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The Terracotta Bride
A tale of first love, bad theology and robot reincarnation in the Chinese afterlife.
In the tenth court of hell, spirits wealthy enough to bribe the bureaucrats of the underworld can avoid both the torments of hell and the irreversible change of reincarnation.
It's a comfortable undeath … even for Siew Tsin. She didn't choose to be married to the richest man in hell, but she's reconciled. Until her husband brings home a new bride.
Yonghua is an artificial woman crafted from terracotta. What she is may change hell for good. Who she is will transform Siew Tsin. And as they grow closer, the mystery of Yonghua's creation will draw Siew Tsin into a conspiracy where the stakes are eternal life – or a very final death.
THE TERRACOTTA BRIDE is an 11,000-word standalone fantasy novelette.
In the tenth court of hell, spirits wealthy enough to bribe the bureaucrats of the underworld can avoid both the torments of hell and the irreversible change of reincarnation.
It's a comfortable undeath … even for Siew Tsin. She didn't choose to be married to the richest man in hell, but she's reconciled. Until her husband brings home a new bride.
Yonghua is an artificial woman crafted from terracotta. What she is may change hell for good. Who she is will transform Siew Tsin. And as they grow closer, the mystery of Yonghua's creation will draw Siew Tsin into a conspiracy where the stakes are eternal life – or a very final death.
THE TERRACOTTA BRIDE is an 11,000-word standalone fantasy novelette.
51 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2011
About the author
Zen Cho
53 books2,329 followersI'm a Malaysian fantasy writer based in the UK. Find out more about my work here: http://zencho.org
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 637 reviews
July 22, 2017
An explosive mix of Buddhism, Taoism, and science fiction!
Siew Tsin dies young and ends up in Hell. But that’s not real death. Real death comes with reincarnation, when one forgets their old life and is reborn. Almost no one wants this, and so all spirits struggle to remain in Hell for as long as possible. And, naturally, the way to do this is to keep bribing the demon-officials. How do they get money for bribery? Their living relatives need to burn it for them as an offering. If your relatives turned their back on traditions or took up a new religion, you’re out of luck.
Siew Tsin’s unlife isn’t easy. She’s young an inexperienced. It doesn’t help that she’s a Chinese Malaysian, married off to a rich Chinese man and derided by his first wife. Her life is shaken anew when her husband takes a brand new wife – a terracotta robot. Siew Tsin must learn to accept friendship and love and to understand the world around her before it’s too late.
The robot’s very creation is an abomination. A Chinese scientist, employing western methods, turns his back on his own theology in a misguided quest for immortality. But can a terracotta woman reincarnate like everyone else?
A surprising, emotional read.
Siew Tsin dies young and ends up in Hell. But that’s not real death. Real death comes with reincarnation, when one forgets their old life and is reborn. Almost no one wants this, and so all spirits struggle to remain in Hell for as long as possible. And, naturally, the way to do this is to keep bribing the demon-officials. How do they get money for bribery? Their living relatives need to burn it for them as an offering. If your relatives turned their back on traditions or took up a new religion, you’re out of luck.
Siew Tsin’s unlife isn’t easy. She’s young an inexperienced. It doesn’t help that she’s a Chinese Malaysian, married off to a rich Chinese man and derided by his first wife. Her life is shaken anew when her husband takes a brand new wife – a terracotta robot. Siew Tsin must learn to accept friendship and love and to understand the world around her before it’s too late.
The robot’s very creation is an abomination. A Chinese scientist, employing western methods, turns his back on his own theology in a misguided quest for immortality. But can a terracotta woman reincarnate like everyone else?
A surprising, emotional read.
October 3, 2021
Este relato lo leí por primera vez hace ya bastante tiempo, y aunque en principio parezca una historia sencilla tiene algo único que me encandiló desde el primer momento.
No quiero contar mucho porque se trata de un historia muy breve, pero 'La mujer de terracota' tiene ese toque nostálgico que tanto me gusta, y al mismo tiempo habla del autodescubrimiento y el empoderamiento femenino a través de esta joven atrapada en la vida tras la muerte, una vida insustancial (aunque no ausente de peligros)... hasta que aparece la mujer de terracota.
Para mi una de las cosas más interesantes de esta historia es su ambientación. La autora logra combinar las leyendas, mitología y folclore chino con una historia contemporánea y actual. Además tiene un sorprendente regusto cyberpunk y un trasfondo que deja entrever una importante crítica a la corrupción y burocracia. Un montón de elementos dispares que sin embargo encajan a la perfección en este relato.
Creo sinceramente que la historia gana muchos puntos de belleza en todos los aspectos gracias a las maravillosas ilustraciones de QU Lan, que tan solo podremos encontrar en la edición en castellano.
No quiero contar mucho porque se trata de un historia muy breve, pero 'La mujer de terracota' tiene ese toque nostálgico que tanto me gusta, y al mismo tiempo habla del autodescubrimiento y el empoderamiento femenino a través de esta joven atrapada en la vida tras la muerte, una vida insustancial (aunque no ausente de peligros)... hasta que aparece la mujer de terracota.
Para mi una de las cosas más interesantes de esta historia es su ambientación. La autora logra combinar las leyendas, mitología y folclore chino con una historia contemporánea y actual. Además tiene un sorprendente regusto cyberpunk y un trasfondo que deja entrever una importante crítica a la corrupción y burocracia. Un montón de elementos dispares que sin embargo encajan a la perfección en este relato.
