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Woven Song
A BANISHED YOUNG WOMAN. A SEALED GOD. A FOUR YEAR OLD MYSTERY.
Isolated on the moon and yearning for the warmth of family and friends, Kaguya-hime falls to the mortal realm while unknowingly sealing away her divine identity. But the mortal realm isn’t as harmless as it seems…
Banished from the imperial city of Gobe after being accused of murder, Yuki returns on the emperor’s request with the hopes of restoring the family dojo. But when Yuki’s dreams are seemingly dashed after confronting tragedy, she is forced to face the unsettling truth behind her banishment.
On the verge of death, her life becomes intertwined with the dragon god, Ryu, and Yuki finds herself at the center of a fight to save the mortal realm from Izanami, the ruler of Yomi—the land of the dead. Caught between her life as a mortal and her hidden divine identity, Yuki must fight to write her own mythology before the gods do it for her.
Woven Song weaves asian mythology into an epic tale of love and loss, of betrayal and loyalty—where secrets are currency for the wicked, every friend might be a foe, and love sounds like a lullaby.
Isolated on the moon and yearning for the warmth of family and friends, Kaguya-hime falls to the mortal realm while unknowingly sealing away her divine identity. But the mortal realm isn’t as harmless as it seems…
Banished from the imperial city of Gobe after being accused of murder, Yuki returns on the emperor’s request with the hopes of restoring the family dojo. But when Yuki’s dreams are seemingly dashed after confronting tragedy, she is forced to face the unsettling truth behind her banishment.
On the verge of death, her life becomes intertwined with the dragon god, Ryu, and Yuki finds herself at the center of a fight to save the mortal realm from Izanami, the ruler of Yomi—the land of the dead. Caught between her life as a mortal and her hidden divine identity, Yuki must fight to write her own mythology before the gods do it for her.
Woven Song weaves asian mythology into an epic tale of love and loss, of betrayal and loyalty—where secrets are currency for the wicked, every friend might be a foe, and love sounds like a lullaby.
Hardcover
Published June 7, 2024
2 people are currently reading
149 people want to read
About the author
Rachael Krotec
4 books74 followersRACHAEL KROTEC grew up in the wilds of Florida, which helped cultivate her vivid imagination and a deep appreciation for the fantastical. With dual degrees in creative writing and psychology, she brings a unique perspective to her writing, delving into the depths of human emotion. She is the author of the Anima trilogy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
June 12, 2024
wow! what to say? let me first start off by saying in no way do i mean to be insulting. thank you to netgalley for the arc, and i really hoped i’d enjoy it because my experience so far with fantasy arcs have not been the best. spoiler alert: no. just no.
this book, to put it mildly, lacks direction. woven song is a novel that, despite its ambitions (and excellent cover art), ultimately fails to deliver a compelling story. it’s awfully inconsistent, meandering off course in the middle of the story in such a way that leaves you confused on what krotec is attempting to do; certain parts just lack coherent pacing at all. what is supposed to be an action fantasy romance (or certainly feels like one from the synopsis) turns into something that feels more like a daily slice-of-life featuring some fantasy elements, set in ancient japan. on top of that, anything that could’ve been of substance is offscreen- i’m shown the resolution of many problems, but never the process. i can’t bring myself to be emotionally invested when so much of these characters’ journey is ommitted. i don’t have a grasp of them, or what makes them tick: what i have is what only the story chooses to tell me. and what the story tells me, unfortunately, is not enough to make me love this.
because the story shows us only the characters as they are after they’ve bonded with each other (most prominently yuki and daisuke), i find myself hard-pressed to say that i’ve seen much of any character development at all. when you cut the entire process of a character beginning to open up and lower their guard in the face of affection, it just feels like an abrupt 180 change. the potential these characters could’ve had is hampered by the fact that we see absolutely none of their gradual change at all. characters like these come across as flat and one-dimensional. found family is found family, i’ll enjoy it all the same, but it feels insubstantial when all krotec does is establish her characters, plop them into my hands, and label them as family with none of their struggles illustrated. their journey is, for lack of better word, superficial- missing the depth to really make it compelling, especially the main character yuki. supporting characters are similarly underdeveloped, serving more as convenient plot devices rather than fully realised individuals.
woven song goes really hard on the themes of self-realisation and transformation, and while i did like the idea of a kami becoming human before finding her real forgotten self in theory, these themes feel heavy-handed. monologues about true identity and rightful places are thrown around but the lack of characterisation, as i mentioned, dampens their impact. these themes are hammered home in a way that feels slightly repetitive instead of being natural- and i really, really hate to say it, but the lack of subtlety detracts from the emotional impact of the writing.
going off the synopsis alone, you go into this expecting flowy, fantastical writing, a lush and descriptive plot that takes influence from traditional mythology and renders it almost tenderly in a way that feels like a folktale. what you get is not always what you imagined. given the themes it attempts to tackle, woven song surprisingly lacks emotional resonance; it fails to invoke the emotions in me that i can see krotec intended to. it’s abundantly clear that this really could’ve been an engaging read: the premise is beautiful, and it’s going to pull in many readers. but it’s burdened by a weak plot, cardboard cutouts of characters, and a lack of emotional connection.
(i’ve seen some people say that the honourifics in this story are not accurate, and the cultural elements are highly inconsistent. i’m not japanese nor do i know much about japanese customs, so i won’t speak on this, but i’m happy to discuss!)
--
pre review: feels like a paradoxically boring acid trip in ancient japan with some very questionable cultural references. ya asian fantasy core
this book, to put it mildly, lacks direction. woven song is a novel that, despite its ambitions (and excellent cover art), ultimately fails to deliver a compelling story. it’s awfully inconsistent, meandering off course in the middle of the story in such a way that leaves you confused on what krotec is attempting to do; certain parts just lack coherent pacing at all. what is supposed to be an action fantasy romance (or certainly feels like one from the synopsis) turns into something that feels more like a daily slice-of-life featuring some fantasy elements, set in ancient japan. on top of that, anything that could’ve been of substance is offscreen- i’m shown the resolution of many problems, but never the process. i can’t bring myself to be emotionally invested when so much of these characters’ journey is ommitted. i don’t have a grasp of them, or what makes them tick: what i have is what only the story chooses to tell me. and what the story tells me, unfortunately, is not enough to make me love this.
because the story shows us only the characters as they are after they’ve bonded with each other (most prominently yuki and daisuke), i find myself hard-pressed to say that i’ve seen much of any character development at all. when you cut the entire process of a character beginning to open up and lower their guard in the face of affection, it just feels like an abrupt 180 change. the potential these characters could’ve had is hampered by the fact that we see absolutely none of their gradual change at all. characters like these come across as flat and one-dimensional. found family is found family, i’ll enjoy it all the same, but it feels insubstantial when all krotec does is establish her characters, plop them into my hands, and label them as family with none of their struggles illustrated. their journey is, for lack of better word, superficial- missing the depth to really make it compelling, especially the main character yuki. supporting characters are similarly underdeveloped, serving more as convenient plot devices rather than fully realised individuals.
woven song goes really hard on the themes of self-realisation and transformation, and while i did like the idea of a kami becoming human before finding her real forgotten self in theory, these themes feel heavy-handed. monologues about true identity and rightful places are thrown around but the lack of characterisation, as i mentioned, dampens their impact. these themes are hammered home in a way that feels slightly repetitive instead of being natural- and i really, really hate to say it, but the lack of subtlety detracts from the emotional impact of the writing.
going off the synopsis alone, you go into this expecting flowy, fantastical writing, a lush and descriptive plot that takes influence from traditional mythology and renders it almost tenderly in a way that feels like a folktale. what you get is not always what you imagined. given the themes it attempts to tackle, woven song surprisingly lacks emotional resonance; it fails to invoke the emotions in me that i can see krotec intended to. it’s abundantly clear that this really could’ve been an engaging read: the premise is beautiful, and it’s going to pull in many readers. but it’s burdened by a weak plot, cardboard cutouts of characters, and a lack of emotional connection.
