WHEN THEY BURNED THE BUTTERFLY The Butterfly Duet, Book 1

Su Ling Chan narrates a dark historical fantasy set in 1970s Singapore. It centers on a secret society capable of channeling ancestral gods and a schoolgirl swept up into it. After Adeline's mother dies in a mysterious fire, she tracks down a girl emblazoned with the same butterfly symbol that marked the fire. Chan maintains a fantastic narration that is bright, clear, and almost melodic as she sets the stage for this cinematic listen. She glides between subtle post-colonial accents, while her strong narration commands the ear. Chan's characterizations are consistent, and her characters sound nuanced with careful inflections. The narration and the prose weave together for an intense and emotional fusion of mythology and character drama. [Published: JANUARY 2026]