The Secrets of Jin-shei

By Alma Alexander
Fiction
512 pages
ISBN 0060563419

They say you can’t judge a book by its cover, but in the case of The Secrets of Jin-shei, the book jacket is almost as beautiful as the magical story inside. With muted browns, varying shades of ivory and an artist’s sketch of blossoming, oriental flowers, the cover depicts a young Chinese woman who, at once, appears innocent yet deep in thought. Coupled with the book’s title, the reader wonders what secrets such a woman might hold.

Written in the fictitious Chinese kingdom of Linh-an, the capital of Syai, author Alma Alexander tells the story of eight women brought together by fate and circumstance, but bound together by choice as jin-shei sisters, sisters of the heart. Over the course of the women’s lives, they are struck with both tragedy and triumph, their lives irrevocably intertwined as their sisterhood crosses all social, economic and political boundaries.

Alexander artfully creates the fictitious Chinese custom of jin-shei, modeled after the real-life custom known as Jiebai Zhimei, a sworn sisterhood of women bound by heart and spirit, rather than by blood. Through the magnificent telling of this custom, the secret sisterhood of Chinese women is gradually revealed through their deeds as well as their secret language jin-ashu. This unbreakable bond is handed down from each generation of women and shared by only those who choose to engage in it.

In this beautifully crafted tale, Alexander paints detailed visions of the city of Linh- an, the capital city of Syai where most of the story is set. In many areas of the city and its kingdom, the descriptions are rich and delightful. In others, however, the author cleverly depicts the darkness and deception hidden within the kingdom’s walls. With these colorful descriptions, Alexander brings the city, its people and the royal kingdom to life.

The reader easily becomes enraptured by the multi-faceted women as the depths of their characters are revealed through both their personal histories and their actions throughout the story. Each character is introduced during her youth with a brief explanation of how her personality and beliefs have evolved as a young girl. Then, one by one, each girl meets the others, choosing to become jin- shei sisters as their paths cross and their lives become entwined with one another.

Among a myriad of other fascinating characters, the eight jin-shei sisters are Nhia, the natural philosopher and seer of all things; Tai, the poet who makes her promise to a dying Empress-to-be; Xaforn, the royal Guard member destined to become a warrior; Khailin, the alchemist who thirsts for knowledge at any price; Tammary, the lost traveler who seeks love and belonging; Qiann, daughter of a captain of the Guard who seeks truth; Yuet, the wise and patient healer; and Liudan, the unlikely Empress who reigns over them all.

Throughout the novel, the story of these incredible women unfolds naturally, easily holding the reader’s attention from cover to cover. With Alexander’s fluent dialogue and detailed story-telling, she has created a book destined to become a classic here and abroad and one that, as the cliché goes, is difficult to put down. This is a “must read” for anyone with a penchant for the Orient or who understands that the bond of sisterhood, whether by blood or by spirit, is both unique and unbreakable.

About the author

The Secrets of Jin-shei was written by Alma Alexander, the pen name of writer Alma Hromic Decker, who lives in Sudden Valley with her husband Deck and their three cats. Alexander was born in 1963 in Yugoslavia, but raised in Africa, followed by moves to New Zealand and the United States.

Alexander’s sixth novel, The Secrets of Jin-shei, was first published by HarperCollins in the U.S. in May 2004. It has been translated into four languages and is also available in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Germany and Italy. The book has been so successful in the U.K. that it was selected the Library Book of the Month for September 2004.

When she isn’t writing or editing, Alexander enjoys teaching her craft to others and presenting at writers’ conferences, including the Whidbey Island Writers’ Conference. In addition, she and writer/editor husband Deck are planning writer’s workshops to be held in their Bellingham, Washington home next spring. Alexander is currently working on her next novel.

Originally published in the Whatcom Independent.

To buy The Secrets of Jin-shei now, click on the Village Books link below!

For more information about the author, see my exclusive interview with Alma Alexander this month.