Creo sinceramente que la historia gana muchos puntos de belleza en todos los aspectos gracias a las maravillosas ilustraciones de QU Lan, que tan solo podremos encontrar en la edición en castellano.
December 30, 2021
La joven Siew Tsin acaba de morir, pero la muerte no es como esperaba. De pronto se encuentra en un mundo terroríficamente similar al que conocía cuando estaba viva, donde los espíritus ricos sobornan a los demonios para librarse de las peores torturas, incluso pudiendo alargar así esta no-vida, para esquivar el momento de la reencarnación a la que todos están destinados. Obligada a casarse con el hombre más rico del infierno, la muerte a Siew Tsin le resulta igual de anodinana que la vida, hasta el día que su marido aparece con Yonghua, su tercera esposa.
La ambientación de la novela es un pasada. La protagonista se encuentra en esa visión china del infierno, con sus diez cortes o niveles donde los pecadores son asignados a estas en función de la gravedad de sus pecados y van a sufrir las mayores torturas, mientras que las personas que han expiado sus pecados o son ricos, acaban en la décima corte, la más tranquila y el último paso antes de la reeencarnación. Esa crítica de la propia creencia y como la plasma la historia, donde el rico sigue dirigiendo la muerte, tal y como mandó durante la vida, me parece increíble. Al final no se distinguen mucho una de otra. La protagonista se imaginaba una muerta llena de nubes y gente agradable y no es más que una continuación de la vida, con todo lo malo de esta.
Pero lo mejor sin duda es todo lo que envuelve el misterio de Yonghua, la mujer de Terracota. Los tres personajes femeninos principales, Siew Tsin, Yonghua y Ling'en me han parecido super interesantes y dotados de bastante personalidad, mérito conseguirlo en tan pocas páginas. Como se relacionan las tres entre ellas me ha gustado y sorprendido bastante. La historia tiene ese puntito de mujer empoderada que lucha contra las jerárquica y estricta estructura machista donde vive, cosa que me ha cautivado por completo.
No quiero decir más de la trama porque es uno relato muy corto y se devora en una tarde, pero sí os diré que mezclar la rica simbología de las tradiciones chinas, en este caso centrado en el infierno, con steampunk, y todo el avance tecnológico que este conlleva, crea una mezcla explosiva, original e hipnotizante. A eso añádele personajes femeninos fuertes, relaciones no normativas y una ambientación exquisita, y nos encontramos ante la joyaza que es "La mujer de terracota".
De todas estas creencias tradicionales chinas sobre la muerte y el infierno sabía cosas por detallitos sueltos en otras obras, por eso he disfrutado mucho que esta historia las tenga como tema central y que pese a que sea una relatito, quede bastante bien plasmado todo este mundo después de la vida. He disfrutando tantísimo de este relato y me dio tanta pena acabarlo, que en cuanto lo hice rápidamente volví a leerlo. Pena que sea tan corto, porque me encantaría leer una historia larga, con estos personajes y esta ambietanción.
La edición de Duermevela es impecable, cuidada hasta el último detalle y como siempre con posfacios que resultan igual de atractivos e interesantes que la propia novela. Las ilustraciones encajan tan bien con la historia y el aura, que son simplemente un pasada. Me quedo con ganas de decir más, pero no quiero estropearos la experiencia. Que ganas de leer más cosas de Zen Cho.
La ambientación de la novela es un pasada. La protagonista se encuentra en esa visión china del infierno, con sus diez cortes o niveles donde los pecadores son asignados a estas en función de la gravedad de sus pecados y van a sufrir las mayores torturas, mientras que las personas que han expiado sus pecados o son ricos, acaban en la décima corte, la más tranquila y el último paso antes de la reeencarnación. Esa crítica de la propia creencia y como la plasma la historia, donde el rico sigue dirigiendo la muerte, tal y como mandó durante la vida, me parece increíble. Al final no se distinguen mucho una de otra. La protagonista se imaginaba una muerta llena de nubes y gente agradable y no es más que una continuación de la vida, con todo lo malo de esta.
Pero lo mejor sin duda es todo lo que envuelve el misterio de Yonghua, la mujer de Terracota. Los tres personajes femeninos principales, Siew Tsin, Yonghua y Ling'en me han parecido super interesantes y dotados de bastante personalidad, mérito conseguirlo en tan pocas páginas. Como se relacionan las tres entre ellas me ha gustado y sorprendido bastante. La historia tiene ese puntito de mujer empoderada que lucha contra las jerárquica y estricta estructura machista donde vive, cosa que me ha cautivado por completo.
No quiero decir más de la trama porque es uno relato muy corto y se devora en una tarde, pero sí os diré que mezclar la rica simbología de las tradiciones chinas, en este caso centrado en el infierno, con steampunk, y todo el avance tecnológico que este conlleva, crea una mezcla explosiva, original e hipnotizante. A eso añádele personajes femeninos fuertes, relaciones no normativas y una ambientación exquisita, y nos encontramos ante la joyaza que es "La mujer de terracota".
De todas estas creencias tradicionales chinas sobre la muerte y el infierno sabía cosas por detallitos sueltos en otras obras, por eso he disfrutado mucho que esta historia las tenga como tema central y que pese a que sea una relatito, quede bastante bien plasmado todo este mundo después de la vida. He disfrutando tantísimo de este relato y me dio tanta pena acabarlo, que en cuanto lo hice rápidamente volví a leerlo. Pena que sea tan corto, porque me encantaría leer una historia larga, con estos personajes y esta ambietanción.
