The Lotus Shoes Audiobook By Jane Yang cover art

The Lotus Shoes

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The Lotus Shoes

By: Jane Yang
Narrated by: Catherine Ho, Katharine Chin
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"Brilliantly written, masterful storytelling, and hard to put down. This story will stay with me for a very, very long time." —Heather Morris, #1 bestselling author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz

An empowering, uplifting tale of two women from opposite sides of society, and their extraordinary journey of sisterhood, betrayal, love and triumph.

1800s China. Tightly bound feet, or "golden lilies," are the mark of an honorable woman, eclipsing beauty, a rich dowry and even bloodline in the marriage stakes. When Little Flower is sold as a maidservant—a muizai—to Linjing, a daughter of the prominent Fong family, she clings to the hope that one day her golden lilies will lead her out of slavery.

Not only does Little Flower have bound feet, uncommon for a muizai, but she is extraordinarily gifted at embroidery, a skill associated with the highest class of a lady. Resentful of her talents, Linjing does everything in her power to thwart Little Flower's escape.

But when scandal strikes the Fongs, both women are cast out to the Celibate Sisterhood, where Little Flower’s artistic prowess catches the eye of a nobleman. His attention threatens not only her improved status, but her life—the Sisterhood punishes disobedience with death. And if Linjing finds out, will she sabotage Little Flower to reclaim her power, or will she protect her?

©2025 Jane Yang (P)2025 Harlequin Enterprises, Limited
Historical Fiction Women's Fiction World Literature Feel-Good Inspiring Thought-Provoking

Listen: What inspired Jane Yang to explore a forgotten chapter in Chinese women's history

'During the late 1800s, in southern China, where my forebears came from...'
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  • The Lotus Shoes
  • 'During the late 1800s, in southern China, where my forebears came from...'
Historical Insights • Compelling Plot • Excellent Narration • Emotional Depth • Engaging Storytelling
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Such a good story. I started the book and thoroughly enjoyed it. I thought the story was going to go one way, when all of a sudden it took a turn and for the benefit of keeping the reader's attention. I have to say it was beautifully written and would keep the reader's attention throughout trying to determine what would happen. Never did I think it would become a love story, but in the end it was. I have to say it was very good!

Such a good story

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The life I read about was outstanding and amazing. I loved learning about it. I give it two thumbs up!!

Outstanding

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Narration is well done and the story keeps you entertained and interested. I think it was with the credit.

Great Book!

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This story is intriguing and very well written. Characters are well developed, plot is interesting and unique, performance is good. I enjoyed the book until the ending, which was weak, inadequately explained and unsatisfying. However, the book is worth buying and reading.

very good until the end

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I liked the immersion into a different culture in a different place and time. Very interesting but glad I don’t live in that culture. It was so repressive of women. Unfortunately, that repression of women continues in many ways and places even till today.

The interactions between the two girls.

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I enjoyed this historical fiction and learned quite a lot about this culture and time period as I have always been fascinated by the foot binding era. Beautifully written.

I didn't want it to end

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I was born and raised in America, with Chinese/Korean parents. My grandpa‘s first wife, whom he thought had died during WWII, actually had bound feet and was found alive years after the war. By that point, my grandpa had already married my grandmother, thus having “two wives”. Probably sounds strange, but these were existential circumstances. And I had the lovely opportunity of meeting his first wife, in China, when I was a teenager. As customs were, I had to walk behind her. And she shuffled her feet, walking very slowly. It was a very sobering experience and one I’ll never forget. What a beautifully written book, I can see both sides of the story!

As an Asian American…wow!

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Great story and narrator. I look forward to one day reading more from this author.

Captivating

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I enjoyed learning about the culture of late 19th century China. The difficult position of women transcends geographical boundaries and, unfortunately, time. Forces are always at work to drag us back to subservience. Lotus Flower deserved to find love.

Captivating story

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Surprisingly, I devoured this. I chose this title largely at random, and this isn’t a region or period of history that typically draws my attention. But I found these characters so real and the story easy to fall into. I had no idea where the story was going. I was just happy to be along for the ride.

More riveting than I imagined

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