A review by fraeyalise
A Thousand Steps into Night by Traci Chee

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful 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

4.75

I really liked this book. I can see this as a studio Ghibli movie. I loved the mythology she's created, I loved the footnotes, and I loved the story. I don't want to say too much about it because it's best read without any info- just go along for the ride and it's a fun ride! 

My only gripe is the fact that the mother is gone and

we don't know what happened to her or why she actually left, I was kind of expecting that she would show up based on the description of her leaving at the beginning. But she truly is gone.

I get that her having left helped Miuko grow more as a character but personally I don't like that trope at all. But it's a small, personal gripe. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Sexual assault

Consists of an unwanted kiss. There's also the constant looming threat of being an unaccompanied woman in this society, but it becomes less of a threat as the book goes on and the only thing that happens is a kiss.