Content levels
Positive tags
Hero archetypes
Heroine archetypes
Protagonist archetypes
Tropes
Themes
Synopsis
1893, Malaysia. Li Lan, the daughter of a genteel but bankrupt family, has few prospects. But fate intervenes when she receives an unusual proposal from the wealthy and powerful Lim family. They want her to become a ghost bride for the family's only son, who recently died under mysterious circumstances. Rarely practiced, a traditional ghost marriage is used to placate a restless spirit. Such a union would guarantee Li Lan a home for the rest of her days, but at a terrible price. After an ominous visit to the opulent Lim mansion, Li Lan finds herself haunted not only by her ghostly would-be suitor, but also by her desire for the Lim's handsome new heir, Tian Bai. Night after night, she is drawn into the shadowy parallel world of the Chinese afterlife, with its ghost cities, paper funeral offerings, vengeful spirits and monstrous bureaucracy -- including the mysterious Er Lang, a charming but unpredictable guardian spirit. Li Lan must uncover the Lim family's darkest secrets -- and the truth about her own family -- before she is trapped in this ghostly world forever.
Is The ghost bride appropriate for my child?
Suitable for most readers 16 and up.
A historical fantasy set in 1890s Malaysia featuring a young woman navigating ghost marriage traditions and the Chinese afterlife. Contains supernatural elements, ghostly haunting, mild romantic tension, and family secrets but no explicit content.
What to know going in
This book has mild violence, mild sexual content, and clean language. Content notes include death, grief, and stalking.
Who'll love this
A captivating mystery where a young woman must navigate the ghostly afterlife to uncover dark family secrets and avoid being trapped forever.