(i’ve seen some people say that the honourifics in this story are not accurate, and the cultural elements are highly inconsistent. i’m not japanese nor do i know much about japanese customs, so i won’t speak on this, but i’m happy to discuss!)
--
pre review: feels like a paradoxically boring acid trip in ancient japan with some very questionable cultural references. ya asian fantasy core
June 23, 2024
I liked the idea behind Woven Song and that it was based on Japanese mythology, but it fell a bit flat for me. I think teenage girls with an interest in Asian mythology are definitely the target audience for this book... although I love YA Asian Mythology, so maybe not?
Thank you, NetGalley, and Nib and Feather LLC, for an advanced copy of Woven Song by Rachael Krotec in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you, NetGalley, and Nib and Feather LLC, for an advanced copy of Woven Song by Rachael Krotec in exchange for an honest review.
May 1, 2024
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.
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.
May 19, 2024
EDIT (19 May 2024): This book is not for those “looking for authentic descriptions of cultural elements" as it's intended to be “a more accessible reading experience for a Western audience”. If you’re Asian like me and had hoped a book “heavily inspired” by Asian mythology and culture would at least get the bare minimum of things correct (because the author clearly stated they’ve researched), best not to pick this one up.
Also on Snow White Hates Apples.
DNF at Chapter 12, page 84
Seeing more and more Asian-inspired fantasy books being published has brought me, an Asian, utter delight as I absolutely love the genre and firmly believe that it deserves to be enjoyed by more people around the world. So, when I saw Woven Song and its stunner of a cover, I immediately requested for it and thanked my lucky stars that I got it.
Sadly, as much as I wanted to love this cosy fantasy, it was painfully not what I was looking for at all. While I could clearly see how much the author researched, everything just didn’t work.
First off, the liberties the author took with the Asian mythology and culture which inspired this book were something I couldn’t close an eye to and simply vibe with even though I had already expected them. The cultural discrepancies greatly disappointed me. For instance, “Mr. Usagi-san”. Before even the book starts, we’re already informed of the meanings behind the Japanese suffixes used, yet in the very first chapter, we have “Mr. Usagi-san”. This is this book’s version of ‘chai tea’.
Then, there’s the out-of-place lack of formalities between the characters. Truly, does no one find it odd that this girl and her grandma (matriarch of a clan or no) just waltz in and talk to the emperor like he’s some regular dude from the neighbourhood who just so happens to wear fancy clothes? Not even imperial princes or princesses can talk casually to their fathers like that! But, this isn’t the only issue I have with the characters. They’re also flat and characterised weirdly. Like, the protagonist is Yuki who was once a princess on the moon and spoke to rabbits, but she was surprised that yokai (Japanese for supernatural beings and mysterious phenomena) actually existed.
Other than that, the writing is another lacking aspect of this book. It’s all tell, tell, tell, which makes the story boring because it’s more factual than in-the-moment or alive. It also doesn’t help that the writing is choppy and juvenile, making a book originally marketed as New Adult read more like a young Young Adult Wattpad fic instead.
All in all, Woven Song leaves much to be desired. I think it’s fine for authors of any race to write about other cultures, but it should still be done well and with care.
Thank you so much Nib and Feather, LLC and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this in exchange for an honest review! Woven Song by Rachael Krotec will be available at all good bookstores.
May 24, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read the ARC of Woven Song by Rachael Krotec! I have been itching to dive into Asian mythology and I genuinely feel like this was a great novel for me to use to dip my toes in the water a little bit. I rated this book 4 out of 5 stars! I was impressed.
I found so much relatability with Yuki’s character. However, I wish we would have a deeper view of Yuki’s struggles, likes, and dislikes at the beginning of the novel. I saw character developement, but I kept wanting more from Yuki for some reason! All of the characters involved within the story were their own original characters and I loved that. There were plot twists at the right times, allowing me to remain sucked into the material of the novel. Krotec’s writing is easy to read and flows perfectly so I was not counting the pages until I completed it. I got to the end and was sad to see the story go!
Overall, I highly reccomend this book if you need an entertaining read!
I found so much relatability with Yuki’s character. However, I wish we would have a deeper view of Yuki’s struggles, likes, and dislikes at the beginning of the novel. I saw character developement, but I kept wanting more from Yuki for some reason! All of the characters involved within the story were their own original characters and I loved that. There were plot twists at the right times, allowing me to remain sucked into the material of the novel. Krotec’s writing is easy to read and flows perfectly so I was not counting the pages until I completed it. I got to the end and was sad to see the story go!
Overall, I highly reccomend this book if you need an entertaining read!
May 27, 2024
This was such a fun read! I know little to none about Asian mythology but this book was an amazing introduction. From what I’ve gathered, Woven Song is a blend of Chinese and Japanese mythology.
Although I don’t have a lot of background knowledge in these mythologies, Rachael Krotec was able to build a world and story so detailed and vivid that I never once felt lost or confused. These characters are so lovable it truly made me invested in their story.
There are unexpected twists and turns that kept me captivated from beginning to end. I think this will be a popular YA read as there’s little spice making it appropriate for many ages.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Nib and Feather, LLC, and Rachel Krotec for providing me with this eARC.
Although I don’t have a lot of background knowledge in these mythologies, Rachael Krotec was able to build a world and story so detailed and vivid that I never once felt lost or confused. These characters are so lovable it truly made me invested in their story.
There are unexpected twists and turns that kept me captivated from beginning to end. I think this will be a popular YA read as there’s little spice making it appropriate for many ages.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Nib and Feather, LLC, and Rachel Krotec for providing me with this eARC.
Read
May 24, 2024 DNF at 51% unforunately
I was really excited for this, the cover of it is also gorgeous, but unfortunately the story and I ended up not clicking that much. I don't know what it is, but around 50% in I found myself just not caring enough to continue and finish it, unfortunately.
The main reason I struggled with this is because, on paper, there are a lot of things the story wants to do. It wants to speak of legends, use Japanese mythology (and possibly Chinese mythology, as well, but you may correct me if I am wrong) but it does it in a way that is inconsistent.
The language use, the honorific use does not actually work all that well because it is done inconsistently, one moment it is used, the next it is not, and it doesn't flow naturally when reading. It felt inconsistent as I mentioned.
I had some other issues with this too, where the a character would be in a bar, and then on the next page, they would be in a garden, the character that had accompanied them nowhere to be found anymore, and sort of forgotten like they were an afterthought. It just was not consistent with the characters, the language use, also using some more modern words and phrasings that I don't necessarily think fit the "vibe" the book was going for, and that kind of pulled me out of the story.
I also had some other issues with the story telling where one moment, a character would go through something devastating, and the next paragraph, they would be fine, almost like a split personality. It made me feel like the actions of the story had little impact on the characters overall, and it felt very "tell" not show. I understand this is my opinion, but I tried to push through up to page 161, but then I gave up at 51%.
