praise for The Storm We Made

"One of the best espionage novels I’ve ever come across." —CrimeReads

“Readers are transported back to 1945 Malaya in this rich, spellbinding saga that follows Cecily Alcantara, a mother who was also an unlikely spy for Japanese forces during WWII. Ten years prior, a chance meeting with General Fuijwara lured her into a life of espionage. Now, she’ll do anything to save her family. This captivating story shines a light on the dangers of war and the lengths to which we’ll go to save the ones we cherish." —Women's World Magazine

"Vanessa Chan is the kind of author who can completely transport you to another time and place… it is a total page turner.” —Good Morning America, GMA Book Club Pick

“This ambitious and sweeping debut novel explores the fallout of a Malayan woman’s decision to become a spy for Japanese forces in World War II, unwittingly helping to usher in a brutal occupation with devastating costs for her family.” —New York Times Book Review, Editors' Choice

“’Ambitious’ would be a trite term for Vanessa Chan’s outstanding debut, a historical novel that thrums with the commingling tensions of its backdrop: the lead-up to the WWII Japanese invasion of what is now Malaysia. Chan writes her characters—particularly the conflicted protagonist, Cecily Alcantara, a former espionage asset to the Japanese Imperial Army—with a precision that neither flinches from the brutality of war nor ignores the humanity within. This is a book with real staying power.” —Elle Magazine

“[T]his debut novel grabs the reader by the throat and never lets go, following a single family through one of World War II’s most grisly—and often overlooked—chapters... Moving between perspectives and timelines—between actions and their disastrous, unforeseen consequences—Chan tests the bounds of familial bonds, political sacrifice, and human resilience.” —Oprah Daily

“A wartime story like you’ve never read before.” —PEOPLE Magazine

"[A] searing debut.... Conquest and colonization have long been fertile subjects in fiction, from Joseph Conrad to present-day writers such as Zadie Smith and Imbolo Mbue. Like them, Chan uses colonialism as a lens through which to examine such themes as racism, colorism, status, poverty and violence.... The author and her relatives carry 'the legacy of colonization' in their bodies, Chan writes, and it was this intergenerational trauma — and resilience — she wanted to evoke through [her novel]. With authenticity and passion, Chan succeeds in imparting their pain and will to survive, through singular characters whose flaws and contradictions are as fascinating as their strengths." —Washington Post

"This ambitious and sweeping debut novel explores the fallout of a Malayan woman’s decision to become a spy for Japanese forces during World War II. Seduced by promises of an “Asia for Asians,” she instead helps usher in a brutal occupation with devastating costs for her family.“ —The New York Times

“Vanessa Chan’s espionage-laden family epic, which takes place in Malaya under British and Japanese occupation, dissects the moral complexity of decisions made under duress.” —Vanity Fair

"The Storm We Made is a searing look at the impacts of colonialism, the horrors of war, and the power of a mother's love.” —Town & Country, "The 30 Must-Read Books of Winter 2024"

"The Storm We Made kicks up a weather system of epic proportions, ranging from military terror during World War II to domestic warmth…. The book’s greatest power: It makes space for complexity without relinquishing the grip of a good story…. Chan reveals how war is experienced in bodies and hearts, breaking down the morale of those who remain.… This is a novel concerned with power — how it’s given and taken, whom we must align with to get close to it — and the consuming desire for more…. But simmering beneath all of this is the will to dream — for the self, the family and the nation.… What makes the book pulse with life is … the tenderness in its details, the ordinary ways that these characters love and laugh in the face of the extraordinary…. Chan shows us, with clarity and care, how the truest mirror comes from the intimacy of human connection.” —The New York Times Book Review

"January may find you dry, blue and still vacuuming pine needles from the carpet. A favorite way to inject excitement into that postholiday apathy? Espionage. Vanessa Chan’s historical fiction debut, set in the 1930s and ’40s, centers on a Malayan mother of three. Seduced by the promise of an Asia for Asians, she sees that promise break during the Japanese occupation.” —The Morning newsletter, The New York Times

