This makes it three stars by the skin of its teeth. I have a reviewing policy that, no matter how many issues I have with a book, if I can answer "yes" to the question "ultimately, are you glad you read this?" it deserves at least three stars. So, even though I think this book has glaring flaws, it was still (barely) worth the time investment for what it did well. 
 This is a book with great world building. I loved being immersed in historical information about a culture that I know nothing about. Said historical information was delivered in a very expository, info dumpy kind of way, but I was OK with that. I found the supernatural setting similarly fascinating. I want to emphasize this is a fantasy novel first, a historical fiction novel second. The majority of the narrative takes place in the Chinese afterlife. The actual details of this afterlife were very interesting to me. 
 So what's the problem? Choo built a great world and then peopled with dull characters and a slack, meandering plot. Great descriptions and historical asides alone can't drive a narrative. Choo built the literary equivalent of a really neat diorama but that's it. The plot has no momentum. The characters are mostly passive and bland. 
 Also, the romantic side plot is totally unsatisfying. It should have been jettisoned. I resent how often authors feel obligated to toss slapdash, half hearted romance into a story when they can't do it well.