Red Winter
Red Winter Trilogy, #1
By: Annette Marie
Publisher:Dark Owl Fantasy
Publication date: Oct. 21, 2016
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy Romance
Rating:
Emi has spent her entire life hiding from the creatures that hunt her. The savage earth spirits are determined to kill her before she can become the living host of a goddess, so she stays hidden—until the day she saves the life of one of her hunters.
Shiro isn’t the harmless fox spirit she thought he was. He’s mysterious, cunning, unpredictable…and now hers to command. He’s sworn to pay his debt to her, but he doesn’t know who she is. If he finds out, he’ll kill her.
But she can’t send him away—not yet. Her future isn’t what she thought. The lies surrounding her fate have begun to unravel, and she needs answers before time runs out—answers that lie in the spirit realm. Shiro can take her there…if she dares to trust him.
And only then will she find out how deep the gods’ treachery runs.
My thoughts…
Emi is a kamigakari. Meaning she has been chosen by one of the gods, to become their vessel. She was always led to believe that that meant she and the kami (god) would share the same body. However, after coming across a book that talks about the history and role of the kamigakari, Emi soon realizes that what she’s been lead to believe is not true at all. Instead of sharing a body with a kami, the kami will descend and take over the kamigakari’s body, mind, and soul. Meaning, Emi would cease to exist. Unsure if the book is true or not, she makes a deal with a kitsune yokai to help her find the truth.
I really enjoyed the immersion of Japanese folklore and culture. At times, it did sound a bit like reciting a “guide to Japan”, but I suppose if I didn’t already live in Japan, this information would give the story more history and culture. Regardless, I love that the author included the customs of entering shrine grounds, and the proper prayer protocol. We learn about what it means to be a kamigakari and then also what it TRULY means to be a kamigakari. We are right there is Emi as she learns that unlike popular belief, all yokai are not inherently bad, just like we learn that all kami are not good. There is no such this as good an evil, and when you are dealing with beings with immense power, they view of right and wrong gets a bit skewed.
Another thing to note about this book, are the illustrations inside. There are a few scenes that are translated into a beautiful illustration. Giving you a visual of the characters and the emotion taking place. Are these illustrations necessary? No. Were they my favorite part…. maaaaaybe. I really enjoyed getting to see the characters come to life in these illustrations. I was reading on my Kindle, but I can only imagine the detail on a printed copy.
If you are looking for a young adult fantasy that is heavy in Japanese culture and lore, then this is a must read. As someone who lives in Japan, I really enjoyed seeing the culture represented while also reading a fantasy story about gods, demons, and the mortals stuck in the middle. I look forward to starting the next book in the trilogy.