La edición de Duermevela es impecable, cuidada hasta el último detalle y como siempre con posfacios que resultan igual de atractivos e interesantes que la propia novela. Las ilustraciones encajan tan bien con la historia y el aura, que son simplemente un pasada. Me quedo con ganas de decir más, pero no quiero estropearos la experiencia. Que ganas de leer más cosas de Zen Cho.
January 1, 2022
While I really enjoyed Cho's book Black Water Sister, this short story really wasn't for me. It was well written and well imagined, but I just could not really connect to it. This short has a lot of good ratings so chances are you may enjoy it more than I did.
August 22, 2022
La mujer de terracota es un relato que habla sobre el Infierno chino y la importancia de tomar decisiones.
Me ha tomado por sorpresa la cantidad de elementos que la autora supo mezclar sin que se sintiera forzado. Tenemos un Infierno que posee elementos tanto terrenales (objetos de valor, dinero y aparatos electrónicos) como sobrenaturales (demonios, hadas celestiales, espíritus torturados y demás), una IA y una historia de amor que te va a doler... Pero todo esto no es más que un pretexto para hablar sobre lo importante que es ir tras aquello que queremos o deseamos antes de que sea demasiado tarde.
La protagonista, Siew Tsin, es una chica que murió siendo muy joven y no quiere renacer porque, para ella, renacer significa la verdadera muerte ya que olvidará quién es ahora. Mientras tanto, pasa sus días en la casa de su marido, Junsheng, un hombre que murió siendo ya mayor y que recibe muchas ofrendas por parte de sus descendientes y por lo tanto es muy rico allí en el Infierno.
Para Junsheng, Siew Tsin no es más que un intento de hacer que regrese su primera esposa, la indomable Ling’en, pero al ver que no lo logra, pierde rápidamente el interés en Siew Tsin y más tarde recibe a la Novia de Terracota, una IA que cambiará las cosas para todos los integrantes de esa extraña "familia" y se convertirá en la tercera esposa.
Personalmente mi personaje favorito fue Ling'en, aún cuando el relato está narrado desde el punto de vista de Siew Tsin, quienes no se llevan muy bien porque la primera cree que Siew Tsin es tonta y la segunda prefiere evitar los problemas a toda costa así que no habla mucho con nadie. Ling'en no vive en la misma casa que los demás y es por eso que su marido realiza múltiples intentos de manipularla para que regrese, pero Ling'en no se deja manipular. Tampoco es perfecta, es el tipo de mujer de carácter fuerte que menosprecia a quienes no tienen la valentía que ella tiene, trata mal tanto a Siew Tsin como a la Novia de Terracota y pasa por encima de todos sin importarle nada más que ella misma.
Es, a fin de cuentas, todo lo contrario a Siew Tsin.
El contraste entre ambas es visible ya desde el primer momento que las vemos interactuar, pero se hace más obvio conforme va avanzando el libro y, con todo, el final te toma por sorpresa porque tú crees que va acabar de un modo y acaba de otro.
El final, aunque trágico, es al mismo tiempo motivador. Cada una de las cosas que le pasan a la protagonista nos deja en claro lo que piensa la autora sobre no hacer nada.
Le he dado cuatro estrellas porque no había leído un relato que pudiera englobar tanto sin sentirse saturado. Además, estoy dispuesta a releerlo.
Me ha tomado por sorpresa la cantidad de elementos que la autora supo mezclar sin que se sintiera forzado. Tenemos un Infierno que posee elementos tanto terrenales (objetos de valor, dinero y aparatos electrónicos) como sobrenaturales (demonios, hadas celestiales, espíritus torturados y demás), una IA y una historia de amor que te va a doler... Pero todo esto no es más que un pretexto para hablar sobre lo importante que es ir tras aquello que queremos o deseamos antes de que sea demasiado tarde.
La protagonista, Siew Tsin, es una chica que murió siendo muy joven y no quiere renacer porque, para ella, renacer significa la verdadera muerte ya que olvidará quién es ahora. Mientras tanto, pasa sus días en la casa de su marido, Junsheng, un hombre que murió siendo ya mayor y que recibe muchas ofrendas por parte de sus descendientes y por lo tanto es muy rico allí en el Infierno.
Para Junsheng, Siew Tsin no es más que un intento de hacer que regrese su primera esposa, la indomable Ling’en, pero al ver que no lo logra, pierde rápidamente el interés en Siew Tsin y más tarde recibe a la Novia de Terracota, una IA que cambiará las cosas para todos los integrantes de esa extraña "familia" y se convertirá en la tercera esposa.
Personalmente mi personaje favorito fue Ling'en, aún cuando el relato está narrado desde el punto de vista de Siew Tsin, quienes no se llevan muy bien porque la primera cree que Siew Tsin es tonta y la segunda prefiere evitar los problemas a toda costa así que no habla mucho con nadie. Ling'en no vive en la misma casa que los demás y es por eso que su marido realiza múltiples intentos de manipularla para que regrese, pero Ling'en no se deja manipular. Tampoco es perfecta, es el tipo de mujer de carácter fuerte que menosprecia a quienes no tienen la valentía que ella tiene, trata mal tanto a Siew Tsin como a la Novia de Terracota y pasa por encima de todos sin importarle nada más que ella misma.
Es, a fin de cuentas, todo lo contrario a Siew Tsin.
El contraste entre ambas es visible ya desde el primer momento que las vemos interactuar, pero se hace más obvio conforme va avanzando el libro y, con todo, el final te toma por sorpresa porque tú crees que va acabar de un modo y acaba de otro.
