Hi friends! I’m here today to share my review on a book that has pleasantly surprised me.
Seven Deadly Shadows
by Courtney Alameda & Valynne E. Maetani
Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: January 28th 2020
Thank you, so, so much HarperTeen for providing me with an Arc, in exchange for an honest review!
This book was received from the Author, and Publisher, in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.
This new Fantasy novel is set in modern day Japan, and follows our heroine, Kira Fujikawa. She works in the afternoons as a miko, a shrine maiden at her family’s Shinto shrine. Her grandfather runs the shrine and is take his place when she comes of age.
She attends a prestigious Kogakkan Academy in Kyoto, Japan, on a scholarship.Kira longs for her peer acceptance, she treated as outsider because of her family’s status. And oh by the way she sees Yolai, class of supernatural monsters, spirits, and demons, that have haunted Japan since time immemorial. Not all the Yokai have evil intent, but the description are wonderfully creepy.
“She looks like a scream made flesh.”
Yes, it’s a stellar fantasy that embraces Japanese mythology and a lot of manga. There is also something more to this creative fantasy, it’s the depth and development of the character, Kira, as she her story unfolds. Her growth is depicted in symbolically within the storyline. Realizing her strength, and coming into her own with much needed unexpected help.
“I suppose even death looks beautiful, sometimes. But its beauty is a lie.”
Japanese folklore and Kurosawa’s are perfectly blended in this mesmerizing retelling of an old, classic film by Akira Kurosawa, Seven Samurai, add a little Anime, and you have the perfect combination. A breathtaking fantasy exploration outside western culture.
Easy to follow seamless narration with intriguing world building that is incredibly vibrant. I especially enjoyed the glossary that is added to the back of the book, I usually research on my own when presented with mythology from other cultures. So, this was a added bonus for me.
Courtney Alameda
Valynne E. Maetani
Valynne E. Maetani (pronounced Vuh-lin Mah-eh-tah-nee) grew up in Utah and obtained a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania. In a former life, she was a project manager and developed educational software for children with learning disabilities. Currently, she is a full-time writer. She is a member of the We Need Diverse Books team and is dedicated to promoting diversity in children’s literature because every child should grow up believing his or her story deserves to be told. Her debut novel, Ink and Ashes, is the winner of the New Visions Award 2013, a Junior Library Guild 2015 selection, and Best Fiction Book in Salt Lake City Weekly’s Best of Utah Arts Award for 2015. She lives in Salt Lake City.
Gwendalyn’s Books 