Spirit's Princess

Spirit's Princess #1

by Esther M. Friesner

Himiko the beloved daughter of a chieftain in third century Japan has always been special. The day she was born there was a devastating earthquake, and the tribe's shamaness had an amazing vision revealing the young girl's future—one day this privileged child will be the spiritual and tribal leader over all of the tribes. Book One revolves around the events of Himiko's early teen years—her shaman lessons, friendships, contact with other tribes, and journey to save her family after a series of tragic events. Once again, Esther Friesner masterfully weaves together history, myth, and mysticism in a tale of a princess whose path is far from traditional.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Fantasy, Historical, Mythology, Japan, Fiction

452 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Esther M. Friesner was educated at Vassar College, where she completed B.A's in both Spanish and Drama. She went to on to Yale University; within five years she was awarded an M.A. and Ph.D. in Spanish. She taught Spanish at Yale for a number of years before going on to become a full-time author of fantasy and science fiction. She has published twenty-seven novels so far; her most recent titles include Temping Fate from Penguin-Puffin and Nobody's Princess from Random House.

Her short fiction and poetry have appeared in Asimov's, Fantasy & Science Fiction, Aboriginal SF, Pulphouse Magazine, Amazing, and Fantasy Book, as well as in numerous anthologies. Her story, "Love's Eldritch Ichor," was featured in the 1990 World Fantasy Convention book.

Her first stint as an anthology editor was Alien Pregnant By Elvis, a collection of truly gonzo original tabloid SF for DAW books. Wisely, she undertook this project with the able collaboration of Martin H. Greenberg. Not having learned their lesson, they have also co-edited the Chicks In Chainmail Amazon comedy anthology series for Baen Books, as well as Blood Muse, an anthology of vampire stories for Donald I Fine, Inc.

"Ask Auntie Esther" was her regular etiquette and advice column to the SFlorn in Pulphouse Magazine. Being paid for telling other people how to run their lives sounds like a pretty good deal to her.

Ms. Friesner won the Nebula Award for Best Short Story of 1995 for her work, "Death and the Librarian," and the Nebula for Best Short Story of 1996 for "A Birth Day." (A Birth Day" was also a 1996 Hugo Award finalist.) Her novelette, "Jesus at the Bat" was on the final Nebula ballot in the same year that "Death and the Librarian" won the award. In addition, she has won the Romantic Times award for Best New Fantasy Writer in 1986 and the Skylark Award in 1994. Her short story, "All Vows," took second place in the Asimov's SF Magazine Readers' Poll for 1993 and was a finalist for the Nebula in 1994. Her Star Trek: Deep Space Nine novel, Warchild, made the USA TODAY bestseller list.

She lives in Connecticut with her husband, two children, two rambunctious cats, and a fluctuating population of hamsters.

Reviews

[Krystle · Rating 1 out of 5]

Actual Review: This is going to be very long and probably will delve into being overly detailed and lecture-y at some points so bear with me on that point.

(If you are coming here to troll my review because children's books are for children and therefore they shouldn't be factually accurate and held to the same standards, go screw yourself! Instead of blabbing your crap on my review space write your own damn review and satisfy your misinformed needs instead!)

You have no idea how much this book infuriated me. It makes me bleed rage and I don't why I struggled with it for as long as I did. I take great offense whenever someone does not portray my culture, my history, and my heritage respectfully. I will forgive misinformed or incorrect details here and there if the author shows a sincere effort in her research but just slipped up somewhere, but not this one. There was a grievous lack of any of the sort. Hulk-smashing territory for sure. Ugh.

Okay, I'm digressing away from my real review. Let's not start in on the amount of historical inaccuracies (and, boy, are they many) and get into the story mechanics; plot, character, prose, what not.

That great legendary leader who's now more mythic figure than actual person? Forget that! Himiko is turned into such a pathetic loser! She is AGGRAVATING to read from. She is a whiny, selfish, obnoxious brat who lacks common sense and is practically inept at everything she does. Wants to prove father and male figures wrong that a girl can become a hunter? She goes out a tree, falls, breaks her leg, and wails about it. Really, how does climbing a giant tree prove you can be a useful hunter? Then she's all upset how they never let her do anything so she goes into the forest looking for the blooming sakura trees and guess what? Gets herself WAY LOST. What?! Then she whines and complains about that some more. Oh gawds. Shut yourself, woman, before I do it for you!

Now let's talk about the whole magical bits. From what I recall, the author liked to employ a more subtle magical realism method in her stories to, I guess, emphasize that it's really her characters who are the real movers and doers here instead of the magic. Well, the magical bits here (the gods that talk to her) are ridiculous. They're inserted in abruptly, without transition, and at unneeded times that said influence of gods become comical, almost a farce. If that's really the whole basis for having your character become the RULING shaman of Japan, let me pound the ground in laughter.

All right-y, now that we've got that out of the way, what else should I discuss? Oh right, how this book is so very LONG. Most of the author's other books in the YA genre are only 200-300 pages long so I don't understand WHAT merited her dire need to write a story that was over 400, especially with such a non-substantial plot like this. Oh, wait. Is it because Ancient Japan is just SO big and epic you just HAD to do it justice and bloat your story with unnecessary scenes?

Yes, that's right. Bloated. There are TONS and TONS of useless scenes that don't do anything or go on for far longer than needed. Case in point, Himiko getting lost. Or that other time when she's taken in by the shaman of her tribe and all she does is menial chores like dumping out water, cleaning dishes, working on crops, blah blah blah. Are we joking?

What is the point of having such a LARGE portion of this book spend on her childhood upbringing? Really? I don't think it merits HALF the book (or from what I've read of it, could have been longer). Not only are we stuck with her infantile whining but this long, overly slow exposition to the real stuff. Could the pacing be made any slower? Ugh.

Also, I don't get what the fascination the author has with inserting sakura into multiple scenes. Okay, I know that sakura is the penultimate metaphor in Japanese language and culture for the arrival of spring and the transience of life but seriously? Yes, I get that this is set in JAPAN and you don't need to forcibly remind us over and over again that we're in this setting. I think I can figure it out for myself, thank you very much.

Was there anything else? Nah, can't remember and don't care.

Okay, now let's get into the real meat of the review - the historical inaccuracies. To say I was appalled is an understatement. I was disgusted would be the better term.

the golden witch wrote a lovely review here and while she thinks the time period the original took place is during the Yayoi period, I believe it's in the very early Kofun period simply because the amount of information that is available to use (from Japanese sources, I discount Korean or Chinese ones simply because they are not directly from the place of origin and I like to work with a country's own material at the start) is very vague and conflicting.

