Between Ghosts and Gods
Chinese mythology meets dark fantasy in this haunting novel of slow-burn romance, ghosts, demons and murder
Will be published approx. on 10. September 2026
Book
Hardback
352 pages
978-1-5295-3087-2 (ISBN)
Description
What price would you pay for a second chance at life? Inspired by Chinese mythology, this atmospheric and romantic dark fantasy is perfect for fans of Elizabeth Lim, Sue Lynn Tan and Axie Oh.
Having sold her soul to a demon during her lifetime, Kasu now works at Camellia House, a high-stakes gambling den in the under-realm. Here, she abides by the Heavenly Principles in the hope of one day achieving reincarnation. Night after night, she dispenses gambling tiles to customers who surrender their treasures - jewellery, limbs, dreams - which Kasu stores in a ghoulish cabinet for her mistress.
Into this world drops Arun, a prince from the mortal realm desperately searching for his mother. A year ago she was chosen to serve the gods in the heavens, before being promptly exiled. His hunt has brought him to the under-realm, where he is determined to uncover the truth.
Kasu agrees to help Arun with his search, but as the two become caught in an ever-tightening web of danger and deceit, she is forced to re-examine all of her beliefs about the gods she worships. And as she and Arun grow closer, she must decide just what price she is willing to pay, and how much she is prepared to lose, for a second chance at life.
Perfect for fans of:
Slow-burn romance
Enemies to lovers
Dark fantasy with a horror twist
Ghost girl and human boy
Heavens vs hell
Murderous demon lords
Wicked humour
Having sold her soul to a demon during her lifetime, Kasu now works at Camellia House, a high-stakes gambling den in the under-realm. Here, she abides by the Heavenly Principles in the hope of one day achieving reincarnation. Night after night, she dispenses gambling tiles to customers who surrender their treasures - jewellery, limbs, dreams - which Kasu stores in a ghoulish cabinet for her mistress.
Into this world drops Arun, a prince from the mortal realm desperately searching for his mother. A year ago she was chosen to serve the gods in the heavens, before being promptly exiled. His hunt has brought him to the under-realm, where he is determined to uncover the truth.
Kasu agrees to help Arun with his search, but as the two become caught in an ever-tightening web of danger and deceit, she is forced to re-examine all of her beliefs about the gods she worships. And as she and Arun grow closer, she must decide just what price she is willing to pay, and how much she is prepared to lose, for a second chance at life.
Perfect for fans of:
Slow-burn romance
Enemies to lovers
Dark fantasy with a horror twist
Ghost girl and human boy
Heavens vs hell
Murderous demon lords
Wicked humour
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Target group
Children/juvenile
Interest Age: From 14 years
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 153 mm
Thickness: 19 mm
Weight
270 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-5295-3087-2 (9781529530872)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Ann Sei Lin is a writer, librarian and book nerd with a love for all things fantasy. She is the author of the Rebel Skies trilogy, for which she was shortlisted for the Branford Boase Award and the Jhalak Children's and YA Prize. Though Cambridge is now her home, she spent several years in Japan living in a rickety apartment block next to a railway station, where the rush of the midnight train would make the walls shake. When not writing, she is often studying, gaming, or trying to make that origami rabbit for the one hundredth time.