Reviews

The Goddess Chronicle by Natsuo Kirino

theladygrey's review against another edition

dark sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

moth_dance's review against another edition

3.0

Beautiful, but not spectacular. Remarkable, but not memorable.

Some noticeable translation errors towards the end.

wildcard_vi's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

aberdeenwaters's review against another edition

5.0

I love most things Japanese and all things mythology, so this hit a personal sweet spot. I like Kirino's writing, and she added some nice dimensions to this age-old myth. The final line was fantastic. I continue to really enjoy all the Canongate Myth books. Great series.

poppyamber's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

drsldn's review against another edition

2.0

I so wanted to enjoy this book, but it was, for my taste, not nearly entrancing enough. The writing felt flat (although i can understand that some readers may prefer that to overwrought emotion). I am glad to have now tasted of some Japaense mythology, though.

sandra94's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

bree_of_the_woods's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

newamsterdame's review against another edition

3.0

Kirino's spin on Japan's creation myth is a long, deep look at the cyclical nature of women's suffering. The female characters of this story-- from the goddess Izanami to the central narrator Namima-- are all assigned roles which they cannot escape. The male characters, on the other hand, are able to push and pull at their destinies and change outcomes. Mahito is able to lift his family's curse through deceit, Izanaki can take different forms and eventually escape his destiny as a life-bringer. But the women, no matter what their hopes or desires, no matter how drastic their actions, don't seem to have the same power.

This translation of Kirino's prose is crisp and efficient. There are places in which it feels like the chanting of the priestess guiding a funeral process, and places where it is clinical and brutal when describing sudden death or murder. Although many of the interior thoughts and motivations of characters remain shrouded, the book portrays Namima, Izanaki and especially Izanami very deeply.

Ultimately, this is a story that uses the lives of mortals to try and capture the suffering of gods-- the cumulative and continuous suffering of a female god presiding over death. In that mission, we're ultimately left a little unsatisfied. But that may be because such suffering really is beyond comprehension.

jessicaemily's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5