The Captivating Character of the Month is a weekly meme hosted by the Reading Ladies blog. The meme runs on the fourth Friday of every month where participants can link their posts. Lisan Liu from Janie Chang's historical fiction novel The Fourth Princess is my captivating character of the month for March. The novel was recently published on February 10, 2026. Lisan is a Shanghai orphan who was raised by a wealthy benefactor. Master Liu made sure that Lisan was educated. He wanted Lisan to serve in his household after her graduation. Lisan had other plans. She wanted to get a job and use her management and English skills. Lisan was a plucky girl who obtained an interview with Caroline Stanton to be her secretary. She desperately wanted this job and was lucky enough to get it. Without any fear, Lisan left the Liu home and moved into the Stanton estate. It was unusual for a girl to be that independent but Lisan definitely had this trait.
Lisan proved to be indispensable. She understood the Chinese staff and all of their superstitions. She was able to explain to the Stantons why they acted as they did. Lisan was bold in her approach to the job and sometimes I felt that she knew that she was stronger than Caroline Stanton and that she knew better than her employer. Frankly, she did.
I am much older than Lisan Liu was in the story. However, I am still not as bold as Lisan. I wish that I was. She was a go-getter and always successful in her endeavors. Lisan deserves to be my captivating character of the month.
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