I stumbled across The Ghost Bride quite by accident two years ago and was immediately taken with it. It takes place in 1893, in a Malaysia still under British rule. Li Lan is from a reputable family, but they’ve fallen on hard times and they’re bankrupt. With such poor fortune, Li Lan will never be able to get married.
But the family receives a sudden and unexpected offer from the richest household in the community. The powerful Lim family has recently lost their son, and since he was not able to be married before his death, they would like to offer him a ghost bride. And they have chosen Li Lan.
The ancient tradition is designed to placate a restless spirit and ensure they’re not alone in the afterlife. Though the offer is quite generous, Li Lan has reservations. But she agrees to visit the Lim household and meet the family.
Following her visit to the Lims, Li Lan finds herself being haunted by her prospective husband. Not only that, she’s slowly being pulled into the spirit world...
This book succeeded on multiple levels. Yangzse Choo is a Malaysian of Chinese descent and she has always been fascinated by the idea of ghost weddings. An ancient tradition, ghost weddings are still practiced today, and like many death traditions, they often attract attention from outsiders. The Ghost Bride explores the tradition, indulges that fascination, and tells a haunting tale of Li Lan’s struggle to uncover the truth about her betrothed and escape the spirit world.
Last year it was announced that The Ghost Bride would be getting a TV adaptation. Netflix produced the drama and released it into the world on January 23rd. Though I haven’t had a chance to watch the series yet, this is an excellent opportunity to reread the book and see how they compare. If you’ve watched The Ghost Bride (or plan to in the future), why not give the source material a try. The Ghost Bride is available for checkout here.