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katharina90's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.5
The story was interesting but felt very slow. I couldn't connect with the characters and wasn't really invested.
I love the idea of a fantasy that centers Japanese mythology but I'm not familiar enough with the culture or Shinto beliefs to know how authentic any of this is. The author appears to be white which makes this feel a bit icky.
I love the idea of a fantasy that centers Japanese mythology but I'm not familiar enough with the culture or Shinto beliefs to know how authentic any of this is. The author appears to be white which makes this feel a bit icky.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Violence
ruthmoog's review
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
2.5
Given this is a trilogy, I had suspected a non-ending, but I pushed through and the ending was still such a disappointment.
I won't continue the trilogy, I didn't enjoy part 1 enough.
I picked this up because of Amaterasu, and I wanted to read more of her folklore. Instead Emi was a bit dramatic and fluffy.
I won't continue the trilogy, I didn't enjoy part 1 enough.
I picked this up because of Amaterasu, and I wanted to read more of her folklore. Instead Emi was a bit dramatic and fluffy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Confinement, Blood, Adult/minor relationship, Gaslighting, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death of parent and Kidnapping
marinarathesauce's review
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief and Violence
nuin_giliath's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
3rd reading: It is my bookish life's work to spread the joy of Red Winter to the masses. If you've read it and loved it, you get it. If you haven't picked this up yet, what are you waiting for???
*sigh* I just adore this book and I simply cannot gush over it enough. 💖
*sigh* I just adore this book and I simply cannot gush over it enough. 💖
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2nd reading: To me, this is still amazing. I love it all - the characters, the setting, the overall conflict, the action sequences, everything. I am transported to another world that I never want to leave. I cannot recommend this enough. ❤️❤️❤️❤️
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Wow. Just wow. I LOVED this and I honestly didn't think that I would. Granted the first third was a bit rough due to the immense amount of culture information that needed to be included in the beginning. I can't tell you how many times I had to flip back and forth between the text and the provided glossary just to clarify the difference between words/concepts like Amatsukami and Amaterasu for example. (My reliance on the glossary did lessen with time though.)
More than once I was reminded of the film Spirited Away as both had a modern setting with a female lead who is navigating around a spiritual world hidden from humans. When reading fantasy, I admire authors who create rich and original worlds. In this case, I loved the use of traditional Japanese culture and mythology and to someone not terribly familiar with either, it felt like an entirely original creation.
I loved how Emi started out so docile and submissive but toward the end is emerging as a courageous and determined young woman. I also liked how some of her development came about due to questioning her long-held beliefs This doubt led her to take action and discover some truths about her situation. My only complaint is that she passed out at least three different times during the last third of the novel. I get that she's not super powerful compared to these supernatural beings but getting knocked unconscious more than once in that short amount of time was too much.
All of the other character were pretty fantastic too - especially Shiro. 😉 He was a great contrast to Emi - her innocence and naivety clashing with his mischievous and wild nature. I am also intrigued by the mystery behind his identity and cannot wait to learn more about his past. To all the other reviewers that gushed unceasingly about Shiro: I too have tasted that Kool-Aid and I'm going back for more.
I'm really looking forward to continuing this series.
2nd reading: To me, this is still amazing. I love it all - the characters, the setting, the overall conflict, the action sequences, everything. I am transported to another world that I never want to leave. I cannot recommend this enough. ❤️❤️❤️❤️
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Wow. Just wow. I LOVED this and I honestly didn't think that I would. Granted the first third was a bit rough due to the immense amount of culture information that needed to be included in the beginning. I can't tell you how many times I had to flip back and forth between the text and the provided glossary just to clarify the difference between words/concepts like Amatsukami and Amaterasu for example. (My reliance on the glossary did lessen with time though.)
More than once I was reminded of the film Spirited Away as both had a modern setting with a female lead who is navigating around a spiritual world hidden from humans. When reading fantasy, I admire authors who create rich and original worlds. In this case, I loved the use of traditional Japanese culture and mythology and to someone not terribly familiar with either, it felt like an entirely original creation.
I loved how Emi started out so docile and submissive but toward the end is emerging as a courageous and determined young woman. I also liked how some of her development came about due to questioning her long-held beliefs This doubt led her to take action and discover some truths about her situation. My only complaint is that she passed out at least three different times during the last third of the novel. I get that she's not super powerful compared to these supernatural beings but getting knocked unconscious more than once in that short amount of time was too much.
All of the other character were pretty fantastic too - especially Shiro. 😉 He was a great contrast to Emi - her innocence and naivety clashing with his mischievous and wild nature. I am also intrigued by the mystery behind his identity and cannot wait to learn more about his past. To all the other reviewers that gushed unceasingly about Shiro: I too have tasted that Kool-Aid and I'm going back for more.
I'm really looking forward to continuing this series.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood and Violence
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