“World War II might be the most popular subject for historical fiction, but Vanessa Chan's debut, The Storm We Made, defies the typical focus on the Western front and a clear-cut distinction between good and evil that characterizes many books… [a] heartbreaking story of a family riven by war.” —Jenny Shank, Minneapolis Star Tribune

“The intrigue begins from page one of Malaysian author Vanessa Chan’s much-heralded debut novel. This historical family saga tells the story of a Malayan mother caught up in espionage during World War II through varying points of view, handled expertly by Chan.” —Hannah Bae, San Francisco Chronicle, Datebook "19 New Books to Cozy Up With This Winter"

“In Vanessa Chan’s spellbinding debut, one woman’s desire to change her destiny shapes the future of a colonized nation. Combining cinematic grandeur with nuanced storytelling, The Storm We Made offers the hidden history that only fiction can reveal: the everyday yearnings of people surviving a brutal occupation, children trying to make sense of the unspeakable, and the search for love. I’ll never forget this book."
—Jessamine Chan, New York Times best-selling author of The School for Good Mothers

“The Storm We Made is about an extensively studied war, but from a front that is rarely considered. There are so many rich layers to this book—my breath caught at the beauty of the words and the kaleidoscope of images they painted. Vanessa Chan has written a masterpiece, and The Storm We Made has not only changed my perspective on war and humanity; it has also transformed my sense of what truly great novels can do."
—Qian Julie Wang, author of New York Times bestseller, Beautiful Country

“The Storm We Made is brave, funny, and immensely moving. One of the most powerful and confident debuts I’ve ever read. A storytelling star is born.”
—Tracy Chevalier, author of New York Times bestseller, and global sensation, Girl with a Pearl Earring and ten other books

“Exceptionally brave. Heart-breaking, beautiful, and moving. Destined to be a classic. The Storm We Made is a celebration of stories that have been silenced or erased. Vanessa Chan writes with admirable power, confidence and grace. By confronting the horror of colonization and war, this book opens the pathway to peace and healing. A significant contribution to the world's literature.”
—Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai, author of international bestseller, The Mountains Sing and Dust Child

“Vanessa Chan's The Storm We Made is a phenomenon unto itself. This is no mere debut, but rather the summoning of a story buried so deeply in a nation that it could only surface with a talent great enough to do it justice.”
—Mira Jacob, author of national bestsellers, The Sleepwalker’s Guide to Dancing and Good Talk

“Devastatingly beautiful and extraordinary . . . Vanessa shines an evocative light on this piece of history. I'm going to be thinking about this one for a very long time.”
—Jessica George, author of New York Times bestseller Maame

“Like the most dazzling historical fiction, The Storm We Made etches intimate details on an epic canvas. Vanessa Chan’s characters face agonizing choices under the darkness of colonization and war, and yet she imbues them with an indelible spirit of resistance that never lets you forget the light. A fearless, gripping, morally complex story by a writer to watch.”
—Dawnie Walton, author of national bestseller, The Final Revival of Opal and Nev

“Chan has written a horrific, gripping, exquisitely plotted novel. I could not put it down!”
—Alice Winn, author of international bestseller and Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize winner, In Memoriam

“Nuanced and meticulously researched, The Storm We Made shines a vivid light on a little-known part of history. A striking, moving exploration of good and evil and the devastating repercussions one's actions can have, it is a novel that will stay with you.”
—Cecile Pin, author of Women’s Prize longlisted Wandering Souls

“Magnificent. A beautiful, scintillating, devastating and deeply moving marvel of storytelling. I implore you to read it.”
—Chris Whitaker, author of New York Times bestseller, We Begin at the End

'With assured prose, impeccable story-telling, and vibrant characters, The Storm We Made heralds an exceptional, exciting new voice. Vanessa Chan’s textured, visceral writing brings 1930s-1940s Malaya to life during the British and Japanese occupations, as the waves of small actions ripple out with unexpected and often tragic consequences. Bravo to this immense talent!'
—Melissa Fu, author of Radio 2 book club pick, Peach Blossom Spring

“The Storm We Made is an excellent examination of the way individuals get caught in the violence of history. Lovers of Eileen Chang will especially appreciate Vanessa Chan.”
—Rowan Hisayo Buchanan, author of Harmless Like You, Starling Days, and The Sleep Watcher