There's a lot to like in this Japanese-inspired fantasy epic: the unique and lush setting, the struggle of subjugated monsters against their human oppressors, a strong female protagonist who makes her way by fighting instead of through more traditional feminine ways.

Unfortunately, there were also a few places where the novel didn't quite hit the mark. The pace is incredibly quick, especially toward the end, leaving me feeling like this was meant to be a trilogy that hot squished into one novel. The prose itself is practical to the point of being choppy and off-putting, with little poetry. Between the fast pace and the choppy writing, I had a hard time caring about the characters or believing their emotional arcs. Akira manages to become a skilled ninja overnight. Taro and Mari fall in love--and out of it again--in a matter of a few pages, so quickly I got mental whiplash.

And while the story itself has some admirable themes, nothing is left to subtext, leaving me feeling like the author was writing down to her YA audience. I hope Emiko Jean's next novel will make better use of her skills in world building and character creation, both of which are strong.