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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
Another wonderful fantasy on the books. This was a unique read that I loved dearly.
Traci Chee pulls on her heritage to create a wonderful world a mystery and intrigue and I absolutely loved Miuko. She is strong, even though she doesn't know it until the end of the story. The whole vibe was more of a fairytale, but a dark mysterious fairytale which really worked for the author who has an amazing writers voice.
This was a great introduction to Traci Chee's writing and I can't wait to read more.
Sara | Book Confessions of an ExBallerina
Traci Chee pulls on her heritage to create a wonderful world a mystery and intrigue and I absolutely loved Miuko. She is strong, even though she doesn't know it until the end of the story. The whole vibe was more of a fairytale, but a dark mysterious fairytale which really worked for the author who has an amazing writers voice.
This was a great introduction to Traci Chee's writing and I can't wait to read more.
Sara | Book Confessions of an ExBallerina
This was like reading a folktale! Loved all the Japanese mythology and setting, and it was a delightful read! Really really fun!
3.5 This was a cute tale. It did go on a little longer than I thought necessary for both the plot and the feminist/community theme it develops but it’s still a cute story of one teenager’s quest to find a different identity for herself.
adventurous
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I loved this! Fabulous YA fantasy set in a Japanese cultural context, with a healthy dose of feminism throughout. Miuko is one of my favoritest heroines ever. She makes mistakes, faces the consequences, builds community, and perseveres. I love the world-building, and I love the characters. I listened to the audiobook, which is stellar. I noticed at the beginning that it was introduced as “performed” by - rather than read by - Grace Rolek. So accurate. Her narration really is fantastic. I will likely be adding Tracy Chee to my list of must-read authors, as well.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book really took me on a roller coaster ride from struggling to get into it, cracking the writing style, bingeing 100 pages, then getting bored for the rest of the story.
Ultimately, this book is a bout a teenage village girl (Miuko) who is cursed with deadly power and goes on a quest to find a cure. Once I realised that I should try and read this novel as though it was a tale of Japanese folklore, my enjoyment increased. I felt like I was able to fall into the story more. Miuko, and her journey, were easier to follow once my brain clicked into this mode.
Unfortunately though, my interest waned once I reached part two of the text. Spoilers incoming!! In part two, the events of part one are repeated as Miuko travels back in time. Events I knew were coming, happened again, and the pacing became too slow to keep me fully engaged.
This was a good reading experience in that I don’t think I’ve ever read a book like this before, but it wasn’t a book for me.
Triggers include misogyny, sexism, spirits, ghosts, entrapment, gravesites, death, burns, murder.
Ultimately, this book is a bout a teenage village girl (Miuko) who is cursed with deadly power and goes on a quest to find a cure. Once I realised that I should try and read this novel as though it was a tale of Japanese folklore, my enjoyment increased. I felt like I was able to fall into the story more. Miuko, and her journey, were easier to follow once my brain clicked into this mode.
Unfortunately though, my interest waned once I reached part two of the text. Spoilers incoming!! In part two, the events of part one are repeated as Miuko travels back in time. Events I knew were coming, happened again, and the pacing became too slow to keep me fully engaged.
This was a good reading experience in that I don’t think I’ve ever read a book like this before, but it wasn’t a book for me.
Triggers include misogyny, sexism, spirits, ghosts, entrapment, gravesites, death, burns, murder.
I loved the plot, at least at first. Also the worldbuilding. The use of several Japanese-inspired elements, such as terminology, customs and spiritual beings, all with an added fantasy vibe. The premise of a girl whose vitality doesn't fit in with her world's restrictive society, a girl who's swept away by circumstances in a whirlwind of demons and spirits, pulled even further away from the life she had resigned herself to, and given some heavy decisions to make.
What I didn't like, and grew to hate, is the writing. Plot flowed quite nicely. Dialogue was often predictable but neat enough. What ultimately made me give up on the book, though, was the overwhelming frequency of in-your-face remarks on gender inequality, be it through narration itself or the main character's internal dialogue. After a while, it read as a pamphlet.
I'd rather if, after a few initial chapters including relevant descriptions of the book's patriarchal society, the author chose to show us the issues through the plot, not tell us the issues. The examples of sexism that were highlighted by the writing didn't always match the historical culture the book is inspired by either, so for anyone regularly exposed to contemporary feminist discourse, it may feel like the author is going through a talking points checklist.
What I didn't like, and grew to hate, is the writing. Plot flowed quite nicely. Dialogue was often predictable but neat enough. What ultimately made me give up on the book, though, was the overwhelming frequency of in-your-face remarks on gender inequality, be it through narration itself or the main character's internal dialogue. After a while, it read as a pamphlet.
I'd rather if, after a few initial chapters including relevant descriptions of the book's patriarchal society, the author chose to show us the issues through the plot, not tell us the issues. The examples of sexism that were highlighted by the writing didn't always match the historical culture the book is inspired by either, so for anyone regularly exposed to contemporary feminist discourse, it may feel like the author is going through a talking points checklist.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism
Moderate: Confinement, Hate crime
More 4.5 than 4. I found it a little hard to get into, but once I did, I really enjoyed this story about a culture that I know little of!