Review by Kali_Kris -- The Toki-Girl and the Sparrow-Boy...
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[Following is a volunteer review of "The Toki-Girl and the Sparrow-Boy Book 1" by Claire Youmans.]
The Toki-Girl and the Sparrow-Boy Book 1 by Claire Youmans, set in ancient Japan, is about a girl and a boy, adopted by a couple who cannot have their own children. The couple learns the girl is given to them by one of Japan’s gods as gift for taking care of the God’s statue. However, they also learn that she is not fully human. She can turn into a beautiful bird whose feathers can be woven into cloths. The boy comes into their lives when one day, the mother and the bird-girl, finds the boy while walking near the river. He too is a boy who can turn into a Sparrow. Their adoptive parents are killed, and they try to figure out a way survive.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would rate it a 4 out of 4. I am mainly a fantasy/sci-fi books reader, and after reading this first book in the series, I am looking forward to reading the following books. I can see the author spinning off some of the lesser characters in this book and create a new series. I would look forward to reading those as well.
What I enjoyed most are the different story lines in this book. I love the way the author provides depth to the story by having the stories about the other characters in the book. The main story line of the 2 children trying to navigate a world without parents lures you in as to what will happen to them at the end of this book. The supernatural/magical element in this story – characters turning into birds – is wonderful. As a reader, I felt that at least, the children had something to depend on to survive. I would love to have these superpowers myself! The sub-stories feed into why and how these 2 survive in the end.
The children meet different people and animals in their journey. These encounters create more stories within the story. I especially liked the forbidden-love story between 2 people – one from Japan, and one from America. In a time when Japan could no longer stay excluded from the rest of the world, the author beautifully describes the setting and makes you feel as if you are in ancient Japan.
I really like the way the author describes the characters in detail, giving the reader the characters’ background, what they are thinking, and their reasons for doing what they do. The pace and style of her story telling is wonderful and enjoyable.
Overall, I would recommend this book to fantasy readers.
******
The Toki-Girl and the Sparrow-Boy Book 1
View: on Bookshelves |
The Toki-Girl and the Sparrow-Boy Book 1 by Claire Youmans, set in ancient Japan, is about a girl and a boy, adopted by a couple who cannot have their own children. The couple learns the girl is given to them by one of Japan’s gods as gift for taking care of the God’s statue. However, they also learn that she is not fully human. She can turn into a beautiful bird whose feathers can be woven into cloths. The boy comes into their lives when one day, the mother and the bird-girl, finds the boy while walking near the river. He too is a boy who can turn into a Sparrow. Their adoptive parents are killed, and they try to figure out a way survive.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would rate it a 4 out of 4. I am mainly a fantasy/sci-fi books reader, and after reading this first book in the series, I am looking forward to reading the following books. I can see the author spinning off some of the lesser characters in this book and create a new series. I would look forward to reading those as well.
What I enjoyed most are the different story lines in this book. I love the way the author provides depth to the story by having the stories about the other characters in the book. The main story line of the 2 children trying to navigate a world without parents lures you in as to what will happen to them at the end of this book. The supernatural/magical element in this story – characters turning into birds – is wonderful. As a reader, I felt that at least, the children had something to depend on to survive. I would love to have these superpowers myself! The sub-stories feed into why and how these 2 survive in the end.
The children meet different people and animals in their journey. These encounters create more stories within the story. I especially liked the forbidden-love story between 2 people – one from Japan, and one from America. In a time when Japan could no longer stay excluded from the rest of the world, the author beautifully describes the setting and makes you feel as if you are in ancient Japan.
I really like the way the author describes the characters in detail, giving the reader the characters’ background, what they are thinking, and their reasons for doing what they do. The pace and style of her story telling is wonderful and enjoyable.
Overall, I would recommend this book to fantasy readers.
******
The Toki-Girl and the Sparrow-Boy Book 1
View: on Bookshelves |
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