In 1972, Singapore, Adeline’s mother dies in an unexplained fire, and Adeline suddenly finds herself alone in the world. Or maybe not. Adeline follows a trail of breadcrumbs to discover who her mother really was and discovers an underground world of gangsters and magic that she never could have imagined. As she is drawn deeper into this fantastic world, Adeline leaves behind everything she’s ever known and becomes everything she could have ever dreamt. Follow Adeline on this journey of discovery and power in When They Burned the Butterfly by Wen-Yi Lee.
[Note: While I am reviewing this novel independently and honestly, it should be noted that it has been provided to me by Tor for the purpose of this review. Warning: My review of When They Burned the Butterfly contains some spoilers!]
Fire has defined Adeline’s whole life
Adeline has never feared fire. That’s probably because she’s always been able to summon fire. Her mother has the same gift. Adeline’s mother never explained how they were able to make and control fire. All she would ever say on the subject was her one rule: “Keep it small, keep it hidden.” When Adeline was young, the two would build their fire together; it was a secret they shared, and it formed a small bond. As Adeline got older, her mother stopped using the fire magic, but Adeline couldn’t; it had to come out.
Then Adeline’s mother dies in a house fire. It’s unthinkable to Adeline that her mother could control fire; how could she die in it? Determined to find answers, Adeline begins searching for the person her mother was supposed to meet in secret the morning after her death. What she finds is more than a person; it’s an entire world.
Adeline stumbles into the Red Butterfly gang. Turns out her mother was their leader and the conduit for their god. There’s something special about the Red Butterfly girls; they control fire! Yes, they have the same power that Adeline and her mother shared! Adeline is incensed that her mother never shared the Red Butterflies with her. Although, as she comes to realize, there’s a reason for that. The Red Butterflies are one of the magical gangs of Singapore, and their world is every bit as dangerous as that sounds.
As Adeline is drawn further into their world and closer to one particular member, Tian, she is mostly just angry. Angry at her mother for keeping all this from her, angry at whoever killed her mother, angry at the way women are mistreated in the underworld of Singapore. Just plain angry. Beyond angry in fact, her rage grows to the point that she’ll burn the whole world down to get what she wants, just as soon as she decides what it is that she wants to do.
A fascinating historical fantasy
Usually, when we hear the words “historical fantasy,” we picture knights in shining armor, evil dragons, and sorcerers spouting off spells. Wen-Yi Lee’s historical fantasy is a little different. Instead of taking place in some far-off time, it’s set in 1972 Singapore, just after independence was announced. Respectable business is looking to the future, and the old ways are being left behind. But in the underground, the old ways are still observed. There are multiple gangs (too many to try to list, trust me) that run different sections of the city. Each gang has its own god to which its members take oaths, which they seal with ink (as in tattoos). Each god then bestows powers upon their faithful in accordance with what they’re revered for (for example, Red Butterflies control fire, Three Steels have metal skin, and White Bones are shapeshifters). I found it really interesting that each gang needed a living human conduit to its god. Almost like an avatar, that person speaks for the god and represents the gang’s connection to their patron. If something happens to the conduit, the entire gang loses its connection to the god, and by extension, its power. It’s like the conduit is a battery that powers the members. Or more accurately, powers the tattoos. Because the tattoos are the key to the whole thing. After a member makes their oaths, they receive their first tattoo. After that, they collect more and more tattoos, each one strengthening their connection to the god. If a member ever chooses to leave the gang (or is kicked out) then their tattoos are removed (not with lasers).
Interestingly enough, the tattoos are actually more important than the conduit. The conduits can come and go; the individual person fulfilling the role is, for the most part, unimportant. But the tattoos must be done in a special way; each gang has its own special ritual, and if it’s not done right, the connection to the god won’t be made. These secrets are known by only one person in the gang, the tattooist. Sometimes they have an apprentice who also knows the secret, but usually they only take one when they anticipate leaving.
The focus is all on the conduit, but the tattooist is just as (if not more) important to the gang’s link to their god. I found this interesting. Almost like the conduit is the power, and the tattooist is the creator. Two sides of each god, one forward-facing and one hidden. It made me think of the quiet powers that shape the world behind the scenes.
When They Burned the Butterfly is a slow burn
When They Burned the Butterfly has a tempo problem. Adeline is all rage, fire, and action. She just wants to forge ahead and doesn’t care what might happen. The character demands a fast-paced, action-packed book. But When They Burned the Butterfly moves rather slow. At times, it’s even boring. There are a lot of girls just sitting around talking, smoking, or eating. There are lots of inner thoughts and dialogue that just seem to run in circles. Some of this is because Wen-Yi Lee is slowly and carefully building Adeline up to some surprising (to Adeline) personal revelations. But it’s not a surprise to anyone reading the book, so the slow build is boring, and the final reveal is kinda anticlimactic, and not cathartic at all.
But even with the slow pacing that is so at odds with the main character’s energy, the story is interesting. I especially like the gods and Adeline’s eventual understanding of her god. She is able to give full and true expression to Madam Butterfly, and the result will change the world.
Rating: 7/10
When They Burned the Butterfly is now available to purchase at your retailer of choice.
Learn more about the book at the official website for the title.
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