The Lotus Shoes
The Lotus Shoes by Jane Yang, published by Park Row Books in 2025, is a historical fiction novel that explores the complex dynamics of sisterhood and societal expectations in 1800s China. This edition spans 368 pages and is presented in English. The narrative follows two women from contrasting backgrounds—Little Flower, a maidservant with bound feet, and Linjing, a member of the prominent Fong family—as they navigate their intertwined fates marked by betrayal, love, and the quest for freedom.
Readers will find a rich tapestry of themes including friendship, the struggles of women, and the impact of societal norms on personal aspirations. As Little Flower’s exceptional embroidery skills draw the attention of a nobleman, the stakes rise, leading to a confrontation between her ambitions and the threats posed by Linjing. The story delves into the challenges both women face, particularly when they are cast out to the Celibate Sisterhood, where loyalty and survival become paramount. This edition invites readers to reflect on the complexities of power and sacrifice within the constraints of their society.
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NATIONAL BESTSELLER
“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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