Megan’s life has never been simple nor straightforward. As a teenager, she has no choice but to stay with her mother as she moves from one abusive man to the next. After it all goes to hell and her mom’s most recent ex takes their passports and leaves them stranded in Beijing, they are yet again homeless. In desperation, Megan’s mom turns to an old friend and quickly gets the two room and board working at the Huihuang Opera Theater as cleaners. With limited ability to speak Mandarin, Megan’s friendships are limited until she meets the incredible lead actress of the opera, Kristy. Megan’s dreams begin to reflect a hungry demon, desirous of talented flesh, and she finds the dreams paralleled with the book she’s reading to prepare for the theaters current offering: The Monkey King and the White Bone Demon.
Kelsea Yu takes readers on a journey through secret passages, Chinese folklore, and an opera house that holds dark secrets. For fans of Phantom of the Opera, or someone who just really loves a good haunting opera house story will enjoy this book. It was fascinating to learn about the Chinese opera culture and performance costuming. Demon Song is a quick read, but pack full of action and haunting imagery.
Demon Song is available September 30, 2025.
