Firstly, great cover for this ... novella? Book? Writing?Linghun is definitely intriguing, and an interesting, worthwhile and super creative exploration of grief and the supernatural. I thought it a great commentary on the toxicity of human attachment and tendency to disrespect the living while worshipping the dead. However, Linghun overall felt more like a collegiate writing assignment, or part creative writing piece that meandered where it should've been reigned in a great deal more, especially at the (confusing) end, where the "ramble" on death made it also read like a diary entry or personal workshop of the author's experiences and feelings, where the additional short fiction tacked on confused me as to whether this was a novella or short story collection, and where the several pages dedicated to forthcoming publications from other authors just added to the overall lack of professional presentation (of a book or solid novella).

Let's call it a "grief haunting" novel. Ai Jiang knows how to write these beautiful and tragic stories that haunt the depth of your soul.The "auction" part had me like WTF but also like well that's human nature for ya. A great little section that really ties the rest together.Read this story

Sorrowful and strange, such an original and unique concept of grief, ghosts, and haunting! Well deserved Bram Stoker winner!!!!

“But I’m alive”This novella was so emotional.The grief and pain that comes along with loss is never easy to deal with. But you have to remember that the world keeps turning.Appreciate the living. Enjoy LIFE.

«It’s been more than a decade since his death, but we still celebrate my brother’s sixth birthday every year». Linghun by Ai Jiang is a literary horror story about hauntings, grief, obsession and desperation. It’s about being always stuck in between, never wholly one thing or the other, wanting to let go but not being able to. Reading this novella was like hearing whispers in the fog, echoes from the underworld. I loved this so, so much. This book is set in the mysterious town of HOME, a place where the spirits of lost loved ones can be summoned to haunt your house. We follow as the lives of three strangers living in HOME become progressively and inextricably entangled, pulled together by their losses. This novella is masterfully written and drenched in metaphors and symbolism, every word seems intentional – this is done in a very subtle way; the author plants little seeds and scatters little crumbles of meaningful details everywhere throughout the narration. There is definitely a huge focus on symbols relating to the “in-between”, and not only because ghosts are stuck between life and death, but also the living are stuck between mourning and letting go, past and present. The main character and her family are also Chinese immigrants to Canada – they are also stuck between two worlds. Their mourning is not only confined to the loss of a beloved child, but also to the separation from their homeland, language and culture: «We may not want to admit it, but I think immigration is the death of a part of us». This story also contains dystopian elements and a very important commentary on how often desperation and grief are exploited for the gain and entertainment of those in power. I could talk about this book for hours, as there is really an ocean of themes to unpack. This novella was in my top 3 books for 2023 (and I’ve read almost 180 books) - I recommend it to anyone looking for a well-written, atmospheric story full of meaning. I can’t wait to check out Ai Jiang’s other works.