A review by jenmcmaynes
Fudoki by Kij Johnson

4.0

A story within a story, which I have always loved, this novel tells both the tale of Kagaya-hime, a cat in the Japanese empire who transforms into a woman who becomes a warrior, and the aging princess Harume, who is writing the story as she approaches death. Eventually, the two tales intersect, as it becomes clear how the story of the cat reflects many of Harume's long denied wishes-- for travel, for meaningful relationships, for anything outside the narrow life of a princess of the empire. For all the adventure and mysticism in Kagaya-hime's story in particular, this is a novel that deals with memory and death and sacrifices; both tales are surprisingly melancholy. Two thumbs up.