The Strange Tales of Huai'an Inn Review
The Strange Tales of Huai'an Inn by Lianxi Lianxi
The Story
Guan Zhongliu works as a waiter at the Huai’an Inn. It’s a great job with live-in accommodations, good pay, and a nice boss. However, there are some strange things about the Inn hence the title. All of the workers are weird. There’s one guy that talks to someone that no one else can see. Another who sips continuously from a teapot that never needs to be refilled and his roommate talks in his sleep. What’s so weird about that last one? Well, it's because he calls out names and numbers in his sleep. Being a curious person Guan Zhongliu notices that the names belong to people who are about to die and the number records how far away their death is in days.
Guan Zhongliu tries to avoid hearing these names, but one day he encounters a guest whose name he’s heard. He interferes because he knows that the person will die soon if he doesn’t prevent it. Unfortunately, no good deed goes unpunished and his dealings with the guests leads to him coming into contact with hui. Anyone who’s ever read or watched any cultivation Chinese novels or dramas will be familiar with the concept. Here hui refers to dirty or unclean energy. Sometimes known as evil qi, malicious energy or resentful energy. Regardless of which term you use I believe that they’re all basically the same thing. A powerful but destructive type of energy that negatively affects those who come into contact with it.
This is when he truly starts to become involved in the other side of the Huai’an Inn. The real way that the Innkeeper, Zhu Helan makes the majority of his money is through being a broker. He acts as a liaison between people with difficult problems and craftsmen who can make hui infused items to solve these problems. Delving into these mysteries is both terrifying and fascinating to Guan Zhongliu.
Who’s it for?
This is for horror and mystery fans. The descriptions are detailed and graphic. If you’re someone who can't handle body horror then this story is not for you.
It’s a Lovecraftian tale in a historical Chinese setting. It feels like an odd mix of genres to me but it works. I found all of the character’s backstories interesting. A bit tragic most of the time but a good read overall.
In terms of the romance. Their relationship starts off as a boss and employee relationship but turns into more of a partnership as Guan Zhongliu gets more involved in the brokerage business before finally turning romantic. You can tell from the start that the waiter's crushing on his boss a little. While the Innkeeper, who’s been alone for a long time, is also feeling that attraction. However, there’s a lot about him that’s unusual and needs explaining before they can have any type of serious relationship. As the story unfolds it becomes clear that this couple is even better suited for each other than I initially thought.
The author also managed to create an antagonist that I absolutely hate. I’ve come across plenty of cookie-cutter villains who are annoying but forgettable. This time I was given a character who got under my skin. This isn’t a criticism of the authors writing. It’s just me despising the arrogant self-righteous nature of the character. Things like a villain that you really hate can drive you forward to finish a story because you want to know what will happen in the end.
The Downsides
Anyone with entomophobia (fear of insects) or chapodiphobia (fear of octopuses) especially tentacles, should avoid this novel. Unless of course they’re trying some exposure therapy then go for it. This isn’t a flaw in the writing. “It’s a feature, not a bug”, but it may be difficult for some people to handle.
Recommended reading for fans of cosmic horror.