Anyway, let's start with the easiest thing to pick with - names. Using modern day common names - Masa, Yuriko, etc - and then using them in a historical context is wrong! Names in Japanese during Ancient Japan were very different being that they were much more grandiose and longer employing the "no" particle to designate which family a person came from (if they're of noble background). It's just really lazy to just think any old Japanese name will work for whatever time period. I mean, my grandfather's father's name is Genzo - a very masculine and samurai sounding name, but if someone were to have that name in a modern context now we would see it as being archaic and stiff.

I constantly harped on the fact that this book felt like an appropriation of Native American culture to a Japanese one. Why? Well, they all live in tribal villages, convene with their spirit gods via vision quests, and what have you. Really? REALLY? Where is the evidence that the people during this time DID these things? I'll go into more detail later but what really had me spitting was when it was remarked upon that one of the characters wore a HEADDRESS of FEATHERS. EXCUSE ME?! DO YOU SEE ANY JAPANESE PERSON DURING ANY PERIOD OF TIME WEAR A HEADDRESS OF FEATHERS?! I was about to stomp and crush this book but it was an e-book and I can't kill my precious Nook that way.

Anyway, let's get back to the time period things, shall we? During the Kofun period, while there may still have been tribes who focused on the hunter-gatherer system, there is already the formation of a centralized government which is rapidly growing in power. Therefore, most tribes or villages would have convened into larger and more structured and organized places of residence. They would not have been unconnected and so far spread out as it is made to appear in this book. How would they have established trade and received valuable resources if all they did was kept to themselves?

What really bothered me was how so healthy and well fed all of the people are. Japan, during this time, was a very dirty, disgusting, unsanitary place that frequently experienced famines and suffered through ravaging diseases. Sure, they would have started to learn the agricultural practice of farming for their own food and growing crops but at this point in time they were growing ALL the wrong things which were not nutritious or strengthening for them, leading to the constant amount of deaths and short lives. The people were short and had weak immune systems. You can see this by scroll work paintings depicting people having horrible diarrhea, vomiting, or being excessively skinny. They didn't even drink clean water! They only began to get better when the Buddhist monks came in and brought with them tea and TAUGHT them to heat their own water.

Secondly, the Shinto religion would be WELL established by now at this point in time. It really had me STEAMING when I saw all the passages about the people going off for hunting and bringing back deer or what not. The Japanese were by and by a VEGETARIAN society. It is HIGHLY frowned upon in the Shinto religion to kill animals and anyone who KILLS animals and handles dead animals for consumption is severely outcasted in society.

I will quote wikipedia for this:

Fundamental Shinto beliefs equated goodness and godliness with purity and cleanliness, and they further held that impurities could cling to things and persons, making them evil or sinful. But a person could become seriously contaminated by habitually killing animals or committing some hideous misdeed that ripped at the fabric of the community, such as engaging in incest or bestiality. Such persons, custom decreed, had to be cast out from the rest of society, condemned to wander from place to place, surviving as best they could by begging or by earning a few coins as itinerant singers, dancers, mimes, and acrobats.

In fact, these people who dealt with the tanning of leather, butchering of meat, killed animals or whatever, were called BURAKUMIN, or were under the eta class. The lowest of the low. In fact, people considered them SUB-HUMAN and a very telling quote said by a politician as an example of this is: "An eta is worth 1/7 of an ordinary person." These people were forced to live in DIRE conditions, including severe poverty, extreme racism, and a terrible quality of life. The Japanese government used to make people who were of burakumin ancestry REGISTER this into their records so the general public could technically look up if their sorta shifty neighbor was a burakumin or not and legally kick them out. It's not until the Meiji/Edo period when Westerners started coming into Japan in abundance after the abolition of the Isolation Policy did the general population start eating meat. (The real nobles/very high class were exempt from these meat eating beliefs because you know people in absolute power can do whatever they want)

So you can BET that they would not be looked at so HONORABLY as it's made to seem like in the book. They would be reviled and thrown out or subsequently ignored and would definitely not rise to such prominent status in their village. Of course, it's not the same today because of modernization and movement away from traditionally held beliefs and the influx of many different religions and people from vastly different backgrounds. I believe the burakumin registering bit has been done away with BUT whenever there's a horrible murder or what not the point is always made to bring up a person's burakumin status if they so have it.

I would think that living in such terrible and difficult would make Himiko a much more mature and responsible person. Apparently not. Ugh. This is a complete disgrace to her identity and figure as a whole and I wish the author had just left her story alone so someone who was far better equipped could write about her. Or even one who does their research PROPERLY.

This book sickens me. Sure I get why the author would do this; you know paint ancient Japan as a mythical and romanticized place of beauty and magic by putting a layer of gloss over it to make it sparkle but this is just WRONG. This was not how Japan was and it represents my history so horrifically and when someone REALLY does look up how things were they're going to be so disappointed and angry that it did not meet their preconceived perceptions.

I am outraged. Absolutely outraged.


Pre-Review:I have a morbid fascination with this book. I love Japan and its history and I'm moderately acquainted with it seeing as how I graduated with a major in the Japanese language. So when I saw a book about JAPANESE history and from the pov of a Japanese person I was so excited. But everything about this book screams wrong just from the cover.

I have read some of this author's other books and I don't have much hope for it.

The premise for this book sets off warning flags immediately. The 3rd century in Japan or the Kofun period (250-538 AD) has very little written historical evidence from that time period to substantiate a thorough understanding of it. Sure there is the Nihon Shoki, the Kojiki, and other documents but these are written after the Kofun period has already passed, so it's very ambiguous as to whether this is a good source of information.

Of course there are archaeological artifacts but they don't really bring about an understanding to the full scope of that time period. Furthermore there some egregious errors on the cover itself.

Who the hell designed this thing? The girl wearing the kimono has the obi tied way too low. It's almost an insult. And she's missing the Nagajuban and Hadajuban which are undershirts to prevent the kimono from getting dirty because they're made of silk and typically very expensive. The amount of skin she has exposed would be considered shameful. Also kimono didn't really become in fashion until the Heian period (794-1185), so this cover is historically inaccurate. And what is up with this girl's hair? Did they take some ridiculously modified Chinese hairstyle and plaster it on her to make it seem exotic? Good grief. It looks fucking ridiculous.

