Zen Cho – författare

Journey through enchanted realms inhabited by dragons, vampires and incorrigible grandmothers, drawn from East Asian and Malaysian myth and folklore, in Zen Cho's magical Spirits Abroad . . .‘A joy to read’ – Veronica Roth, author of DivergentWe meet an elderly ex-member of parliament who recalls her youthful romance with an orang bunian, forbidden not because her lover was an invisible jungle spirit, but because she was Muslim and he was not. A teenage vampire struggles to balance homework, bossy aunts, first love . . . and eating people. A mischievous matriarch returns from the dead to disrupt her own funeral rites, pitting granddaughter against granddaughter. An earth spirit becomes entangled in protracted negotiations with an annoying landlord. And Chang E, the Chinese moon goddess, spins off into outer space – the ultimate metaphor for diaspora.Spirits Abroad won the LA Times Ray Bradbury Prize for Science Fiction, Fantasy & Speculative Fiction, and contains the Hugo Award winner 'If At First You Don’t Succeed, Try, Try Again'‘Absolutely fantastic . . . A wonderfully satisfying and immersive reading experience. Get it, stat’ – KJ Charles, author of The Magpie Lord‘This collection is a delight . . . Just as I'd decided on a favourite, along came ANOTHER FAVOURITE, and ANOTHER’ – Freya Marske, author of A Marvellous Light

Journey through enchanted realms inhabited by dragons, vampires and incorrigible grandmothers, drawn from East Asian and Malaysian myth and folklore, in Zen Cho's magical Spirits Abroad . . .‘A joy to read’ – Veronica Roth, author of DivergentWe meet an elderly ex-member of parliament who recalls her youthful romance with an orang bunian, forbidden not because her lover was an invisible jungle spirit, but because she was Muslim and he was not. A teenage vampire struggles to balance homework, bossy aunts, first love . . . and eating people. A mischievous matriarch returns from the dead to disrupt her own funeral rites, pitting granddaughter against granddaughter. An earth spirit becomes entangled in protracted negotiations with an annoying landlord. And Chang E, the Chinese moon goddess, spins off into outer space – the ultimate metaphor for diaspora.Spirits Abroad won the LA Times Ray Bradbury Prize for Science Fiction, Fantasy & Speculative Fiction, and contains the Hugo Award winner 'If At First You Don’t Succeed, Try, Try Again'‘Absolutely fantastic . . . A wonderfully satisfying and immersive reading experience. Get it, stat’ – KJ Charles, author of The Magpie Lord‘This collection is a delight . . . Just as I'd decided on a favourite, along came ANOTHER FAVOURITE, and ANOTHER’ – Freya Marske, author of A Marvellous Light

Journey through enchanted realms inhabited by dragons, vampires and incorrigible grandmothers, drawn from East Asian and Malaysian myth and folklore, in Zen Cho's magical Spirits Abroad . . .‘A joy to read’ – Veronica Roth, author of DivergentWe meet an elderly ex-member of parliament who recalls her youthful romance with an orang bunian, forbidden not because her lover was an invisible jungle spirit, but because she was Muslim and he was not. A teenage vampire struggles to balance homework, bossy aunts, first love . . . and eating people. A mischievous matriarch returns from the dead to disrupt her own funeral rites, pitting granddaughter against granddaughter. An earth spirit becomes entangled in protracted negotiations with an annoying landlord. And Chang E, the Chinese moon goddess, spins off into outer space – the ultimate metaphor for diaspora.Spirits Abroad won the LA Times Ray Bradbury Prize for Science Fiction, Fantasy & Speculative Fiction, and contains the Hugo Award winner 'If At First You Don’t Succeed, Try, Try Again'‘Absolutely fantastic . . . A wonderfully satisfying and immersive reading experience. Get it, stat’ – KJ Charles, author of The Magpie Lord‘This collection is a delight . . . Just as I'd decided on a favourite, along came ANOTHER FAVOURITE, and ANOTHER’ – Freya Marske, author of A Marvellous Light

