The Library of Flowers

Luling “Lucy” Hua is a Canadian perfumer from a matriarchal line of Chinese perfumers. They are not quite witches, but alchemists who can infuse emotional magic moli into their fragrances. Lucy is the fifth-generation daughter and was supposed to receive her moli to create perfumes that call true love; however, that power has not manifested within her. She spent years avoiding her destiny and moving across Canada. A death in the family changes everything, starting with the arrival of a box containing her family register: a list of fragrance formulas, notes, and personal histories from generations of Hua women. Readers primarily see Lucy’s perspective, with short chapters that present the perspectives of earlier fifth daughters: Aiai in the year 650 CE, Xiaoting in 1407, Zhengyi in 1899, and Zhengyi in 1967; one chapter focuses on Lucy’s mother, Mejlin, in 1990. Chu grounds the novel with relatable themes centered on immigration, family legacies, rekindled friendship, and familial pressure and expectations.