It's rather... unsettling that she wrote this about Himiko. There isn't much information about her and it's debated if she really existed or not but she's really looked up to. She was a shaman queen who rose up to rule the entire country through times of warfare and internal strife. It was said she was rarely seen outside of the palace, so I doubt she'd be so outgoing as she's stated to be in this book.

Yeah, I don't have much faith in this.

[usagi ☆ミ · Rating 1 out of 5]

I grit my teeth and got through about 60 pages before I threw in the towel. Here's where I was more or less screaming "YOU'RE DOING IT WRONG" at the book:

1. Setting: The period in which this is set (mid-Yayoi Era - 300BCE to 300CE) has the land that Himiko/Pimiko (if she existed) known as the kingdom of Wa (Chinese) or Yamataikoku (precursor to the Yamato nation, which was precursor to the various States that became the Warring States, which was precursor to a reunified Japan under the Shogunate several hundred years later). No mention of this is made in the book whatsoever from the get-go. Were they clannish? Yes. But they also had a royal court system, through which Himiko rose to power. Not known is much about her, but she would have also been raised within the royal complex or an aristocratic family in order to marry into the royal family. Friesner has them as a nomadish clan, not unlike Native Americans. WRONG. We know from the one large burial record (Chopstick Mound Grave in what's now Nara, Japan), that the Yamataikoku most likely existed in southern Japan - the Kinki area, where Kyushu is today, and that there was a royal court there with roots - not a roaming one.

2. Names: Friesner used names that are more acquainted with modern (modern meaning Meiji Era/1868 onward) Japanese names. Himiko, if she really existed at all, would have family members with names like Yamatohime-no-mikoto (who might have actually been related to Himiko through one of three Shaman families that rose to power within Yamataikoku during the Yayoi era), not simply "Masa" or "Aki". WRONG. Had this been a modern retelling, I could probably forgive it. But this is calling itself YA historical fiction. Nope.

3. Himiko herself: Would have been raised and reared as a proper lady, and watched constantly if she was indeed born into the royal family of Yamataikoku and did not marry into it, to ensure that she would marry and produce heirs. No tree climbing or hunting for her, and she would have been more docile, Shaman Queen or not, with the male members of her family. Her clothes would have been nicer, not the dirty tunics as mentioned by this Himiko's POV in chapter one, and she would have gotten in HUGE trouble for trashing any one of her outfits because they were simply so expensive and so labor intensive to make. However, her mother seems to disregard this entirely after she finds Himiko hurt after falling out of the Grandfather tree.


I understand wanting to use a legend to write your book, but for the love of everything holy, PLEASE DO YOUR RESEARCH FIRST. Or at least put a forward/afterword about how your subject might never have existed at all.

You know who did this correctly? Katherine Longshore in "Gilt" - she plainly discloses as an afterword what liberties she took as opposed to what we know happened in the actual Tudor/Howard court, as well as the possibilities of what might have happened, or where historical evidence was weak and she decided to put her own spin on that. Now that's how to do it right.

However, Friesner did not disclose any of this.

With Freisner's previous subjects in her previous books, we had more concrete proof that they existed, so she had more to work with. I've taken this into account. She took a big risk here. While I admire that, it felt like she didn't do the work needed to balance that risk out. It feels a bit like exploitation, as even today Himiko is taught in the Japanese school curriculum as has been long-revered as an idol of rule in times of strife. A 2008 study says that in elementary schools across Japan, she has been recognized by over 90% of all students, so Himiko is kind of a big deal. Everyone knows about her, even in the most basic of terms there.

However, I know that because of the fact that there's so much speculation and so little concrete first-hand evidence (most of the evidence we do have that's from the actual time period is from China, and then several hundred years later, second-hand accounts from the Japanese "Nihon Shoki", "Kojiki", and to a far lesser extent, the "Manyoshu" documents), that this is ripe for retellings and creative works within any genre, not just YA, that plays with speculative fiction and historical fiction. And usually, I'm fine with that. But it was extremely obvious that only the most basic research (Himiko, if she existed, became the Shaman Queen of Japan at the time) was put into this. It was half-assed, and it makes me angry.

So, one star. While I'm all for retellings, this one made me ill because of the lack of obvious respect to a revered cultural figure. I can understand why people enjoyed this who don't really know the history behind the figure that is Himiko - Friesner's style is very easy to read, and generally sets a good MG/young YA tone. But I urge you guys to spend your time on "Gilt" or some other better researched, better disclosed YA historical/speculative fiction book for the year, as this one just frankly doesn't deserve anyone's time.

(posted to goodreads, shelfari, and birthofanewwitch.wordpress.com)

[Eustacia Tan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since I'm now living in Japan, I'm especially interested books about it - fiction, non-fiction, anything can get my interest. So when I saw the blurb of "Spirit's Princess" on NetGalley, I knew I had to read it. And I wasn't disappointed at all.

Spirit's Princess is the fictionalised account of the mythological figure Queen Himiko, who was supposed to have ruled over the Yayoi (ancient Japanese). The book (book 1) follows her early years, from growing up to her Shaman training and her struggle to be accepted as the Shaman of her tribe (the Matsu tribe).

Because the book is set in Ancient Japan, it's imbued with Animism. I heard that the book is not very historically accurate, but frankly, I know nothing about that period anyway so I can't say that I have any strong feelings about the other details mentioned in the book. But I'm pretty sure that they practiced Animism. Although there's a short period of time where Himiko feels that all the spirits want from humans is fear, it quickly goes back to the point of view that the spirits are generous and good. To me, the book would not have felt as real if it didn't include this aspect, but some readers might avoid the book because of this. Personally, I don't see any threat to my faith because this was how it was, and to avoid it or put in something that wasn't there would have make the book feel inauthentic to me.

Now, on to the characters. Since this is essentially a fictionalised biography, the characters are really important. And they don't disappoint us. I empathised with Himiko from the beginning, from her wish to be a hunter (When she's expected to be a lady, i.e. marry and give birth). Her mother was understandable, though sometimes annoying in her overprotectiveness. And of course, Lady Yama was the lovable old grouch ( a stereotype that I hardly get annoyed with). There are other characters (like Aki), of course, but I don't need to go into detail about them. I liked all the characters except Himiko's father (what a grouch!) although I could understand why he would think the way he did.

Talking about her father, there's actually a really interesting backstory involving him in the book. It's also one of the sources of Himiko's difficulties in becoming a Shaman. I'm hoping that in the next few books, this story is explored in more detail.

