I really enjoyed *We Could Not See the Stars*, especially for its atmosphere and the way it treats memory almost like a physical place that can be lost, recovered, or reshaped. Han’s journey through the Peninsula and into the forest of Suriyang kept me curious throughout, particularly because the mystery surrounding his mother gradually becomes more important than simply discovering where she came from. I also loved the alternate Malaysia setting, which gave the story a distinctive sense of place and made the speculative elements feel more haunting.

What I liked most was the novel’s exploration of loss and identity. Han is not only searching for his mother’s origins, but also trying to understand how much of a person’s identity can survive when their memories are taken away. The golden tower and the mysterious forest added a dreamlike quality that I found particularly compelling.

That said, I sometimes felt that the story was **too deliberately mysterious**. There were moments when I wanted a little more clarity about the world and its mythology rather than having everything remain ambiguous. Some parts also moved more slowly than I would have preferred, especially when the atmosphere took priority over the plot.

Overall, though, I found it haunting and beautifully written. It’s the kind of book that stays with you because of the questions it raises rather than simply because of what happens, and I especially appreciated its ideas about memory, grief, belonging, and the stories we inherit from the people we lose.

You are a young man from a small village on the Malaysian coast. You toil on the fishing boats to help feed your father and grandmother - your mother died when you were very small. One day, a mysterious man shows up asking strange questions, he eventually steals something precious from your family. You embark on a long and perilous journey to recover what was taken but come to learn more about your world and yourself than you could possibly have imagined.

This is the story of Han, whose world is turned upside down by a quest he did not ask for. Others embark on similar adventures, all searching for one elusive truth. On these various journeys we discover the bravery and cowardice, cruelty and kindness of humanity.

This is a gentle and beautiful novel by Elizabeth Wong, who explores life, death, family and friendship through varied Malaysian landscapes. We Could Not See the Stars transports you from a small fishing village to a vast city to an awesome desert. Wong guides you through earth, sea and air in her delicate meditations on being – and on how we can be together. Language is a major theme, so is faith; war and displacement present but often hidden underneath the main plot.

This is not an action-packed novel, though there are moments of tension. This is a novel that unfolds slowly, that keeps you hooked as truths are revealed. It ends in a direction you perhaps do not expect, but absolutely one worth waiting for.