After the murder of her estranged Aunt Tigress, Tam Lin—a queer, half-tiger daughter of Chinese immigrants in Calgary—must confront her violent supernatural heritage and unravel a web of mythological secrets, aided by her new girlfriend Janet and a cast of magical beings. Blending Chinese and First Nations folklore, the story explores themes of identity, redemption, and the complexities of family and cultural inheritance within a richly diverse urban fantasy world.

Reader Review Summary

Set in a supernatural version of Calgary, Canada, the novel follows Tam Lin, a young woman descended from a lineage of Chinese tiger spirits, who has tried to suppress her violent, predatory nature and live a quiet, vegan life. After the murder and skinning of her estranged Aunt Tigress, Tam is pulled back into the world of demons, ghosts, gods, and mythological beings, inheriting an undead fox and a host of old enemies. The story blends Chinese folklore and Siksiká Nation (First Nations) mythology, featuring a cast of supernatural and human characters, including Tam’s brash new girlfriend Janet, her stepbrother Paul, and various familiars. The narrative structure alternates between Tam’s first-person perspective and third-person chapters that delve into the backstories of side characters, using a 'stories within a story' format. The book explores themes of heritage, redemption, cultural appropriation, and the complexities of family and identity, with a focus on LGBTQIA+ representation and a sapphic romance subplot.

Readers praised the book’s integration of Chinese and First Nations mythologies, noting the detailed worldbuilding and the inclusion of supernatural beings rarely seen in urban fantasy. The setting in Calgary and the use of non-Western folklore were highlighted as refreshing, and many appreciated the exploration of immigrant experiences and the respectful handling of cultural intersections. The side characters, such as Jack and the familiars, were often cited as memorable, and the 'stories within a story' approach was seen by some as a compelling way to provide depth and interconnectedness among the cast. The book’s dark, atmospheric tone, moral ambiguity, and the depiction of complex family dynamics also received positive attention, as did the representation of queer relationships and the avoidance of homophobic tropes.

Common criticisms centered on the book’s pacing, with many finding it slow or meandering due to frequent flashbacks, exposition, and backstory chapters that interrupted the main plot. Several readers struggled with the romance between Tam and Janet, describing it as rushed, lacking chemistry, or unconvincing, with Janet’s character often perceived as abrasive or underdeveloped. The protagonist Tam was sometimes described as bland, passive, or lacking agency, and some readers found it difficult to connect with her. The narrative structure, with its shifts between first and third person and multiple points of view, was confusing for some, and the dense layering of mythological elements and side stories led to complaints of overcrowding and a lack of narrative cohesion. A few readers were also put off by the horror elements and graphic descriptions.

The book has an average reader rating of 3.7 out of 5 from 84 ratings and 61 full reviews, indicating a mixed reception. It is marketed as adult urban fantasy with strong LGBTQIA+ and sapphic representation, and is compared to works by Seanan McGuire, Ilona Andrews, and Ben Aaronovitch. The story addresses issues such as the appropriation of Indigenous practices, the impact of trauma, and the search for redemption, while also touching on real-world topics like the treatment of First Nations people in Canada. The narrative includes content warnings for depictions of sexual assault, abuse, and homophobia. The book is scheduled for publication on March 18, 2025, by DAW Books, and is the debut novel of Emily Yu-Xuan Qin.