Yup, I'm already looking forward to the next book. I hope I get a chance to review it too(:

Disclaimer: I got a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

First posted at Inside the mind of a Bibliophile

[K · Rating 3 out of 5]

First off…I have two ratings for this books, as such this review will be divided into two sections.

The “official” rating, in which I took into account the novel as a reader that did not know any history or background on the subject matter; and then the rating from a history-buff’s POV.

Official rating: 3.5/5 stars
History-Buff rating: 1.5/5 stars


Freisner’s previous books have all been a joy to read, albeit some historical mistakes, but nevertheless enjoyable. Spirit’s Princess is in the same boat, except far more historical inaccuracies.


Nevertheless, simply reading the book for fun and not taking into account the mistakes, or even better if you didn’t even recognize any, this book is quite the fun read.

The characters were also pretty good.
Himiko, the protagonist, was very likable. She's a tough heroine just as all of Friesner's characters have been before her. The novel allowed me to truly get inside her head and how she viewed the world around her. Himiko was independent, sometimes a little too independent but I liked her spark.
I also really liked Lady Yama, the shaman, she was truly a teacher and inspiration to Himiko and I loved the interactions between the two.
I also loved the personalities that were given to Himiko's family, her mother and step-mothers and her father, as well as her three brothers; they were fantastic.

The writing was great, the characters were really enjoyable, and the pacing and plot was great.
I really enjoyed the part where Himiko has a dream with the “Prince.” Looking forward to seeing more of him in the next installment.


Now…

Going into the things that irked me to no end, as a history-buff, but most likely won’t affect the majority of readers…

Let’s start off with the names…
Friesner used names that are far more conversant with modern—Meiji Era/1868+—Japanese names, since this takes palce within the Yayoi era. Himiko—Some Historians believe that her name was actually “Pimiko”, but even I agree with then fact that she’s more commonly known as Himiko—, if she truly existed, would have family members with names like Yamatohime-no-mikoto or Ooyamatonekohikofutoni-no-Mikoto, not merely “Masa” or “Aki”. I understand the significance or shortening the names within novels, but if anything, the full-length names should have been included, instead of simply substituting them with modern names. Even Himiko’s name was documented as Yamatototohimomosohime [倭迹迹日百襲媛命], but also documented as shorted to H/Pimiko. Since this was supposed to be based within the era, I was disappointed with the lack of thought into the names and accuracy of those that were documented.

With the setting:
As I said earlier, the story of Himiko takes place within the Yayoi era, which is 300BCE to 300CE. At the time the location of the fabled Himiko’s residence, was the kingdom of Wa, as known by the Chinese or Yamataikoku.
There were clans at the time period,but there was also an intricate royal court system, in which Himiko managed to rise to power.
Regardless of the fact that very little is known about Himiko, if she even existed in fact, she would have also been raised within the royal complex or an aristocratic family in order to marry into the royal family. She was related to one of the Emperors, which undoubtedly had her placed within a stricter rule of control. Friesner has Himiko and her family as a nomadic clan, which is far from the truth.

Going on the basis that Himiko was royalty, she would have been raised and reared as a proper lady, and constantly watched, to ensure that she would marry and produce heirs.
There would have been no tenuous physical activities, no tree climbing or hunting that she does so within the novel. She would have had to have been far more docile with members of the male sex, regardless of the fact if they were her family or not.
Her clothes would have been finer, not the dirty tunics as mentioned by this Himiko’s POV from the get-go, due to not only the fact that she was a lady, but due to the fact that so much time and effort was put into the creation of just one set of clothes for her to wear.

The only reason I had trouble reading this, was due to the fact that I am well informed of the history in which the book takes place in. If I was reading this without this knowledge, then I would have truly enjoyed this book far more.

However, having said all that let me truly emphasize that Spirit’s Princess was really an intriguing, fun read and I'll be reading the sequel, but this time I’ll be prepared for it.

If you like Friesner’s other works, you’ll love this one, and if you like historical fiction—but do not truly know the era, or can overlook the inconsistencies—then you will enjoy this.

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review

[Cindee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book very much I can't wait to read the next one.I loved the characters very much especially the main character Himiko she is so very interesting with her trying to break beyond her boundaries I also liked the Japanese culture I saw in it. I liked the story very much it was well written and so very well developed. The story of Himiko and how she navigates her life with her clan and all the things that happen makes it so very interesting. So overall I loved this book it was well written.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an epic tale about the life of Himiko, a young tribal princess in ancient Japan. The character actually did live, but obviously, her story presented here is total fiction. Still, it is interesting to me to take a historical person many of us have never heard of and make her come to life.

This story is also not one of on the edge of your seat adventure as we often get with YA that has magic within. It's more about how Himiko finds herself. How she grows and finds who she really is inside. It is the journey within and the courage it takes to stand up to those that you love for what is important. It is the difference between living and having a life. This is the reason I feel it will get mixed reviews. It isn't something that will immediately capture you, but will slowly make you a part of her life. Plus, not everyone likes a philosophy type of book as I tend to gravitate toward. Just keep that in mind.

I give this story 4 stars. I found it interesting and philosophically interesting. There is adventure, but it is more the journey of self that matters in this book. I feel this is very important for the books coming after this one. It is that journey that will make her the eventual queen of peace. I will warn you that the ending is abrupt (which I dearly hate) but it will end up making you want the next one to see what will happen. I really can't wait to see what will happen and I know I'll be reading that book as soon as I can get my hands on it.

[♠ TABI⁷ ♠ · Rating 2 out of 5]

So this was a bit of a spectacular letdown . . .



While the blurb and cover teases a fast-paced, tight arc of a story about a princess with supernatural abilities, the reality is so, so, so, sooooo boring!! Sure, I guess the writing is pretty enough, but there just seemed to be a true spark missing from this book. That's what kept it from being something I could really enjoy. Everything just sort of happens, what is meant to be tense and dramatic comes off as super bland, the characters are sooooooo darn flat, and don't even get me started on the terrible, awful, no-good so-called Japanese setting . . .

I am NOT HAPPY, BOB!!!
(Cookies to anyone who gets that reference mwhahaha)

[Karsten Stiller · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great story about the youth of a mythological heroine of ancient Japan; but I needed some time to get the grip of it. That's why "only" 4 stars out of 5 :)

[Christine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm too old for this. The plot is obvious and I feel like I've read it a bunch of times in my life.

[J. Else · Rating 2 out of 5]

The rating is poor because of the ending!

