Issunboshi graphic novel (excerpt)

 My Thoughts:

The story of Issunboshi is from a Japanese children's tale. Issunboshi is the Asian variety Tom Thumb, but this small warrior, raised by an older couple  who prayed for a child, is timely in this time of renewed Asian hate crimes and "oni" or ogre behavior in society.

The illustrations by Ryan Lang seem three-dimensional even in black and grey. The detail and movement in these panels are just beautiful. They lend to the legendary status of this story. In addition, like any good modern hero, Issunboshi is playful and hilarious. He has been left in the dark about his past so that he could grow up in a loving, peaceful little village, but the time has come for him to embrace his destiny, even if he does not understand what it is. As for his elder parents, even they understand that this gift of time they had with him was just in preparation for his future mission. 

The excerpt I got from the publishers was just enough to understand the conflict, understand the mission (before the characters) and bind the reader to this little hero. This is a must have for the middle grades classroom and it will continue to be passed around. 

From the Publishers:

In a feudal Japan where creatures of myth and folklore are real, a demon sets out to reforge an ancient weapon to take over the world. The only person who can stop him is a six-inch-tall would-be samurai, who also happens to be the final and most important piece of the weapon. 

Publishing information:

Author, artist: Ryan Lang

Publisher: Oni Press

Publication date: November 22, 2022

Empress of All Seasons

Publication date: November 6, 2018

Tags: fantasy, feudal Japan, supernatural, YA, adventure, romance, action

My thoughts:

Hooray for the new breed of Japanese female warriors cropping up in YA fantasy! They bring their culture and their collective ferocity and loyalty to a genre that sometimes makes the men weak in order to raise up the women. 

The two books that will introduce the YA/Fantasy audience to feudal Japanese, strong, female characters are Empress of all Seasons and Julie Kagawa's October release Shadow of the Fox.

I don't think their stories, although both fantasy, are similar in plot, however, the main characters have similar dispositions and the supernatural element as well as the time period is so similar that for a little while I felt like I had read this book before. 

Also, once the competition starts in the season rooms, things start feeling a bit like Catching Fire.

So yes, this book feels familiar, but it is a good familiar and I enjoyed the read. 

Description:

In a palace of illusions, nothing is what it seems.

Each generation, a competition is held to find the next empress of Honoku. The rules are simple. Survive the palace’s enchanted seasonal rooms. Conquer Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall. Marry the prince. All are eligible to compete—all except yōkai, supernatural monsters and spirits whom the human emperor is determined to enslave and destroy. Mari has spent a lifetime training to become empress. Winning should be easy. And it would be, if she weren't hiding a dangerous secret. Mari is a yōkai with the ability to transform into a terrifying monster. If discovered, her life will be forfeit.  As she struggles to keep her true identity hidden, Mari’s fate collides with that of Taro, the prince who has no desire to inherit the imperial throne, and Akira, a half-human, half-yōkai outcast. Torn between duty and love, loyalty and betrayal, vengeance and forgiveness, the choices of Mari, Taro, and Akira will decide the fate of Honoku in this beautifully written, edge-of-your-seat YA fantasy.

An advanced copy provided by Net Galley and the publisher for an honest review.