⭐ 4.5 | ❤️ 3/5

As an Asian American native Californian, it wasn’t until I read Daughters of the Sun and Moon that I learned one of the largest mass lynchings in US history (The Night of Horrors) happened in Los Angeles in 1871 targeting the Chinese community and the concerted effort at its erasure. If it was even mentioned in my education, it was only a footnote. This story reads like a Shakespearean tragedy, made more impactful because it was inspired by real people and events.

As expected with Lisa See, the work is meticulously well researched and illuminates the forgotten stories of Chinese immigrant women in the late 1800s. This narrative is especially relevant given the rise in anti-Asian sentiment in the past few years; it serves as a stark reminder that we must remember history to avoid repeating it.

Despite taking place five years after the abolition of slavery, the story reveals how officials ignored the human trafficking of Chinese women in LA. It is a portrait of the pervasiveness of loneliness resulting from the isolation of Chinese immigrant women in 1870s America and the balm of sisterhood during a bleak time. The story follows three POVs inspired by real women, each caged in her own way. We glimpse three distinct experiences: Petal, a victim of sex trafficking; Dove, matched sight-unseen as a second wife; and Moon, an educated wife reunited with her husband.

While the themes are incredibly dark (including sex slavery, xenophobia, misogyny, and graphic violence), it never feels gratuitous. Instead, it feels necessary to convey the magnitude of these real events.

My only critique involves the POV shifts. While Petal and Moon use first person POV, Dove’s chapters are written in third person present tense. While this was likely an artistic choice to signify her objectification, the transition was initially jarring.

Overall, Lisa See remains one of my favorite authors. This is an important, masterfully written story that I hope finds a wide readership.

This review is based on an ARC provided by Scribner via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.