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Mark of Favor
After seventeen-year-old Ember Lockley moves to Japan with her family because of her father's job, she braces for all kinds of changes: a language barrier, making new friends, even adjusting to a new sleep schedule. She's no stranger to moving around, and at least in Japan she can embrace a culture she's already obsessed with.
What she doesn't expect is that when she rescues a weasel from getting trampled at her school, and gives it the name Sakuya, she enters into a binding contract. And not just any contract. By saving the animal, she earns a mark of favor, which she discovers is a marriage proposal from a powerful Yokai.
Unwillingly, Ember is whisked away and thrust into the Spirit Realm, a supposed myth of Japanese Folklore. Though Sakuya is kind and offers anything to make her happy, she knows it's just a rouse to ensure she marries him. The more she learns about Sakuya and his past as an Izuna Yokai, the more she realizes that everything she knows about Japan might be wrong.
If she hopes to survive and see her family again, she'll have to adapt--not only to her new relationship, but to the overall role she plays in the world of Yokai.
What she doesn't expect is that when she rescues a weasel from getting trampled at her school, and gives it the name Sakuya, she enters into a binding contract. And not just any contract. By saving the animal, she earns a mark of favor, which she discovers is a marriage proposal from a powerful Yokai.
Unwillingly, Ember is whisked away and thrust into the Spirit Realm, a supposed myth of Japanese Folklore. Though Sakuya is kind and offers anything to make her happy, she knows it's just a rouse to ensure she marries him. The more she learns about Sakuya and his past as an Izuna Yokai, the more she realizes that everything she knows about Japan might be wrong.
If she hopes to survive and see her family again, she'll have to adapt--not only to her new relationship, but to the overall role she plays in the world of Yokai.
Kindle Edition
First published November 10, 2020
2 people are currently reading
16 people want to read
About the author
Kaitlyn Keller
7 books20 followersKaitlyn Keller is an enthusiastic teacher who uses her free time to create vivid and inviting worlds for readers to explore. She’s been writing since the age of 5 and has worked with authors including D.J MacHale, Mike Dellosso, and Kelly Long. She graduated in 2014 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Teaching English as a Second Language and in 2017 with a Master’s Degree in Creative Writing. She lives in Central Pennsylvania with her husband and two children.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 17, 2021
A lovely read, perfect for anime/manga fans (like me), and especially for fans of Japanese mythology and folklore.
First of all, I have to say that Sakuya was the cutest thing ever! I loved his innocence, his charming talk, and every part of his character. I found Ember's thoughts a bit annoying, but I still understood the way she felt. It was completely normal for her to be feeling that way, given the enviroment she had to grow up in.
The chapters were short (or is it just me?) and they made me want to read more and more. I found the balance between descriptions and dialogue to be perfect for my tastes. I could picture every scene with absolute detail.
This book is not the tale of a young girl who is forced into a marriage with a yokai after receiving the mark of favor. This book teaches the reader about true love and how one needs to accept the one they love in full before they marry them. Sakuya's and Ember's love was love at its purest form. Yes, I loved everything about this book,
I'll be reading this again soon!
First of all, I have to say that Sakuya was the cutest thing ever! I loved his innocence, his charming talk, and every part of his character. I found Ember's thoughts a bit annoying, but I still understood the way she felt. It was completely normal for her to be feeling that way, given the enviroment she had to grow up in.
The chapters were short (or is it just me?) and they made me want to read more and more. I found the balance between descriptions and dialogue to be perfect for my tastes. I could picture every scene with absolute detail.
This book is not the tale of a young girl who is forced into a marriage with a yokai after receiving the mark of favor. This book teaches the reader about true love and how one needs to accept the one they love in full before they marry them. Sakuya's and Ember's love was love at its purest form. Yes, I loved everything about this book,
I'll be reading this again soon!
November 10, 2020
Disclaimer: While my review is on my personal experience with the book, I chose to give it 4-stars as others may perceive the themes differently.
Mark of Favor is the first of Keller's books that I've read, and wow, what a first impression. The characters are bold and expressive; every scene is oozing with emotional and romantic tension as Ember tries to run from the world she's been thrown into.
