Chasing Moonflowers

A Gothic Historical Fantasy

Publishing July 1, 2025

In 1925 colonial Hong Kong, young herbalist Ling Shaw witnesses a murder committed by a bloodthirsty creature. When her uncle is wrongfully arrested for the crime, Ling is the only one to clear her family’s name and find the real killer.

Teaming up with her private school best friend and a Red Society thug from the Kowloon Walled City, she uncovers dark family secrets, occult rituals, vampires, and a sinister plot tied to the Canton Labor Strikes. Ling must overcome ancient and eldritch forces to save her family — and all of Kowloon.


Praise for “Chasing Moonflowers”

A dazzling blend of fantasy intrigue and historical drama. Chow deftly moves from the intricacies of real events to graphic horror scenes that would feel at home in a Stephen King novel.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Chasing Moonflowers is an intriguing blend of mystery and horror, set against a backdrop of political tension and cultural transformation…If you’re into Alma Katsu’s work, this is definitely in your lane: steadily escalating dread, layered characters, and a setting that amplifies the horror in all the right ways. ~ Christopher O’Halloran, Author of Pushing Daisy

“Magic. Monsters. And eyes in jars. A creepy, haunting, and hopeful journey of a girl who wants to save her family.” —Kathleen Palm, author of Into the Gray

“This fresh take on vampirism offers profound reflections that linger beyond the last page. Ling is an unforgettable protagonist, courageous yet authentically vulnerable.” —Angela Yuriko Smith, two-time Bram Stoker Award-winning author and editor

“A mysterious, cosmic, folk horror with elements of the weird nestled in a web of politics and the occult, exploring power, choice, and the way both change our relationships to others.” —Ai Jiang, Ignyte, Nebula, Bram Stoker Award-winning author

“Fans of Sinners seeking more stories combining the supernatural with conscious-raising narratives will do well to add Chasing Moonflowers to their TBRs.” —Patrick Barb, author of Night of the Witch-Hunter


About the Author

Pauline Chow is a writer, coach, and ancestral magic practitioner, crafting alternative histories and optimistic futures. She is a Pushcart Prize nominated author with words in Cosmic Monthly Horror, Space and Time Magazine, Apocalypse Confidential, and more. Not your average data scientist, she once sued slumlords and advocated for affordable housing in Southern California. Now, she lives in the woods and is planning her next trip to a historical (hopefully haunted) hotel.


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