Book Review: To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods by Molly X Chang

To Gaze Upon Wicked Gods is a novel that is mostly an allegory about Western Colonialism/Imperialism. The setting is China in an alternate universe with magic. This version of China is being invaded by another, “science” based alternate universe where Rome never fell. The situation roughly parallels historical  Western Colonialism/Imperialism and a great deal of the plot also relates to atrocities committed in Manchuria during World War II. 

The magic system for this setting involves people called “Xianlings” who have specific magical gifts. The cost of the magical gift is that it will eventually shave years off the gifted person’s life. The story follows Ruying, a young woman whose magical gift (or curse might be more accurate) is Death. She is coerced into becoming an assassin by a Roman prince in order to protect her family. She allows herself to be convinced that the prince has good intentions, but it is gradually revealed that she probably shouldn’t have trusted him. (Which is not necessarily a spoiler, since there’s a preface by the author about what some of the worldbuilding and backstory is based on. See:”atrocities committed in Manchuria during WWII.”)

This book is bleak, and more than a little grimdark. The writer doesn’t make Alternate Fantasy World China an absolutely ideal place, and doesn’t make the Romans a faceless evil. (This can be an occasional problem with this type of story. The urge to drive home The Point with this kind of story can occasionally be overwhelming.) At the same time, you know which side is (very very very much) in the wrong. (It’s the Romans by the way. They are objectively horrible people for various reasons that will become clear during the course of the story. See again: “atrocities.”)

Ruying is a strong character motivated by a desire to protect her family, who is coerced into doing things that her family will condemn. Her desperate need to believe that she’s doing ultimately the right thing was painful to witness. The ending is extremely open, with Ruying coming to the realization that she need to make amends for her actions. This may or may not mean we can expect a sequel.  (If there is a sequel, I will definitely want to check it out.)

This review is based on a galley edition received via NetGalley.

fantasy, science fiction, writer: molly x chang