"I was no longer a child. I didn't have the luxury to be one— that had been taken... by hunger, by exhaustion, and by the constant fight for survival." Although I haven't read many historical fiction this story had me hooked. Eve J. Chung has a writing style that has you wrapped around her fingers. My heart clenched and whept alongside the incredibly resilient and strong women in this book. I was so invested in the dynamics between Hai, Di and Chiang-Yue, the sweat and blood they've invested to keep going and the unwavering support they've given each other. My favour for the characters resembles a rollercoaster and my interest in China, Taiwan and their history has grown imensely.