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A review by sassy_cassy
A Mortal Song by Megan Crewe
5.0
I loved it. Sora is very real, very relatable, very sympathetic. The idea of going from normal to special permeates YA novels, and with good reason. We all want to think we’re special, or that someone out there is. That there’s more than the every day normalcy of our lives. But going from special to normal? That’s much harder to come across, and Crewe pulls it off by creating a character that we can all relate to. The side characters are wonderful and three-dimensional as well, including upbeat Chiyo, endearing Keiji, and honorable Takeo.
Crewe also created a vivid world around the kami, mixing both the fantastical and the real (just as she did with her characters). You can tell that she put a tremendous amount of research into creating a realistic world. On her blog, she even details her trips to Japan to follow in her characters’ footsteps.
The plot was fast-paced, with lots of action-packed fight scenes and a little bit of slow-burning romance. The way that “magic” is incorporated is beautiful and realistic – it’s not just a magical free-for-all. There’s a system, and Crewe makes her characters stick to it. This makes it hard for Sora, but it needs to be as she learns what it means to be “human” instead of “kami.” Even the villain is well-developed and the climax/ending was well-done and appropriate for the villain and Sora.
In summary, A Mortal Song is a beautiful, unique, and captivating standalone novel, with diverse characters and a fresh take on the “Chosen One” trope.
Crewe also created a vivid world around the kami, mixing both the fantastical and the real (just as she did with her characters). You can tell that she put a tremendous amount of research into creating a realistic world. On her blog, she even details her trips to Japan to follow in her characters’ footsteps.
The plot was fast-paced, with lots of action-packed fight scenes and a little bit of slow-burning romance. The way that “magic” is incorporated is beautiful and realistic – it’s not just a magical free-for-all. There’s a system, and Crewe makes her characters stick to it. This makes it hard for Sora, but it needs to be as she learns what it means to be “human” instead of “kami.” Even the villain is well-developed and the climax/ending was well-done and appropriate for the villain and Sora.
In summary, A Mortal Song is a beautiful, unique, and captivating standalone novel, with diverse characters and a fresh take on the “Chosen One” trope.