The Light Between Us

Elaine Chiew

The Light Between Us is a Southeast Asian historical romance that defies time and space as an archivist explores her city's tumultuous past through a supernatural connection. Inspired by her research into cultural archives, Elaine Chiew weaves Chinese mythology and early 20th century colonial Singapore into this speculative epic.

The Light Between Us is a Southeast Asian historical romance that defies time and space as an archivist explores her city's tumultuous past through a supernatural connection. At work one night, photography archivist Charlie Sze-Toh receives a misdirected letter from Wang Tian Wei, a 1920s colonial era Chinese photographer. Through a mysterious digital folder and photographic plates, a conversation is sparked, leading to a romance that spans lifetimes. In his time, Tian Wei scours a turbulent Singapore for his missing friend, Aiko, leading him to the perfumed chambers of a Japanese brothel. Meanwhile, in the modern day, Charlie struggles against a family dynamic dominated by her stepmother, a manipulative matriarch who uses family secrets as bargaining chips. Communication starts to become difficult and Tian Wei's letters are tinged by the increasing threat of Japanese Occupation. Will one last fate-defying letter from Charlie allow Tian Wei to keep their love alive? Inspired by her research into Singaporean historical archives, Elaine Chiew weaves Chinese mythology and early 20th century colonial Singapore into this speculative epic.