survive cosmic horrors and find a way home, he must navigate a dangerous society of 'Beyonders' who gain power from arcane potions. Adopting the codename 'The Fool,' Klein slowly uncovers conspiracies that threaten the very fabric of his new reality.

• fish out of water
• mystery box
• secret identity

This file is missing one or two pages near the end of the book--the second- and maybe third-to-last page. Couldn't find anywhere else to make this note.

A man from modern China wakes in the body of Klein Moretti, a dead-seeming graduate in a Victorian-style world of airships and ritual magic. To get home, he must take up occult power, hide behind a mask, and investigate a conspiracy of gods.

• secret identity
• mystery box

Tutti i bambini della regione di Gaomi sono venuti al mondo grazie alle cure e alla sapienza delle mani di Wan Xin, l'unica levatrice della zona. Il suo è un talento naturale che in breve tempo la trasforma nell'amata custode dei segreti della maternità. Ma quando, a metà degli anni Sessanta, il partito è preoccupato per l'esplosione demografica e decide di porvi rimedio, Wan Xin diventa la severa vestale della politica per il controllo delle nascite imposta dal regime e si applica a praticare aborti e vasectomie con lo stesso zelo con cui portava nel mondo nuove vite. Col passare degli anni la campagna per il controllo demografico acquista un carattere di violenza repressiva a cui la stessa Wan Xin non riesce a sottrarsi: in un drammatico inseguimento, una donna partorisce su di una zattera in mezzo al fiume pur di salvare la vita al figlio. Quando all'inizio degli anni Novanta, la stretta del regime si allenta, Wan Xin vede crollare i motivi e gli ideali in cui aveva creduto e con cui aveva messo a tacere la sua coscienza. Finché, in una drammatica notte, tornando a casa, si smarrisce in una zona paludosa: il gracidare delle rane le ricorda il pianto dei bambini mai nati, i corpi gelidi degli animali, come piccoli feti abortiti, la circondano, la ricoprono, spingendola a un ripensamento di tutta la sua vita.

The founding classic of Taoism, teaching harmony with the unnameable Way through humility, simplicity, and effortless action.

This classical Chinese novel centers on the tragic love story of Jia Baoyu, Lin Daiyu, and Xue Baochai. Set against the backdrop of the Qing Dynasty, it chronicles the rise and fall of four prominent aristocratic families: Jia, Shi, Wang, and Xue. The story offers a sweeping portrayal of feudal society and the historical trajectory of its decline.

• love triangle
• family saga
• betrayal

In 2041, artificial intelligence will reshape human existence, bringing both unprecedented advancements and profound challenges. This collection of ten short stories imagines a future where AI generates immense wealth, revolutionizes medicine, and creates new forms of communication, while also displacing jobs and inheriting human biases. From San Francisco's 'job reallocation' industry to Tokyo's immersive celebrity worship and Mumbai's AI-influenced romance, these narratives explore the radiant pathways and existential perils of a world defined by AI.

• multiple povs

"There is perhaps no voice better suited to tell the stories of contemporary China's conflicted, layered reality. China is at once a very young and a very old country, and as much guided by revolutionary fervor as by the heavy memories of history. Where the techniques of literary realism often seem powerless before the many contradictions of the country's headlong plunge into uneven development, Xia Jia has discovered a way to use speculative fiction, with its rich semantic web of fantastic metaphors, derived from both the language of magic and science, to convey the psychological truth of being Chinese at this moment."--Ken Liu, from the Introduction