El final, aunque trágico, es al mismo tiempo motivador. Cada una de las cosas que le pasan a la protagonista nos deja en claro lo que piensa la autora sobre no hacer nada.
Le he dado cuatro estrellas porque no había leído un relato que pudiera englobar tanto sin sentirse saturado. Además, estoy dispuesta a releerlo.
—Me fui porque sabía que acabaríamos el uno con el otro si me quedaba —respondió—. Siempre hemos estado demasiado empeñados en salvar al otro de convertirse en lo que no nos gustaba.
July 1, 2020
The ten courts of hell in the Chinese afterlife are seen through the eyes of a girl who was taken from life too soon and consigned to live there. She is married to a man who doesn't love her. His protection saves her, but she is an unhappy and lonely creature. That is, until her husband takes a new wife who is perfect in every way a wife should be. She is perfect because she never lived at all, his new terracotta bride.
I was not expecting such beauty or poignancy from this 50 page short story! Cho managed to impart so much knowledge about the tenth court of hell as well as crafting authentic characters, even when they weren't living, breathing ones. There was a lovely little sapphic inclusion I did not see coming as well as a bitter-sweet ending that had me longing for more.
I was not expecting such beauty or poignancy from this 50 page short story! Cho managed to impart so much knowledge about the tenth court of hell as well as crafting authentic characters, even when they weren't living, breathing ones. There was a lovely little sapphic inclusion I did not see coming as well as a bitter-sweet ending that had me longing for more.
September 15, 2022
Una novela corta -para mí en exceso- con una edición muy cuidada, que mezcla mitología y folklore chino en una ambientación original con una trama interesante pero para mí poco desarrollada y con personajes con los que no he conectado.
September 16, 2020
This is the third story by this author that I've read and once again she didn't disappoint - the story was just as vibrant as I had hoped!
Chinese afterlife, much like actual life, is quite different from Western expectations. But as in life, so in hell does bureaucracy rule everything and you can bribe your way to the tenth circle where you can spend your time free of torture and with no hurry to enter the cycle of reincarnation.
The money and wealth necessary for that comes from the offerings your descendants burn for you (also not a notion too familiar for Westerners).
Siew Tsin was very young when she died. Not having known much about anything in life proves to be even more of a challenge now that she is dead. Fortunately or unfortunately, one of her ancestors already residing in hell sells her to one of the richest men in the tenth circle. But her existence of invisibility gets interrupted when her husband brings home yet another bride - an automaton!
Yes, this story mixes theology with cyberpunk elements and uses both as the backdrop for a story of first love, slavery (different kinds) and finding your own way.
What I love about Zen Cho's stories is not only how different they are from most of the things I'm usually reading, but also how beautiful her writing is. There is a particular way she sets any given scene and her worldbuilding is always rich and colourful. She keeps things simple and then lets her characters take over - since we silly humans have a gift for complicating things all on our own. So the style of this story (and the ending) might be a bit different, but definitely in a good way (for me).
Here, I loved the age-old questions of what a soul is and what life (living) means. The questions are asked very quietly here and yet they resonated from every page.
Chinese afterlife, much like actual life, is quite different from Western expectations. But as in life, so in hell does bureaucracy rule everything and you can bribe your way to the tenth circle where you can spend your time free of torture and with no hurry to enter the cycle of reincarnation.
The money and wealth necessary for that comes from the offerings your descendants burn for you (also not a notion too familiar for Westerners).
Siew Tsin was very young when she died. Not having known much about anything in life proves to be even more of a challenge now that she is dead. Fortunately or unfortunately, one of her ancestors already residing in hell sells her to one of the richest men in the tenth circle. But her existence of invisibility gets interrupted when her husband brings home yet another bride - an automaton!
Yes, this story mixes theology with cyberpunk elements and uses both as the backdrop for a story of first love, slavery (different kinds) and finding your own way.
What I love about Zen Cho's stories is not only how different they are from most of the things I'm usually reading, but also how beautiful her writing is. There is a particular way she sets any given scene and her worldbuilding is always rich and colourful. She keeps things simple and then lets her characters take over - since we silly humans have a gift for complicating things all on our own. So the style of this story (and the ending) might be a bit different, but definitely in a good way (for me).
Here, I loved the age-old questions of what a soul is and what life (living) means. The questions are asked very quietly here and yet they resonated from every page.
April 4, 2017
After reading Cho's spectacular Sorcerer to the Crown, I was an instant fan. I was thus inevitably drawn to The Terracotta Bride - a fantasy short story that plunges us headfirst into the throes of the Chinese afterlife.
Drawing from Chinese mythology and and folk religion, Cho evokes dark, haunting, but strangely beautiful imagery when describing the tenth court of Hell. The portrayal of Hell was fascinating, particularly the commentary on what we carry onto the afterlife - greed, bureaucracy, and avarice. True, this portrayal is deeply rooted to Chinese folklore, but Cho offers a fresh perspective by crafting a complex setting.
As someone familiar with the folklore and mythology surrounding The Terracotta Bride, I enjoyed the nuances of the story. Some parts of the story, particularly the dialogue, brought back memories of when I attended a traditional funeral (which, I have to admit, informed a lot of my understanding of this book) and was surrounded by family - some of whom I had never met before. I particularly enjoyed the cheeky prods at filial piety or lack of as well. In a way, reading this story was also a nostalgic experience.
