As always, this book is dedicated to those I travel beside. Especially Jon, Helen, James and Alex: through you I’m rediscovering the adventure of childhood.

I visited Hong Kong in 2017 and instantly wanted to set a book there. Hong Kong, for me on that trip, was a city of contrasts. On one hand there are the skyscrapers and luxury apartments, and on another there were the working people whom I stayed beside in my strange little hostel. That’s right, the place Leo and Allissa stay during this book, which I called Nathan Mansions, is a real place on Nathan Road in Kowloon. A few reviewers guessed the name of the real place too! As described in the book, it was a wonderful microcosm of life, hidden above a shopping mall between glittering sky scrapers. I enjoyed my few days there, communicating just in smiles with the residents. Fortunately, as far as I know, the evictions that took places during this book were a figment of my imagination. 

Following my writing of the book, Hong Kong was frequently in the news, with the struggle of the residents against the Chinese Government. In 2019, the city witnessed large-scale protests that began in opposition to a proposed extradition bill, which would have allowed the extradition of criminal suspects to mainland China. Many Hong Kongers feared that this bill would undermine the city’s autonomy and expose residents to unfair trials and violent treatment.

The protests, which started peacefully, soon escalated into violent clashes between protesters and police. The demonstrators’ demands expanded to include calls for democratic reforms, an investigation into alleged police brutality, and the resignation of Hong Kong’s leader, Carrie Lam.

The protests continued for months, with many young Hong Kongers at the forefront of the movement. The city’s economy was severely impacted, with businesses struggling and tourism numbers plummeting. The Chinese government responded with increasing assertiveness, imposing a controversial national security law in 2020 that critics say has been used to silence dissent and erode Hong Kong’s freedoms.

While the struggles and protests are not explicitly mentioned in this narrative—as it was set around my trip a year before—they serve as a backdrop to the complex and dynamic nature of Hong Kong. The city’s unique history, as a former British colony and now a special administrative region of China, has shaped its identity and the tensions that continue to define it. As a writer, I find these contrasts and conflicts a rich source of inspiration. They offer a glimpse into the human experience in a city that is constantly evolving.

I was also pleased for Leo to finally catch up with Mya. While writing this originally I wasn’t sure whether I should have wrapped up that story strand so soon, now I am glad that I did. Sure, I could have left that hanging over the entire series, and maybe it would have added some tension, but characters need closure too!

This book has been re-edited over the years to tighten up the story and make it something I am once again super proud of. You might have noticed that some of the earlier reviews referenced characters that are no longer there.

Once again, although the words here are my own, the characters, experiences and some of the events described are wholly inspired by the people I’ve traveled beside.

If we ever shared noodles from a street-food vendor, visited a temple together, played cards on a creaking overnight train, or had a beer in a back-street restaurant, you are forever in this book, and for that, I thank you too!

Again, thank you for coming on the adventure with me. I hope to see you again.

Luke