Aunt Tigress by Emily Yu-Xuan Qin ~ a Review

by MK French

Tam has avoided her monstrous history, becoming the perfect soft-spoken, vegan daughter. When her estranged Aunt Tigress is found murdered and skinned, Tam inherits an undead fox and old enemies. While she can deal with demons, ghosts, and gods, she can't deal with the thing stalking her across the city. Even the girl she's falling in love with might be yet another tie to her past. Tam can't avoid the past or the suffering she caused. Do monsters even deserve happy endings?

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March 2025; DAW; 978-0756419387
audio, ebook, print (432 pages); urban fantasy

The worldbuilding in this novel is inspired by Chinese folklore and the Siksiká Nation in Canada. Tam's Chinese family emigrated to Canada, and the intervention of Tam's paternal aunt led her to see the spirits and mythological creatures that live around her. She tries to be a good daughter and sister, but can't help but react to what she sees, especially when there's a more sinister cast to it. Her mother knows it's real but wishes it wasn't, and her stepbrother has always accepted it as part of her. Her Aunt Tigress is a practitioner of these arts, but isn't necessarily a benevolent influence; she had cheated people and took advantage of others in their weakness, pulling Tam into it when she was younger.

Tam tells stories about the spirits and anomalies to Janet, but she can't tell if she's actually believed. As the story progresses, she discovers more about the ties between them, and with Jack Little, who is helping her in the wake of Aunt Tigress' death. Tigress had done incredible harm, and Tam is only becoming aware of it as she's being targeted. The interplay of Chinese and First Nations spiritual practices and mythological creatures is fascinating. As the story continues, with ties from Calgary and an in-between world of spirits, we discover how interconnected Tam is with the supernatural community. Sharp-eyed readers will catch it before Tam does. The different characters are tied together in unexpected ways that we discover over the course of the story, and I really liked seeing how it all comes together. 

The themes of family, redemption, and forgiveness are strong in this story.  Using supernatural creatures and traditions means we get at the question of legacy sideways. Who are we supposed to be? The traditions handed down,  the traditions where we live, or the traditions we build? Children carry the weight of families and the choices made around and for them, and must be better. 

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Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and a golden retriever.

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