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26 Asian-Inspired Fantasy Books to Read While You Wait for Disney’s Mulan

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26 Asian-Inspired Fantasy Books to Read if You Love Mulan

Disney’s Mulan… and the New Release Date

By now you’ve probably already heard the news that the release date for Disney’s Mulan is getting pushed back indefinitely. I’m so bummed about this! I don’t go to the movies all that often, but this one has been at the top of my must-see list.

So here’s a thing that I’m pretty embarrassed about: I grew up as a Disney girl, and Mulan is one of my favorite movies they’ve made, but it wasn’t until I started to hear buzz about a new live-action remake that I learned that Disney’s inspiration for the story of Mulan actually comes from a Chinese folk song from the North Wei Dynasty.

I shouldn’t have been surprised– Disney didn’t make up The Little Mermaid or Cinderella, either, you know? I guess I just never really thought about the origin of the story until I heard about the live-action remake and the controversy surrounding who was writing Mulan retellings– and whether white writers should be the ones telling this Asian-inspired fantasy story or whether it should be told by Chinese writers instead.

UPDATE: I wrote this post before the movie came out and before I learned of some of the controversy over its filming. It has been bothering me for a long time that I haven’t acknowledged that here. Here’s some information about why people have decided to boycott the movie because of the filming location and China’s treatment of Chinese Uighur Muslims.

So…. Perhaps instead of watching the movie, check out and buy these books inspired by Asian myth, folklore, and legend that were written by Asian authors.

Reading Asian-Inspired Fantasy by Asian Authors

All of that started me thinking about books by Asian authors and as I started reading, I began to fall in love with books inspired by Asian history, folklore, and mythology that are written by Asian authors.

The good news is this: there are some amazing books that, like Mulan, are inspired by Asian history and folklore and are just waiting for us to snatch them off the shelves and read them.

I’ve broken the list into two sections: series and stand-alone books. Check them out, let me know what you’ve read, and please tell me if I’ve missed any titles that should be included! I searched quite a bit before making my list, but I’m sure there are a few I’ve missed and I would love to add them.

Asian-Inspired Fantasy Series

Some of the series listed here (such as Shadow of the Fox) require you to read the books in order, but others (like The Star-Touched Queen) are much more loosely connected and allow you to read whatever appeals to you in whatever order. Check them out and see what meets your preferences. Also– for the books I’ve reviewed, you’ll find detailed content at the bottom of my review post, so be sure to click over to the review and look for that if it interests you.

Note: Many of the links below are affiliate links, which don’t cost you anything to use, but when used, help support this blog.

The Blood of Stars Series by Elizabeth Lim

Spin the Dawn

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: Hailed as Mulan meets Project Runway. The series is also set in the Silk Road era and full of Chinese culture. It’s got magic, forbidden love, and unforgettable characters. One of my favorite books of 2019. Read my full review.

Unravel the Dusk

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: Forbidden romance, political intrigue, magic gone awry. A girl touched by a demon and forced into an engagement with the emperor to keep the peace for her people. This is at the top of my To-Be-Read list.

The Girl King Series by Mimi Yu

The Girl King

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: Two sisters with very different preferred weapons: one uses a sword, the other, words. Loads of political intrigue, battles, strong heroines. It’s beautiful. Read my full review.

The Empress of Flames

What you need to know: I’m pretty sure the release date for this book was originally early this year, but it’s since been pushed back to March of next year, which is super sad! I wanted to at least mention it in this list, since I’m really excited to read it. You can add it to your reading list and learn more on Goodreads.

The Tiger at Midnight Series by Swati Teerdhala

The Tiger at Midnight

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: Inspired by Indian folklore. Friends to Enemies to Lovers. A female rebel assassin. Forbidden magic. Adorable romance. Read my full review.

The Archer at Dawn

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: Rebels in disguise, political intrigue, and adorable romance. Just a warning, this one will make you really want to read book three! Read my full review.

