THE GIRL WITH A THOUSAND FACES

Sunyi Dean (she/her) is a biracial fantasy author who was born in Texas, grew up in Hong Kong, and now resides in North England. She writes speculative fiction with a weird slant, and her debut novel, The Book Eaters, was a USA Today bestseller. Back in the day, her high school was a former mission house built on the edge of the original Walled City, and her grandparents lived in Hong Kong through both World Wars. In her spare time, she likes buying whisky, picking up dumbbells, and dying in jiu-jitsu.

“Beautifully examines the nature of grief, rage, and all that must be put to rest in order to truly live.” —Olivie Blake, New York Times bestselling author of The Atlas Six

“Gripped me from the start and refused to let go…. Sunyi Dean is one of the most interesting voices in genre fiction.” —Gareth Brown, USA Today bestselling author of The Book of Doors

“Dean’s atmospheric writing takes you deep into the shadows of the walled city, daring you to find a way out.” —Monika Kim, author of The Eyes Are the Best Part 

“Dark and compulsive—and liable to break your heart and steal the pieces.” —Hannah Kaner, author of Godkiller

“Creepy and compelling—an atmospheric and absorbing slice of Hong Kong Gothic.” —Catriona Silvey, author of Meet Me in Another Life

“A heart-rending ghost story that masterfully examines the brutalities of trauma and war. An absolute must-read!” —Alexis Henderson, author of An Academy for Liars

“Astonishing and clever…. Dean has crafted a tale that explores the devastating effects of conflict and the ghosts it leaves behind.” —Andrea Stewart, author of The Bone Shard Daughter

“A visceral, haunting tale of rage, revenge, and forgiveness, set in an irresistibly vivid and mesmerising alternative Hong Kong.” —Hildur Knútsdóttir, author of The Night Guest

1. How did your perceptions of Mercy (Chen Mei Chi) shift as her story unfolded? What were your predictions about the storyline as you watched her achieve justice as a ghost talker? What were your final impressions in her closing scenes?
2. In chapter 15, when Guanyin (Kwun Yam) becomes the narrator and speaks to “you,” how was your experience transformed? What was it like to see humanity from the point of view of a goddess—particularly one who is tasked with inspiring us to choose compassion over vengeance?
3. On page 118, Mami (Sung Daiyu) says to stop thinking like Westerners, who shun their ghosts and refuse to try to love them. Do the spiritual beliefs of a culture reflect and affect other aspects of that culture?
4. Baba (Sung Ho Tung) insists that the British will protect Hong Kong. If you had been Mami, would you have trusted him, or would you have fled for the haunted island of Shek Ham Chau?
5. What did you discover about the history of China and the traditions of Buddhism and Hinduism by reading Mercy’s story? In what ways can fiction bring clarity to historical truths?
6. As you were reading the descriptions of Sea Sister—at once beautiful and monstrous—what traits did she appear to embody? Why is water an appropriate medium for the novel’s mothers and daughters as they try to stay afloat in their circumstances?
7. What are the sources of power for Cobra Lily and Tsang Kit Ling? What are their greatest vulnerabilities? What can we learn from them about the limitations of identity and reinvention?
8. As you read the gameplan for Kowloon on page 256, did you think it was feasible? If you were to think of Kowloon as a main character, how would you describe its tumultuous, imperiled life—both in the novel and in history?
9. How does Red Bird help us see the impermanence of the physical body and the fragility of skin? How did you react to the exploitation of her human form?
10. How did the novel shape your perceptions of war? Has your personal history been impacted by warfare and its outcomes? What would it be like to imagine ghosts having an influence on those battlefields?

Guide written by Amy Root Clements