The villains motivations are heinous yet understandable, and all the factors in play make for a story that keeps the characters- and the reader- on their toes. Although, as good as it is, for me personally, I had this feeling of dissatisfaction while reading it, purely centered around one of the characters. I won't talk about which due to spoilers, but unfortunately I couldn't like them enough.
Overall though, this is quite an enjoyable read for anyone looking for a romance novel with sprinkles of fascinating Japanese folklore mixed in, though the mixed messages may deter some readers. However, if you can look past that, then you'll have a great time with this book.
Mark of Favor is the first of Keller's books that I've read, and wow, what a first impression. The characters are bold and expressive; every scene is oozing with emotional and romantic tension as Ember tries to run from the world she's been thrown into.
The villains motivations are heinous yet understandable, and all the factors in play make for a story that keeps the characters- and the reader- on their toes. Although, as good as it is, for me personally, I had this feeling of dissatisfaction while reading it, purely centered around one of the characters. I won't talk about which due to spoilers, but unfortunately I couldn't like them enough.
Overall though, this is quite an enjoyable read for anyone looking for a romance novel with sprinkles of fascinating Japanese folklore mixed in, though the mixed messages may deter some readers. However, if you can look past that, then you'll have a great time with this book.
October 31, 2020
I received this book as a free ARC from the author for a fair review.
Ember's life changes when she meets Sakuya, a weasel yokai, who marks her to be his betrothed. She is torn thereafter between wanting to return home or remain in the spirit realm with Sakuya as well as facing other challenges being human in the spirit world.
It is a slow burn type of book but that has emotional scenes scattered throughout that reward the reader's investment in the characters. Personally, I really liked the use of original Japanese names for a lot of the culturally specific things rather than calling them the translation or referring to them in an Anglicized way. The setting was developed nicely and this helped that. Also, I was mostly interested in the characters, especially Minori. I was interested in seeing him grow as the story continued.
Even though this story was a bit slower than my normal read, I thought it was paced well for the plot. There is enough gradual reveal and payoff to keep the reader interested until the end.
For me, there were two drawbacks. One being that I thought it would more closely follow classical Japanese mythology. This isn't a definitively negative thing, especially for people who do not usually read such books, but it is just what I expected from Japanese mythology going in was different than what I got. The second part is that the main character kept comparing her life to anime which got very distracting by the end and would draw me out of the story. Anime is trendy now and she is young, so I wouldn't have minded a few times, but anime is mentioned a lot.
Ember's life changes when she meets Sakuya, a weasel yokai, who marks her to be his betrothed. She is torn thereafter between wanting to return home or remain in the spirit realm with Sakuya as well as facing other challenges being human in the spirit world.
It is a slow burn type of book but that has emotional scenes scattered throughout that reward the reader's investment in the characters. Personally, I really liked the use of original Japanese names for a lot of the culturally specific things rather than calling them the translation or referring to them in an Anglicized way. The setting was developed nicely and this helped that. Also, I was mostly interested in the characters, especially Minori. I was interested in seeing him grow as the story continued.
Even though this story was a bit slower than my normal read, I thought it was paced well for the plot. There is enough gradual reveal and payoff to keep the reader interested until the end.
For me, there were two drawbacks. One being that I thought it would more closely follow classical Japanese mythology. This isn't a definitively negative thing, especially for people who do not usually read such books, but it is just what I expected from Japanese mythology going in was different than what I got. The second part is that the main character kept comparing her life to anime which got very distracting by the end and would draw me out of the story. Anime is trendy now and she is young, so I wouldn't have minded a few times, but anime is mentioned a lot.
December 27, 2020
This book is a sweet romance that definitely delivers on the premise of reminding you of your favorite fantasy romance anime. There were definitely elements of Kamisama Kiss, Fruits Basket, and others. The inner conflict of the main character was extremely relatable, and despite being like the anime, it was also unlike the anime in that it portrayed real hesitation on the part of the main character to marry a yokai. The reasons for her hesitation are explored in honesty and build the romantic tension to the point that you are practically shouting at her, begging her to be honest with herself and return the yokai's love. There is a happy ending, but man, it had me gripping the edges of my phone (where I read it because my Kindle was being silly), until the very end. And the message of true love, loving despite flaws and imperfections, was a great one to read.
