I was tempted for the theme as it relates to an engrossing and insightful historical portrait with a nuance combination of folkloric, myth and culture related plot. Princess Bari was set in the 90s following Bari’s perspective (love how the earliest chapter shared the root of her name), a brave young girl who escapes North Korea from the famine, death and the loss of her family to seek refuge in China before crossing oceans in the hold of a cargo ship to find a better life in London.

A heartrending and evocatively written narrative to me as the plotline tautly grasped a detailed life story of Bari since her younger age; to experience the hardships and how her family need to manage living in a land and era of economic mismanagement and the loss of Soviet support that led to a widespread malnutrition and chronic hunger-related illnesses to the people. Truly love how the author narrated his plot; well gripping and emotionally phrased with that pinch of surreal almost haunting hue that goes spiritually engaging. I like Bari’s character a lot; to see her growth throughout the timeline, her journeys of survival, adapting to new culture, languages and way of living.

Bit chaotic and suspenseful as it intertwined a perspective of marginalised society during its London’s backdrop with Bari’s adulthood phase. I did not expect that the culture part would get me into a vivid religion related setting in the later chapters yet I like how the author executed the progress; interlacing it with modernization, political and humanity while delicately exploring both the historical retelling (of 9/11 tragedy and the aftermath impact) and Bari’s life drama after she met Ali.

This’ll be a great catch for a historical slice-of-life genre if you’re a fan to this type of fiction. My second read from the author after Familiar Things and think I would definitely get another read from him again next time. 4 stars to this!