One of the reasons I enjoy reading historical fiction is that it allows me to gain knowledge about historical time periods through captivating stories and "The Good Women of Fudi" does just that.
Although the history period, the tension and conflicts were gripping, I found the excessive jumping narration hard to keep track of.

Imperial China following the aftermath of the opium wars.
The story of two women Wu fang and Jiali there lives and loves lost and gained.
Really liked the idea of this book but it fell flat in places.

"I found the history of the period fascinating, particularly the conflict and rising tensions between the different Chinese factions. On the one hand, there were the reformers who looked outward to Japan's modernist practices and ideas. On the other hand, the traditionalists were ruling Manchus, where spiritualism, religion, and family values intertwined in a complicated way. I also found the attitudes towards foreigners, such as the English, intriguing, and appreciated seeing things through Edward's eyes as he became more and more fascinated with Fudi's culture and inhabitants.

Throughout the book, Wu Fang's gender identity is explored but never directly explained, just like the complicated physical and emotional relationship between Wu Fang and Jiali, Edward and Yanbu. The study of love, gender, and sexuality in their many fluid forms was complex, and I was swept along with it."

This book explores the lives and loves of two women in Fudi, China in the early 20th century. Though this was an interesting premise, and there were some engaging scenes dotted throughout the story, the overall execution fell flat for me.

I think my main issue is with the writing style. The narrative jumps around a lot, often feeling like it abruptly cuts from one scene to the other, and the swaps in POV sometimes felt like head hopping. There was also a strange habit of mentioning events that had happened inbetween scenes like the reader should know what was being referenced, despite not being told yet.

All of this made it difficult for me to actually get a good sense of any of the main characters. It also felt like we were often held at arm's length from them, never truly being shown what drove them or their actions. For example, Wu Fang is involved with revolutionary action, but we are never shown nor told what it is she is doing or why. Another example is Jiala and Charles' relationship - I never felt their connection, we weren't shown them becoming closer or falling for each other, it felt like the book had declared they were in love so they were.

This also has an open ending which I didn't particularly like as it felt a bit abrupt, like it stopped halfway through the climax of the book.

Overall, whilst I think this could still potentially be enjoyed by anyone with an interest in the premise, it wasn't for me.

I enjoyed every minute of this! It was beautifully written and the characters were all well fleshed out and believable. My favourite was Wu Fang, though I think I would have loved Jiali just as much before her marriage. The story was understated but dramatic and it kept me so gripped that I was shocked when it ended! A wonderful story and a joy to read.

I thought this was a fantastic book, I had such a great time getting to know such a queer facet to China through the cast of the Good Women of Fudi, but I'm reeling at the ending -- is that a cliffhanger? Or is the story complete? I would really appreciate an indication from the blurb one way or another to manage the expectations better.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.

It’s the early twentieth century in China and there’s change afoot. The western nations are sometimes helpful, such as building hospitals and educational facilities, and sometimes not such as firing cannons on said educational facilities. In this confused world, our two female protagonists must make their way.

The China they find themselves in has very rigid ideas about what women can and can’t do. Wu Fang wants to be a surgeon - this is a male only thing so she dresses as a western man and carries the act off so convincingly that she can train in medicine in Japan and be mistaken for a man.

Whilst Wu Fang’s been away in Japan, her best friend, Jiali, has gone and done the thing they swore they would never do - marry.

Also while in Japan, Wu Fang’s got involved in some radical politics aimed at rapidly modernising China. The ideas seemed noble when in Japan. The on-the-ground actions in China are rather murkier.

How will the friendship between these two women cope with the addition of Jiali’s husband? And what will happen when the new colleague of Jiali’s husband meets both Jiali and Wu Fang? And how will the swiftly changing politics of the era impact their lives?

An interesting read as to how some women may have navigated the strict gender roles in the past. The ending is a cliff-hanger. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

'The fate of all women does not have to be ours.’

The Good Women of Fudi is set in Imperial China after the Opium Wars and follows two friends, Jiali and Wu Fang. The two women have grown up with wealth and are both seriously accomplished. Jiali is a proclaimed poet and swordswoman, and Wu Fang is attending medical school in Japan - to potentially become the first Chinese surgeon.

At the outset of the story, we join Wu Fang on their boat journey back to Fudi from Japan where she meets English Edward, who mistakes them for a Japanese man.

Edward is travelling to join the Fudi Naval College having recently lost his wife, and his and Wu Fang's lives continue to entwine when he realises his closest Chinese colleague Yanbu is Jiali's new husband.

I was really interested in the history of the period, especially the conflict and rising tensions between the differing Chinese factions - the reformers looking outward to Japan's modernist practices and ideas or the traditionalist ruling Manchus and how spiritualism, religion and family weaves a complicated set of values and ideas. I found the suffering attitudes towards the Ocean People (foreigners like the English) really interesting too and was grateful to see things through Edward's eyes as he became more and more fascinated with Fudi's culture and inhabitants.

Wu Fang's gender identity is explored throughout the book but never directly explained, which is the same for the complicated physical and emotional relationship between Wu Fang and Jiali, Edward and Yanbu. I was really swept along with the complicated study of love, gender and sexuality in it's many fluid forms.

My only gripe is that the book ended on a massive cliffhanger - and I've no idea if the book is a series!