Overall, I think this would really work for certain people, just not me, and if you loved it, then I love that for you! I just personally am not mega loving it.
*
*
*
Thank you to the publisher Nib and Feather, and to Netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for my honest opinion.
I was really excited for this, the cover of it is also gorgeous, but unfortunately the story and I ended up not clicking that much. I don't know what it is, but around 50% in I found myself just not caring enough to continue and finish it, unfortunately.
The main reason I struggled with this is because, on paper, there are a lot of things the story wants to do. It wants to speak of legends, use Japanese mythology (and possibly Chinese mythology, as well, but you may correct me if I am wrong) but it does it in a way that is inconsistent.
The language use, the honorific use does not actually work all that well because it is done inconsistently, one moment it is used, the next it is not, and it doesn't flow naturally when reading. It felt inconsistent as I mentioned.
I had some other issues with this too, where the a character would be in a bar, and then on the next page, they would be in a garden, the character that had accompanied them nowhere to be found anymore, and sort of forgotten like they were an afterthought. It just was not consistent with the characters, the language use, also using some more modern words and phrasings that I don't necessarily think fit the "vibe" the book was going for, and that kind of pulled me out of the story.
I also had some other issues with the story telling where one moment, a character would go through something devastating, and the next paragraph, they would be fine, almost like a split personality. It made me feel like the actions of the story had little impact on the characters overall, and it felt very "tell" not show. I understand this is my opinion, but I tried to push through up to page 161, but then I gave up at 51%.
Overall, I think this would really work for certain people, just not me, and if you loved it, then I love that for you! I just personally am not mega loving it.
*
*
*
Thank you to the publisher Nib and Feather, and to Netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for my honest opinion.
May 21, 2024
Woven song is a fantasy novel, inspired by Japanese and Chinese mythology, about a moon princess-turned-mortal-swordswoman, her student, and a mischievous kami (spirit), who must stop the kami of the dead from destroying the mortal realm.
The plot and the worldbuilding was interesting, like, this shit had my eyes peeled open the entire time. Also, kudos for the incredibly charming prologue. Somehow you had me rereading the prologue. Damn.
My only complaint is the main character. I liked her as a swordswoman, and her trying to reopen the dojo, but her character sometimes feels very flippity floppity. Aside from that, the book was really fun to read.
Overall, 4 stars. If you want a book that feels like an anime, then you'll love this one.
The plot and the worldbuilding was interesting, like, this shit had my eyes peeled open the entire time. Also, kudos for the incredibly charming prologue. Somehow you had me rereading the prologue. Damn.
My only complaint is the main character. I liked her as a swordswoman, and her trying to reopen the dojo, but her character sometimes feels very flippity floppity. Aside from that, the book was really fun to read.
Overall, 4 stars. If you want a book that feels like an anime, then you'll love this one.
May 22, 2024
5🌟 Immerse yourself into a fully built world of witty characters, twists and turns, some mystery, and a whole lot of emotional rollercoasters! I just had to finish reading this book in a day. This was a writing style I had to give a chance at first and Im happy I did. While slow at first, everything builds into a deep story that leaves you needing to know more. Finding oneself, choosing your own path, found family, satisfying slow burn love connection (no spice) and a female hero I absolutely loved. This was the refreshing fantasy book I've been needing to read!
This review is from someone who knows little about Asian Mythology and cultural etiquette. It's always a risk writing books like these, but as a reader like myself, this book was quite enjoyable.
This review is from someone who knows little about Asian Mythology and cultural etiquette. It's always a risk writing books like these, but as a reader like myself, this book was quite enjoyable.
May 11, 2024
Woven Song by Rachael Krotec is a beautifully written story with a mashup of Chinese and Japanese mythology that will appeal to those who enjoy being emersed in the cultures. This book is well-paced and picks up in the last third of the story. Rachael did an amazing job with world-building, character development, and the plot of the story. From the first page to the last I was swept away to the world of Gobe and with every twist and turn that occurred I wanted to read more. Woven Song really played on my heart strings with themes such as found family, chronic illness and many more. If you enjoy mythology sprinkled with the right amount of romance this is the book for you!
Thank you NetGalley, Nib and Feather, LLC, and Rachael Krotec for providing the ARC ebook!
Thank you NetGalley, Nib and Feather, LLC, and Rachael Krotec for providing the ARC ebook!
June 17, 2024
The writing was lush and vibrant just as you should expect from a story inspired by Asian culture. However, I was disappointed with how slow this moved. I found myself falling asleep or getting distracted quite often during this.
May 6, 2024
Asian mythology (~Arc Review)
The cover is absolutely beautiful. I could see this being a special edition with beautiful sprayed edges sitting on my shelf.
This book was such an interesting read. I watch a ton of anime and enjoy Japanese mythology so this book was easy for me to understand. The author does help paint a beautiful picture and describes everything so that even if you aren't familiar you'll still be able to appreciate the world.
I really enjoyed the story and read it all in one sitting xD
The characters are pretty likeable as well. They all have a hidden pain or something that kind of shapes their personality. Ryu was my favorite character, I'm sure for obvious reasons lol.
This isn't my typical read but I really enjoyed a change of pace that this book gave.
~Thank you Netgalley this ARC~
Publication date: June 7, 2024
The cover is absolutely beautiful. I could see this being a special edition with beautiful sprayed edges sitting on my shelf.
This book was such an interesting read. I watch a ton of anime and enjoy Japanese mythology so this book was easy for me to understand. The author does help paint a beautiful picture and describes everything so that even if you aren't familiar you'll still be able to appreciate the world.
I really enjoyed the story and read it all in one sitting xD
The characters are pretty likeable as well. They all have a hidden pain or something that kind of shapes their personality. Ryu was my favorite character, I'm sure for obvious reasons lol.
This isn't my typical read but I really enjoyed a change of pace that this book gave.
~Thank you Netgalley this ARC~
Publication date: June 7, 2024
May 29, 2024
A beautiful tale of loneliness, set against an Asian background.
Good pacing, plot, and relatable characters. This was a really good read that will touch anyone who has ever just wanted a friend and wanted somewhere to fit in.
There's plenty of false friendships and betrayal, as well. There's also themes of found family and loving people despite the betrayals and heartbreak they bring.
Good pacing, plot, and relatable characters. This was a really good read that will touch anyone who has ever just wanted a friend and wanted somewhere to fit in.
There's plenty of false friendships and betrayal, as well. There's also themes of found family and loving people despite the betrayals and heartbreak they bring.
September 15, 2024
I struggled a little with this book, I feel like it was trying to do too many things and this left the story feeling a little disjointed at points. For the first half of the book, I found the pace quite slow and a lot of the turns the book took confusing but it does pick up a lot and the second half is quite enjoyable. I liked most of the characters, especially Daisuke and was rooting for them but I also never felt a sense of jeopardy for them, the story felt quite low stakes, despite the dangers they were facing. I also liked the mythology aspect, I found learning about the kami very interesting. Overall, I think this book just wasn't for me, but I did enjoy aspects of it.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this eArc in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this eArc in exchange for an honest review.
May 24, 2024
“The beauty of youth is being able to change or accept yourself for how you are. If there are things you don’t like about yourself, then change.”