I was getting into it! First off, Friesner has beautiful descriptions of the landscape -- the sun, the forests, the seasons, etc. Everything about life is made more beautiful in her writing.

I like the character development as Himiko struggled with doubt and eventual discovery with her belief in the spiritual, but the book lacked a clear direction in its first half. As a reader, you can't understand the significance of all this because it doesn't feel likes its leading anywhere! But then things get better and better. Himiko learns more, the lives around her become richer, you begin to get behind her, then ***ppphhhhlllllbbbbtttt***** What the heck was that ending? Sure, she finds hope and comes back from an incredible and mystical journey. She goes to the aid of her people... then it ends. She finds this improbable glimmer of hope, and then the lights go out. Nothing more in sight!

Friesner ends the book with a postscript of history's recording of Queen Himiko. Wait, she became a queen? I have no problem with inspiring someone to look into history and learn... but we were left with NOTHING! All the characters we had grown to care about get lost. We never feel the true ramifications of Aki's wife's death. We never see Himiko's wish come true. We never find out what happens to her family after an invasion... WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?

I see nothing in the works for a book 2. So I have to say I felt really cheated by this ending! The intention was there, give Himiko belief and hope, but it had no significance (again) to the world around her. How did she unite the clans? How did she free her people from slavery? Did she find the spirit prince she fell in love with? Her world as a shaman seems to open up, but then the reader is pushed off a cliff and never finds out what happens next. There's this gap between history and this novel that Friesner never crosses! Be bold! Cross the bridge! What the heck????

I also felt that Himiko's way of looking at things were a little modernized, but the ending ticked me off so much, i just have nothing else to say. Come on, Friesner, give us more of her life. Lead us further and closer to what history has left for us! You spun a deep and magical tale, then you gave up? I'm not sure what's up with that ending. WHY take the time to research, weave a tale of a woman who impacts an entire nation, but then leave us with nothing but a broken cherry blossom branch? Why??? I felt like my time was wasted reading this book. Only its beautiful writing and strong characterization saves its rating to 2 stars instead of none!

[Elise · Rating 1 out of 5]

Honestly, I was at the library and I thought the cover was funny so I read it.

This is a ridiculously stupid story of a horrendously stupid girl who happened to live in Japan a long, long time ago. First off- that wasn't a proper ending. Yeah, some one I care about dies and my family is captured by my long-ago enemy, but hey! I've got the power of the spirits! Who needs friends and family, anyways?

I also read the thing in the back talking about the historical Himiko. She sounded a lot like Lady Tsuki, who everyone in the book is afraid of and generally just hates. Lulz? Also, Friesner mentioned how this book she read for research was so detailed and accurate and contained a bunch of the names of the herbs used in Japan- hey, Friesner didn't mention any herbs in the book! Or rather, she did but didn't name them. Big mistake there. I'm pretty sure at least one of the reasons that Warriors was so popular was because they included specific details that made you feel like you were there. Like, actually there. In Spirit's Princess, you were never there. You were an outsider looking in and attempting to imagine every detail of the 464 ridiculous pages with almost no description. Some houses are on poles? That makes sense. Some are in pits? In the same village? Yes, this makes a whole lot of sense.

Annnnddd to the title. I realize that Friesner is trying to keep the theme with the Princesses of Myth series, but no. Just no. There were a bunch of spirits, and only a couple had actual names. So was it her dream guy who was literally in her dream? Nah, I'm 80% sure that he's a living character waiting to be discovered. So no specific spirit guides, or owns, or is affiliated with Himiko... the title should be Spirits' Princess. But maybe that was too confusing for you.

Yes, I realize the second book came out and the cover is like a bazillion times better than this one, but I doubt the writing will improve that much. The description says "shamaness." Wtf? They're already changing terminology on us. *sigh*

[Hannah Cobb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Himiko, born in third century Japan, has always wanted a life she can't have. First she wants to be a great hunter like her brother, Aki. Then she discovers her calling as a shaman. But tradition and family prejudices stand in her way no matter what path she takes. As she grows up, Himiko learns the importance of selfless choices, and becomes a strong and independent young woman. As usual, Esther Friesner has delved deep into a past few readers are familiar with, creating a rich historical world inhabited by real peope. Teen readers will relate to Himiko's search for a life purpose even as they learn about early Japan and its history. Reviewed through netgalley.com. Publication date: April 24, 2012.

[Rachel Robins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, if you expect historical fiction with an accurate portrayal of early Japanese life and culture....this book is not for you. I didn't get into the book until about 1/3 of the way through. I had a hard time caring about the character. I also had to make myself detach from my expectations of a historical feast.

That being said, many of you know I'm on the hunt for appropriate, good books to add to my 7th grade shelf and I'm just controlling enough that I want to read EVERY book before I offer them to the 12-13 year old masses. This is a good fiction read. Yes, there is a lot that is lacking and the main character is kind of a brat, but she does evolve and it's an interesting and appropriate plot and YES, I am curious where the author will go in book #2:)

[Bekah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Himiko (the protagonist) is a Japanese historical figure but the author definitely takes a lot of liberty in this story since there is not a lot know about Himiko. I liked the premis of the story but felt the book could have lost a hundred or more pages. Just drug on in parts. When it started to really get interesting it ended (lined up for the next book). I don't know if I will read the next in the series. It was fun to learn a little about ancient Japanese culture though!

[Soula · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got bored with the book because it didn't really have a plot but more of a memoir-feel, which began to drag. I liked how the relationships between Himiko and Aki were portrayed but I don't think the dynamics between characters were accurate, historically speaking.

[Liza]

Ha.Ha.Ha. No.

[Jenna Jakubowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this book!!!

[Alice · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book only because I had read the books by this author about Helen of Troy in 2009 and really liked it, and I read the books about queen Nefertiti in 2010. This book had been on my to read list since it came out in 2012 to continue the series, but I had stopped getting library books until I got a kindle 2 years ago for Christmas and began to read ebooks from the library once more. I thought this book was interesting since I had not heard of this historical figure Himiko, and I wanted to read it since she’s from Japan and I found that to be different than western cultures. I was gravely mistaken though to think this was an interesting book.

