Their Divine Fires

“A poignant, impressive debut.”

“Their Divine Fires is a gorgeous, emotionally searing debut about the lasting and mysterious effects of the past—both political and personal—particularly on girls and women confined and defined by others in a volatile world. Chen has woven together a deeply moving, complex novel that takes us on multiple journeys of love, sacrifice, and grief. These characters are utterly unforgettable. What an incredible, artful feat announcing the arrival of a brilliant writer.”

"Their Divine Fires captures both the colossal and the intimate. It is precise and also containing grand histories. A beautiful, and necessary art."

“Their Divine Fires is utterly hypnotic—the kind of novel only a poet could write. Never before have I read a debut that captures so perfectly the ache of what is left unsaid between generations. This is the family saga that I’ve been craving for years, a sensitive and deeply human reckoning with the aftermath of historical trauma and what happens when we try to speak the unspeakable. Chen’s writing is arresting, lyrical, and full of verve. Their Divine Fires will burn in my memory for years to come.”
 

“Impressively epic yet intimate, unputdownable yet historically significant, Their Divine Fires moved me to my core. What an incredible page-turner! What a rare talent Wendy Chen is! Inspired by the author’s family experiences, this debut novel is a testament to the power of fiction in reconciling with the secrets of our past. The lyricism of Wendy’s prose and the emotional depth of her storytelling will stay with me for years to come.”

"Wendy Chen has crated a peerless first novel that I expect to be the sleeper hit of the season. Read it!"

“Their Divine Fires is a fascinating and powerful debut. In gorgeous, elegant prose, Chen follows multiple generations of one family, intimately tracing how living through the Chinese Revolution and its aftermath shapes them in ways they don’t always fully understand.  As the years go by, we see the consequences play out in their lives, and ultimately how their deep connections to one another prevail.”

“This powerful yet tender epic is perfect for readers of intergenerational fiction driven by strong female leads.”

“A fascinating read”

“Chen’s writing is so quick-paced and emotive, it was much like a movie I need to keep watching.”

“In an epic that stretches across generations, Chen reckons with historical trauma in a deeply moving way … poignant."

“A heartfelt family saga. My one complaint is that I wish I could have spent longer with each narrator, but this is a credit to the author for rendering such engaging protagonists."

“Spanning four generations and two continents, Chen’s novel draws extensively on folklore, incorporating dragons, tigers, and ‘hungry ghosts’ … .”