Dragon Springs Road

A Novel

By: Janie Chang

Narrated by: Emily Woo Zeller

From the author of Three Souls comes a vividly imagined and haunting new novel set in early 20th-century Shanghai - a story of friendship, heartbreak, and history that follows a young Eurasian orphan's search for her long-lost mother.

That night I dreamed that I had wandered out to Dragon Springs Road all on my own, when a dreadful knowledge seized me that my mother had gone away, never to return.

Jialing is only seven years old in 1908, when she is abandoned in the courtyard of a once-lavish estate near Shanghai. Jialing is zazhong - Eurasian - and faces a lifetime of contempt from both Chinese and Europeans. Without her mother's protection, she can survive only if the estate's new owners, the Yang family, agree to take her in.

Jialing finds allies in Anjuin, the eldest Yang daughter; and Fox, an animal spirit who has lived in the haunted courtyard for centuries. But Jialing's life as the Yangs' bondservant changes unexpectedly when she befriends a young English girl who then mysteriously vanishes.

Always hopeful of finding her long-lost mother, Jialing grows into womanhood during the tumultuous early years of the Chinese republic, guided by Fox and by her own strength of spirit away from the shadows of her past. But she finds herself drawn into a murder at the periphery of political intrigue, a relationship that jeopardizes her friendship with Anjuin, and a forbidden affair that brings danger to the man she loves.

©2017 Janie Chang (P)2017 HarperCollins Publishers

Sweet story

Interesting world. A bit sentiment. I found the performance overwrought. But ultimately a pretty sweet story.

Vivid images and captivating premise

I was captivated enough that I am not sure why I found this so engaging…I was just in it, which is enough!

Unique Story, Chinese Folklore

A refreshing read. The story is a unique and largely unpredictable drama, with a backbone of Chinese folklore and history. The narration is excellent, but sounds like it’s on fast forward. I found .75 speed to be far more enjoyable. I think somewhere between 1x and .75x would be perfect.

Story as narration is on point!

I am into Asian history and culture and I would recommend this to anyone who likes such stuff , it is worth it. I got invested into the story from the get-go!

Loving how the narrator narrates the book!

A comfortable book that offers thoughts on perceptions.

I found the book to be very predictable. However it was a comfortable book to listen to. I feel the book gave a great deal of depth as to what we think people impose upon us by nothing more than looks . Also what they are willing to give us based upon how they characterize the individual. Yet everyone wants to live their own life, even knowing they will not be able to control it.

Lovely listen

Historical fiction, romance, and a bit of fairytale. Excellent summer listen. I will definitely seek out more of her novels.

Amazing narration

What made the experience of listening to Dragon Springs Road the most enjoyable?

The narration was spot on, and spectacular. I was so enthralled with it I couldn't stop listening to the book even though I'd already read it and knew what was going to happen, but the talent with which it was narrated provided me with different feelings throughout the wonderful storytelling from the author.

Any additional comments?

Full disclosure - I purchased this audiobook after previously reading the novel purely to support the author. However, the narration that Emily Woo Zeller provided took me deep into the story again, in a different way.

Love the book

Love Jamie Chang’s books. Looking forward to hearing the next one. Love Kate Quinn also

A fascinating window into the reality of women in early 20th century China

Story was engaging for its insights into this time period’s complex and unjust world of women—from the internal tyranny and rigidity of family life (most often ruled over by the family matriarch) to the deeply entrenched scorn for women throughout society—only magnified by the “special” contempt reserved for mixed race Chinese women.

The downside was mediocre narration, sometimes annoying and sometimes (particularly with male voices) unbelievable.
The quality of the audible experience depends on the quality of the narration—especially for fiction. This was below the standard I expect. I only stuck with it because the story interested me.