I give this book a 2 star rating because it took me 3 months to finish it since I was in school, but also because the plot was dreadfully boring, himiko was terrible annoying, and the book moved at a snails pace for the entitle 466 pages which I did not realize was so long because I read the kindle version. The plot was about her childhood growing up and being a shaman but it was so boring because she constantly had family issues and kept running away from home which didn’t solve the problem. I found himiko and most of the characters unlikable but her he specially since she was so annoying and constantly thought she wasn’t good enough because she couldn’t dance since she broke her leg. And the book just went on forever and the book didn’t even have a proper ending because the rest of it is told I’m book two so it ends in a cliffhanger. I am not going to read the second book though considering how boring I thought this was.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun and not predictable. I was afraid this was one of those young adult copy and paste stories, where the bones of the outline stick out. And how all in series have the nearly cloned outline bones. I suppose I've only read one, so I don't know all the rest of her books, but I don't feel an outside shape being imposed. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

It's an interesting look at a different culture. It's far enough back in time that it's hard to know if she's getting the culture right. But it doesn't feel like it's just my culture with window dressings. So if she's not getting the exact prehistorical culture right, she's at least making an internally consistent alien (to me) culture.

I didn't give it five stars because I struggle to enjoy books with autocratic males. ... Also, and maybe this is addressed and later books in the series (if they're written yet), I find them main character a bit idealized. Considering the work that is being set before her by the foreshadowing, I find it more likely that it would have been achieved by a less admirable /relatable character.

[Leah Markum · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spirit's Princess is the first of Friesner's Princesses of Myths I've read, and I chose it over the other options at the library because I haven't read a fictional book based in Japan in ages. Shortly after checking this out I came to GoodReads to add it as a current read and glimpse at the reviews. I have to say, after completing this book, I'm interested in addressing some of the common critiques that made me nervous about this series. First, though, I will share my thoughts on the story and not the setting.

Spirit's Princess is a character-driven story, a chronicle. It's a long-winded, 443-paged novel that could be written in 325 pages and retain its goodness. However, I don't mind these traits. Many books sweep through so fast you don't enjoy the character development or get truly zoned in to their mindset or the world they live in.

Himiko is a rambunctious seven-year-old at the beginning of the story doing what most little kids do at a young age: do a few stupid things in between long periods of normalness. Nine years pass in the story with narrative covering years seven, nine, eleven, thirteen, fourteen, and sixteen, though the eleventh and thirteenth years were brief. Do I want those years to pass in a paragraph like many books? Do I want those years blurring together? No to both. I appreciate the gradual approach to Himiko's shaman lessons. The family issues leading to that life change add so much meaning than if the first half of the book was simply summarized and the story started when she began her training. I loved witnessing her transition to rambunctious yet overthinking to patient and wise as a sixteen-year-old. Yet despite such keenness she still lacks the freedom to serve as a shaman.

I love the subtle hints at the history, the symbolism and manner of speaking, the foreshadowing of the next book's and the series's ultimate plot. Unique to the this book though, I suspect, is the layering of family drama. They love and care for each other, yet are condescending. They're not supportive. Many readers will find their own family weaved into one layer revealed in this story or another.

Himiko's story is part myth (and from a writer's perspective, a license for creativity and fantasy) and part history (from a reader's perspective there is some expectation of historical accuracy).

The Chinese Wei Kingdom (220-265 AD) has the only history to Himiko, a shaman queen of Wa, Japan's name at the time. She came to power after uniting clans that had warred for decades. This era of Japan is toward the end of the Yayoi Period, which had significant Chinese, Korean, and perhaps Central Asian influence. This means that by the time of the story's setting, Japan had entrenched farming, class systems, loose government formed by clan allegiances led by warlords, refined art and clothing, wide use of bronze, and a distinct form of shamanism known as Shintoism.

In the story we have a hunter gatherer society, which is a Jomon Period trait that ended roughly around 300 B.C. At the same time we have rice farming, reverence for the smith and ceramic professions, and conversations about imports and sailing between the homeland and the Mirror Kingdom a.k.a. China. This trade was isolated and rarely heard of. These are all earlier Yayoi Period hints. Class systems are loose with only a chief's family and the shaman as above others, though the clans that war have slaves. These traits fall between Jomon and Kofun (after Yayoi), so are probably Yayoi. While the pottery and weapons sound to be more than rudimentary and probably Yayoi, the descriptions of clothing as "tunics" and "dresses" with usually one option to wear on daily business despite being in a chief's household sounds more like the Jomon attire. The form of shamanism in the story was generic with a respect toward spirits of the dead and concepts of astrologically based gods. Only the shaman's respected nature spirits not assigned as clan guardians. This attitude is attributed to life in the Jomon Period.

Broadly speaking, the historical Himiko lived in 170-248 A.D. toward the end of the Yayoi Period that transitioned into Kofun culture, the start of the more iconic traditional Japan. Yet the Himiko in the story lived around 300 B.C. in a transition from the Jomon Period into the Yayoi Period.

Which also makes the book cover many centuries too advanced. The thatch buildings are accurate to 300 B.C. but the clothing came much later, even later than the historical Himiko's time.

However, the historical idiosyncrasies don't bother me. They are a good excuse to research and they are accurate, just to a different time than the story was supposed to be set. It still took me back in time and yet to a fantasy world with ambiance and wonder. A lot of books don't do that for me. Here I had an explicit image in my mind what the land and the town (and the clothing, but not the people--physical descriptions were exceedingly rare) looked like. The length of the book meant that it revisited places enough to breed enough familiarity that I could walk there myself.

I'm intrigued for the sequel.

[uniressa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will admit it was a long read, but the great story line and history behind it made that a small thing.

[Amanda Walz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. I found the main character to be very strong and a survivor.

[ReadWithE]

Dnf. Too young for me.

[Anni · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have never read a book about this time period for this culture, I thought it was interesting.

[Mara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cover Blurb: I liked the other covers for the Author’s books because you didn’t get to see the people full-on, leaving one’s own imagination to imagine what Helen of Troy or Nefertiti looked like. While I like the style of this one, I don’t like that you can see Himiko full-on.

What I Liked: The storyline was intriguing, exciting, and dramatic. Himiko starts out as a little brat, but as the story progresses she improves, and when the book ends she is a strong, sensible, and likable heroine. I loved the brother-sister relationship between her and Aki, as well as the sister relationship between her and Kaya. And it was a lot of fun to hate Himiko’s father, with his stubbornness and often cruel behavior. He was a good minor villain. While Ryo is not in this installment for long, he shows a lot of promise as the next villain.

What I Disliked: As much as I liked Himiko, there was something lacking. I didn’t become as attached to her as I did Helen and Nefertiti. Maybe it’s because she started as such a brat, whereas Helen and Nefertiti, while spoiled, didn’t really do anything bratty or cause their own problems. Himiko did. She’s still a good heroine, but I honestly didn’t like her as much as the other two princesses.

