Shadows on the Moon
Shadows on the moon, by Zoe Marriot is a book centered around a girl called Suzume, young heiress of a noble clan. Or perhaps she is Rin, the kitchen drudge. Maybe even Yue, mysterious courtesan.
The setting is a fantasy 'version' of Heian Japan.
The main character begins as Suzume, daughter of the Nakamura clan. when her family is taken away from her on the excuse of high treason against the 'Moon Prince'. Her mother, the only other survivor of the attack, marries Teriyama-san. (The book keeps many Japanese elements, such as honorifics.) Suzume is obviously traumatized by the murder of her family and resents herself for surviving and she resorts to cutting. So if you read this review and read the book then flame me for not warning you: I have! She finds out that someone close to her is responsible for her family's murder and resolves to have revenge on him by becoming the 'Shadow bride' and destroying his family. To top it off she has fallen in love with an African visitor to the kingdom, but she cannot be the Shadow bride if she has another lover.
I love the book and when i read about Suzume and Otiento (the African boy) my heart just about melted. i felt like a fourty-year old woman reading a sappy romance book. But don't worry there is no shortage of angst!
The setting is a fantasy 'version' of Heian Japan.
The main character begins as Suzume, daughter of the Nakamura clan. when her family is taken away from her on the excuse of high treason against the 'Moon Prince'. Her mother, the only other survivor of the attack, marries Teriyama-san. (The book keeps many Japanese elements, such as honorifics.) Suzume is obviously traumatized by the murder of her family and resents herself for surviving and she resorts to cutting. So if you read this review and read the book then flame me for not warning you: I have! She finds out that someone close to her is responsible for her family's murder and resolves to have revenge on him by becoming the 'Shadow bride' and destroying his family. To top it off she has fallen in love with an African visitor to the kingdom, but she cannot be the Shadow bride if she has another lover.
I love the book and when i read about Suzume and Otiento (the African boy) my heart just about melted. i felt like a fourty-year old woman reading a sappy romance book. But don't worry there is no shortage of angst!