'A beautifully soapy second-chance romance set in modern-day London' - The New York TimesFrom the renowned, award-winning author Zen Cho comes a delightfully funny romance about family, class and love in modern London.From the outside, Renee Goh’s life looks perfect. She’s thirty and beautiful, running a glamorous–and successful–fashion company in London, and dating a hot pop star.Until she’s dumped. Estranged from her family in Singapore, too, happiness soon feels a world away. A chance encounter with her first love, Yap Ket Siong, makes her question what she really wants. Then Renee’s father calls from Singapore and offers her the chance to become the successor of the family business, one of the largest conglomerates in Southeast Asia. Her father’s approval would mean everything - if she can fight off the competition of her unpredictable older brothers.Just as she’s focusing on her future and a possible move back to Singapore, sparks seriously start to fly with Ket Siong, shaking her resolve to keep him in the friend zone. But he left her heartbroken at university - will either of them dare to share their feelings the second time around? Or will family business mean they can’t bank on each other . . .Praise for The Friend Zone Experiment:'A story so intensely real that you’ll wonder later if it happened to someone you knew' - Shelley Parker-Chan, author of She Who Became the Sun'A witty and heartwarming exploration of friendship and romance. This is a succession style K-drama that is perfect for a beach read' - Glamour‘A lovely, tender romance, beautifully threaded through real world concerns that had me engrossed. I savoured every delicately written moment’ - Charlotte Stein, author of When Grumpy Met Sunshine'Reminiscent of classic K-dramas with a touch more reality . . . Easily one of my top reads of the year!' - Simone Soltani, author of Cross the Line

'A witty and heartwarming' - Glamour'A sweet slow-burning romance' - HeatCan first love strike gold when given a second chance?Renee Goh appears to have it all: a thriving fashion business in London, a wardrobe to die for and a popular pop star for a boyfriend . . . until she’s dumped.Estranged from her family in Singapore, Renee finds herself at a crossroads – especially after a chance encounter with an old flame, Yap Ket Siong, makes her question what she really wants.When Renee’s father calls and throws another curveball into her life, offering her the chance to become his successor to the family business, she is torn. Her father’s approval would mean everything – if she can fight off the competition from her older brothers.Just as she’s focusing on moving back to Singapore, sparks seriously start to fly with Ket Siong. With the family business beckoning, should Renee follow her head or her heart? Because one thing’s for certain: Ket Siong is shaking her resolve to keep him in the friend zone . . .From the renowned, award-winning author Zen Cho comes a delightfully funny romance about Southeast Asian families, class and love in modern London.'Diasporic joy, the power of female friendships, and above all, hope for Renee and Ket Siong' - My Weekly‘A lovely, tender romance . . . I savoured every delicately written moment' - Charlotte Stein, author of When Grumpy Met Sunshine'Reminiscent of classic K-dramas with a touch more reality . . . Easily one of my top reads of the year!' - Simone Soltani, author of Cross the Line'A story so intensely real that you’ll wonder later if it happened to someone you knew' - Shelley Parker-Chan, author of She Who Became the SunWhat readers are saying . . .'I loved this book, it’s both heartwarming and inspiring''It gave me all the laughter, tears, and story that I wanted''So much fun to read''A great summertime read!''Jane Austen dragged into the modern world'

'A witty and heartwarming exploration of friendship and romance. This is a succession style K-drama that is perfect for a beach read.' - Glamour'The romance buzzes like a live wire' - The New York TimesFrom the renowned, award-winning author Zen Cho comes a delightfully funny romance about family, class and love in modern London. For fans of the TV show Succession and Crazy Rich Asians.From the outside, Renee Goh’s life looks perfect. She’s thirty and beautiful, running a glamorous–and successful–fashion company in London, and dating a hot pop star.Until she’s dumped. Estranged from her family in Singapore, too, happiness soon feels a world away. A chance encounter with her first love, Yap Ket Siong, makes her question what she really wants. Then Renee’s father calls from Singapore and offers her the chance to become the successor of the family business, one of the largest conglomerates in Southeast Asia. Her father’s approval would mean everything - if she can fight off the competition of her unpredictable older brothers.Just as she’s focusing on her future and a possible move back to Singapore, sparks seriously start to fly with Ket Siong, shaking her resolve to keep him in the friend zone. But he left her heartbroken at university - will either of them dare to share their feelings the second time around? Or will family business mean they can’t bank on each other . . .Praise for The Friend Zone Experiment:'Mixes light and dark topics. There’s generational pain and the difficulty of being a woman in a male-dominated industry and culture, but there’s also diasporic joy, the power of female friendships, and above all, hope for Renee and Ket Siong' - My Weekly'A story so intensely real that you’ll wonder later if it happened to someone you knew.' - Shelley Parker-Chan, author of She Who Became the Sun‘A lovely, tender romance, beautifully threaded through real world concerns that had me engrossed. I savoured every delicately written moment.’ - Charlotte Stein, author of When Grumpy Met Sunshine'Reminiscent of classic K-dramas with a touch more reality . . . Easily one of my top reads of the year!' - Simone Soltani, author of Cross the Line