Believability: While this story contains more “magical” occurrences, the Author still portrays it in a way that feels more like historical fiction than fantasy. When something happens, it feels like you’re seeing it through the eyes of a person who believes in spirits and magic. There could be a realistic explanation, but because our narrator is superstitious, that’s not how she perceives it. And Himiko’s way of perceiving things feels very genuine indeed. Like with all of her books, Esther Friesner has clearly put a lot of research into this one, and the long Author’s Note in the back is just as interesting as the story itself.

Writing Style: I’ve never had anything to complain about when it comes to this Author’s writing. The descriptions are nice, there’s good dialogue, and she always retells things in a way that makes them feel new. This one is no different, except one thing: the plot did begin to drag. Halfway through I grew tired of no one standing up to Himiko’s father. This is a long book, remember - 400+ pages. Maintaining a stalemate between two characters for that long gets a little boring after a while. And every time the characters did stand up to Himiko’s father, they would always back down, so it became predictable what would happen when someone got up the gumption to try it again.

Content: There is nothing to complain about. It is very briefly mentioned that Himiko begins her cycle, passing from girlhood to womanhood, but the Author handles it with the utmost delicacy.

Conclusion: Once the stalemate was finally got over, the storyline picked up, and the book ends with a very promising sequel. Now that Himiko trusts her shaman gifts and knows how to control her temper, she is going to be a very good heroine, and I definitely look forward to seeing her take on Ryo.

Recommended Audience: People who like mythology retellings that are told in a historical way, as well as people who are a fan of Esther Friesner’s other books. Any age can read this one, and while girls would probably enjoy it more than guys, it’s not wholly a girl-only read.

[Teresa · Rating 2 out of 5]

WOWWWW This is book is terrible. The ending was terrible. Actually I knew it was probably not going to be an awesome,amazing because of the cover. Most of the time, when people have a really elaborate made-up model on the book, it's kind of a ploy to get you to pick it up. NOPE, not good. It's an okay book, but not really something I'd recommend because apparently, the historical facts aren't even accurate. This is more of a spun tale before the real Himiko's ruling and stuff.

Now the reasons it got only a 2 star. One, the ending is like a cliffhanger, but without the positive aspects that leave you sitting at the edge of your chair for more. This princess JUST starts to fulfill her dream. She ran away to get freedom be a shaman, then finds out that her own clan was attacked by another clan. No one remains. Before going back to see what remained of her clan, she had a fever and was in the spirit realm for twelve days (dreaming you know? sleeping?). Suppossedly she met a spirit prince that she fell in love with -rolls eyes- we don't even know whether this guy is just a spirit or is also dreaming and sent his spirit out to meet his soul mate!!! This should be revealed later on in the book right? Or if there WAS a book two, but it doesn't seem like there is! SOO we get an ending where Himiko (the princess/shaman) meets this guy in spirit realm only once and then wakes up, cured of her fever and goes off to her burned up clan and performs a purification ritual, using her stupid cherry branch wand. This dumb wand sprouts cherry blossoms at the end. And THAT'S HOW IT ENDSSS!!!! =_= Seriously??? This book should be in a trilogy continuing the story! How can any writer just write something so extravagant and deep and weave a beautiful story and then just stop halfway through, the most interesting part? The part where you expect that the heroine goes off to save her clans or or or help other clans, not just stick to a deer clan??? and really? "dancing with the sun goddess's eternal light" (last page) She really really does not end up fulfilling her dream of being RECOGNIZED as a shaman. Kind of I guess, but it's really achieved...

This plot doesn't go ANYWHERE! I was seriously expecting Himiko to go off somewhere and achieve something great. There a build-up. Someone spewed a prophecy of Himiko conquering lands or whatever. And all sorts of things, but really? it's as boring as daily life lol. Really? It ends up with like cut off. It was terrible! It was kind of dragging on the whole time. I felt it. I guess maybe there are one or two positive things about this book. Actually, one of the maybe only things I enjoyed was the bond between Himiko and her older brother, Aki. But sometimes the pattern of joking got a little repetitious. And the "truth-saying" didn't strike a chord with me at all, like the stuff the wise shaman women said blablablala. Not the way Juniper/Wise Child books do. THOSE books struck chord within me that was like WOW, THIS STUFF REALLY MAKES SENSE. But I'm probably not going to be motivated to read "Nobody's Princess" after reading this one. If there were a second book, I wouldn't be so mad about the ending.... If the other books friesner writes without sequels, and there is another build-up plot that just shuts on the climax I wouldn't want to read it.

[Jami Lowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

A breath of fresh air.

Could have done differently –
1. There are a couple of instant loves, those ‘I-can’t-live-or-love-without-you-and-I-just-glanced-upon-you’ scenes. Stupid, if I wanted one of those I’d watch a Disney Princess movie and I don’t have them in the house. However, it is a short scene and it doesn’t involve Himiko and is over shadowed by the fact that it actually serves a purpose, benefiting Himiko.
2. Four hundred and fifty pages and No one told me this was TO BE CONTIUNED!! Thankfully, the second book is out and there is only two. : )

Awesomeness –
1. Yama is the coolest old lady ever!
2. Himiko is a strong woman. She is strong of heart. Kind, loving, forgiving. She stands up for herself in a way that does not tell the other person they are stupid for their opinion and kindly, firmly and confidently tells them like it is. She learns and grows and doesn’t give up on finding herself. She questions what she believes in and what she is taught, but not rebelliously, she does it to know and understand. Then she makes a decision on what she’ll believe. Even if she is scared, she will put forth the effort and do it any way. That’s brave. When she makes a mistake, she feels bad, apologizes and does what she can to make it better. To me, this is a strong person.
3. And yet she is not without her faults that makes her human and allows for an emotion connection.
4. Very rarely do I love all the main characters in a book; this book is the exception.
5. Gentle humor
6. Every situation serves a purpose.
7. Kind, loving atmosphere. Parents, siblings, friends… When they get into a fight, they will reconcile.
8. Lady Badger and her mom. (Seriously, just read it. They are awesome characters!)
9. So many wonderful saying to quote!
10. Get to experience the growth and change Himiko goes through. She starts out a bold, bright, cheeky, sharp-tongued little girl and becomes an assertive, intelligent, strong, patient, slightly sharp-tonged young woman worthy of the skills she has trained in.
11. I can pronounce the Japanese names. 
12. Beautiful world. I’ve always been drawn to the spiritually of Japanese culture; the spirits that exist within the water, air, trees, the earth and the animals. So, it was easy for me to get lost in this world. Also, the mystic of the spirits are underlying in the story. I like that. No magic lightning bolts flying around here.
13. Father has an interesting backstory.
14. Praises mothers and families. In a world, where I have to stand up for myself, in that being a mother is not being beneath my potential, I appreciate those that give motherhood a welcoming spotlight.
15. Not having relationship at a ridiculously young age! Himiko, while not refusing to get married, stands her ground at not getting married at 16. I love that she wants to find herself first.