—Rachael Krotec, Woven Song
3.5/5⭐
First of all, I want to say thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Rachael Krotec, the author, for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
OK, I did not expect that I would be this invested in the story and the characters! Had zero expectation because this is my first fantasy book with a story that revolved around an Asian mythology, especially Japanese mythology. From the characters' traits, the world-building, the culture, and of course, the mythical creatures in it! As the story progressed, I felt like I learned something new about kami, yokai, mononoke, and many more. Also, is it weird that I imagined the story like I watched an anime? 😆
Also, I need to talk about the cover too! It’s so beautiful. I wish I could put it on my book shelf. Kudos to the cover illustrator!
🔎Synopsis:
Kaguya-hime, yearning for family and friends, descends to the mortal realm, unknowingly sealing her divine identity, and goes by the name Yuki. Banished from the imperial city after a wrongful murder accusation, she returns to restore her family dojo. Tragedy strikes, revealing the true reason behind her banishment. Entwined with the dragon god Ryu, Yuki becomes central in a battle against Izanami, the ruler of the dead. Torn between her mortal life and divine heritage, Yuki must forge her own destiny.
💬Final thoughts:
First impression, I think this book is gonna be perfect for teenagers or young adults who love japanese culture and just started reading fantasy books with the same vibes. It’s quite an easy read for a fantasy book, definitely did not overwhelmed me with info dumping at the beginning of the story, but instead revealing the fun bits and twists as the story progresses which I really like. The pacing is great, and the character development is something to be expected! It is also a great book if you love tropes such as found family, young adult, hidden identity, actions, and mythical creatures in it 🐉👹
Publication date: June 7th, 2024
—denganafi.
—Rachael Krotec, Woven Song
3.5/5⭐
First of all, I want to say thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Rachael Krotec, the author, for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
OK, I did not expect that I would be this invested in the story and the characters! Had zero expectation because this is my first fantasy book with a story that revolved around an Asian mythology, especially Japanese mythology. From the characters' traits, the world-building, the culture, and of course, the mythical creatures in it! As the story progressed, I felt like I learned something new about kami, yokai, mononoke, and many more. Also, is it weird that I imagined the story like I watched an anime? 😆
Also, I need to talk about the cover too! It’s so beautiful. I wish I could put it on my book shelf. Kudos to the cover illustrator!
🔎Synopsis:
Kaguya-hime, yearning for family and friends, descends to the mortal realm, unknowingly sealing her divine identity, and goes by the name Yuki. Banished from the imperial city after a wrongful murder accusation, she returns to restore her family dojo. Tragedy strikes, revealing the true reason behind her banishment. Entwined with the dragon god Ryu, Yuki becomes central in a battle against Izanami, the ruler of the dead. Torn between her mortal life and divine heritage, Yuki must forge her own destiny.
💬Final thoughts:
First impression, I think this book is gonna be perfect for teenagers or young adults who love japanese culture and just started reading fantasy books with the same vibes. It’s quite an easy read for a fantasy book, definitely did not overwhelmed me with info dumping at the beginning of the story, but instead revealing the fun bits and twists as the story progresses which I really like. The pacing is great, and the character development is something to be expected! It is also a great book if you love tropes such as found family, young adult, hidden identity, actions, and mythical creatures in it 🐉👹
Publication date: June 7th, 2024
—denganafi.
June 14, 2024
Title: “The Woven Song”
Author: Rachael Krotec
Rating: 3/5⭐️
“The Woven Song” offers a reading experience with its own unique rhythm, and while it faces some challenges, it ultimately provides an engaging and very satisfying journey!
The book's pacing and engagement vary, particularly between its two halves.
The initial chapters are slower and more intricate, which may take some time for readers to fully immerse themselves in. However, this careful setup pays off in the latter half, where the story picks up momentum and becomes more compelling, leading to a gratifying ending.
Character development gives me some mixed feeling in this novel…
Yuki, who initially appears as a very likable character, unfortunately doesn't grow as much as I hoped.
On the other hand, Ryu emerges as a standout character, very rich in depth and expression!
By the second half, I found myself increasingly attached to the characters and invested in their outcomes.
The book’s ambition to tackle various themes and plotlines does make it feel a bit busy at times, leading to a sense of confusion early on.
The story’s complexity can be challenging, but it becomes more easy to comprehend and follow as it progresses.
Once you get used to the writing style and the story's structure, the narrative flow improves significantly, making the overall reading experience more enjoyable.
In conclusion, “The Woven Song” may require a bit of patience in the beginning, but it rewards readers with a more dynamic and engaging second half!
Despite some areas for improvement in pacing and character development, the book ultimately delivers a satisfying and memorable story.
I’m sure readers who like Japanese and Chinese mythology will enjoy it!
Thank you to Rachael Krotec for giving me the opportunity to read her novel and submerge myself into Asian mythology and culture!
Author: Rachael Krotec
Rating: 3/5⭐️
“The Woven Song” offers a reading experience with its own unique rhythm, and while it faces some challenges, it ultimately provides an engaging and very satisfying journey!
The book's pacing and engagement vary, particularly between its two halves.
The initial chapters are slower and more intricate, which may take some time for readers to fully immerse themselves in. However, this careful setup pays off in the latter half, where the story picks up momentum and becomes more compelling, leading to a gratifying ending.
Character development gives me some mixed feeling in this novel…
Yuki, who initially appears as a very likable character, unfortunately doesn't grow as much as I hoped.
On the other hand, Ryu emerges as a standout character, very rich in depth and expression!
By the second half, I found myself increasingly attached to the characters and invested in their outcomes.
The book’s ambition to tackle various themes and plotlines does make it feel a bit busy at times, leading to a sense of confusion early on.
The story’s complexity can be challenging, but it becomes more easy to comprehend and follow as it progresses.
Once you get used to the writing style and the story's structure, the narrative flow improves significantly, making the overall reading experience more enjoyable.
In conclusion, “The Woven Song” may require a bit of patience in the beginning, but it rewards readers with a more dynamic and engaging second half!
Despite some areas for improvement in pacing and character development, the book ultimately delivers a satisfying and memorable story.
I’m sure readers who like Japanese and Chinese mythology will enjoy it!
Thank you to Rachael Krotec for giving me the opportunity to read her novel and submerge myself into Asian mythology and culture!
June 6, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley for providing the ARC of this book in exchange for a honest review.
I really struggled with this book (as you can see with it taking a whole month to read).
The characters: I struggled to differentiate the characters. I like dual or multiple POV books but for me I like these POVs being separated out into different chapters. This for me makes actually differentiating the characters much easier. With this book I found a lot of the characters had the same narration and I couldn’t tell the characters apart.
The plot: I was mostly confused by the plot. Most of the time I wasn’t quite sure what was happening. Sometimes things were explained well whereas other times I felt more confused by the explanation. I can see what it was trying to do but I’m just not sure how well executed it was done. There seemed to be some gaps and some things that it felt like we skipped over. Although I feel like this is going to be a series so maybe the author is saving some of this for later books!
The world building: this was the one saving grace of this book - the world. Although it didn’t feel fully fleshed out and again we were given things without much explanation which made the world or parts of the world sometimes hard to imagine. However, overall this was much stronger than other elements of the book.
Overall: I’m not sure how I feel about this book or whether I would read any more books in this series. If you want a fantasy that draws on Japan (I think it wasn’t 100% what it was drawing on) or East Asian cultures then you may enjoy this book. However, personally this book was just not for me. Rating: 3 ⭐️
I really struggled with this book (as you can see with it taking a whole month to read).
