"incredible look at 1890s China"

By 1896 American expatriate Joanna Crane loves the Chinese culture and people after spending the last decade living in China. Feeling obligated to help free her adopted people from the tyranny of the emperor and the westerner imperialist nations, Joanna tries to enlist with the Boxers, but instead is attacked as a foreigner. Shaolin Monk Zou Tan rescues her.

Zou takes Joanna to Tigress Shi Po where he studies the Tigress form of Taoism. Fascinated, she soon joins him in his studies and quickly finds herself in love with her gallant rescuer. When the emperor's troops arrive, Zou, who is not what he seems, moves Joanna to another haven, but doubts he can keep his beloved westerner safe much longer though he willingly would die to do so.

HUNGRY TIGRESS provides an incredible look at customs, religion, and the relationships between the Chinese and the westerners around the time of the Boxer Rebellion. The story line combines plenty of action with a terrific window on the late nineteenth century in China especially through the eyes of the lead couple. Interestingly, Zou is a fabulous protagonist who is a key reason history and eastern religion flows so easily within the fine plot; however, Joanna seems less developed as her motives fail to come across, leaving her a pale imitation of Lydia, the star of the wonderful prequel WHITE TIGRESS. Still fans who appreciate an exotic historical will want to peruse Jade Lee's fabulous novel and look forward to the next entry in 1890s Chinese saga, LAUGHING TIGRESS.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted June 15, 2005