Sparks fly when an ambitious rules-bound lawyer clashes with a maverick new hire who threatens his chances of partnership ­­– and the walls he’s built around his heart.When Kriya follows her boss to join a new law firm, she’s looking for a fresh start after a messy break-up. Sharing an office with her work nemesis was not what she had in mind.Charles has always played by the rules and had clear boundaries ­– until Kriya crashes into his space. A few-too-many unfortunate professional encounters have him convinced this attractive girl can’t stand him, and things only get more awkward when they are forced to work so closely together . . .But just as they’re figuring out how to navigate this frenemy relationship, Kriya needs Charles’s help: pretend they’re dating so her boss will stop hitting on her. As they keep up the facade in front of those closest to them, it soon becomes unclear whether they’re enemies, friends – or something else.Award-winning author Zen Cho delivers a sparkling and witty rivals-to-lovers romance. Behind Frenemy Lines is reminiscent of Sally Thorn’s The Hating Game and Sajni Patel’s The Trouble with Hating You.What Readers are saying:'I loved it!''A refreshing turn in the romance stakes''This author knows how to write green flag men!''It's a warm, funny . . . [I] will be eager for whatever Zen Cho writes next'

Sorcerer to the Crown by Zen Cho is a delightfully fun and compelling Regency romp filled with love, danger and a pinch of fairyland magic.'An enchanting cross between Georgette Heyer and Susanna Clarke' – Naomi Novik, author of UprootedIn Regency London, Zacharias Wythe is England's first African Sorcerer Royal. He leads the eminent Royal Society of Unnatural Philosophers, but a malicious faction seeks to remove him by fair means or foul. Meanwhile, the Society is failing its vital duty – to keep stable the levels of magic within His Majesty's lands. The Fairy Court is blocking its supply, straining England's dangerously declining magical stores.Ambitious orphan Prunella Gentleman is desperate to escape the school where she's drudged all her life, and a visit by the beleaguered Sorcerer Royal seems the perfect opportunity. For Prunella has just stumbled upon English magic's greatest discovery in centuries - and she intends to make the most of it. Together, Zacharias and Prunella might just change the nature of sorcery, in Britain and beyond.'Inventive, dangerous, brilliant, unsettling' – Courtney Milan, author of The Duchess WarWinner of the 2016 British Fantasy Society Award for Best NewcomerShortlisted for the 2016 British Fantasy Society Award for Best Novel Shortlisted for the 2016 Locus First Novel Award

'A sharp and bittersweet story of past and future, ghosts and gods and family, that kept me turning pages into the dark hours of the night' – Naomi Novik, author of UprootedThis mischievous Malaysian-set novel is an adventure featuring family, ghosts and local gods - from Hugo Award winning novelist Zen Cho. Her grandmother may be dead, but she's not done with life . . . yet.As Jessamyn packs for Malaysia, it’s not a good time to start hearing a bossy voice in her head. Broke, jobless and just graduated, she’s abandoning America to return ‘home’. But she last saw Malaysia as a toddler – and is completely unprepared for its ghosts, gods and her eccentric family’s shenanigans.Jess soon learns her ‘voice’ belongs to Ah Ma, her late grandmother. She worshipped the Black Water Sister, a local deity. And when a business magnate dared to offend her goddess, Ah Ma swore revenge. Now she’s decided Jess will help, whether she wants to or not.As Ah Ma blackmails Jess into compliance, Jess fights to retain control. But her irrepressible relative isn’t going to let a little thing like death stop her, when she can simply borrow Jess’s body to make mischief. As Jess is drawn ever deeper into a world of peril and family secrets, getting a job becomes the least of her worries.‘This may be Zen Cho's best work yet’ – Karen Lord, author of The Best of All Possible Worlds‘A compelling and deftly written ghost story' – Kate Elliott, author of Cold Magic

