She and her twin sister, Kishi, are opposites in many ways but share the same love for each other, familiarity with the ocean, and competitive nature. Its weaknesses, to me, came from trying to do a bit too much with one story. I did like this book and thought the main characters were delightful. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins Children’s Book for allowing me to read this work. Overall, this was an enjoyable YA fantasy read – I loved the setting and the world but felt cheated by the end. As far as I’m aware, there is no planned sequel, so it was a shame to get through the whole work and be left with that feeling. The ending was atypical for YA fantasy, and while I enjoyed how bittersweet it was, there was also a part of it that was deeply unsatisfying and left many unnecessary unanswered questions. One big one was the fact that most people in the world don’t believe in the gods/goddesses, but near the beginning of the work, the protagonist acts like it’s not surprising that they’re talking to her and offering her aid.
There were a few things that felt inconsistent in this story, though. I enjoyed Kai’s growth throughout the story, and while she still didn’t necessarily make the best choices by the end of the work, they were in line with her character and understandable. The characters were also well written, with unique motivations, voices, and feelings, which made them all feel like real people. However, I did feel that the author tried to incorporate a bit too much of this into this book, and that it would have been more powerful to limit the number of fairytales/lore that were included and focus a bit more on some typical worldbuilding (better situating the story in time, a little more info about the empire/factions, etc.). The worldbuilding was engaging and well written – the author incorporated folklore and cultural details throughout the story and characters in a way that brought the setting to life. This work is set in a world inspired by Japanese culture, folklore, and legends. Tasked with stealing a magic pearl from a powerful fox, she is exposed to dangers, criminals, and underhanded dealings, risking everything to try and save her sister. After attempting to rescue her sister, she realizes she must strike a deal with the gods to save her. They’ve been fighting and more competitive with each other lately, so when a tragic accident occurs while they’re diving together, Kai can’t help but feel guilty. Kai and Kishi are twins who are both pearl divers like their mother. Woven through with Japanese culture and legends, this many-layered story will grip readers of all ages. And when a new friendship becomes something almost as powerful as her love for her sister, Kai must make impossible choices and risk everything just to get home again. As she journeys across treacherous land scape, Kai must navigate encounters with scheming bandits, a power-hungry war lord, and a legion of conniving fox spirits. Kai strikes a deal with the she’ll steal a magic pearl in exchange for her sister’s soul. But such a rescue is beyond the power of an ordinary mortal. Still, when Kishi is stolen and killed by the legendary Ghost Whale, nothing will stop Kai from searching for her, deep in the ocean, hoping for a way to bring her back to life.
But Kishi is the obedient daughter, while Kai tries to push the rules, and sometimes they fight. Kai and Kishi share the same futon, the same face, and the same talent for pearl diving. Set in a world inspired by pre-Shogun era Japan, this is a stunning debut fantasy in the vein of Grace Lin about how a young pearl diver goes to the ends of the earth to rescue her twin sister, who has been stolen by a ghost whale.
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