The Girl with a Thousand Faces by Sunyi Dean review: A haunting gothic tale that asks who deserves forgiveness

The past doesn’t stay buried in The Girl with a Thousand Faces by Sunyi Dean—it claws its way back, dripping with grief and unfinished business. Set against the shadowy sprawl of Hong Kong’s infamous Kowloon Walled City, this Gothic-tinged novel blends folklore, memory, and vengeance into a story that lingers long after the final page. With its May 5, 2026 release, Dean once again proves she’s operating in a space all her own.

At the center of the novel is Mercy Chan, a woman with no past—or at least none she can remember. Washed ashore with nothing, she builds a life for herself in Kowloon as a ghost talker, mediating between the living and the dead. It’s a fascinating premise, but what makes it work is the texture of Mercy’s world. Despite the grime, the danger, and the ever-present spirits, there’s an unexpected sense of familiarity here—a kind of eerie coziness that settles in as Mercy navigates her routines among the haunted alleyways.

About a third of the way through, the novel takes a sharp, deliberate turn. The narrative loops back on itself, forcing you to reevaluate everything you thought you understood about Mercy, her past, and the forces at work in Kowloon. It’s a structural choice that won’t work for everyone, but it’s undeniably effective at destabilizing the reader in the same way Mercy’s reality begins to fracture.

The central conflict—between Mercy and a powerful, malevolent spirit haunting the waterways—quickly evolves into something far more morally complex. As the story unfolds, it becomes increasingly difficult to label either side as purely villainous. Both Mercy and the spirit are products of trauma, shaped by a world that has failed them. Dean leans into this ambiguity, asking uncomfortable but necessary questions: Who gets to claim justice? And when does the pursuit of it become something monstrous?

This moral grayness ties directly into one of the novel’s strongest themes: forgiveness. Or more accurately, the absence of it. Characters in this story cling tightly to their anger, and the consequences ripple outward, harming not just those who caused the initial pain but anyone caught in the crossfire. It’s a bleak but compelling exploration of what happens when vengeance becomes an identity rather than a response.

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Dean also weaves Chinese mythology seamlessly into the narrative, grounding the supernatural elements in cultural tradition while still making them feel immediate and unsettling. The idea that ghosts exist alongside the living—not as distant legends but as everyday presences—creates a quiet unease that runs throughout the novel. It makes you wonder whether belief is the only thing separating the seen from the unseen. Particularly striking is the presence of a mermaid-like spirit, a reminder of how certain mythological archetypes echo across cultures in different forms.

Stylistically, the novel takes risks. Much of the story is told in second person, which can be immersive in the right hands—but here, it occasionally disrupts the flow. Instead of pulling you deeper into Mercy’s experience, it can create distance, making it harder to fully settle into the narrative. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it is noticeable, especially in a story that relies so heavily on atmosphere.

Even so, The Girl with a Thousand Faces is an ambitious and thought-provoking novel that lingers in its questions more than its answers. It’s a story about ghosts, yes—but more than that, it’s about the ways people haunt themselves, and each other, when they refuse to let go. If you’ve read it—or plan to—what did you make of Mercy and the choices she faces? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

An advance reader copy of this book (ARC) was provided to me by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Related Content

• Interview with an author: Sunyi Dean (Los Angeles Public Library)
• Nuts & Bolts: Sunyi Dean, author and co-creator of Publishing Rodeo Podcast (Horror Writers Association)
• Chat Over Chai: Interview with Sunyi Dean, author of The Book Eaters! (A Book & Chai)
• An interview with Sunyi Dean (Grimdark Magazine)

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