Of Wind and Dust

“Each of Shirin Yim Leos’s characters is so real, so persuasively embedded in time and place—and all are equally compelling. A wonderful piece of work . . . Brava!”—Karen Joy Fowler, New York Times bestselling author of Booth

“Deeply engrossing and gorgeously written, Of Wind and Dust examines the harsh realities of women who have to make peace with destinies not of their own making. I could not put this book down!”—Alka Joshi, New York Times bestselling author of The Henna Artist

“From China to Gold Mountain, Of Wind and Dust follows the destinies of three exceptional women, each of whom will steal your heart. With achingly beautiful prose, this remarkable meditation on family, ambition, and sacrifice is absolutely riveting!”—Janet Skeslien Charles, New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Library

“Of Wind and Dust is a glorious, compassionate epic set in two countries: one ancient, the other calling itself new. Encompassing almost seventy years and three striking women’s voices, it explores the power of culture, love, and duty, and the ways they can catalyze or entrap us. . . . A masterpiece.”—Erica Bauermeister, New York Times bestselling author of The Scent Keeper

“Leos unearths little-known history and introduces us to women who asserted the courage to love and to etch their own legacies. . . . A braided, singular, and sweeping epic readers won’t forget.”—Qian Julie Wang, New York Times bestselling author of Beautiful Country

“A triumphant debut . . . exquisitely written, deeply researched, and a page-turner I never wanted to end. Leos asks a timeless question: For women, is life ever really yours to choose? If you love stories inspired by untold true events spanning oceans and decades, this book will captivate your heart and not let you go.”—Rosa Kwon Easton, international bestselling author of White Mulberry and Red Seal

“I would call this novel a great love story—not between a man and three women, but between three women and the remarkable lives they built for themselves, in spite of every heart-wrenching and limiting circumstance they had to face. Of Wind and Dust is epic yet tender, and Shirin Yim Leos gives us not one but three forces of nature shaped by history.”—Vanessa Chan, international bestselling author of The Storm We Made

“History too often remembers the men who crossed oceans and forgets the women who paid for their journeys. In Of Wind and Dust, Shirin Yim Leos shines a lush historical spotlight on three brave women bound by marriage. It’s a gorgeous, heartfelt exploration of the distance between duty and desire, belonging and freedom. I so loved this book.”—Jamie Ford, New York Times bestselling author of Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

“Lush, knowing, and quietly devastating . . . Shirin Yim Leos has crafted an unforgettable portrait of a family shaped by ambition, war, and longing, illuminating a largely untold history.”—Michael David Lukas, author of The Invisible Line

“I was swept into this tale from the very first page. This story of three complicated women, all wives of the same man, and the rebuilding of a family after war and famine, is engrossing, heartbreaking, and hopeful. I will carry it with me for a long time.”—Martha Conway, author of We Meet Apart

“These days, what a respite to fall into the world of women doing what women do: showing courage, resilience, and the fierce will to push on.”—Stephanie Gangi, author of Carry the Dog