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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
Simply delightful. Not particularly deep, but just adorable fairy tale delights.
If Okami was a book, it would be this. Larger than life characters with fascinating episodic set pieces that pull into great payoff in the second half. Just tremendously engaging. Better rtc later, but very sweet and good clean delights.
~*~
Okay fine actual rtc has come, like a year later. It's really slapdash cos I'm tired, but.
I really love this book. It takes a bit of time to get rolling, it's true, and the names and incorporation of her handcrafted language is a bit too trusting without necessarily having the weight it needs (I don't need like five names for the demon prince, it gets confusing), but the world, ohhh the world, and these characters, and this plot.
The world feels fully inhabited. I love the hierarchy of spirits, I love the political and religious thoughts, I love the societal restrictions playing against the characters. I want a map; I love the oceans and mountains and forests. It oozes beauty and mystery for me. Mysterious misty fields and decaying mansions and dizzyingly tall castles and spun-sugar ice palaces...great set pieces all around, really.
The characters are numerous, but I find myself incredibly invested in most of them (a few come too late to shine the way they want to). I admit the forest spirit is a bit much to handle sometimes, but he's not in it too much, and honestly I totally get his rage and sorrow at feeling lied to and betrayed. Actually, side track: that's such a tight element of this story, manipulation and lies and power struggles, when our protagonist abuses and enthralls a girl for her own needs or lies to the forest god, contrasting with Tujiyazai whispering and taking what he wants. I just love how all these people and gods call back to each other in action or word or sometimes just coming around multiple times like teapot guy.
Geiki and Miuko have such a cute familial dynamic, Tujiyazai is so sympathetic while being so monstrous at the same time...I'm just so invested in tightly wrapped around these characters the plot is, how it builds on itself and takes what you thought was kinda pointless originally and turns it on its head halfway along while always trying to teach (or hammer home) some growth point.
If it struggles anywhere, it's in some of its pacing and expectations and writing style. It staggers a bit early on, and while I think it recovers beautifully, it does take time, and you've got to let it breathe a lot on its own.
Basically, though, I think it's gentle and sweet. I like the lighter tone it has despite its weighty themes. It feels like a fairy tale. It's super endearing in its story of loyalty and growth and discovery. If Okami and Princess Mononoke merged together, this book would probably be the result, and I just adore it to pieces, truly, truly.
And they even help teapot guy, or at least they will, so like. Happy endings all around, even for magically-too-cute incense cat. I'm so enamored by the huge time god just...getting a kitty. Soft kitty. And very intentionally forcing a timeline where he would get to have a kitty. Like, dude, I get it. Good for you. <3
If Okami was a book, it would be this. Larger than life characters with fascinating episodic set pieces that pull into great payoff in the second half. Just tremendously engaging. Better rtc later, but very sweet and good clean delights.
~*~
Okay fine actual rtc has come, like a year later. It's really slapdash cos I'm tired, but.
I really love this book. It takes a bit of time to get rolling, it's true, and the names and incorporation of her handcrafted language is a bit too trusting without necessarily having the weight it needs (I don't need like five names for the demon prince, it gets confusing), but the world, ohhh the world, and these characters, and this plot.
The world feels fully inhabited. I love the hierarchy of spirits, I love the political and religious thoughts, I love the societal restrictions playing against the characters. I want a map; I love the oceans and mountains and forests. It oozes beauty and mystery for me. Mysterious misty fields and decaying mansions and dizzyingly tall castles and spun-sugar ice palaces...great set pieces all around, really.
The characters are numerous, but I find myself incredibly invested in most of them (a few come too late to shine the way they want to). I admit the forest spirit is a bit much to handle sometimes, but he's not in it too much, and honestly I totally get his rage and sorrow at feeling lied to and betrayed. Actually, side track: that's such a tight element of this story, manipulation and lies and power struggles, when our protagonist abuses and enthralls a girl for her own needs or lies to the forest god, contrasting with Tujiyazai whispering and taking what he wants. I just love how all these people and gods call back to each other in action or word or sometimes just coming around multiple times like teapot guy.
Geiki and Miuko have such a cute familial dynamic, Tujiyazai is so sympathetic while being so monstrous at the same time...I'm just so invested in tightly wrapped around these characters the plot is, how it builds on itself and takes what you thought was kinda pointless originally and turns it on its head halfway along while always trying to teach (or hammer home) some growth point.
If it struggles anywhere, it's in some of its pacing and expectations and writing style. It staggers a bit early on, and while I think it recovers beautifully, it does take time, and you've got to let it breathe a lot on its own.
Basically, though, I think it's gentle and sweet. I like the lighter tone it has despite its weighty themes. It feels like a fairy tale. It's super endearing in its story of loyalty and growth and discovery. If Okami and Princess Mononoke merged together, this book would probably be the result, and I just adore it to pieces, truly, truly.
And they even help teapot guy, or at least they will, so like. Happy endings all around, even for magically-too-cute incense cat. I'm so enamored by the huge time god just...getting a kitty. Soft kitty. And very intentionally forcing a timeline where he would get to have a kitty. Like, dude, I get it. Good for you. <3
Really good YA fantasy novel set in Japan. Well-written characters, but the plot moves a bit too quickly.
4.5/5.
4.5/5.
adventurous
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
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
hopeful
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, Sexism
Moderate: Self harm, Toxic relationship, Murder
adventurous
emotional
reflective
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Well, this was lovely! The characterization was great, the story was fun, but the worldbuilding was by far the best thing about this book: It was chock full of spirits, traditions, and ideas that were beautifully rendered. The whole thing had an air of folklore about it, and I enjoyed the footnotes present at the end of every chapter. Small points deducted because the pacing felt erratic at times, but it was super fun and enjoyable!
Well, this was lovely! The characterization was great, the story was fun, but the worldbuilding was by far the best thing about this book: It was chock full of spirits, traditions, and ideas that were beautifully rendered. The whole thing had an air of folklore about it, and I enjoyed the footnotes present at the end of every chapter. Small points deducted because the pacing felt erratic at times, but it was super fun and enjoyable!
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
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
adventurous
emotional
funny
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:
Complicated