The characters: I struggled to differentiate the characters. I like dual or multiple POV books but for me I like these POVs being separated out into different chapters. This for me makes actually differentiating the characters much easier. With this book I found a lot of the characters had the same narration and I couldn’t tell the characters apart.
The plot: I was mostly confused by the plot. Most of the time I wasn’t quite sure what was happening. Sometimes things were explained well whereas other times I felt more confused by the explanation. I can see what it was trying to do but I’m just not sure how well executed it was done. There seemed to be some gaps and some things that it felt like we skipped over. Although I feel like this is going to be a series so maybe the author is saving some of this for later books!
The world building: this was the one saving grace of this book - the world. Although it didn’t feel fully fleshed out and again we were given things without much explanation which made the world or parts of the world sometimes hard to imagine. However, overall this was much stronger than other elements of the book.
Overall: I’m not sure how I feel about this book or whether I would read any more books in this series. If you want a fantasy that draws on Japan (I think it wasn’t 100% what it was drawing on) or East Asian cultures then you may enjoy this book. However, personally this book was just not for me. Rating: 3 ⭐️
June 8, 2024
I received an ARC of this book and am leaving a review voluntarily.
I am always intrigued by books inspired by eastern mythologies because it’s not something I see very often but luckily that is beginning to change! I was immediately astounded by this gorgeous cover and knew I needed to give it ago!
So, the plot premise is pretty solid. Follow the adventures of the moon goddess who comes to earth to find some sort of connection. Look at how she interacts with mortals and how she forms relationships. It’s a great premise.
The pacing is…poor. It takes a long time for the story to really find its footing. Truthfully, if you kept the prologue and then cut the first four chapters, it would still work. I find this to be one of its more glaring issues because you want to know this story, you see the great stuff that’s coming but the plot drags its feet getting there.
The other main thing is Yuki feels very distant throughout this story. The author uses a lot of telling which while not bad in and of itself really creates this distance between us and the characters. Ironic, as we are told Yuki wants friendship but we aren’t allowed close enough to feel that.
But the prose here is gorgeous. It creates this marvelous atmosphere of old school legends and myths. And maybe that is why I can forgive some of the character distance. Because old myths usually keep you at a distance.
Overall, while there is certainly room for improvement in future books, I still got a lot of enjoyment out of this.
I am always intrigued by books inspired by eastern mythologies because it’s not something I see very often but luckily that is beginning to change! I was immediately astounded by this gorgeous cover and knew I needed to give it ago!
So, the plot premise is pretty solid. Follow the adventures of the moon goddess who comes to earth to find some sort of connection. Look at how she interacts with mortals and how she forms relationships. It’s a great premise.
The pacing is…poor. It takes a long time for the story to really find its footing. Truthfully, if you kept the prologue and then cut the first four chapters, it would still work. I find this to be one of its more glaring issues because you want to know this story, you see the great stuff that’s coming but the plot drags its feet getting there.
The other main thing is Yuki feels very distant throughout this story. The author uses a lot of telling which while not bad in and of itself really creates this distance between us and the characters. Ironic, as we are told Yuki wants friendship but we aren’t allowed close enough to feel that.
But the prose here is gorgeous. It creates this marvelous atmosphere of old school legends and myths. And maybe that is why I can forgive some of the character distance. Because old myths usually keep you at a distance.
Overall, while there is certainly room for improvement in future books, I still got a lot of enjoyment out of this.
June 28, 2024
So, I will be completely honest. I did not finish this book. Not to say it was particularly a bad book. It had all the promising an adventure filled with mythology and potentially engaging characters. I just felt like it was missing something. I could feel the authors heart beating within the story and main character but some key elements like the character development and cohesiveness were missing it.
It just didn’t engage me enough to finish it.
I am for sure in my DNFing era where I won’t force myself to finish a book. Not to say this is a bad book per se but it just wasn’t engaging to me particularly. I honestly would tell people to give this book a chance if it’s something that interests you. Don’t let me dnfying it turn you away from it.
Every person should give every story a chance. One person couldn’t like it, and someone else would love it. So that’s why my rating kind of fell in the middle. Because honestly, it could’ve went either way, but with time running out on my copy, I wanted to move onto other stories that I was more interested in reading.
I would like to thank the folks at NetGalley for allowing me a copy of this book. I really do appreciate the chance to read the story
It just didn’t engage me enough to finish it.
I am for sure in my DNFing era where I won’t force myself to finish a book. Not to say this is a bad book per se but it just wasn’t engaging to me particularly. I honestly would tell people to give this book a chance if it’s something that interests you. Don’t let me dnfying it turn you away from it.
Every person should give every story a chance. One person couldn’t like it, and someone else would love it. So that’s why my rating kind of fell in the middle. Because honestly, it could’ve went either way, but with time running out on my copy, I wanted to move onto other stories that I was more interested in reading.
I would like to thank the folks at NetGalley for allowing me a copy of this book. I really do appreciate the chance to read the story
May 30, 2024
The cover of this book is stunning. It's what originally drew me in to reading the description, and then the journey continued from there. This book had me hooked from the start, and once I had time off work I could not put this down.
This book has so many elements I adored, with Found Family, Girls with Swords, Asian Mythology, Dragons, Will They Won't They? and Chronic Illness Representation.
This book I cludes so many elements and tells a compelling story from the beginning to end. There was a point where I was suspicious because things were going to well for the characters, then when things did go wrong, they REALLY went wrong. With secret plots and schemes by the previous generation, that the children have to deal with the consequences off, with manipulation and the question, of is fate written for us or can we change it and decide for ourselves. That is a large part of this book. The story's told and predetermined about both the gods and the Mortals.
For me, this book has settled itself within my favourites. And something that I could see myself reading again one day. And should It ever get a physical release.... it will be quickly found amongst my shelves.
This book has so many elements I adored, with Found Family, Girls with Swords, Asian Mythology, Dragons, Will They Won't They? and Chronic Illness Representation.
This book I cludes so many elements and tells a compelling story from the beginning to end. There was a point where I was suspicious because things were going to well for the characters, then when things did go wrong, they REALLY went wrong. With secret plots and schemes by the previous generation, that the children have to deal with the consequences off, with manipulation and the question, of is fate written for us or can we change it and decide for ourselves. That is a large part of this book. The story's told and predetermined about both the gods and the Mortals.
For me, this book has settled itself within my favourites. And something that I could see myself reading again one day. And should It ever get a physical release.... it will be quickly found amongst my shelves.
June 3, 2024
Dnf at 13%, chapter 6.
The goddess, Yuki, lives on the moon but she is drawn to the human connection, to feel the warmth of another person; but why was she banished to the moon? And how will she live as a mortal? And who is the dragon god, Ryu?
Bear in mind that I shelved this as ‘did not finished’; I was looking forward to reading this but it was just plain boring. I could not connect with the main character, or find the story fascinating at all.
Hopefully someone else will find this to be their next favorite read, but unfortunately it was a no from me.
Happy reading!♥️
I got this book for free from netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
The goddess, Yuki, lives on the moon but she is drawn to the human connection, to feel the warmth of another person; but why was she banished to the moon? And how will she live as a mortal? And who is the dragon god, Ryu?
