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Som Phin is a Cambodian-American author who writes emotionally rich fantasy, historical fiction, literary fiction, and romantasy centered on Khmer identity, history, mythology, memory, and love across time.
Her stories often explore Cambodian-American characters navigating the space between past and present, whether through time travel, reincarnation, ancestral memory, or the enduring influence of family history. Blending romance, history, spiritual traditions, and Cambodian folklore, her work explores themes of belonging, generational inheritance, healing, identity, and cultural connection.
Som is the author of more than 35 novels, including The Dancer’s Shadow, an isekai romantasy about a queer Cambodian-American transported to 1960s Cambodia. Kirkus Reviews called the novel “a beautiful and thought-provoking addition to the growing canon of diaspora literature.”
Her catalog also includes After Cambodia, There Was Us, a mother-daughter story spanning generations of survival and love, as well as multiple Cambodian-inspired fantasy and historical series, including The Naga Sisters Chronicles, The Lotus Between Worlds, and Threads of Jasmine.
Som was featured on Moments with Marianne on KMET 1490 AM & 98.1 FM, an ABC Talk News Radio affiliate, where she discussed The Dancer’s Shadow, Cambodian-American identity, and preserving Khmer history, folklore, and cultural heritage through fiction. Her writing and cultural storytelling have also been highlighted in national media, including a press release published on AP News.
Through her writing, Som seeks to honor Khmer voices—past and present—while creating compelling stories that introduce readers to the richness of Cambodian history, mythology, culture, and the diaspora experience.
Reviewed by Nino Lobiladze for Readers' Favorite
"Don't whistle at night. You'll call something." Leakhana Doung, a twenty-eight-year-old dental hygienist from Fresno, often hears warnings like that from her mother, who honors her Cambodian heritage. Leakhana doesn’t take them seriously. But then she finds herself in the middle of a medieval village attacked by jiangshi, or walking dead. The funny thing is that Leakhana knows how this story unfolds. It's an old TV show about Lin Zhiwei, a handsome Taoist priest who fights the jiangshi. Some unexplained force makes Leakhana switch places with Bai Lihua, a herbalist girl who dies in Episode 4. How can Leakhana survive in this hostile world and avoid falling in love with Zhiwei? Fans of fantasy, adventure, and romance will find Talisman & Trouble by Som Phin a delightful read.
Som Phin's Talisman & Trouble is a beautiful love story with a darker touch of horror. The author grabs our attention with a chilling twist at the very beginning of Leakhana's adventures. The fantasy elements complement the main love story perfectly. The book is narrated mainly from Leakhana's perspective. Sometimes, the well-balanced narration smoothly shifts between the main characters. Phin crafts the characters with precision. Leakhana's inner strength and big heart make her an exceptional female lead. Zhiwei is courageous and smart. He is an unorthodox Taoist priest perceiving everyday dangers with a pinch of dry humor. The depictions of the charming secondary characters, like the grumpy Master Qiu or the nosy Widow Wang, inspire us to be kinder to elders. Phin explores the meaningful themes of belonging and finding a true home. This novel is a rare gift for those willing to learn more about Cambodian culture and customs.
