DAUGHTER OF CALAMITY

Si Chen takes listeners to 1930s Shanghai in this historical fantasy. Cabaret dancer Jingwen has one foot in the world of lavish clubs and wealthy foreigners and the other in Shanghai's black market: Her grandmother is involved with money laundering. Chen's performance is smooth and steady, with little differentiation between characters. Delivering on Lin's vivid portrait of Shanghai, Chen provides excellent pronunciation of Chinese words and invites listeners to inhale the scents of Jingwen's favorite street foods. When dancers are violently attacked, Jingwen is thrust into mortal peril. Rooted in Chinese mythology, DAUGHTER OF CALAMITY is a surprising dance between historical fiction and fantasy. C.R. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2024]