This book places it focus on the story. If you are not a story person, you may not like this.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read all of Esther Friesner's Princesses of Myth stories, whether they were about Helen of Troy or Nefertiti, and have enjoyed all of them. I definitely have enjoyed Nefertiti's story the best because Friesner exposed us to Egypt, a world that clearly isn't eurocentric, and I found this very refreshing. Typically I do not go for the books that have an Asian setting or something of the like, but ever since reading Eon and Eona by Alison Goodman, I have been captivated by the setting, and Spirit's Princess may now have surpassed Nefertiti's story's excellence in my opinion.

The beginning of the book is definitely pretty slow. I would say that the first 100 or so pages dragged a bit, but they are absolutely essential in telling Himiko's story. Without that background of when Himiko was younger, we would not be able to truly understand where she came from. So, don't give up in the beginning. Keep pushing through.

I think why I like Himiko's story better than Helen's or Nefertiti's is that there is a clear purpose of what Himiko wants to do. She is a very strong-willed child, and eventually woman, that knows what she wants and is determined to go out and get it. In Friesner's previous books, it kind of seemed that both Helen and Nefertiti didn't have a clear purpose to their life and that some of the issues they had to face in their stories seemed a bit trivial at times. Helen's story definitely felt like that to me, while Nefertiti actually had some severe problems she had to overcome. With Himiko, I could simply feel how dire her situation was, and everything just seemed more important. Every action she made appeared to have a resounding effect on her tribe, and this made me care for the story and the characters so much more.

The characters are absolutely wonderful. I loved Himiko's spirit and spunk when she was young, and it was very enjoyable to watch it evolve as she got older. The spunk wasn't gone, it was just transformed into a purpose and a drive for life that was great to see. Himiko's brothers were all charming and made me chuckle at times. They definitely lighten the mood of the story a bit. Lady Yama... I absolutely LOVED her as a character! One second you can be laughing from something she said, and the next you can be amazed by the wisdom that spouted from lips that so easily joked. She was simply a delight.

If you are looking to pick up a book that has adventure, a strong female character, and a heartfelt storyline, definitely pick up Spirit's Princess!

Rating: 4 stars - I really liked it. Worth buying.

[Sharon Tyler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spirit's Princess by Esther Friesner is the first book in a young adult series. Himiko is the only daughter of the chieftain in third century Japan. She has always been a little different, and very special. On the day of her birth there was an earthquake, and she has continued to defy expectations ever since. Himiko begins by desiring to be a hunter like her beloved brother, but her attempt to prove herself dashes that dream. After a series of adventures Hikimo discovers her true path, and the destiny the village shaman foresaw on the day of her birth. Hikimo's future holds much more than she had ever imagined.

Spirit's Princess is a story that had me enthralled and determined to delve deeper into Japanese myths, which have always fascinated me. I was greatly disappointed to discover just how wrong the book was historically, and in relation to the myth it is supposed to reference. However, if you read the book and do not know any of the history or mythology, you can enjoy the story. I basically set aside the fact that the book was supposed to relate to any history or culture, and just read it like an alternate history or fantasy novel in a created world. Then I could enjoy the story.

Hikimo is a princess, but wants nothing more than to be her own person. She is often selfish or simply foolish, but in ways that are not unexpected or unrealistic. He father is domineering and sometimes demeaning. However, he is also a character that is far deeper than the conflicts that we see surrounding him. I love the fact that we get to look beyond the surface and discover how he became the man we see in the story. Hikimo's brother Aki is well constructed, and the rest of the family is pretty well detailed. Lady Yama is the shaman, and Hikimo's teacher. I think she just might be my favorite character, she speaks the truth and is not afraid to tell people what they do not want to hear it, if it will help them.

Spirit's Princess is a long read, and might discourage younger readers since it does start a little slow. Readers that know the Japanese history and myth that this story is supposed to reference might want to skip this read, or do what I did and ignore that it was supposed to relate to anything and read it as a fantasy or alternate world story. I did enjoy the story, and will read the sequel, however I will be borrowing it from the library rather than buying it. This book would be good for readers age twelve and older that like detailed tales, well-defined characters, and epic quests.

[Wandering Librarians · Rating 2 out of 5]

In third century Japan, Himiko is the only daughter of the chief of her tribe. Himiko is destine for greatness and has a strong connection with the spirit world. Her father, however, wants his daughter married and having children. Himiko struggles with being the perfect daughter and following her heart.

This book went on forever and then some. It took me a long time to get though because I kept getting bored. I think there could have been some serious editing done and the story wouldn't have lost anything essential.

Himiko goes back and forth between her two personalities like six times. First she's all outspoken, then she falls out of the tree and becomes a good girl. Then she overcomes that and finds some of herself again, only to get lost and return to being an obedient child. Then she gets some of her own back but then she gets in to a fight with her beloved brother Aki and stops talking or doing anything. So much back and forth. And the thing was, we didn't get a lot of new information out of each one. The important stuff was that Himiko had a bad leg, and at one point got lost and found another clan of people, and that she's destine to be a shaman. That's it. I did not need years and years to go by and have each of her back and forth personality changes documented. I didn't need so many fights with her father, so many moments with her brother.

Nothing much happened. The major conflict of the book was that Himiko was destined to be a shaman, something her father had strictly forbidden. Himiko trains secretly, and when will she confront him and all will be revealed? What will happen? That doesn't happen until almost the end of the book, and then Himiko runs away and when she tries to go home she finds her clan has been conquered. Then the book ends.

I feel like nothing ever came together. I understand that this is a series, but did the entire first book have to be back story and setup for the next one? That's what it felt like. I don't have any interest in finding out what happens next. I'm afraid it will just be more of the same.

The most enjoyable part for me was the note at the end of the book that told about the stories of the real Himiko that the book was based on. I thought that was very interesting.

Spirit's Princess comes out April 24, 2012.