A young woman, part tiger, navigates a world of Chinese and First Nations mythology after her estranged Aunt Tigress is found murdered, leading her on a journey of redemption, romance, and self-discovery amidst a backdrop of supernatural beings and family ties. The story explores themes of heritage, LGBTQIA+ relationships, and the complexities of embracing one's true nature in a world filled with magic and mystery.

Reader Review Summary

"Aunt Tigress" is a truly remarkable and groundbreaking novel that immerses readers in a rich, imaginative urban fantasy world where Chinese and First Nations mythology seamlessly intertwine. Emily Yu-Xuan Qin has crafted an absolute gem of a story that dazzles with its originality, lyrical prose, and complex, morally ambiguous characters.

One of the book's greatest strengths is its wildly inventive premise and vibrant worldbuilding. Set in the gritty, supernatural underbelly of Calgary, Canada, the novel follows Tam Lin, a young woman of Chinese descent who is part human, part mystical tiger spirit. Qin artfully blends elements of Chinese folklore and indigenous Canadian myths, creating a mesmerizing tapestry where demon lawyers, gods running coffee shops, and ancient trickster spirits live alongside unsuspecting humans. This imaginative melding of cultural traditions results in a fantasy realm that feels innovative and fresh, while still managing to ring true.

Tam herself is a wonderfully nuanced protagonist - prickly yet sympathetic, haunted by her past transgressions while yearning for belonging. Her complicated relationship with her fierce Aunt Tigress, a shady supernatural con-artist, forms the backbone of the novel's propulsive mystery plot. But it's the myriad of colorful supporting characters that make the book truly shine, from the adorable incubus familiar to Tam's brash human love interest Janet. Each persona, whether mortal or mythical, is vividly rendered and deeply compelling.

Perhaps the book's greatest accomplishment, however, is how deftly it handles its thorniest themes. Ideas about cultural appropriation, exploitation of indigenous beliefs, and the immigrant experience are woven throughout with incredible nuance. Qin pulls no punches in examining how Aunt Tigress treacherously stole and commodified First Nations practices, while still celebrating the beauty and power in those spiritual traditions. The story is also an incisive exploration of identity, otherness, and what it means to reject one's innate, complicated nature.

With its sumptuous atmospheric prose, morally hazy protagonists, and deliciously dark wit, "Aunt Tigress" is urban fantasy at its gritty, lyrical best. This is the kind of wildly original, thought-provoking book that deserves to be devoured and then passed lovingly from reader to reader. For those seeking a lushly-woven tale of magic, belonging, and the duality of human nature, "Aunt Tigress" casts an unbreakable spell from its very first pages. A singularly captivating debut from an author of immense talent.