Girls of Paper and Fire Series by Natasha Ngan

Note: I haven’t read this series yet, but I have heard the content needs some trigger warnings for sexual abuse, violence, and animal cruelty.

Girls of Paper and Fire

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: F/F romance. Hope and recovery from trauma. Fierce girls refusing to accept a society that treats them as less-than. Beautifully rendered Asian mythology.

Girls of Storm and Shadow

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: Explores themes about morality during war. Continues the journey of healing for women who’ve experienced trauma. Features strong, warrior women. F/F romance. Asian mythology.

Sands of Arawiya Series by Hafsa Faizal

We Hunt the Flame

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: Described as a “richly detailed world inspired by ancient Arabia” on Goodreads. Enemies to lovers. Witty banter. Read my full review.

We Free the Stars

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: Final book in the duology. Packed with magic, danger, and romance, and set in a lush landscape inspired by ancient Arabia.

The Star-Touched Queen Series by Roshani Chokshi

The Star-Touched Queen

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: A cursed princess who turns out to be the only one who can save everyone. Steeped in Indian folklore and mythology. Total must-read. Read my full review.

A Crown of Wishes

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: Less a sequel and more a companion novel. Filled with the same gorgeous writing and world-building as the Star-Touched Queen. Enemies to lovers. Witty banter. Filled with eerie mythological creatures. Read my full review.

Shadow of the Fox Series by Julie Kagawa

Shadow of the Fox

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: Based on Japanese folklore. Enemies to lovers. Unlikely allies embarking on an impossible quest. Absolutely charming characters. Read my full review.

Soul of the Sword

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: Japanese folklore. Fierce heroine. Terrifying villains. Witty banter. Forbidden love. Read my full review.

Night of the Dragon

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: Read the other books in the series before this one– lots of it focuses on the final battle, so it won’t be as easy to follow or understand if you haven’t read earlier books. Based on Japanese mythology. Fierce heroine who never gives up and refuses to sacrifice her friends. Fantastic conclusion to an incredible series. Read my full review.

Gumiho Series by Kat Cho

Wicked Fox

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: Based on Korean folklore but told in modern-day Seoul. An opposites-attract love story about a fierce girl and a cheery, charming boy. Fantastic grandma/grandson relationship.

Vicious Spirits

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: Expected publication in August 2020. Promises new dangers and romance. Based on Korean folklore but told in a contemporary setting.

Rise of the Empress Series by Julie C. Dao

The Forest of a Thousand Lanterns by Julie C. Dao

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: A dark, Asian-inspired fantasy origin story of the Wicked Queen in the Snow White fairytale. Desperate, creepy magic. Compelling anti-heroine. Read my full review.

Kingdom of the Blazing Phoenix

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: Asian-inspired retelling of Snow White. Lush world-building. A heroine with a good heart, committed to saving her friends.

Song of the Crimson Flower

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: I’m not sure if this book is part of the series exactly– Goodreads lists it as book 2.5, so it takes place between the other two books and maybe more of a companion novel? Same beautiful Asian-inspired fantasy story-world.

The Dragon Warrior Series by Katie Zhao

The Dragon Warrior by Katie Zhao

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: Think Percy Jackson, but with Chinese mythology. High energy, super fun. For readers 10 to 12. Read my full review.

The Fallen Hero

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: The adventure continues in this fast-paced, wild ride featuring gods and goddesses from Chinese mythology. Read my full review.

Shamanborn Series by Lori M. Lee

Forest of Souls

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: Features the creepiest trees you’ve ever read. Seriously spooky! Celebrates the bonds of sisterhood/friendship. Packed with fantastic banter and sarcasm. High energy plot that will keep you turning pages. Read my full review.

Books two and three are currently untitled, but expected to follow. I can’t wait!

Standalone Asian-Inspired Fantasy

Sometimes a series feels like a big commitment, especially when the books are so closely tied together that you can’t read one without reading the others first. These are two standalone novels inspired by Chinese history, culture and mythology that are a perfect choice for readers who aren’t up for the commitment of a whole series.