Bear in mind that I shelved this as ‘did not finished’; I was looking forward to reading this but it was just plain boring. I could not connect with the main character, or find the story fascinating at all.
Hopefully someone else will find this to be their next favorite read, but unfortunately it was a no from me.
Happy reading!♥️
I got this book for free from netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
May 22, 2024
I was not a fan. I felt the writing needed lots of work and there were many moments when details were left out or not explained well enough. I often found myself asking questions such as: how did they get here? Where are they? Who is that? Was this already explained? Wait who’s talking now? The story itself has potential to be great but it moved so quickly I felt like I started in the middle of the story; already missing relevant information.
May 28, 2024
woven song has a very interesting premise, and i was really excited to pick it up. it was an entertaining read, and i enjoyed it as a light-hearted foray into japanese and chinese mythology. however, the writing felt a little bit juvenile; the characters felt flat, and i was unconvinced by their arcs and development because the author relies heavily on telling instead of showing. the message of the story was also not particularly unique, and i think that worked against the novel as a whole.
on a slightly more nitpicky level, i had some issues with the use of honorifics. there was a quick description of them at the beginning of the novel, which was immediately followed by the introduction of a character called “mr. usagi-san” (usually you would only use “mr.” or “san,” not both). the usage of the honorifics throughout the novel also felt inconsistent, and the way the characters speak with each other is largely informal, despite using honorifics like “sama.” although it seemed like the author had done her research on many aspects of japanese culture, it also felt like she had no formal experience with the language, which made some of the writing and interactions between characters seem very clumsy.
overall, it was a quick read that was decently enjoyable, and i could definitely see this being a popular middle-grade/young adult novel.
on a slightly more nitpicky level, i had some issues with the use of honorifics. there was a quick description of them at the beginning of the novel, which was immediately followed by the introduction of a character called “mr. usagi-san” (usually you would only use “mr.” or “san,” not both). the usage of the honorifics throughout the novel also felt inconsistent, and the way the characters speak with each other is largely informal, despite using honorifics like “sama.” although it seemed like the author had done her research on many aspects of japanese culture, it also felt like she had no formal experience with the language, which made some of the writing and interactions between characters seem very clumsy.
overall, it was a quick read that was decently enjoyable, and i could definitely see this being a popular middle-grade/young adult novel.
thank you to netgalley and nib and feather, llc for providing me with a copy of woven song in exchange for an honest review!
May 3, 2024
This was an interesting blend of Chinese and Japanese mythology.
Initially I was turned off by the writing style. It felt like the tone kept a barrier between me as the reader and the characters. Maybe that was the point, considering the main character is a god, but it took some getting used to.
I will say that I came to love the characters and was cheering for them the whole way. That was a definite positive.
The plot itself didn’t feel like it had a central purpose or conflict. Rather, it was a winding plot that seemed to lack in structure.
All that being said, the story itself was interesting, and the characters were compelling. I definitely recommend reading this if you want a little introduction to the gods it is based on, though there are some deviations from the mythology.
Initially I was turned off by the writing style. It felt like the tone kept a barrier between me as the reader and the characters. Maybe that was the point, considering the main character is a god, but it took some getting used to.
I will say that I came to love the characters and was cheering for them the whole way. That was a definite positive.
The plot itself didn’t feel like it had a central purpose or conflict. Rather, it was a winding plot that seemed to lack in structure.
All that being said, the story itself was interesting, and the characters were compelling. I definitely recommend reading this if you want a little introduction to the gods it is based on, though there are some deviations from the mythology.
May 29, 2024
I really enjoyed this story line. It took a moment for me to understand the main character Yuki was the divine spirit in the beginning, but I think that was me more than the story. I enjoyed this main character who is caught between her divine life and mortal life, and finding out about love and loss. Of course there is a love triangle, found family and the question of fate and destiny as well as choosing your own path. This was an enjoyable book with a satisfying ending.
I want to thank NetGalley for the arc ereader and cannot wait for the book to be released! The cover is beautiful!
I want to thank NetGalley for the arc ereader and cannot wait for the book to be released! The cover is beautiful!
October 19, 2024
This was a book that I originally received from Netgalley, and wasn't able to get to on time so when I saw it on Indigo I decided to buy it and read it after release. I can't lie though, it was difficult to read and the story meanders for the majority of the book. For the majority of the book I attempted to read it but after every couple of pages I caught myself skimming the pages and would have to put this back down. For a roughly 350 page book, it took me over 2 months to finish it, which is why I gave it one star. I'm hoping the author writes again, but with a very strong editor backing her that can help guide the direction of the story.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. Everything in this review is my own opinion and has in no way been influenced by the writer, publisher, or Netgalley.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. Everything in this review is my own opinion and has in no way been influenced by the writer, publisher, or Netgalley.
August 20, 2024
If you want to read an anime in book format, then this is the book for you.
This book combines aspects that I like of anime story telling with Asian mythology. I loved the relationship between the main characters and the found family trope, along with the happy ending but not what you expect it to be. The prose was more YA, but that fits with the style of story telling. Overall, this is a fun and enjoyable read for anyone who wants a light Asian Mythology book with anime story telling aspects, or who just wants something with a love triangle.
This book combines aspects that I like of anime story telling with Asian mythology. I loved the relationship between the main characters and the found family trope, along with the happy ending but not what you expect it to be. The prose was more YA, but that fits with the style of story telling. Overall, this is a fun and enjoyable read for anyone who wants a light Asian Mythology book with anime story telling aspects, or who just wants something with a love triangle.
September 12, 2024
Woven Song has a beautiful cover, an intriguing title, and a promising blurb. Unfortunately, I did not feel that this book lived up to any of these expectations.
Woven Song is the story of Yuki, a young woman who is freed from a four-year banishment to the north due to her alleged involvement in the disappearance of her childhood friend, Hina. She is invited back in order to foster and train a wayward teen in her family dojo, and along the way begins to uncover a vast web of secrets about her family, identity, and the kami.
The positives: There are some areas where the prose is interesting. The author uses many interesting metaphors and descriptors that I found added to the fantastical world of this book. Like I said above, the cover of this book is quite pretty. While I didn’t always feel that relationships between characters were built well, where the book is at the peak of its found family plots, I enjoyed the clear warmth and support between the characters nice to read above.
The negatives: Unfortunately, this section is going to be rather long compared to the positives.
- This book talks down to its readers: This book is YA, but in the worst way. I read plenty of books aimed at young adults, and most don’t feel that they need to stop and define words for the reader. Flashback is given by basically directly telling the reader, “and then Yuki had a flashback to a long-forgotten memory”. Characters often stop to explain their entire motivations to each other. Characters have incredible deep conversations about their feelings at the most random times just to lay out their backstories. It’s all told and never shown.
- All the plot happens off the page: This problem was multifaceted. The vast majority of the interesting actions scenes are off page—as in, we see a character about to face down some great and terrifying enemy, and in the next paragraph, the character has either won or lost the fight. In the rare cases where the action does happen on the page, huge important plot moments take maybe 1-2 kindle pages worth of book to resolve (and when I say resolve, I mean resolve, as in the action happens and the characters have reflected on what the action all meant and what to do next). The same goes for many of the interesting building of relationships: aside from some aspects of the friendship between Daisuke and Yuki, all the interesting interpersonal relationships are not really developed, just shown. Even Daisuke and Yuki get far less developed than I would like for the fact that they are a focal point of the story.