My complaint about this novel is more philosophical than plot-based. As a Christian, I believe that Christ is the only true source of love. So even though this book conveys a message about true love, it doesn't convey a message about true happiness. True happiness can not be found in the true love of another person or yokai for that matter. True happiness can only be found in the true love of the Savior, Jesus. As this novel does not purport to be a Christian novel, I can't fault it too much for this, but it does keep me from giving it a full five stars.
For my more sensitive readers, there is several sexual suggestions, passionate kisses, and brief mentions of sex. Sex is never described or even hinted at, since the majority of the book is about them coming to love each other, not lust after one another.
Overall, a great read for people who love anime and its tropes.
My complaint about this novel is more philosophical than plot-based. As a Christian, I believe that Christ is the only true source of love. So even though this book conveys a message about true love, it doesn't convey a message about true happiness. True happiness can not be found in the true love of another person or yokai for that matter. True happiness can only be found in the true love of the Savior, Jesus. As this novel does not purport to be a Christian novel, I can't fault it too much for this, but it does keep me from giving it a full five stars.
For my more sensitive readers, there is several sexual suggestions, passionate kisses, and brief mentions of sex. Sex is never described or even hinted at, since the majority of the book is about them coming to love each other, not lust after one another.
Overall, a great read for people who love anime and its tropes.
October 17, 2020
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The atmosphere generated in this book is amazing. Each location has its own aura and yet they feel perfectly in sync with one another in the world the author has created. Each place has a new surprise waiting and I truly looked forward to exploring each one.
The characters feel remarkably realistic. The motivations, while not always clear at first, become unveiled as the plot gradually moves forward and the characters’ relationship develops at a believable pace with understandable hiccups along the way. Nothing feels forced.
The gravity of the characters’ pasts feel real and genuine. Their reactions and their method of coping with situations, because of these circumstances feels real and earned. I was both frustrated and sympathetic, a difficult balance to manage.
The book is a slow burn but it is a well earned slow burn. Do not expect instant gratification or resolution. The author builds it much more nuanced than that.
Much like with her other works, this writer knows her genre and she embraces it. Sometimes she plays tropes straight, other times she turns them on their head and each turn is a pleasure to read.
Overall, I truly enjoyed this story. I believed the plot, I believed the characters, I believed the relationship and I look forward to what else the author has in store for the future.
The atmosphere generated in this book is amazing. Each location has its own aura and yet they feel perfectly in sync with one another in the world the author has created. Each place has a new surprise waiting and I truly looked forward to exploring each one.
The characters feel remarkably realistic. The motivations, while not always clear at first, become unveiled as the plot gradually moves forward and the characters’ relationship develops at a believable pace with understandable hiccups along the way. Nothing feels forced.
The gravity of the characters’ pasts feel real and genuine. Their reactions and their method of coping with situations, because of these circumstances feels real and earned. I was both frustrated and sympathetic, a difficult balance to manage.
The book is a slow burn but it is a well earned slow burn. Do not expect instant gratification or resolution. The author builds it much more nuanced than that.
Much like with her other works, this writer knows her genre and she embraces it. Sometimes she plays tropes straight, other times she turns them on their head and each turn is a pleasure to read.
Overall, I truly enjoyed this story. I believed the plot, I believed the characters, I believed the relationship and I look forward to what else the author has in store for the future.
November 12, 2020
Have you read a book that’s inspired you to change your own writing? I’m proud to say that I keep returning to Asian-influenced stories. Each one is reinforcing (what I know deep down), to “write what you love”. It got buried under years of teasing & bullying 😞
I finished reading “Mark of Favor” by @kaitlynkellerauthor last night & lemme tell ya, as a lover of Japanese culture, I enjoyed this story thoroughly!! 🥰
Ember, the main character, moves to Japan with her family. She rescues a weasel at school & is given a “reward”. She’s spirited away by the weasel (who was actually a yokai). Kidnapped & suddenly engaged to the demon she helped, how can a powerless human get back home?