The Crystal Ribbon by Celeste Lim

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: Coming-of-age story about a child bride in medieval China. Based on history, culture, and mythology. Haunting and unusual. Reminded me a little bit of the story of Mulan in that it features a a strong heroine in a time period and culture where she feels entirely out of place for her strength. Read my review.

Descendant of the Crane by Joan He

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Goodreads

What you need to know: Chinese-inspired fantasy. Features a strong heroine willing to risk everything in the pursuit of justice. Thrilling courtroom drama. Ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, but it’s uncertain whether there will be a follow-up novel.

The Candle and the Flame by Nafiza Azad

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: Set on the Silk Road and featuring Middle-Eastern mythology. Brilliant characters– especially the female characters. Might be better classified as new adult than young adult.

What are your favorite Asian-inspired fantasy books?

Have you read any of the books on the list? If you’ve thought of other Asian-inspired fantasy that I should add, please leave me a comment with the title and author. I would love to add to my list!

Review: The Archer at Dawn by Swati Teerdhala

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The Archer at Dawn (The Tiger at Midnight Trilogy #2)
Swati Teerdhala
Katherine Tegen Books
Published May 26, 2020

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

About The Archer at Dawn

The Sun Mela is many things: a call for peace, a cause for celebration, and, above all, a deadly competition. For Kunal and Esha, finally working together as rebel spies, it provides the perfect guise to infiltrate King Vardaan’s vicious court.

Kunal will return to his role as dedicated Senap soldier, at the Sun Mela to provide extra security for the palace during the peace summit for the divided nations of Jansa and Dharka. Meanwhile, Esha will use her new role as adviser to Prince Harun to keep a pulse on shifting political parties and seek out allies for their rebel cause. A radical plan is underfoot to rescue Jansa’s long-lost Princess Reha—the key to the stolen throne.

But amid the Mela games and glittering festivities, much more dangerous forces lie in wait. With the rebel Blades’ entry into Vardaan’s court, a match has been lit, and long-held secrets will force Kunal and Esha to reconsider their loyalties—to their country and to each other. Getting into the palace was the easy task; coming out together will be a battle for their lives.

My Review

I’ve recently reached that point in blogging where I sometimes get books in the mail from a publicist that I didn’t request for review. It’s a two-edged sword. Sometimes I’m like, OMG! I really wanted this book! And other times it’s like, hmmm… this doesn’t look like a good fit for my blog.

In this case, when I opened the package containing THE ARCHER AT DAWN, I was super excited. I had borrowed A TIGER AT MIDNIGHT from the library, and was just about to start reading it, so I loved knowing I could jump from book one almost straight into book two of the series.

THE ARCHER AT DAWN pretty much picks up where A TIGER AT MIDNIGHT leaves off, with Esha and Kunal in the process of infiltrating the usurper king’s court, chasing down rumors that he’s captured Princess Reha and hoping to free her.

One of the things I loved about the first book is the way Esha’s team is like a family, teasing and looking after one another. In this book, we get to see more of Kunal’s friendship with Alok, too, which I loved. It also shows Kunal beginning to realize how oblivious to his friends he was before now. So it definitely showed his growth as a character.

A lot of time is devoted to looking around and talking to various potential allies and trying to charm enemies, but overall, the story keeps a fairly strong pace, driving toward the moment when Esha and Kunal will attempt to rescue the princess.

No spoilers, but let me just say that the ending was pretty intense. Some things that happened I suspected were coming, other things took me by surprise.

All in all, I enjoyed reading THE ARCHER AT DAWN and can’t wait to get my hands on the third book!

I recommend reading the first book in this series before starting this one. There are a lot of characters and relationships already set in motion by the time this book begins, so I think it would be difficult to start with book two.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 12 up.

Representation
Written with inspiration from Indian history and Hindu mythology.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Profanity used very rarely.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing between boy and girl and pretty fierce romantic tension. Esha meets a girl who is running away to be with her lover, another girl.

Spiritual Content
A Samyad woman and a Himyan man must both make a sacrifice to renew the janma bond with the land, a bond between humans and deities which keeps the land fertile and growing. Since the disruption of the bond, the land is drying out and people are starving.

Some characters have the ability to shift into animal forms.

Violent Content
Battle violence and situations of peril.

Kunal enters a contest which requires him to duel opponents. Some scenes show battles between Esha/her allies and soldiers.

Drug Content
Some references to drinking alcohol.

Note: I received a free copy of THE ARCHER AT DAWN in exchange for my honest review. This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use, but which help support the costs of running this blog.

Review: Soul of the Sword by Julie Kagawa

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Soul of the Sword (Shadow of the Fox #2)
Julie Kagawa
Harlequin Young Adult
Published June 25, 2019

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

About Soul of the Sword

One thousand years ago, a wish was made to the Harbinger of Change and a sword of rage and lightning was forged. Kamigoroshi. The Godslayer. It had one task: to seal away the powerful demon Hakaimono.

Now he has broken free.

Kitsune shapeshifter Yumeko has one task: to take her piece of the ancient and powerful scroll to the Steel Feather temple in order to prevent the summoning of the Harbinger of Change, the great Kami Dragon who will grant one wish to whomever holds the Scroll of a Thousand Prayers. But she has a new enemy now. The demon Hakaimono, who for centuries was trapped in a cursed sword, has escaped and possessed the boy she thought would protect her, Kage Tatsumi of the Shadow Clan.

Hakaimono has done the unthinkable and joined forces with the Master of Demons in order to break the curse of the sword and set himself free. To overthrow the empire and cover the land in darkness, they need one thing: the Scroll of a Thousand Prayers. As the paths of Yumeko and the possessed Tatsumi cross once again, the entire empire will be thrown into chaos. 

My Review

I’m pretty sure that immediately after I finished the last few words of the last chapter of SHADOW OF THE FOX, I rushed to my copy of SOUL OF THE SWORD and started reading. I really needed to know what would happen to Yumeko and Tatsumi and their friends.

Some things took me completely by surprise. There’s one relationship that emerges that I totally did not expect and absolutely adored. Yumeko certainly doesn’t shy away from breaking the rules, which made some of her choices oddly satisfying? It was like she just looked at the situation and instead of doing what she’d been told she SHOULD do, she wasn’t afraid to ask what would help the most or what would be best for the people involved, regardless of what anyone else would think.

Through SOUL OF THE SWORD, Yumeko continues to be a loyal, compassionate girl, but she also begins to understand and explore her own power, which was an awesome thing to be part of as a reader. She begins the series as this quirky girl who finds her own magic fairly useless. Then she joins forces with powerful warriors and feels like the most powerless or useless person in a battle.

Even before she discovers how to use her magic in more powerful ways, she uses her character– her cleverness and compassion– to change the outcome of battles her team encounters. I love that about her. And when she adds magic to her strength of character, look out. She’s truly a force to be reckoned with, and I loved that, too!

I love this series, and definitely recommend it for anyone looking for a story to get lost in. Here are the reviews for the other books in the series:

Shadow of the Fox review

Night of the Dragon review (plus Q&A with Author Julie Kagawa!)

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Representation
Characters speak Japanese in this fantasy series inspired by Japanese folklore. Two characters are gay.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Some strong profanity and a few crude references used infrequently, mainly by one character.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing between two boys.

Spiritual Content
The story is filled with spiritual creatures and traditions. Some characters worship divine beings called Kami. Other magical creatures can shapeshift or possess other magic. One character is a ghost who seeks to help Yumeko’s party. Yumeko has been raised by monks in a temple.

Demons respond to the evil blood magic and cause havoc in the human world. Tatsumi has a sword which contains the soul of a powerful demon. He hears the demon’s thoughts and knows that if he’s not vigilant, the demon can take possession of him.

Violent Content
Some gory battle violence and references to torture and abuse/neglect of a child.

Drug Content
Some characters drink sake. Yumeko gets drunk and regrets it the next day.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use, but which help support the costs of running this blog.

Review: Shadow of the Fox by Julie Kagawa

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Shadow of the Fox (Shadow of the Fox #1)
Julie Kagawa
Harlequin Young Adult
Published October 2, 2018

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

About Shadow of the Fox

One thousand years ago, the great Kami Dragon was summoned to grant a single terrible wish—and the land of Iwagoto was plunged into an age of darkness and chaos.

Now, for whoever holds the Scroll of a Thousand Prayers, a new wish will be granted. A new age is about to dawn.

Raised by monks in the isolated Silent Winds temple, Yumeko has trained all her life to hide her yokai nature. Half kitsune, half human, her skill with illusion is matched only by her penchant for mischief. Until the day her home is burned to the ground, her adoptive family is brutally slain and she is forced to flee for her life with the temple’s greatest treasure—one part of the ancient scroll.

There are many who would claim the dragon’s wish for their own. Kage Tatsumi, a mysterious samurai of the Shadow Clan, is one such hunter, under orders to retrieve the scroll…at any cost. Fate brings Kage and Yumeko together. With a promise to lead him to the scroll, an uneasy alliance is formed, offering Yumeko her best hope for survival. But he seeks what she has hidden away, and her deception could ultimately tear them both apart.

With an army of demons at her heels and the unlikeliest of allies at her side, Yumeko’s secrets are more than a matter of life or death. They are the key to the fate of the world itself.

My Review

In the opening chapter of this book, I remember thinking that it was super different from anything by Julie Kagawa that I’d ever read. It had this really serious, sort of mysterious feel, and I loved it but also missed her humor and sort of straightforward characters.

And then I read the next chapter and met Yumeko, and I was like YES! This is what I was looking for from this book. She’s mischievous and curious, but also deeply compassionate, especially where it comes to others in need. Right away I was hooked on her and her story.

And THEN I met Kage Tatsumi, the focused warrior who shouldn’t care for Yumeko, but of course inevitably does. And once they were in a scene together, I knew I’d be reading the entire SHADOW OF THE FOX series.

I knew almost nothing about Japanese legends and folklore before starting to read this book, so I really enjoyed learning some about it. I also loved where the characters spoke Japanese– I spent several weeks in Tokyo for work years ago, so I knew some of the words already. The glossary helped if it was something I didn’t know.

If you’re looking for a really immersive, fun story packed with adventure and a slow-simmer romance, I totally recommend this series. I devoured all three books almost back-to-back. I think fans of SPIN THE DAWN by Elizabeth Lim would really enjoy SHADOW OF THE FOX.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Representation
Characters speak Japanese in this fantasy series inspired by Japanese folklore.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Some strong profanity and a few crude references used infrequently, mainly by one character.

Romance/Sexual Content
A couple of veiled comments that go over Yumeko’s head.

Spiritual Content
The story is filled with spiritual creatures and traditions. Some characters worship divine beings called Kami. Other magical creatures can shapeshift or possess other magic. One character is a ghost who seeks to help Yumeko’s party. Yumeko has been raised by monks in a temple.

Demons respond to the evil blood magic and cause havoc in the human world. Tatsumi has a sword which contains the soul of a powerful demon. He hears the demon’s thoughts and knows that if he’s not vigilant, the demon can take possession of him.

Violent Content
Some gory battle violence and references to torture and abuse/neglect of a child and a servant.

Drug Content
Some characters drink sake. Yumeko gets drunk and regrets it the next day.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use, but which help support the costs of running this blog.

