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"Brilliantly written, masterful storytelling, and hard to put down. This story will stay with me for a very, very long time." —Heather Morris, #1 bestselling author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz
An empowering, uplifting tale of two women from opposite sides of society, and their extraordinary journey of sisterhood, betrayal, love and triumph.
1800s China. Tightly bound feet, or "golden lilies," are the mark of an honorable woman, eclipsing beauty, a rich dowry and even bloodline in the marriage stakes. When Little Flower is sold as a maidservant—a muizai—to Linjing, a daughter of the prominent Fong family, she clings to the hope that one day her golden lilies will lead her out of slavery.
Not only does Little Flower have bound feet, uncommon for a muizai, but she is extraordinarily gifted at embroidery, a skill associated with the highest class of a lady. Resentful of her talents, Linjing does everything in her power to thwart Little Flower's escape.
But when scandal strikes the Fongs, both women are cast out to the Celibate Sisterhood, where Little Flower's artistic prowess catches the eye of a nobleman. His attention threatens not only her improved status, but her life—the Sisterhood punishes disobedience with death. And if Linjing finds out, will she sabotage Little Flower to reclaim her power, or will she protect her?
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
January 7, 2025 -
Formats
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OverDrive Listen audiobook
- ISBN: 9781488233593
- File size: 355134 KB
- Duration: 12:19:49
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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Little Flower is poor but talented--and she has beautiful feet, which is unusual for a woman of low status in early-nineteenth-century China. Katharine Chin delivers a striking performance, enriching this novel's historical setting with expressive storytelling. She conveys Little Flower's coming of age at a time of great strife and intrigue in a voice that blends fragility and resolve. Her depiction of Linjing, Little Flower's employer, balances Linjing's sense of entitlement with her deep-seated frustration. Chin's rhythm and inflection sustain the intrigue as Little Flower begins to make a name for herself with her skill at embroidery and catches the eye of a nobleman. Chin's articulation of Mandarin phrases adds cultural depth, grounding the listener in the time and place. M.R. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine
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