Kojiki

I couldn't stop reading it

This is another of those predictable, half-finished stories written by a Westerner who loves anime. The writer has latched onto a handful of iconographic Japanese names and places and imposed a Shakespearean drama onto a Japanese setting. It does not work. It does not even come close to working. If you enjoyed the "Twilight" series, then you will probably enjoy "Kojiki". In a very real sense, this book is little more than "Twilight" or "Buffy, the Vampire Slayer" retold with Japanese iconography.

A great read! Can't put it down!

Angry Robot is a publisher that I find I really like. I'll gladly read anything that they publish and nine times out of ten I will be really impressed and thrilled with the book. But when they disappoint, they do so in a big way. This one disappoints.The opening chapter drew me and I was ready for another grand adventure. And then it lost me - really fast.A young woman, Keiko, travels to Japan after her father disappears but has left a note, instructing her where to go and what to do. Sort of. His note is a little bit cryptic, but Keiko heads off and finds a land where dragons attack subways and Keiko herself may be in line for god-hood.I've tried to understand why I didn't care for this book. It's entirely possible that Japanese/Chinese mythology (of which this is rife) is not my 'thing' since I was also not fond of Alyc Helms' Missy Master series either. I didn't initially think this would be the case as I'm very fond of sumi-e (a Japanese art form) and Noh theatre and absolutely love many ancient mythologies. But maybe Japanese mythology...?But maybe it's not me. Maybe author Keith Yatsuhashi didn't spend enough time developing the character of Keiko, instead did a lot of world-building (it's no easy feat to combine an ancient mythology with a modern world).Maybe it's because the narrative rambles. This book relies on the use of flashbacks (as does Alyc Helms' as I recall) and sometimes these flashbacks come out of nowhere. You might be two pages in, wondering what the heck is going on, before you realize that this is a flashback scene.The dialog never sounded quite right to me ... it came across like the anime programs my children watched when they were younger. In fact, most of this book struck me as a novelization of anime/manga shows and comics. Keiko could easily be compared to <em>Avatar: The Last Airbender</em> (a show my sons watched a decade ago). And while I grew up reading comics and absolutely love mythology, I can not stand anime. And maybe that's the problem? This is anime without the pictures?Whether it's for one of the reasons listed above, or something else entirely, this book just didn't appeal to me, even though its basic idea seems pretty interesting.Looking for a good book? <em>Kojiki</em> by Keith Yatsuhashi is a YA fantasy with a Japanese mythology theme that reads like the story for an old anime cartoon.I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Kojiki is a wonderful ride. The plot moves lyrically. The story moves from excitement to quieter moments in an ebb and flow that is tough achieve in an epic fantasy. Keiko was a great introduction to the world of Kami and their guardians. She's snarky and quick to learn, but not helpless and not too much of the "Chosen One." I loved learning about the magic system with her as our lens.Speaking of magic, the writing of the battles is something to learn from. It's visual and engaging without feeling like you're moving too quickly between spells. Yatsuhashi takes great care in establishing the spells, to the point that at the end of the book, the reader doesn't need to have taken notes. The humanization of both the gods and the mystical creatures pulls the story together and adds an extra layer of depth.That being said, I'm not sure if Paitr was a necessary character. He seemed to be another loose end to tie up once the main conflict was resolved and I kept losing his purpose in the story. Keeping the relationships among the gods would have strengthened it for me.If you enjoy western epic fantasy and Japanese mythology, this lyrical tale is for you.

Kojiki is a fun, action-packed fantasy with a blockbuster cinematic feel to it, focused on epic battles between element spirits and the mysterious history of main character Keiko’s missing father. The big, sprawling battles are flashy and dramatic--and, in the spirit of blockbuster action movies, sometimes run a little longer than I necessarily have the attention span for--and Keiko is a relatable young woman who embodied a dichotomy of youthful uncertainty and driven passion to do what is right. Her dynamic with Yui is fun and captavitating, and my biggest complaint for this book is that it didn’t spend more time focusing on that relationship in favor of the interpersonal conflicts of the other spirits, though those characters are interesting in their own right, striking the right balance between possessing non-human sensibilities while still having relatable motivations and reactions in the conflict raging between them. Overall, Kojiki is an exciting and spirited fantasy adventure.

This is a nice read if you're into, suspense or, "I wonder whats going to happen next", I was leaning towards, maybe should follow what her father wanted, but then I thought, maybe she should go the opposite way. Everyone's choice will choice should normally be based off morals, and your opinion may change the more you understand or read. Good read.

Great book, arrived promptly.