I loved being in the lives of these characters in the days laying up to the San Francisco  earthquake and subsequent fires that destroyed the city in 1906. 
Gemma-a newly arrived opera singer who is meant to meet her friend Nellie (who ends up not meeting her), Alice- a botanist trying to make it in the male dominated field, and Suling- a Chinese American raised by her Uncle after her parents'deaths and trying to escape an arranged marriage.

I really liked the time stamps leading up to the big day. I felt like I was there while everything was happening, the authors paint a very vivid picture with this big event and with our characters individual struggles. I liked watching them build their lives after leaving San Fran and trying to find the man who made their lives miserable and bring him to justice for his many crimes.