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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
This feels like a trilogy packed into a single book. So much happens that it will make your head spin and keep you completely engrossed.
A complex, deep and lush world, delightful (and some grumpy) characters and a plot that will keep you sucked in from the very start- this is a brilliant read.
A complex, deep and lush world, delightful (and some grumpy) characters and a plot that will keep you sucked in from the very start- this is a brilliant read.
When cursed by a malevolence demon to become a demon herself, Miuko is cast out by her family, her community, and society. Freed from those constraints, she begins to see all the things that have been denied to her as a girl and woman. Soon, in the midst of uninvited adventure related to stopping a more powerful demon from wreaking destruction across the land, she begins to wonder how she might be able to preserve both her humanity and the freedoms and power she is experiencing during her adventure. It makes for an exciting and powerful story based on Japanese mythology.
Part physical book/part audio- I did not like either.
It took a little time for me to warm up to Miuko and her plight/adventure but I eventually came to care about her troubles, becoming invested in both the friendships she gains *and* the lessons she learns along the way. However, I think the execution of the story was wobbly at times. The middle was muddled, some of the side characters felt unnecessary, and the ending wrapped up far too neatly.
I’ve enjoyed Chee’s work in the past so I was excited to delve into A Thousand Steps Into Night. Following our main character Miuko, her life is suddenly changed when she encounters a terrifying demon. Miuko starts to notice how she slowly lingers between the world of the living and the dead and must try to find a way to break a course before it’s too late. Filled with the lush landscapes and scenery of ancient Japan the novel takes readers on a journey through Miuko’s world in great detail. We traverse through the land of the living and sports, encounter trickster goblins, revered demons, and unsightly ghosts. It’s exciting and dangerous as Miuko has to make the choice if the people she meets will be a friend or foe.
Read the full book review on the blog at: https://www.lifeofafemalebibliophile.com/book-review-a-thousand-steps-into-night-by-traci-chee/
Read the full book review on the blog at: https://www.lifeofafemalebibliophile.com/book-review-a-thousand-steps-into-night-by-traci-chee/
I am a huge fan of mythology, but especially mythology from countries other than the most common Greek/Rome/Norse. Traci Chee is completely unknown to me, so I wasn't sure what to expect. The cover is okay, but it didn't really grab me and when the mythology is unfamiliar to me, I sometimes have trouble getting into a story. When I first started (with the audiobook), it took several chapters for me to adjust to the new world and setting and I had to rewind a few times to remember who was talking and what was going on. But after about 30 pages, I got completely sucked in. I did eventually grab the kindle copy to read along at the 50% mark, mostly so I could see the names of places, characters, and things, as well as read the footnotes about the Japanese words, and that just enhanced my experience even more. Still, the narrator, Grace Rolek, does a great job with the narration, and if I were to reread this book, I would probably read along with her narration throughout.
What I loved about this book was the world-building and the many characters that show up in this book. The Trickster Magpie spirit, Geiki, was one of my favorite characters and was very entertaining throughout the book. I also loved Roroisho, the mare, and the little spirit cat, even though both were only a small part of the book. I also really liked Miuko's character. She was someone who never fit into her village because she was "too adventurous for the girls, too opinionated for the boys, always ill-fitting and out of place." Ultimately, she is a girl who wants a say in her own destiny in a very patriarchal society where girls are expected to keep themselves pure until a man deigns to marry them, and then they are in charge of having and raising babies and taking care of the home and their man. This was both a strength and a weakness of the book as it sometimes became heavy-handed with the moral of the story. Still, I found myself cheering for her throughout the book, so it was definitely more a strength (IMO) than a weakness. Where you fall on the spectrum will probably depend on your own opinions.
There was a point in the middle of the book that was a major twist that gave you a completely different perspective on the first half of the book. Those of you who are sci-fi purists might feel a bit uncomfortable about it, but for some reason, because the Spirit world is so present in this world, I just didn't have an issue with it. Instead, I kept thinking to myself, "Oh, I wonder how that is going to play into this or that?" So personally, I really loved the twist and just didn't worry about the science.
One thing that did start to become repetitive for me was the author's love of the word "lugubrious" as in the "lugubrious priests". The first couple of times I thought, okay, that fits. But after a while, it felt like the author was using it just for the sake of using it.
The ending, while someone open-ended, did a great job of addressing many of the plotlines. And what I particularly loved is that the author ended it for Miuko in such a way to be really true to who she was.
Ultimately, I loved that this was a story about a humble servant girl who ended up going after the life she wanted while impacting her village in a very positive way.
I will definitely be looking for more books by this author.
What I loved about this book was the world-building and the many characters that show up in this book. The Trickster Magpie spirit, Geiki, was one of my favorite characters and was very entertaining throughout the book. I also loved Roroisho, the mare, and the little spirit cat, even though both were only a small part of the book. I also really liked Miuko's character. She was someone who never fit into her village because she was "too adventurous for the girls, too opinionated for the boys, always ill-fitting and out of place." Ultimately, she is a girl who wants a say in her own destiny in a very patriarchal society where girls are expected to keep themselves pure until a man deigns to marry them, and then they are in charge of having and raising babies and taking care of the home and their man. This was both a strength and a weakness of the book as it sometimes became heavy-handed with the moral of the story. Still, I found myself cheering for her throughout the book, so it was definitely more a strength (IMO) than a weakness. Where you fall on the spectrum will probably depend on your own opinions.
There was a point in the middle of the book that was a major twist that gave you a completely different perspective on the first half of the book. Those of you who are sci-fi purists might feel a bit uncomfortable about it, but for some reason, because the Spirit world is so present in this world, I just didn't have an issue with it. Instead, I kept thinking to myself, "Oh, I wonder how that is going to play into this or that?" So personally, I really loved the twist and just didn't worry about the science.
One thing that did start to become repetitive for me was the author's love of the word "lugubrious" as in the "lugubrious priests". The first couple of times I thought, okay, that fits. But after a while, it felt like the author was using it just for the sake of using it.
The ending, while someone open-ended, did a great job of addressing many of the plotlines. And what I particularly loved is that the author ended it for Miuko in such a way to be really true to who she was.
Ultimately, I loved that this was a story about a humble servant girl who ended up going after the life she wanted while impacting her village in a very positive way.
I will definitely be looking for more books by this author.
This was an exciting read! Miuko is a great main character, whose life very quickly goes from mundane to magical, all thanks to a demon. She meets some truly wonderful characters and there are some great friendships that develop throughout the story. Not only is the tale enjoyable for itself, but it also addresses more serious issues, like oppression and the patriarchy. It's a real balm to see how Miuko creates space for herself in her world. The touches of comic relief were so fun too!
this was such a surprise! i randomly went to read it and ended up having so much fun :')) i loved the story and the characters, and will miss them!!!