The Ninja Betrayed

October 1, 2021
Lily Wong is a 25-year-old Chinese Norwegian woman who embraced Ninja training after the rape and murder of her sister. Revenge was the motive in the first two, action-filled installments of the series (The Ninja Daughter, 2019, and The Ninja Blade, 2020), but here the focus is more on relationships, with only the occasional action flare-ups. Lily is called to Hong Kong to help untangle the family's global real estate and brokerage business. The company was founded by her grandfather and managed by her father and mother and a variety of shirt-tail relatives, and there are lengthy scenes with all of them at dinner, plus dreamy interludes with Lily's lover. The suspense comes when someone attempts to use the company to launder money for a crime syndicate and is willing to disappear anyone in the way. This leads to exciting rumbles as a climax approaches. Lily is a compelling, Bond-like protagonist, but, interestingly, she shares 007's fondness for food, and the novel provides some luscious menus. How about ""Gruyere potato beignets and fried chocolate croissants""?

COPYRIGHT(2021) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Starred review from September 1, 2021

The third "Lily Wong" title (after The Ninja's Blade) has the Chinese Norwegian ninja traveling to Hong Kong with her mother Violet. Long-brewing tensions between her mother and grandfather are Lily's first clue that this isn't going to be a relaxing vacation. As Lily watches Violet's anxiety grow about her position in the family business, her own unease increases when she must fend off attacks on other people in the company. Lily tries not to let these problems interfere with her blossoming relationship with Daniel Kwok, who has arrived in Hong Kong on business. She can't escape her destiny, however. Between squeezing in dates with Daniel and rescuing a teenage girl caught up in explosive protests that have disrupted Hong Kong, Lily discovers that she's dealing with dangerous members of a local triad. She will have to figure out whom she can trust before someone dear to her pays the price. VERDICT Eldridge's series just keeps getting better. While readers can enjoy this book without having read the first two, a series highlight is Lily's evolution and the complexity and growth of her relationships. Highly recommended for readers who enjoy strong heroines forging their own paths, like Deanna Raybourn's Victoria Speedwell, S.J. Rozan's Lydia Chin, and Gigi Pandian's Jaya Jones.--Julie Ciccarelli, Tacoma P.L., WA

Copyright 2021 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.