- The plot is choppy and confusing: So often, I had to stop and re-read the same passage a few times to figure out what was happening. Characters sometimes seem to warp locations, huge betrayal comes literally out of nowhere that it’s impossible to follow, and characters change their worldview in the blink of an eye. In so many conversations, Character A reveals some huge piece of information to another that could totally change Character B’s view of the world; for example, the true identity of a friend, or the very existence of magic in the world. I would have loved to see the interesting tension as Character B struggles to rationalize what they’ve learned, weigh the relationship with Character A, and decide how to process this new information. Nope, Character B always simply accepts this new mind-boggling information after 1-2 lines of dialogue about how they laugh at being told such a ridiculous thing.
- Representation: The representation of Japanese cultural elements has been called into question by other reviewers; and I strongly recommend interested readers seek out Japanese reviewers for deeper insights into how this book depicts these elements. I also found the representation of the two disabled characters lacking, as one’s disability seems to be entirely forgotten except for the scenes that she is being attacked by other children for being disabled, and the other’s disability is similarly forgotten except as justification to be abruptly cruel and spiteful. The latter character’s reasons for these emotions could have been interesting if explored in a much more nuanced book than this one. Instead, this character ended up being a disabled character who also used their disability to justify being a huge jerk.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Woven Song is the story of Yuki, a young woman who is freed from a four-year banishment to the north due to her alleged involvement in the disappearance of her childhood friend, Hina. She is invited back in order to foster and train a wayward teen in her family dojo, and along the way begins to uncover a vast web of secrets about her family, identity, and the kami.
The positives: There are some areas where the prose is interesting. The author uses many interesting metaphors and descriptors that I found added to the fantastical world of this book. Like I said above, the cover of this book is quite pretty. While I didn’t always feel that relationships between characters were built well, where the book is at the peak of its found family plots, I enjoyed the clear warmth and support between the characters nice to read above.
The negatives: Unfortunately, this section is going to be rather long compared to the positives.
- This book talks down to its readers: This book is YA, but in the worst way. I read plenty of books aimed at young adults, and most don’t feel that they need to stop and define words for the reader. Flashback is given by basically directly telling the reader, “and then Yuki had a flashback to a long-forgotten memory”. Characters often stop to explain their entire motivations to each other. Characters have incredible deep conversations about their feelings at the most random times just to lay out their backstories. It’s all told and never shown.
- All the plot happens off the page: This problem was multifaceted. The vast majority of the interesting actions scenes are off page—as in, we see a character about to face down some great and terrifying enemy, and in the next paragraph, the character has either won or lost the fight. In the rare cases where the action does happen on the page, huge important plot moments take maybe 1-2 kindle pages worth of book to resolve (and when I say resolve, I mean resolve, as in the action happens and the characters have reflected on what the action all meant and what to do next). The same goes for many of the interesting building of relationships: aside from some aspects of the friendship between Daisuke and Yuki, all the interesting interpersonal relationships are not really developed, just shown. Even Daisuke and Yuki get far less developed than I would like for the fact that they are a focal point of the story.
- The plot is choppy and confusing: So often, I had to stop and re-read the same passage a few times to figure out what was happening. Characters sometimes seem to warp locations, huge betrayal comes literally out of nowhere that it’s impossible to follow, and characters change their worldview in the blink of an eye. In so many conversations, Character A reveals some huge piece of information to another that could totally change Character B’s view of the world; for example, the true identity of a friend, or the very existence of magic in the world. I would have loved to see the interesting tension as Character B struggles to rationalize what they’ve learned, weigh the relationship with Character A, and decide how to process this new information. Nope, Character B always simply accepts this new mind-boggling information after 1-2 lines of dialogue about how they laugh at being told such a ridiculous thing.
- Representation: The representation of Japanese cultural elements has been called into question by other reviewers; and I strongly recommend interested readers seek out Japanese reviewers for deeper insights into how this book depicts these elements. I also found the representation of the two disabled characters lacking, as one’s disability seems to be entirely forgotten except for the scenes that she is being attacked by other children for being disabled, and the other’s disability is similarly forgotten except as justification to be abruptly cruel and spiteful. The latter character’s reasons for these emotions could have been interesting if explored in a much more nuanced book than this one. Instead, this character ended up being a disabled character who also used their disability to justify being a huge jerk.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 11, 2024
Rating: 2.5 stars
This book was not what I expected. I started off really liking the book. Even though the pacing was kind of slow, I liked the cozy, historical feel to it. It gave me “Rurouni Kenshin” type of feeling in a sense of a swordsman trying to find their place in the world. In this novel it is about Yuki Tachibana, a swordsman, coming home after being exiled for four years. There is a lot of history and emotion behind her return. We find out that she was exiled due to a conviction in the disappearance of her childhood friend, Hina Kabayashi. However, not everything is what it seems and the truth behind the disappearance slowly unravels into something more magical and wicked.
I really liked Yuki’s character in the beginning. Her hopes were very simple, but relatable. All she wanted was to feel accepted and to be surrounded by family and friends. I loved how hard she worked to rebuild her family reputation and to restore her family dojo. The characters she meets along the way and the found family she slowly surrounds herself with was so well-done. I especially loved the mentor-student relationship between Yuki and Daisuke. Although it started off rough, a mutual respect slowly develops between the two through their shared past experiences. However, I felt the writing and character developments took a complete turn once the secrets slowly start to unravel, which is a shame, because that is when all the Asian mythology and action occur.
In terms of the writing, the transition between multiple POV felt disjointed. A lot of the plot and relationship development seem to happen off scene, and when we do find out about it, it is more telling in the form of an inner monologue than showing. There are also a lot of subplots happening. We are introduced to the Gods, we discover the moon goddess, there is still the mystery of the disappearance of Hina, and on top of that there is a fight to save the mortal realm. Although they do eventually connect, the subplots are very underdeveloped and the conflicts are resolved rather quickly, leaving an unsatisfying feeling. There is also a romance, but it is very insta-love, instead of a natural development. As for the characters, they started off with such promise, but then ended up being one-dimensional. Again, it has a lot to do with the fact that we don’t see their gradual growth. We see them go through a significant event, but in the next paragraph/chapter, they have already moved on. We never see the struggle or reflection, making it hard to connect or care for the characters. Also, the characters seem to be inconsistent. One scene that stuck with me was when it was suggested that Yuki’s father had something to do with the disappearance of Hina. I was surprise that Yuki, who greatly admired her father, wasn’t angry or defensive about the accusation. Instead, she calmly accepted it, and the story moved on. These inconsistencies continue throughout the second half of the novel, making it confusing and a struggle to read.
I really had a hard time getting through this book. Mostly because it was hard to understand the overall purpose of this novel. I felt like there was two different stories happening, because the fantasy portion happened so late and it had such a different vibe and direction than what was set up in the beginning. If the main focus was the fantasy, then I think it would have been better if it was introduced earlier on so more time can be spent on the development of the characters and the plot lines. Although I appreciate the Asian culture and mythology weaving in the story, it unfortunately missed the mark for me, which is a shame because this book had such interesting premise.
Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
This book was not what I expected. I started off really liking the book. Even though the pacing was kind of slow, I liked the cozy, historical feel to it. It gave me “Rurouni Kenshin” type of feeling in a sense of a swordsman trying to find their place in the world. In this novel it is about Yuki Tachibana, a swordsman, coming home after being exiled for four years. There is a lot of history and emotion behind her return. We find out that she was exiled due to a conviction in the disappearance of her childhood friend, Hina Kabayashi. However, not everything is what it seems and the truth behind the disappearance slowly unravels into something more magical and wicked.
