Heirs of Infamy, Kyla Zhao
Heirs of Infamy, Kyla Zhao
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Heirs of Infamy

Author: Kyla Zhao

Narrator: Kyla Zhao

Unabridged: TBD

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 10/13/2026


Synopsis

Two rivals from opposing gangs grow dangerously close in this dazzling YA debut set in 1940s San Francisco Chinatown.

Beneath the neon glare of postwar San Francisco, Chinatown is ruled by two rival crime families. East Phoenix deals in secrets and stealth, West Dragon in fists and fear. But both empires are bleeding money, and the fragile truce between them frays by the day.

As the daughter of Chinatown’s most powerful crime boss, Alexis Sung can do almost anything, except join the family business. When her first job for East Phoenix goes wrong, her father shuts her out for good. Across town, Zachary Ren—a brilliant orphan raised by West Dragon—is desperate to escape a life he never chose. Their paths were never meant to cross again, not after he destroyed Alexis’s one shot to prove herself.

That changes when a daring heist surfaces—one with a bounty big enough to save both families from ruin. Defying her father’s orders, Alexis seizes the chance to redeem herself by striking an uneasy alliance with Zachary. As old wounds reopen and new sparks catch, survival means trusting the last person she thought she would.

About The Author

Kyla Zhao is the author of the middle grade novel May the Best Player Win, as well as the adult novels The Fraud Squad and Valley Verified. She had her first women's magazine byline at the age of sixteen. Since then, she has also written for the Singapore editions of Harper's Bazaar, Vogue, and Tatler. A native Singaporean, Kyla now works in Silicon Valley after graduating from Stanford University in 2021. In 2023, Kyla made Forbes Asia's 30 under 30 list. She’s still trying to understand why Californians adore hiking and Patagonia fleeces so much.


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Quotes

“In her YA debut, Zhao delivers a cinematic portrait of postwar San Francisco . . . The simmering romance builds up to a sizzle, and the story skillfully weaves in themes of cultural identity, family expectations, and parental loss. An atmospheric heist thriller wrapped up in a captivating enemies-to-lovers romance.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Love between Chinese American teens from rival crime families proves dangerous in this taut blend of historical fiction and high-stakes heist novel . . . a briskly entertaining and noir-like adventure.” —Publishers Weekly

Transportive, atmospheric, and simmering with tension, Heirs of Infamy demands to be read in one sitting. I fell in love with Alexis and Zachary: our scheming star-crossed lovers, who dream of a better future for one another.” —Allison Saft, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Wings of Starlight

Atmospheric and utterly addictive, Heirs of Infamy has everything I could want in a novel: the neon-lit underworld of San Francisco Chinatown and its rival crime families, a twisty, high-stakes heist that will keep you guessing, and a romance at once tender and full of suspense.”
—K. X. Song, New York Times bestselling author of The Night Ends with Fire

“Heirs of Infamy
brings its unique setting of 1940s San Francisco to life with atmospheric historical details, a compelling cast where even minor characters dazzle in their scenes, and a sizzling forbidden romance . . . A lush, gripping story of navigating a violent heritage borne by life on the margins and making one's own destiny.” —Xiran Jay Zhao, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Iron Widow

“[A] glittering historical romance. Fast-paced and bleeding romantic chemistry, I was transported right into Zhao's vivid world of San Francisco and never wanted to leave!” —Kaylie Smith, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Phantasma

“An absolute must-read . . . With twists as sharp and clever as the characters themselves, Kyla Zhao has crafted a breathtaking, heart-pounding tale of ambition, belonging, and identity—proving once again that she is an author to watch.” —Ann Liang, New York Times bestselling author of I Hope This Doesn’t Find You

Heirs of Infamy had me holding my breath and stressing out like my life depended on this heist! With heart-pounding stakes and characters so intriguing I couldn't help but turn the page, Kyla Zhao has done it again.” —Sonido Reyes, National Book Award finalist for The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School

Heirs of Infamy instantly draws readers into a glittering world of rival empires, hidden alliances, and high-stakes betrayals—where loyalties shift and nothing is ever quite as it seems. A dazzling blend of romance and intrigue, it effortlessly captures the thrill of the perfect heist and the pull of forbidden love.” —Alexandra Brown Chang, New York Times bestselling author of By Invitation Only