The Fourth Princess
A Gothic novel of Old Shanghai
From the bestselling author of The Porcelain Moon comes a haunting Gothic novel set in 1911 China.
Available Feb. 17, 2026
T wo young women living in a crumbling, once-grand Shanghai mansion face danger as secrets of their pasts come to light, even as the mansion’s own secret threatens the present.
Shanghai, 1911. Lisan Liu is elated when she is hired as secretary to wealthy American Caroline Stanton, the new mistress of Lennox Manor on the outskirts of Shanghai’s International Settlement. However, the Manor has a dark history of bankruptcy and suicide, and soon Lisan’s childhood nightmares resurface with more intensity, melding with haunted visions of a woman in red. Adding to her unease is the young gardener, Yao, who both entices and disturbs her.
Newly-married Caroline looks forward to life in China with her husband, Thomas, away from the shadows of another earlier tragedy. But then an unwelcome guest, Andrew Grey, attends her party and claims to know secrets she can’t afford to have exposed. At the same party, the notorious princess Masako Kyo approaches Lisan with questions about the young woman’s family that the orphaned Lisan can’t answer.
As Caroline struggles to deal with Grey’s extortion, her husband Thomas falls deathly ill, and Lisan’s future is upended when she learns the truth about her past, and why her identity has been hidden all these years. All the while, strange incidents accelerate, driving Lisan to doubt her sanity as Lennox Manor seems unwilling to release her until she fulfills demands from beyond the grave.
Early Praise for The Fourth Princess:
“Masterful plotting and mesmerizing characters will draw readers into this deliciously atmospheric tale set in 1911 Shanghai. This is Chang at her best: the elegant prose and polite restraint are perfectly juxtaposed with secrets and intrigue, with an ending so unexpected it took my breath away.” —DONNA JONES ALWARD, New York Times bestselling author of When the World Fell Silent
“Janie Chang is beloved for her masterfully researched stories about the secrets we keep in order to contain the past. Now, in The Fourth Princess, Chang issues an irresistible dare to her readers to take up their lanterns and follow her into the dark mysteries of Lennox Manor. In 1911, when the lives of two women converge in a crumbling Shanghai mansion, they must grapple with a possible haunting and a dark history that won’t stay buried. Rich in historical detail and a palpable sense of unease that will deliver all the shivers, this luminous, Gothic tale will haunt readers long after they turn the last page.” —KIMBERLY BROCK, award-winning author of The Fabled Earth
"Janie Chang brings early-twentieth-century Shanghai to life in this beautifully layered tale of secrets, superstition, and resilience. A lush and atmospheric novel that lingers long after the final page.” —GENEVIEVE GRAHAM, USA Today bestselling author of The Secret Keeper
“The Fourth Princess is a deliciously gothic tale—evocative, propulsive, and impossible to put down. Set against the backdrop of a mysterious old Shanghai mansion that is as fascinating as it is haunting, two women fight to make their way in a world weighted by secrets. Chang delivers a beautifully written story, rich with flawless historical detail and lingering atmosphere.” —MADELINE MARTIN, New York Times bestselling author of The Secret Book Society
“In The Fourth Princess, Chang spins a Gothic tale with all the intricacies, elegance, and allure of a fine silk web. Amid a Shanghai mansion, on the cusp of the Great War, the entangled lives of two women lure the reader down a path of tragedy and deception, culminating in an ending with unforgettable twists. A story of intrigue not to be missed.” —KRISTINA McMORRIS, New York Times bestselling author of The Girls of Good Fortune
“Janie Chang turns her hand to the gothic, with splendid results! Orphaned Lisan is thrilled to land a job as secretary to glamourous, laughing Caroline Stanton, a wealthy American newly arrived at Lennox Manor in pre-WWI Shanghai's International Settlement. Coming to Lennox Manor means independence for Lisan and escape for Caroline who has secrets she needs to stay buried...but the manor has a dark past that comes to embroil both women. Elegant prose, lush atmospheric settings, and two surprising and resourceful heroines make THE FOURTH PRINCESS a dark gothic jewel to cherish.” —KATE QUINN, New York Times bestselling author of The Briar Club
“Janie Chang has crafted an astonishing, intelligent Gothic novel set in 1911 Shanghai, a gripping tale of two people, a young Chinese woman with no memory of her past and an American woman clinging to hopes of a better future, bound together in a mansion of ill repute. From the perpetually pewter sky to the midnight weepings and whispers within the walls, the novel is atmospheric, evocative, dripping with menace. The twist in the end asks: What is the greater evil, the ghost of a lost soul or the ghost of the past? The Fourth Princess is a tribute to the rich tapestry of Chinese history, a haunting love letter to old Shanghai, and a wistful homage to the timeless tradition of the ghost story.” —WEINA DAI RANDEL, Wall Street Journal bestselling author of The Master Jeweler
“Sweeping, evocative, and deeply atmospheric, The Fourth Princess is Janie Chang at her finest — a luminous blend of history, mystery, and emotional depth. Her prose as elegant as it is haunting, Chang immerses readers in a world of secrets and resilience, illuminating the inspiring strength of women navigating love and loss amid shifting empires.” —JENNIFER ROBSON, USA Today bestselling author of The Gown
“Filled with richly drawn characters and lush historical detail, The Fourth Princess immediately drew me into its twisty, atmospheric embrace and didn’t let go. This is a wonderful Gothic you won’t want to miss — I adored every page of it!” —KRIS WALDHERR, author of Unnatural Creatures
“An atmospheric and lush read set in 1911 Shanghai in a mysterious mansion, The Fourth Princess has all the elements that make Gothic fiction so compelling. With well-drawn characters I couldn’t help but root for and twists you don’t see coming, I could hardly put it down. Chang never disappoints!” —HEATHER WEBB, USA Today bestselling author of The Hope Keeper