I really liked Yuki’s character in the beginning. Her hopes were very simple, but relatable. All she wanted was to feel accepted and to be surrounded by family and friends. I loved how hard she worked to rebuild her family reputation and to restore her family dojo. The characters she meets along the way and the found family she slowly surrounds herself with was so well-done. I especially loved the mentor-student relationship between Yuki and Daisuke. Although it started off rough, a mutual respect slowly develops between the two through their shared past experiences. However, I felt the writing and character developments took a complete turn once the secrets slowly start to unravel, which is a shame, because that is when all the Asian mythology and action occur.
In terms of the writing, the transition between multiple POV felt disjointed. A lot of the plot and relationship development seem to happen off scene, and when we do find out about it, it is more telling in the form of an inner monologue than showing. There are also a lot of subplots happening. We are introduced to the Gods, we discover the moon goddess, there is still the mystery of the disappearance of Hina, and on top of that there is a fight to save the mortal realm. Although they do eventually connect, the subplots are very underdeveloped and the conflicts are resolved rather quickly, leaving an unsatisfying feeling. There is also a romance, but it is very insta-love, instead of a natural development. As for the characters, they started off with such promise, but then ended up being one-dimensional. Again, it has a lot to do with the fact that we don’t see their gradual growth. We see them go through a significant event, but in the next paragraph/chapter, they have already moved on. We never see the struggle or reflection, making it hard to connect or care for the characters. Also, the characters seem to be inconsistent. One scene that stuck with me was when it was suggested that Yuki’s father had something to do with the disappearance of Hina. I was surprise that Yuki, who greatly admired her father, wasn’t angry or defensive about the accusation. Instead, she calmly accepted it, and the story moved on. These inconsistencies continue throughout the second half of the novel, making it confusing and a struggle to read.
I really had a hard time getting through this book. Mostly because it was hard to understand the overall purpose of this novel. I felt like there was two different stories happening, because the fantasy portion happened so late and it had such a different vibe and direction than what was set up in the beginning. If the main focus was the fantasy, then I think it would have been better if it was introduced earlier on so more time can be spent on the development of the characters and the plot lines. Although I appreciate the Asian culture and mythology weaving in the story, it unfortunately missed the mark for me, which is a shame because this book had such interesting premise.
Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 27, 2024
DNF'd at chapter 23 (49%).
If you enjoy Japanese light novels and YA, this book may be up your alley more than mine. Woven Song is an Asian-inspired, and in particular Japanese shounen anime-inspired, story of an angry teenage girl with a sword, who was ostracized and exiled, returns to uncover the dark secret behind her banishment, finds out things that she didn't really want to know about the people around her, and in the process also uncovers her hidden identity as a kami.
I tend to be a very critical reader: my favorite books are the ones that force me to read between the lines and critique the messages the author is trying to send. Pacing and character development matter to me greatly.
I requested this ARC because I was hot off Babel and Iron Widow and was excited by the cover art and promise of another Asian-inspired fantasy. I was unfortunately left rather disappointed -- where Babel and Iron Widow had clear visions for themselves (the former a critique of colonization, the latter a feminist power fantasy), Woven Song meanders a bit between good themes, but never satisfyingly settles on one.
In my opinion, there are two ways the author could have approached this story: 1. a rich mythological fantasy that draws deeply on research into the subject culture and history (like Babel), or 2. a more loosely Asian-inspired fast-paced action-packed, plot-driven story (like Iron Widow). I believe the author intended to go with the latter. A few of the plot points, such as the fact that the protagonist is a teenage girl with a sword and white hair, gave me the sense that the author is a fan of Japanese anime and enjoys leaning into the shounen tropes. Occasionally the sentence structures also seem reminiscent of translated light novels -- technically correct, but odd when read aloud.
The story starts off too fast, then excruciatingly slow. We get four scenes back-to-back within the span of the prologue and first chapter: Kaguya-hime on the moon, Kaguya falling to the mortal realm and being adopted by a woman who happens to name her the same thing as her real name, her in a pile of bodies with the woman who adopted her in the last scene nowhere to be found, and Yuki coming home after being exiled. Presumably all four scenes are of the same protagonist, from different points of her life, but we have no idea how they connect or why they are important to the story that is to come. There is no hint of further development on any of these story points until a good 15 chapters later, 25% of the way through the book. Some of these scenes don't get any development until at least 75% through the book.
Even if the author only intended this story to be loosely based on Asian mythology, this story could have benefitted from more world-building with the myths, gods, and religious practices. Most gods are given one-paragraph introductions to describe their powers and their place in religion, then disappear for the next 20 chapters .
If you enjoy YA novels, shounen anime, and don't mind a slow start to a book, maybe give this one a try.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author, Rachael Krotec, for the ARC copy.
If you enjoy Japanese light novels and YA, this book may be up your alley more than mine. Woven Song is an Asian-inspired, and in particular Japanese shounen anime-inspired, story of an angry teenage girl with a sword, who was ostracized and exiled, returns to uncover the dark secret behind her banishment, finds out things that she didn't really want to know about the people around her, and in the process also uncovers her hidden identity as a kami.
I tend to be a very critical reader: my favorite books are the ones that force me to read between the lines and critique the messages the author is trying to send. Pacing and character development matter to me greatly.
I requested this ARC because I was hot off Babel and Iron Widow and was excited by the cover art and promise of another Asian-inspired fantasy. I was unfortunately left rather disappointed -- where Babel and Iron Widow had clear visions for themselves (the former a critique of colonization, the latter a feminist power fantasy), Woven Song meanders a bit between good themes, but never satisfyingly settles on one.
In my opinion, there are two ways the author could have approached this story: 1. a rich mythological fantasy that draws deeply on research into the subject culture and history (like Babel), or 2. a more loosely Asian-inspired fast-paced action-packed, plot-driven story (like Iron Widow). I believe the author intended to go with the latter. A few of the plot points, such as the fact that the protagonist is a teenage girl with a sword and white hair, gave me the sense that the author is a fan of Japanese anime and enjoys leaning into the shounen tropes. Occasionally the sentence structures also seem reminiscent of translated light novels -- technically correct, but odd when read aloud.
The story starts off too fast, then excruciatingly slow. We get four scenes back-to-back within the span of the prologue and first chapter: Kaguya-hime on the moon, Kaguya falling to the mortal realm and being adopted by a woman who happens to name her the same thing as her real name, her in a pile of bodies with the woman who adopted her in the last scene nowhere to be found, and Yuki coming home after being exiled. Presumably all four scenes are of the same protagonist, from different points of her life, but we have no idea how they connect or why they are important to the story that is to come. There is no hint of further development on any of these story points until a good 15 chapters later, 25% of the way through the book. Some of these scenes don't get any development until at least 75% through the book.
Even if the author only intended this story to be loosely based on Asian mythology, this story could have benefitted from more world-building with the myths, gods, and religious practices. Most gods are given one-paragraph introductions to describe their powers and their place in religion, then disappear for the next 20 chapters .
If you enjoy YA novels, shounen anime, and don't mind a slow start to a book, maybe give this one a try.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author, Rachael Krotec, for the ARC copy.
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