The Ghost Bride: A Supernatural Historical Fantasy Set in Colonial Malaysia Steeped in Chinese Folklore and Mystery (P.S.)

Li Lan, daughter of a genteel but bankrupt family, has limited prospects until she receives an unusual proposal from the wealthy Lim family. They ask her to become a ghost bride for their only son, who died under mysterious circumstances. A ghost marriage is a traditional practice meant to placate a restless spirit. Accepting would secure Li Lan's future, but at a significant cost. After visiting the opulent Lim mansion, Li Lan becomes haunted by her ghostly intended husband and develops feelings for Tian Bai, the family's new heir. She is drawn nightly into the parallel world of the Chinese afterlife, encountering ghost cities, paper funeral offerings, vengeful spirits, and a mysterious guardian spirit named Er Lang. Li Lan must discover the Lim family's secrets and truths about her own family before becoming permanently trapped in the ghostly realm. This debut novel blends 19th-century historical fiction with Chinese folklore, romantic elements, and supernatural events set in colonial Malaysia.