This book is so so so good. Loved every second of it. Super well written. Loved the characters. I give it 4 stars. I recommend everyone!

”Remember, remember, who you truly are, Kory. Make them regret ever challenging us.”

OMG, CAN WE TALK ABOUT THE COVER?! It's seriously stunning, like I can't even handle how cool it is 😍. But for real, this book was awesome! I was hooked from the start, totally sweet, adventurous, and had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. Loved it!

What to expect:
🐉 Found Family
🐉 Fallen Gods
🐉 Asian mythology
🐉 Will they, won’t they?
🐉 Fight Scenes
🐉 Chronic illness rep
🐉 DRAGONS
🐉 Girls with swords

Alright, here's a quick summary! So, we've got Kaguya-hime, banished from the moon, and Yuki, accused of murder and kicked out of the imperial city of Gobe. Things get spicy when Yuki's life collides with the dragon god Ryu, and suddenly they're smack in the middle of a battle to save the mortal realm from Izanami, the ruler of the land of the dead. It's all about love, loss, betrayal, and loyalty, with secrets flying left and right.

Intrigued? SAME HERE! When I read the blurb, I was like, "Count me in!" So, I took a chance and requested this arc, and when I got accepted, I was over the moon (thanks for that!). As soon as I started reading, the writing had me hooked from the get-go. The first line? Pure gold. It got me wondering where this book was headed, and I gotta say, I was not disappointed. While that first line grabbed me, the rest of the writing kept me in its grip. The pacing? Just right. The short chapters gave it this kinda slow burn feel, but with a bit of oomph, you know? It had me turning pages like crazy. Rachael Krotec? A total talent. Plus, she made Japanese myths super accessible. I mean, I'm no expert in that stuff, but she explained it all so seamlessly. Now I feel like I've got a handle on it. Impressive, right? Loved every bit of it!

The characters? Pretty cool, if you ask me. They had their quirks and all, but I kinda wish they had a tad more depth. Like, I don't LOVE them, but I do like them. Their personalities, their inner battles, and how bold they were? All on point. But a little more depth would've pushed them into LOVE territory for me. What really got me, though, was the lesson they taught: rewrite your OWN story. Super important stuff, you know? Watching them face their challenges and eventually rewrite their own perfect story? That hit different. It's a reminder for all of us to take charge of our own narratives. Pretty beautiful, if you ask me.

So, about the romance... it wasn't smack dab in the middle of the book, but it was sprinkled in there, you know? I savored every little bit of it. Plus, the whole found family vibe added a sweet touch. Towards the end, the romance kicked up a notch, and man, it was just lovely. I had a blast with this book, seriously. Totally recommend it, especially if you're into Asian, especially Japanese, mythology. But even if you're not, give it a shot!

PUBLICATION DATE:
7th of June, 2024

*Thank you NetGalley, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, and the author for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.*

Thank you as always to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author Rachael Krotec for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinions and review!

I'll be straight up: teenage girls are going to love this, especially if they have any passing interest in Japanese mythology. Dragons, yokai, mononoke, and Shinto myths walk across the pages in this very loose retelling of Kaguya-hime and the Bamboo Cutter. I would definitely recommend some familiarity with Japanese myths, but it's not required at all, the author does a solid job at giving you enough info to understand what's going on, and I suspect this book could be kindling to ignite interest in learning about Japan's mythology and Shinto religion. If I had been 13-16 when this book came out, it would've been my everything; (Kwaidan: Stories and Studies of Strange Things was one of my favorite books to re-read at that age) If you have younger teen readers in your house, I highly recommend this book for them. It's a fun, pretty easy read with a colorful ensemble cast of likable characters, and it comes to a satisfying conclusion.