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The Chosen and the Beautiful

The Chosen and the Beautiful

FantasyHistorical Fiction
Pages
272
Published
2021
Language
English

Synopsis

Step into a Jazz Age New York where magic subtly weaves through the glittering parties and social circles. Jordan Baker, a queer, adopted Vietnamese American, navigates this world with a hidden magical ability and a sharp eye for the era's prejudices. As she befriends the privileged Daisy, Jordan uncovers the darker currents beneath the surface of wealth and glamour. This reimagining of a classic story offers a fresh perspective on an iconic era.

Prose complexity
7/10

Vibe

AtmosphericThought-ProvokingComplexSatirical
Fish Out of Water
Writing5.0Impact4.0Characters3.0Plot0.0Atmosphere3.0
Spice level
3.0 avg spice

Genres

Fantasy Historical Fiction LGBTQ+ Romance Literary Fiction Magical Realism Alternate History

About the author

N
Nghi Vo

Nghi Vo was born December 4, 1981, in Peoria, Illinois, and lives on the shores of Lake Michigan. Her short fiction has appeared in Strange Horizons, Uncanny Magazine, PodCastle, Lightspeed, and Fireside. Her debut novella, The Empress of Salt and Fortune, opened the Singing Hills Cycle and won the 2021 Hugo Award for Best Novella and the Crawford Award; the series follows a wandering cleric collecting stories across an empire modeled on classical Asian court drama. She has also written the nove...

Characters

Jordan BakerProtagonist
Daisy BuchananSupporting
All characters in The Chosen and the Beautiful

Frequently asked questions

  • Does this book require prior knowledge of The Great Gatsby?

    While the narrative follows the familiar plot points of the original classic, it functions as a distinct reimagining that introduces significant magical elements and character perspectives not present in the source material. Readers can follow the story without deep expertise in the original, though familiarity with the primary characters helps in appreciating how the author subverts their established roles.

  • Is there any other work connected to this story?

    The author released a standalone companion novella titled Don't Sleep with the Dead, which centers on the character of Nick Carraway and his life following the events depicted in this novel.

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