Perhaps my favourite part of The Terracotta Bride is it is ultimately about life, death, and where love fits in between. There were subtle questions about existence - what it means to exist and what makes someone human - and whether existence and life/death are irrevocably tied together. This is explored through the eponymous terracotta bride - is she a what or a who? What does it mean to love? What is existence in the context of the afterlife? Mixing robots and the Chinese afterlife is a combination I would never have imagined, but its originality was ultimately genius and it worked wonderfully. Reincarnation/rebirth is briefly but profoundly explored as well, and I loved how it was so heart-wrenching but also how, at the end (or beginning?) of all things, it is a hopeful and transcendent path.
The beautiful thing about this story is that it paints a vivid picture, but also leaves room for your imagination and thought-provoking questions. Despite its very short length - a mere 11,000 words - The Terracotta Bride was absolutely brilliant and had the depth of a full-length novel. An exquisite short story.
Rating: 4/5
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This review can also be found on my book blog, Read, Think, Ponder!
Drawing from Chinese mythology and and folk religion, Cho evokes dark, haunting, but strangely beautiful imagery when describing the tenth court of Hell. The portrayal of Hell was fascinating, particularly the commentary on what we carry onto the afterlife - greed, bureaucracy, and avarice. True, this portrayal is deeply rooted to Chinese folklore, but Cho offers a fresh perspective by crafting a complex setting.
As someone familiar with the folklore and mythology surrounding The Terracotta Bride, I enjoyed the nuances of the story. Some parts of the story, particularly the dialogue, brought back memories of when I attended a traditional funeral (which, I have to admit, informed a lot of my understanding of this book) and was surrounded by family - some of whom I had never met before. I particularly enjoyed the cheeky prods at filial piety or lack of as well. In a way, reading this story was also a nostalgic experience.
Perhaps my favourite part of The Terracotta Bride is it is ultimately about life, death, and where love fits in between. There were subtle questions about existence - what it means to exist and what makes someone human - and whether existence and life/death are irrevocably tied together. This is explored through the eponymous terracotta bride - is she a what or a who? What does it mean to love? What is existence in the context of the afterlife? Mixing robots and the Chinese afterlife is a combination I would never have imagined, but its originality was ultimately genius and it worked wonderfully. Reincarnation/rebirth is briefly but profoundly explored as well, and I loved how it was so heart-wrenching but also how, at the end (or beginning?) of all things, it is a hopeful and transcendent path.
The beautiful thing about this story is that it paints a vivid picture, but also leaves room for your imagination and thought-provoking questions. Despite its very short length - a mere 11,000 words - The Terracotta Bride was absolutely brilliant and had the depth of a full-length novel. An exquisite short story.
Rating: 4/5
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This review can also be found on my book blog, Read, Think, Ponder!
Read
May 25, 2017A joy of a book, set in a version of the Chinese hell, where the wealthy attempt to buy their way into comfort while avoiding going on to the next life. It's the story of a rich man's three wives: the older woman he really wants back, the young devastatingly shy girl he married to make her jealous, and the animated (golem in a steampunky way) terracotta one.
Beautiful worldbuilding (the terracotta army as marauding thugs is a detail of quiet genius), lovely characterisation, some thought-provoking concepts worn lightly, and wonderful use of mythology. Hugely enjoyable. It's a pretty short read but there's a ton packed in here in an apparently effortless way. Highly recommended.
Beautiful worldbuilding (the terracotta army as marauding thugs is a detail of quiet genius), lovely characterisation, some thought-provoking concepts worn lightly, and wonderful use of mythology. Hugely enjoyable. It's a pretty short read but there's a ton packed in here in an apparently effortless way. Highly recommended.
November 1, 2021
Sé que debería hablar del lado fantástico de este cuento, sobre cómo la autora usa el folclore chino y su visión de la otra vida para crear la historia. Y sí, el infierno chino, con sus burócratas corruptos y los bienes que se disfrutan en él que son quemados por los familiares vivos como ofrendas, es original y muy chulo, sobre todo porque en Europa lo vemos como algo "exótico". Pero en realidad lo que me ha parecido al final es un historia cuqui sobre el primer amor, un primer amor lésbico.
También me ha sabido a poco, pero eso es porque es un cuento. Tampoco podía ser más largo.
La edición es boniquísima, como siempre. Se trata de una lectura ligera que sirve muy bien para desatascar.
También me ha sabido a poco, pero eso es porque es un cuento. Tampoco podía ser más largo.
La edición es boniquísima, como siempre. Se trata de una lectura ligera que sirve muy bien para desatascar.
November 10, 2017
In barely more than 50 pages, Zen Cho manages to create an enthralling underworld where spirits are sent to cleanse themselves of their sins before rebirth. The amazing thing is she manages to incorporate a 'Robot-AI' theme into what I thought would be a straightforward Chinese mythological tale. The terracotta bride, which this short story is named after, is actually an advanced experimental automaton, created to enable 'wealthy' spirits in the underworld to transfer their consciousness to, for the purpose of re-entering the world of the living exactly as they are with all their knowledge, memories and faculties intact, in a way that would make Peter Thiel proud.
The world-building is excellent and the main character reminded me of poor, innocent Chihiro lost in the spirit world in Hayao Miyazaki's magical animated film 'Spirited Away'. It's a pity the story is so short, I think I would have enjoyed it even more as a full-length novel.
The world-building is excellent and the main character reminded me of poor, innocent Chihiro lost in the spirit world in Hayao Miyazaki's magical animated film 'Spirited Away'. It's a pity the story is so short, I think I would have enjoyed it even more as a full-length novel.
March 16, 2023
3'25 / 5
La vida después de la muerte en el infierno chino. Matrimonios. Pequeño romance lésbico. Reencarnación. Demonios. Y alguna cosilla más. ¿Suena bien verdad? El problema es que no se le saca todo el partido a todos estos elementos.
