This book was great, but until the end I waffled a bit between 4.5 and 5 stars. Mostly, this was due to the amount of side adventures, which took away from the main story. However, these adventures added a lot to the world building and character development, so I forgave the side trips. Plus, I loved being introduced to knew Japanese mythological/folklore figures/creatures. The yokai, of my gosh, were terrifying (I immediately googled images to see and my stomach turned). Some of these creatures are worse than nightmares. I also loved the little forest kami that Yumeko and Tatsumi run into along the way. Iwagoto was incredibly detailed, the world fully formed and the clans, yokai, peasants, class system, etc. were all written so well that you can easily sink into the story. The character interactions were incredible and the development had you understanding all of their motivations. The group is a rag tag bunch, which you cannot help but love, and their personalities compliment each other and push the narrative forward. Some add levity, some add mystery, but all of them become important to the mission. Yumeko is naive, trusting, and dependent on others, but her heart helps to heal and change all those around her. She feels terrible about hiding the scroll and her true identity, but her betrayal means saving her own life and protecting the scroll given to her by her family (so her motivations are completely understandable). Tatsumi is a weapon, an empty vessel for Kamigoroshi (the lethal sword that houses the demon Hakaimono). Tatsumi must feel no emotion or risk losing his soul and his body to the demon within the sword. Travelling with Yumeko turns out to be deadly for him, as her caring heart opens something up within him, a yearning to risk everything to protect her. Their chemistry is undeniable. I also enjoyed Okame's wit and abrasiveness. He is a disgraced Samurai, known as a ronin, going from one sleazy job to the next. But he is loyal to those he cares about, and seems to have more of a moral compass than several of the Samurai and others they meet along the road. Daisuke is mysterious, but he has courage and feels for those below his station (although, he is sometimes completely oblivious to those below him or the torments they deal with daily). Raika at first came off as annoying, but soon her stubbornness and anger won me over, and she was fearless when it came to protecting her friends in battle. This book was chalk full of action, adventure, unforgettable characters, and a plot that kept me on the edge of my seat. I cannot wait to read the next book in the series and do not know how I will possibly wait for March of next year to finish this trilogy off. I highly recommend reading this novel if you enjoy high fantasy, Japanese folklore, and the found family trope.
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