Review and Q&A: Night of the Dragon by Julie Kagawa

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Night of the Dragon (Shadow of the Fox #3)
Julie Kagawa
Harlequin Young Adult
Published April 2, 2020

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Goodreads

About Night of the Dragon

Kitsune shapeshifter Yumeko has given up the final piece of the Scroll of a Thousand Prayers in order to save everyone she loves from imminent death. Now she and her ragtag band of companions must journey to the wild sea cliffs of Iwagoto in a desperate last-chance effort to stop the Master of Demons from calling upon the Great Kami dragon and making the wish that will plunge the empire into destruction and darkness.

Shadow clan assassin Kage Tatsumi has regained control of his body and agreed to a true deal with the devil—the demon inside him, Hakaimono. They will share his body and work with Yumeko and their companions to stop a madman and separate Hakaimono from Tatsumi and the cursed sword that had trapped the demon for nearly a millennium.

But even with their combined skills and powers, this most unlikely team of heroes knows the forces of evil may be impossible to overcome. And there is another player in the battle for the scroll, a player who has been watching, waiting for the right moment to pull strings that no one even realized existed…until now.

My Review

I’m so excited about this series. I love how immersive the story world is. This is the first series I’ve read that’s based on Japanese folklore. It’s super different than anything I’ve read before, and I really got into it.

Okay, I feel like all the things I want to say are spoilers, so apologies if I seem unclear.

This third book wrapped up some of the things we’d been waiting for from the first two books. It gives us more information about Yumeko’s past. There are some sweet romantic moments. There’s lots of buildup to the big fight that we know is coming.

When I first agreed to review NIGHT OF THE DRAGON, I was unfamiliar with the series, but a fan of Julie Kagawa’s books. I’ve been having trouble sleeping lately, so I started listening to the first two books in the series as audiobooks, and I’m REALLY glad I did! I don’t think I would have enjoyed the third book nearly as much or followed it nearly as well without reading the first two. So this isn’t really a series I’d recommend jumping into at the end.

This is a great series for fantasy lovers and of course anyone who loves manga and anime. It’s got amazing characters and a deeply immersive story world– which is probably something we all need right now!

Also, read on past my content breakdown for a Q&A with author Julie Kagawa!

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Representation
NIGHT OF THE DRAGON is part of a fantasy series that’s based on Japanese folklore. The characters speak Japanese. Two characters are gay.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Profanity used infrequently mainly by one character. Some swearing in Japanese.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing between two boys. Kissing between a girl and boy. Hints at more than that– the couples talk about spending one last night together and do spend the night in a room together, but nothing beyond kissing is shown.

Spiritual Content
The story is filled with spiritual creatures. Some characters worship divine beings called Kami. Other magical creatures can shapeshift or possess other magic. One character is a ghost who seeks to help Yumeko’s party.

Demons respond to the evil blood magic and cause havoc in the human world. Tatsumi now hosts the powerful demon Hakaimono inside him.

Violent Content
Lots of battle violence and some graphic descriptions of injuries and death.

Drug Content
Some characters drink sake.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use, but which help support the costs of running this blog. I received a free copy of NIGHT OF THE DRAGON in exchange for my honest review.

Q&A with Author Julie Kagawa

Q: What were your biggest influences when creating this world in story, whether they be legends, folklore, anime, manga or other novels?

A:  Anime, Manga and video games have been my biggest influences when writing the world of Shadow of the Fox, but also the works of Akira Kurosawa like The Seven Samurai, Yojimbo and Rashomon.  

Q: Would you ever consider using this world and/or some of the characters in future stories that you write?

A:  I love Japanese legends and folklore, so I might very well return to this world someday.  Maybe not through the eyes of a kitsune, but there is always the possibility of future books set in the land of Iwagoto. 

Q: What was the hardest scene to write? What was the easiest?

A:  The hardest scene was the last battle with the Final Boss at the end.  Without giving away spoilers, there was a lot of kitsune magic, illusion and misdirection, and trying to show everything that was going on without making it too confusing was a challenge.  I don’t remember an easy scene to write, but I did enjoy writing one of the final chapters (where I hope everyone cries). 

Q: Did you hide any secrets in your book? (names of friends, little jokes, references to things only some people will get)

A: There are a few references that only those very familiar with Japanese folklore would get.  For example, the names of the Reika’s two dogs, Chu and Ko, come from a Japanese novel called The Eight Dog Chronicles, which has been adapted into manga, anime, and even video games.  In Soul of the Sword, Yumeko and her friends are on their way to the home of the tengu, when they encounter a pair of magical stone guardians called Yoshitsune and Benkei, two real life historical figures that inspired countless legends and stories.  In folklore, Minamoto no Yoshitsune was a near mythical swordsman who had been trained by the king of the tengu, and Benki was a warrior monk who was his stalwart companion.

Q: What do you hope people remember about Night of the Dragon?

A: I hope people come away with a new appreciation of Japanese myth and folklore, particularly all the wonderfully bizarre yokai, yurei and bakemono that populate these stories.  From kitsune and tanuki to oni and kirin, I hope it inspires readers to learn more about the world of Japanese myth and legend.  And I hope people remember how much they cried at the end of the story.

Q: Is there a character that you found challenging to write? Why?

A:  Taiyo Daisuke was probably the most challenging, because it was a balancing act of making him a noble and making him likable.  Nobles in fantasy stories tend to be arrogant, snooty, mocking, and manipulatieve.  More often than not they are the villains, or at least an unpleasant obstacle the heroes must get around.  Daisuke was very clearly an aristocrat, so I made very certain to give him qualities atypical of a noble. Kindness, humility, and viewing everyone, even the ronin, as an equal was certainly not the mindset of a typical samurai, but it was necessary to make Daisuke a well loved member of the team and not a person the reader, and the other characters, hated.  

Q: How does a typical writing day look like for you?

A: I work from home, so times vary, but I try to head into my office and start writing around 9am everyday.  I have a quota of 1,000 words a day, except when I’m close to deadline, then the word count jumps by a few hundred words.  Sometimes I reach my quota in a few hours, sometimes it takes me all day, but I try not to stop writing until my word quota is reached.

Q: What part of the Shadow of the Fox series was the most fun to write?

A: I really enjoyed writing the parts with Yumeko’s kitsune illusion magic.  One of my favorite scenes was when Yumeko and the others attended a formal tea ceremony with a snooty noble of the Shadow Clan.  I won’t give away spoilers, but what Yumeko does at the tea ceremony still makes me smile, and remains one of my favorite parts of the series.

Q: Was there a scene or backstory about a favorite character that didn’t make it into the final version of NIGHT OF THE DRAGON that you can share with us?

A: There was an earlier draft where Taka, Lord Seigetsu’s servant, was a human boy instead of a small, one-eyed yokai who could see the future.  But it seemed more interesting to have him be a yokai instead.  Also in an earlier draft, Yumeko was not a half kitsune but a full fox who lived in a den with her grandmother fox and two brothers.  That also, got cut, as a half-human Yumeko was more sympathetic and relatable than one who was full kitsune.

Q: What is it about fantasy that draws you to it?

A: Is everything a good answer? I love myths and legends, other worlds, magic, swords, wizards, dragons, evil gods, epic quests, and the battle between good and evil.  I read to escape, but also to travel to far away places and encounter creatures and beings I would never meet in real life.  Who hasn’t daydreamed about flying on the back of a dragon?  I read fantasy for the same reason. 

Q: How much research goes into your books and at what point do you stop using research and build off it?

A: It depends on how much I already know about certain aspects of the book.  For example, from the amount of anime and manga I’d consumed over the years, I knew a lot about kitsune, oni, tanuki, and various other Japanese monsters.  I still did a fair amount of research, though it was more about the samurai and the Sengoku Jidai, the era I was basing the book off of.  I never really stop researching, though most of it goes into book one, which is where much of the world building takes place.