Had I not already read The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo, Lisa See's Peony in Love would have had a much bigger impact. While See's story of life in the afterlife of a Chinese virgin poet separated from the love of her life (and death) is a thorough exploration of the history of the poetry of Chinese women poets as well as the ritual religious beliefs of 17th century China, the actual story of Peony's plight as a ghost unable to reconcile her love for Ren in the afterlife is interesting, but it doesn't sparkle quite like Choo's telling did. 
 The story is based on real people and some real events, as well as the actual play The Peony Pavilion. See's retelling is one of the best accounts of life for women in ancient China that I've ever read. For one thing, she handled the subject of foot-binding in a unique and disturbing way, revealing the desires of both men and women for the achievment of "perfect lilies" (the euphimism for bound and broken feet). 
 My edition had a valuable Author's Note and interview with Lisa See at the end, which discussed and explained much of the actual history of the play, of the Chinese girls who died for love, and of the women poets who wrote about them, and about a woman's life in China.