For YA, it’s perfectly acceptable to have the stakes be up-close like they are in “Mark of Favor”. Ember’s world includes herself & 2-3 other people. Sometimes the whole universe isn’t in danger—& that’s okay!
It checkmarks all my boxes:
✅ Great World-Building
✅ Romance 💋
✅ Happy Ending 💕 (most important in my book)
The only criticism I can speak of are a few loose ends:
✨ Won’t their parents eventually question where their daughters spirited away?
✨ Is Lord Uwabame just going to give up his pursuit of Ember permanently?
I finished reading “Mark of Favor” by @kaitlynkellerauthor last night & lemme tell ya, as a lover of Japanese culture, I enjoyed this story thoroughly!! 🥰
Ember, the main character, moves to Japan with her family. She rescues a weasel at school & is given a “reward”. She’s spirited away by the weasel (who was actually a yokai). Kidnapped & suddenly engaged to the demon she helped, how can a powerless human get back home?
For YA, it’s perfectly acceptable to have the stakes be up-close like they are in “Mark of Favor”. Ember’s world includes herself & 2-3 other people. Sometimes the whole universe isn’t in danger—& that’s okay!
It checkmarks all my boxes:
✅ Great World-Building
✅ Romance 💋
✅ Happy Ending 💕 (most important in my book)
The only criticism I can speak of are a few loose ends:
✨ Won’t their parents eventually question where their daughters spirited away?
✨ Is Lord Uwabame just going to give up his pursuit of Ember permanently?
April 9, 2021
When I heard about this book, I was incredibly excited to read it. I love watching anime and so this book sounded like it would be right up my ally. I came down with the flu and ended up reading this book in one whole day. It took me most of the day but I just couldn't put it down. I thought the characters were relatable, and personable. I honestly loved the story line. This book has many elements that made it captivating and interesting. There was drama, mystery, fear, adventure, and romance. I felt the story flowed very well and it did not leave me confused or longing for anything except more to read. I loved having Embers thoughts throughout the book. I loved knowing what she was thinking. It helped to understand why she felt and acted the way she did. I honestly would love to see this author write a prequel or sequel for this novel. My only negative criticism I can say is that I feel that sometimes the author gets too descriptive about some things and it takes away from the idea. I had to reread some of the paragraphs and skip some of the description words to ease my understanding. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who would like a magical, slow-growing romance book.
January 11, 2021
Honestly I liked this more than I thought I would. It caught my eye and I checked out the sample, and with the first couple chapters I thought, oh this is basically as if Mizuki from Kamisama Kiss was the protagonist of his own show, and that felt too derivative for me at the time. So I put it aside for awhile, but I kept thinking back to it and decided to give it another chance.
I'm glad I did. The story is extremely character driven, but it works. I liked Ember and Sakuya, and I liked how their relationship evolved. It felt realistic and natural (as much as it can in that kind of situation at least), and it was fun to read. I'd totally read a sequel with the pair at the end. A manga version would be fun too, it really has that feel to it.
I'm glad I did. The story is extremely character driven, but it works. I liked Ember and Sakuya, and I liked how their relationship evolved. It felt realistic and natural (as much as it can in that kind of situation at least), and it was fun to read. I'd totally read a sequel with the pair at the end. A manga version would be fun too, it really has that feel to it.
October 22, 2020
What else can I say other than I loved this book. If you are a fan of anime or Japanese folklore, this book is definitely worth checking out (especially for Inuyasha or Spirited Away fans). I will admit, I'm not usually a big romance reader, but the romance in this book didn't feel overbearing or forced in any way (so even if you're not usually into reading that genre, it's still worth reading).
May 17, 2021
Mark of Favor is super cute and I just love Sakuya. How could anyone not? I wouldn't have even hesitated (and the fact he'd be ~perfect~ for anyone who might be asexual is just amazing to me. 1000/100. I would love this man until the end of time).
Ember's sister is how I'd react, honestly. I adore her.
Ember's sister is how I'd react, honestly. I adore her.
November 25, 2020
I highly enjoyed this book. There was so much Japanese culture that I got to learn and I loved loved loved Sakuya's character. At times I kept wanting to shout at Ember and say 'be with him already!' but on the other hand I understood her hesitation. Great book.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews