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Songs of the Amaranthine #8
Flattered by Flowers
He’s a rough-hewn romantic, and she becomes his muse.
Junpei is a day laborer who’s supporting his mother and younger brother. He’s mostly resigned to rough hands and scant respectability, but for a few precious hours each evening, he loses himself in the colors and beauty of creation. His painted lanterns and parasols always sell, but supplies are costly, and unlike his illustrious father, he has no patron. While Junpei struggles to get by, strange things are afoot in Keishi—foreigners and their foreign ways. But he’s most interested in the lovely daughter of a local sweets merchant, whose kimono patterns inspire his paintings.
Junpei is a day laborer who’s supporting his mother and younger brother. He’s mostly resigned to rough hands and scant respectability, but for a few precious hours each evening, he loses himself in the colors and beauty of creation. His painted lanterns and parasols always sell, but supplies are costly, and unlike his illustrious father, he has no patron. While Junpei struggles to get by, strange things are afoot in Keishi—foreigners and their foreign ways. But he’s most interested in the lovely daughter of a local sweets merchant, whose kimono patterns inspire his paintings.
127 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 4, 2022
9 people are currently reading
82 people want to read
About the author
Forthright .
38 books553 followersa teller of tales with a fondness for unlikely friendships, wary alliances, unexpected upshots, hard-won trust, diverse cultures, found family, local legends, and folksome things. Author of the Immortal Holmes series, paranormal mysteries with a steampunk aesthetic set in an alternate history & the romantically-inclined Amaranthine Saga, with all of its attendant short stories & serials.
As a reader, this account is where I rate and review manga.
As a reader, this account is where I rate and review manga.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
April 5, 2022
For now and for ever
Are you, like me, pining for the world forthright has created?
Are you, like me, fascinated by Amaranthine songs and saga?
Boy is this story for you.
Answers are plenty here. Answers to questions that some characters (like Hisoka-sensei) have teased out. Answers that bring to light questions about how things are. If everyone forgets, what does it mean to remember? If memory doesn't last, what does it mean to wait?
Honestly this is perhaps the most heart wrenching of the Songs to date. Or even of the main Saga. Also quite a bit more action-packed and I wonder if it doesn't paint a picture that will illuminate future events.
Dragons chasing what is not theirs.
A young girl with a strong spirit and compassion.
A family who abides, protecting treasures and secrets.
A twin without a family, sleeping sleeping sleeping until they are found.
Set in the same area of Japan as book 2 (Kimiko and the Accidental Proposal), featuring a wide variety of characters we know, but out of context in many ways, this is a beautiful tale of what it means to belong and how to help others find that belonging.
Oh but keep some tissues handy. I'm not joking about the heart wrenching moments of the book.
Are you, like me, pining for the world forthright has created?
Are you, like me, fascinated by Amaranthine songs and saga?
Boy is this story for you.
Answers are plenty here. Answers to questions that some characters (like Hisoka-sensei) have teased out. Answers that bring to light questions about how things are. If everyone forgets, what does it mean to remember? If memory doesn't last, what does it mean to wait?
Honestly this is perhaps the most heart wrenching of the Songs to date. Or even of the main Saga. Also quite a bit more action-packed and I wonder if it doesn't paint a picture that will illuminate future events.
Dragons chasing what is not theirs.
A young girl with a strong spirit and compassion.
A family who abides, protecting treasures and secrets.
A twin without a family, sleeping sleeping sleeping until they are found.
Set in the same area of Japan as book 2 (Kimiko and the Accidental Proposal), featuring a wide variety of characters we know, but out of context in many ways, this is a beautiful tale of what it means to belong and how to help others find that belonging.
Oh but keep some tissues handy. I'm not joking about the heart wrenching moments of the book.
April 7, 2022
Flattered by Flowers has the first introduction of the problem of Amaranthine marrying other races, in particular the humans. Humans have decades where Amaranthine live for hundreds of years.
And Amaranthine cannot forget their mates and so can mourn for many years.
I also really liked Junpei's story. Junpei doesn't have any money but he is a dedicated miniatures artist and he has talent. He likes to decorate blank parasols and lanterns to sell when he can.
Then Junpei gets introduced to the In Between, the folks who are not Amaranthine but, like Reavers, can see the Amaranthine world.
The Songs of the Amaranthine is the backstory of the Amaranthine Saga books. These are the tales that tell of the development of the Amaranthine world.
Highly recommended for urban fantasy fans and longtime Amaranthine fans!
And Amaranthine cannot forget their mates and so can mourn for many years.
I also really liked Junpei's story. Junpei doesn't have any money but he is a dedicated miniatures artist and he has talent. He likes to decorate blank parasols and lanterns to sell when he can.
Then Junpei gets introduced to the In Between, the folks who are not Amaranthine but, like Reavers, can see the Amaranthine world.
The Songs of the Amaranthine is the backstory of the Amaranthine Saga books. These are the tales that tell of the development of the Amaranthine world.
Highly recommended for urban fantasy fans and longtime Amaranthine fans!
April 6, 2022
Sweet
As always Forthright draws you into their world and tells you a story about people (the kind of ones we know about and otherwise) and caring. This one is incredibly sweet the only issue I have with it is that like another reviewer after so many books (each that introduces new characters) keeping track of them all is difficult.
As always Forthright draws you into their world and tells you a story about people (the kind of ones we know about and otherwise) and caring. This one is incredibly sweet the only issue I have with it is that like another reviewer after so many books (each that introduces new characters) keeping track of them all is difficult.
October 2, 2024
This is a bit of sequel to Bathed in Moonlight, a bit, but also a prequel to Kimiko, and I loved it!
*First Read September 6th, 2022*
This was another great story, I loved being back in this town again, and these characters' adventures!
*First Read September 6th, 2022*
This was another great story, I loved being back in this town again, and these characters' adventures!
April 5, 2022
The full story of a legend
For readers of the Amaranthine books, this companion series exploring the legends and history of the mystical people is a delight. In this installment we finally get the tale of how Harmonious Starmark and his clan migrated to Japan and created their compound. And how 17 year old Anna Green fought dragons and defeated them with a powerful weapon known as one of the four gentlemen.
I love these books. One of the ideas explored many times is how different cultures can be, and can lead to miscommunication, but also how universal emotion is, and how patience and sincere desire to understand can create connections and peace between people.
For readers of the Amaranthine books, this companion series exploring the legends and history of the mystical people is a delight. In this installment we finally get the tale of how Harmonious Starmark and his clan migrated to Japan and created their compound. And how 17 year old Anna Green fought dragons and defeated them with a powerful weapon known as one of the four gentlemen.
I love these books. One of the ideas explored many times is how different cultures can be, and can lead to miscommunication, but also how universal emotion is, and how patience and sincere desire to understand can create connections and peace between people.
November 1, 2022
Sweet short story about the courtship and love between 2 couples, one of them being Harmonious Starmark and Anna, a battler.
Also it is the story behind the Chrysanthemum Blaze, a sword to kill dragons. Miyabe backstory. Loved the artistry portrayed with the plum blossoms.
Once again- reading this out of order since this story goes backwards from a previous release. I wish I could keep track of all the characters since it’s been a hot minute since the last release.
I totally recommend starting somewhere else in the series - this book will make no sense to a new comer!
Also it is the story behind the Chrysanthemum Blaze, a sword to kill dragons. Miyabe backstory. Loved the artistry portrayed with the plum blossoms.
Once again- reading this out of order since this story goes backwards from a previous release. I wish I could keep track of all the characters since it’s been a hot minute since the last release.
I totally recommend starting somewhere else in the series - this book will make no sense to a new comer!
September 6, 2022
Flattered by Flowers Audiobook
4. 5 Stars
This was an lovely read. The narration is really well done( 5/5 Stars). That's why I have bought all of Forthright books in audio format. The narrator draws me into the story, I go on an fantasy adventure, and come up for air hours later.
4. 5 Stars
This was an lovely read. The narration is really well done( 5/5 Stars). That's why I have bought all of Forthright books in audio format. The narrator draws me into the story, I go on an fantasy adventure, and come up for air hours later.
April 4, 2022
Delightful
Amazing to find out this back story. A few tears as well. Beautifully written.Any fan of the Amaranthine world will be delighted by old friends meeting up in this story.
Amazing to find out this back story. A few tears as well. Beautifully written.Any fan of the Amaranthine world will be delighted by old friends meeting up in this story.
April 5, 2022
Best short
I loved this back story. We got two adorable romances, plus some hints that I suspect will tie into our bad dragon from the main series.
I loved this back story. We got two adorable romances, plus some hints that I suspect will tie into our bad dragon from the main series.
April 5, 2022
Another great story.
This story gives wonderful background to the Harmonious and Saint Midori story. It adds so much to the history of the shrine and it's caretakers.
This story gives wonderful background to the Harmonious and Saint Midori story. It adds so much to the history of the shrine and it's caretakers.
April 6, 2022
Love these books
I just can't get enough of this world. More books please and thank you. If you haven't read any of this series you are in for a sweet treat.
I just can't get enough of this world. More books please and thank you. If you haven't read any of this series you are in for a sweet treat.
April 7, 2022
Finally Anna's reveal!
This tale brings in the story of Anna, Harmonious and the fight against the dragons. It also weaves in Junpei and Chika. Lovely
This tale brings in the story of Anna, Harmonious and the fight against the dragons. It also weaves in Junpei and Chika. Lovely
February 10, 2025
Continued series, some of old characters
April 5, 2022
Hard to rate this book, as it was a precursor to my favorite Kimiko and the Accidental Proposal and also the first historical story that Forthright has written. Undoubtably I will bump up the rating with more rereads.
April 22, 2022
I love the Amaranthine books!
June 23, 2024
Beautiful story
I do love these short stories that tell the histories of this amazing universe. I could read about the Amaranthines’ world forever.
I do love these short stories that tell the histories of this amazing universe. I could read about the Amaranthines’ world forever.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews