For fans of This Was Our Pact and Hayao Miyazaki films comes a breathtaking graphic novel about siblings who risk everything to return their grandmother’s ashes to her home inside the Fukushima Exclusion Zone.
Osamu hasn’t been the same since that day. When the tsunami hit Fukushima prefecture, it killed his parents, destroyed his home, and triggered one of the world’s worst nuclear disasters. Now, all Osamu has left is his grandmother, Bā-chan, and his big sister, Akiko. As he withdraws into his own world, he befriends friends yōkai―spirits only he can see.
Then, tragedy strikes again, and Bā-chan dies. Osamu and Akiko are determined to return her ashes to their family farm in Tomioka, a town within Fukushima’s forbidden zone. There, the siblings will face dangerous radiation and yōkai, both friendly and deadly―but they’re willing to risk it all to make it home.
My Review
This book draws attention to the victims of the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster. The story follows Osamu, a young boy who shows kindness toward the yōkai, mythical creatures that live in his home and community. When his grandmother dies unexpectedly, he convinces his sister that they should bring her ashes home to her farm in the area still evacuated since the nuclear disaster.
Along the way, they meet a man who lives in the forbidden zone and cares for the animals living there. The story gently encourages readers to question our relationship with nature and our short attention spans for tragedies happening elsewhere.
At one point in the story, Osamu’s sister notes that his personality changed in the wake of the tsunami. He went from being an outgoing kid with lots of friends to being much quieter and more internal. A doctor, she says, diagnosed him with Autism, but she feels that’s inaccurate, because he used to have friends. I think I get what she’s trying to say, but I kind of wish this had just been left out of the book. It’s a small comment, and there’s so little context. I could see people feeling like this is saying that people with Autism can’t have friends or be friendly, which isn’t true.
All in all, I appreciate the author for bringing the Fukushima nuclear disaster to the forefront of conversations through this book and for highlighting some of the victims who are too often neglected, namely, children and animals.
Content Notes
Recommended for Ages 9 to 12.
Profanity/Crude Language Content None.
Romance/Sexual Content None.
Spiritual Content Osamu believes in the existence of yōkai, mysterious supernatural creatures and spirits from Japanese folklore. He speaks to some who live in his home and leaves an apple for one living near a tree. He later encounters a being representing radiation.
Violent Content References to the death of a grandparent and caregiver. References to the deaths of parents in the tsunami. These are not shown on the page.
Osamu breaks a window in an abandoned shop. He and his sister evade rescue workers and their cousin’s fiancé, Seiichi, and venture deeper into contaminated spaces, risking exposure to radiation.
Drug Content None.
Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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:
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.
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.
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.