This mischievous Malaysian-set novel is an adventure featuring family, ghosts and local gods - from Hugo Award winning novelist Zen Cho.'A sharp and bittersweet story of past and future, ghosts and gods and family, that kept me turning pages into the dark hours of the night' – Naomi Novik, author of UprootedHer grandmother may be dead, but she's not done with life . . . yet.As Jessamyn packs for Malaysia, it’s not a good time to start hearing a bossy voice in her head. Broke, jobless and just graduated, she’s abandoning America to return ‘home’. But she last saw Malaysia as a toddler – and is completely unprepared for its ghosts, gods and her eccentric family’s shenanigans.Jess soon learns her ‘voice’ belongs to Ah Ma, her late grandmother. She worshipped the Black Water Sister, a local deity. And when a business magnate dared to offend her goddess, Ah Ma swore revenge. Now she’s decided Jess will help, whether she wants to or not.As Ah Ma blackmails Jess into compliance, Jess fights to retain control. But her irrepressible relative isn’t going to let a little thing like death stop her, when she can simply borrow Jess’s body to make mischief. As Jess is drawn ever deeper into a world of peril and family secrets, getting a job becomes the least of her worries . . .‘This may be Zen Cho's best work yet’ – Karen Lord, author of The Best of All Possible Worlds‘A compelling and deftly written ghost story' – Kate Elliott, author of Cold Magic*Zen Cho won the Hugo Award for Best Novelette in 2019 for If At First You Don't Succeed, Try, Try Again

Fairyland’s future lies in doubt . . .The enchanted island of Janda Baik, in the Malay Archipelago, has long been home to witches. And Muna and her sister Sakti wake on its shores under a curse, which has quite stolen away their memories. Their only hope of salvation lies in distant Britain, where the Sorceress Royal runs a controversial academy for female magicians. But the pair travel via the formidable Fairy Queen’s realm, where Sakti simply disappears.To save her sister, Muna must learn to navigate Regency London’s high society and trick the English into believing she’s a magical prodigy. But when the Sorceress Royal’s friends become accidentally embroiled in a plot – involving the Fairy Queen’s contentious succession – Muna is drawn right in. She must also find Sakti, break their curse and somehow stay out of trouble. But if fairyland’s true queen does finally return, trouble may find her first . . .The True Queen is Zen Cho's spelling binding second book. It's set in a sparkling version of Regency London, with a fairy tale twist. And although it's set in the same world as her award-winning novel, The Sorcerer to the Crown, this reads as a standalone. ‘A sheer delight from beginning to end'Samantha ShannonA joyous mash-up of Jane Austen and high fantasy’M. R. Carey

A sparkling magical adventure from a Hugo Award-winning author. In Zen Cho's The True Queen we travel to Regency London, Fairyland and an enchanted island. Sisters are separated, plots thicken and there's a new contender for the throne of Fairy.‘A sheer delight from beginning to end' – Samantha Shannon, author of The Bone Season.Fairyland’s future lies in doubt . . .The enchanted island of Janda Baik, in the Malay Archipelago, has long been home to witches. And Muna and her sister Sakti wake on its shores under a curse, which has quite stolen away their memories. Their only hope of salvation lies in distant Britain, where the Sorceress Royal runs a controversial academy for female magicians. But the pair travel via the formidable Fairy Queen’s realm, where Sakti simply disappears.To save her sister, Muna must learn to navigate Regency London’s high society and trick the English into believing she’s a magical prodigy. But when the Sorceress Royal’s friends become accidentally embroiled in a plot – involving the Fairy Queen’s contentious succession – Muna is drawn right in. She must also find Sakti, break their curse and somehow stay out of trouble. But if fairyland’s true queen does finally return, trouble may find her first . . .'A joyous mash-up of Jane Austen and high fantasy’ – M. R. Carey, author of The Girl with All the Gifts.This standalone adventure is set in the same world as Zen Cho's award-winning novel - The Sorcerer to the Crown.

A magical adventure set in Regency London, fairyland and an enchanted island: war looms in the lands of fairy as two sisters are separated, plots thicken and there are rumours of a new contender for fairy's throne.

Winner of the LA Times/Ray Bradbury PrizeNineteen sparkling stories that weave between the lands of the living and the lands of the dead. Spirits Abroad is an expanded edition of Zen Cho’s Crawford Award winning debut collection with nine added stories including Hugo Award winner “If at First You Don't Succeed, Try, Try Again.” A Datin recalls her romance with an orang bunian. A teenage pontianak struggles to balance homework, bossy aunties, first love, and eating people. An earth spirit gets entangled in protracted negotiations with an annoying landlord, and Chang E spins off into outer space, the ultimate metaphor for the Chinese diaspora.