Una historia interesante, pero sobre todo después de leer la Visión de la ilustradora (Qu Lan) y el Posfacio por Wang Xing. Ellas nos explican cosas que puede que no sepamos sobre el más allá chino, sobre algunas tradiciones, etc.
Esperaba algo más, pero al ser prácticamente un relato la historia no llega a más. Eso sí, es una lectura que se lee muy bien, que se disfruta.
Las ilustraciones me han gustado mucho.
La vida después de la muerte en el infierno chino. Matrimonios. Pequeño romance lésbico. Reencarnación. Demonios. Y alguna cosilla más. ¿Suena bien verdad? El problema es que no se le saca todo el partido a todos estos elementos.
Una historia interesante, pero sobre todo después de leer la Visión de la ilustradora (Qu Lan) y el Posfacio por Wang Xing. Ellas nos explican cosas que puede que no sepamos sobre el más allá chino, sobre algunas tradiciones, etc.
Esperaba algo más, pero al ser prácticamente un relato la historia no llega a más. Eso sí, es una lectura que se lee muy bien, que se disfruta.
Las ilustraciones me han gustado mucho.
March 12, 2016
The Terracotta Bride is a beautiful mix of mythology, contemporary culture, and history that I couldn’t stop reading once I’d begun. The story takes place in hell which, surprisingly, is as bureaucratic a mess as real life. Demons and gods have their own agendas and money can buy your way out of most troubles. The novelette revolves around Siew Tsin, second wife to Jungshen. Even if the story had been just about Siew Tsin navigating her way around hell and the relationship of Jungshen with his first wife, Ling’en, it would have been fascinating. But things take an uncanny turn with the arrival of the eponymous Terracotta Bride, Yonghua. I don’t want to give away much about her origins as discovering it is part of the journey. But the relationship Yonghua forms with Siew Tsin is part of the book’s appeal while expanding the stakes so that the whole of mortality and godhood is at risk. Yonghua’s fight against Terracotta warrior assassins is pretty dang cool too (I love that concept!).
What really made the novelette special were the keen insights into their psychology, flashes of complexity that upturned what we know about the cast.
One of my favorite parts of the book comes early on:
“There were so many other dangers to contend with-demons promoted from other courts, furiously upstanding and eager to hurry on the cycle of rebirth. The eight thousand terracotta warriors who had been buried with an emperor, now lost. Left masterless, the warriors roamed the tenth court, looking for trouble. And worst of all, the dead. In hell, as in every other world, man was man’s greatest enemy.”
I hate making movie comparisons, but it’d almost be like Defending your Life mixed with Raise the Red Lantern, only with a totally unique take, imbued with its own perspective- and I say this in the best way possible as this novelette is really wonderful. Highly recommend you read it!
What really made the novelette special were the keen insights into their psychology, flashes of complexity that upturned what we know about the cast.
One of my favorite parts of the book comes early on:
“There were so many other dangers to contend with-demons promoted from other courts, furiously upstanding and eager to hurry on the cycle of rebirth. The eight thousand terracotta warriors who had been buried with an emperor, now lost. Left masterless, the warriors roamed the tenth court, looking for trouble. And worst of all, the dead. In hell, as in every other world, man was man’s greatest enemy.”
I hate making movie comparisons, but it’d almost be like Defending your Life mixed with Raise the Red Lantern, only with a totally unique take, imbued with its own perspective- and I say this in the best way possible as this novelette is really wonderful. Highly recommend you read it!
August 9, 2017
This is more a peek into a version of Chinese after-life mythology than an f/f romance. I've had no exposure to this version of life after death so it was pretty fascinating. Despite the lack of a clear cut f/f romance, it's an interesting little tale and the f/f overtones still exist.
The story is through the eyes of Siew Tsin, a young woman that died and is married off as the second wife to a rich man in the afterlife. When the third wife comes along there's some mystery as to what she is and who created her. Despite that, Siew Tsin is losing her heart to this newcomer and learning about herself along the way. There's some ambiguity as to if her affections are returned and the ending is left open some.
It didn't leave me feeling happy but I felt hopeful for Siew Tsin's future.
Overall, the Terracotta Bride is a captivating, unique, and well written short story.
The story is through the eyes of Siew Tsin, a young woman that died and is married off as the second wife to a rich man in the afterlife. When the third wife comes along there's some mystery as to what she is and who created her. Despite that, Siew Tsin is losing her heart to this newcomer and learning about herself along the way. There's some ambiguity as to if her affections are returned and the ending is left open some.
It didn't leave me feeling happy but I felt hopeful for Siew Tsin's future.
Overall, the Terracotta Bride is a captivating, unique, and well written short story.
August 22, 2022
Interesante y original relato sobre la vida después de la muerte en la tradición china. Me ha gustado conocer un poco más sobre todos los ritos y procesos que las almas deben seguir hasta el momento de la reencarnación.
March 30, 2020
Not my favorite from Zen Cho, but that was also due to misleading expectations: I was told this was an f/f romance, and while it has sapphic characters, I wouldn't describe it as such, not like I would with Zen Cho's novelette If at First You Don't Succeed, Try, Try Again. Still, it was a lovely read. It's set in hell, where the main character - a Malayan girl named Siew Tsin - has been forced to marry a man after her death; now the man has taken yet another wife, a terracotta wife. It's a light, smart story about personhood and waking up from a paralyzed state of mind, with really interesting details in the worldbuilding and a lot of heart; I wish I could have had more of a sense of who the characters were.
April 19, 2017
The eight thousand terracotta warriors who had been buried with an emperor, now lost. Left masterless, the warriors roamed the tenth court, looking for trouble. And worst of all, the dead. In hell, as in every other world, man was man's greatest enemy.
The author described this SFF short story as, "vaguely gothic queer fantasy with retrofuturistic flourishes." I couldn't agree more. The Terracotta Bride is luscious, brave, and otherworldly. Those adjectives are quite literal since the book is set in Hell. I love the mythology and the execution. This is also very feminist and just *heart eyes*.
I love this so much. I'm proud of myself for challenging myself to read more short stories, my goal this year is to keep reading more. While, f/f love story didn’t flourish there’s an explicit wlw characters and what-could’ve been thread of plot.
The author described this SFF short story as, "vaguely gothic queer fantasy with retrofuturistic flourishes." I couldn't agree more. The Terracotta Bride is luscious, brave, and otherworldly. Those adjectives are quite literal since the book is set in Hell. I love the mythology and the execution. This is also very feminist and just *heart eyes*.
I love this so much. I'm proud of myself for challenging myself to read more short stories, my goal this year is to keep reading more. While, f/f love story didn’t flourish there’s an explicit wlw characters and what-could’ve been thread of plot.
October 12, 2020
After reading a bunch of them, I've figured that SFF novellas/short stories need a really strong, unique worldbuilding concept that will stick in readers' minds for a much longer time than it took to read the story. And if robot reincarnation in the Chinese afterlife doesn't do it, then I don't know what will.
My Highlights:
✨ I repeat - robots in the Chinese afterlife!!! Talk about an inspired combination of science fiction and fantasy, alongside elements of Chinese folklore and mythology.
✨ Fantastic portrayal of Hell and how it's made up of the worst of humankind - bureaucracy, greed, corruption.
✨ The terracotta army as mercenaries.
✨ Gorgeous writing, beautiful imagery, a dark and haunting atmosphere.
✨ Powerful themes of life and death and what it means to be human.
✨ The pain of first love.
✨ Brilliantly strong characterization for a story barely 50 pages long.
Highly recommend if you want a short story that packs a punch.
════ ⋆★⋆ ════
Rep: Chinese-Malaysian inspired world + characters, sapphic MC and side characters
My Highlights:
✨ I repeat - robots in the Chinese afterlife!!! Talk about an inspired combination of science fiction and fantasy, alongside elements of Chinese folklore and mythology.
✨ Fantastic portrayal of Hell and how it's made up of the worst of humankind - bureaucracy, greed, corruption.
✨ The terracotta army as mercenaries.
✨ Gorgeous writing, beautiful imagery, a dark and haunting atmosphere.
✨ Powerful themes of life and death and what it means to be human.
✨ The pain of first love.
✨ Brilliantly strong characterization for a story barely 50 pages long.
Highly recommend if you want a short story that packs a punch.
════ ⋆★⋆ ════
Rep: Chinese-Malaysian inspired world + characters, sapphic MC and side characters
March 14, 2016
Overall
Genre: Supernatural/Fantasy
Need a Buddhist take on the afterlife? Look no farther.
The story is very tight; the POV is from one character. Characterization is quite good although more of Siew Tsin's inner thoughts and reaction to an intimate moment would've added clarity and emotional power. On the other hand, Siew Tsin comes across as a little detached, shell-shocked, or in survival mode.
The style of the dialogue reminds me of the celestial beings in Monkey: The Journey to the West.
Personal Notes
I've been studying Buddhism and have puzzled over the idea of rebirth. Cho's story improved my understanding of that concept.
Genre: Supernatural/Fantasy
Need a Buddhist take on the afterlife? Look no farther.
The story is very tight; the POV is from one character. Characterization is quite good although more of Siew Tsin's inner thoughts and reaction to an intimate moment would've added clarity and emotional power. On the other hand, Siew Tsin comes across as a little detached, shell-shocked, or in survival mode.
The style of the dialogue reminds me of the celestial beings in Monkey: The Journey to the West.
Personal Notes
I've been studying Buddhism and have puzzled over the idea of rebirth. Cho's story improved my understanding of that concept.
March 29, 2019
Fascinating fantasy short set in the Chinese conception of Hell. A young woman named Siew Tsin is married against her will to a rich man in the afterlife. When he brings home a third wife, made of terracotta (basically a robot), Siew Tsin is intrigued, then develops a crush on Yonghua. There's more going on than Siew Tsin realizes, though, because Yonghua's existence threatens to change the rules of reincarnation.
It's a short story that feels much bigger, without feeling crowded, like an amazing taste of a much larger world. Mythology-laced, kind of steampunky, sweet and sad. Loved it.
It's a short story that feels much bigger, without feeling crowded, like an amazing taste of a much larger world. Mythology-laced, kind of steampunky, sweet and sad. Loved it.
August 6, 2022
3 stars! This was ok. I liked the writing, but the story in itself was flat and a bit confusing. I think this could have been very interesting had it been a bit longer (maybe 100 or 150 pages) and expanded on a bit more, because most of the book did not make sense to me. I learnt its a retelling while reading the reviews now, but I haven't read the original story so can't really comment on that.
Overall, it mildly bit entertaining, but could have been better. I might check out more by this author in the future.
Content/ Trigger Warnings- Death, Sexual violence, Slavery, Misogyny, Sexism, Car accident, Torture
Note- I have tried to include all the content warnings that I noticed, but there is no guarantee that I haven’t missed something.
Review written on 6th August, 2022.
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DISCLAIMER-All opinions on books I’ve read and reviewed are my own, and are with no intention to offend anyone. If you feel offended by my reviews, let me know how I can fix it.
How I Rate-
1 star- Hardly liked anything/was disappointed
2 star- Had potential but did not deliver/was disappointed
3 stars- Was ok but could have been better/was average/Enjoyed a lot but something was missing
4 stars- Loved a lot but something was missing
5 stars- Loved it/new favourite
Overall, it mildly bit entertaining, but could have been better. I might check out more by this author in the future.
Content/ Trigger Warnings- Death, Sexual violence, Slavery, Misogyny, Sexism, Car accident, Torture
Note- I have tried to include all the content warnings that I noticed, but there is no guarantee that I haven’t missed something.
Review written on 6th August, 2022.
Storygraph. Spotify. Youtube. Pinterest. Twitter. Instagram. Linktree.
DISCLAIMER-All opinions on books I’ve read and reviewed are my own, and are with no intention to offend anyone. If you feel offended by my reviews, let me know how I can fix it.
How I Rate-
1 star- Hardly liked anything/was disappointed
2 star- Had potential but did not deliver/was disappointed
3 stars- Was ok but could have been better/was average/Enjoyed a lot but something was missing
4 stars- Loved a lot but something was missing
5 stars- Loved it/new favourite
January 13, 2022
I read this story in Spirits Abroad and the following is directly from my review of the book:
This one is exceptionally clever. Again. At first I didn’t know why the terracotta bride and then the terracotta warriors showed up. For those who don’t know what terracotta warriors are, they are funerary sculptures designed to be buried with Qin Shi Huang (秦始皇), the first emperor of China, around 210 BC. Yes, you read that right, BC. There are thousands of these sculptures (warriors, horses, etc.) in the mausoleum that you can actually still see in Xi’an, Shangxi, China. The terracotta warriors immediately provided context to this mysterious terracotta bride. Also know that this story is originally part of a lesbian steampunk anthology. At the end of the story (I don’t think this is super spoilery), being reincarnated and reborn as a baby is described as literally falling from the sky. In Chinese, 呱呱墜地 (gū-gū-zhuì-dì), literally “waah waah falls to the ground,” is an idiom that means being born. I love how Cho took the phrase literally in this story.
January 7, 2022
Mi primer contacto con esta editorial ha sido una delicia, justo lo que necesitaba entre lecturas algo más duras y que me estaban empezando a hacer pupa. Quizás el final me ha dejado algo fría y por eso no se lleva un 5, pero la edición es maravilla, y la historia también.
March 25, 2022
Siew Tsin está muerta, pero, al llegar al infierno en el que debe esperar a reencarnar, se da con la terrible sorpresa de que los ricos ahí viven llenos de comodidades y buscan, sobornando a quienes sea necesario, mantenerse en esta vida placentera en lugar de ir a su siguiente vida.
A nuestra protagonista ser mujer le trae tragedias similares que en la tierra: un familiar suyo la casa con el hombre más adinerado de la décima corte del infierno y, al ver que nada puede hacer para revertir esto, decide pasar sus días casi en estado de inercia... hasta que su marido lleva a la casa a una nueva esposa, Yonghua, la mujer de terracota 👀 Y ahí dejo de contar para no spoilear.
A pesar de su brevedad, hay temas importantes que la autora Zen Cho aborda muy bien a través de este libro: ser mujer antes o ahora (aquí o en cualquier otro mundo imaginable), las desigualdades sociales, la ambición humana por romper con el orden universal a toda costa, nuestra obsesión por jugar a ser dioses, entre otros.
A nuestra protagonista ser mujer le trae tragedias similares que en la tierra: un familiar suyo la casa con el hombre más adinerado de la décima corte del infierno y, al ver que nada puede hacer para revertir esto, decide pasar sus días casi en estado de inercia... hasta que su marido lleva a la casa a una nueva esposa, Yonghua, la mujer de terracota 👀 Y ahí dejo de contar para no spoilear.
A pesar de su brevedad, hay temas importantes que la autora Zen Cho aborda muy bien a través de este libro: ser mujer antes o ahora (aquí o en cualquier otro mundo imaginable), las desigualdades sociales, la ambición humana por romper con el orden universal a toda costa, nuestra obsesión por jugar a ser dioses, entre otros.
August 12, 2017
This was such an interesting and beautiful novella that I wish it was a full novel. I was very intrigued by the storyline and the whole plot. I love books taking place in hell to be honest, it makes everything dangerous and shed in a new light. The hell from Zen Cho's eyes was filled with demons, fortunes, magic potions, social standing, and in the center of it all, Chinese culture. It was amazing and I said I wish there was MORE!!!
July 15, 2018
3.75 stars this was such an intriguing concept, thought provoking with beautiful writing. I loved this but I wish this could have been a full length novel or at least a longer novella.
July 16, 2020
Really interesting read!
September 7, 2020
3.0 Stars
More interesting than creepy, this was an interesting piece of diverse fantasy. Exploring Chinese beliefs and traditions around death, I was surprised by the corporal nature of this imagined afterlife. I liked the idea, but I personally need more plot in my stories.
More interesting than creepy, this was an interesting piece of diverse fantasy. Exploring Chinese beliefs and traditions around death, I was surprised by the corporal nature of this imagined afterlife. I liked the idea, but I personally need more plot in my stories.
November 21, 2020
oh this is so beautiful and so so sad at the same time.
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