Seven Deadly Shadows by Courtney Alameda and Valynne E. Maetani is a fantasy novel that was released on January 28, 2020. Published by Harper Collins, this novel is perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo.
Synopsis
Kira Fujikawa has always been a girl on the fringe. Bullied by her peers and ignored by her parents, the only place Kira’s ever felt at home is at her grandfather’s Shinto shrine, where she trains to be a priestess.
But Kira’s life is shattered on the night her family’s shrine is attacked by a vicious band of yokai demons. With the help of Shiro—the shrine’s gorgeous half-fox, half-boy kitsune—Kira discovers that her shrine harbors an ancient artifact of great power . . . one the yokai and their demon lord, Shuten-doji, will use to bring down an everlasting darkness upon the world.
Unable to face the Shuten-doji and his minions on her own, Kira enlists the aid of seven ruthless shinigami—or death gods—to help stop the brutal destruction of humankind. But some of the death gods aren’t everything they initially seemed, nor as loyal to Kira’s cause as they first appeared.
With war drawing nearer by the day, Kira realizes that if this unlikely band of heroes is going to survive, they’re going to have to learn to work together, confront their demons, and rise as one to face an army of unimaginable evil.
- Author: Courtney Alameda and Vallyne E. Maetani
- Publisher: Harper Collins
- Publication date: January 28, 2020
- Book Length: 384
- Genre: YA Fantasy, Dark fantasy, Paranormal, retelling
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Review
Kira is a priestess in training, working for her beloved grandfather at the family shrine. Kira hailed from a gifted familythat fought demons over the centuries. She inherited the ability to see demons, which also ensures that she is often misunderstood by her own family and bullied by her peers. One day, a betrayal allows the shrine to be attacked causing the death of her grandfather- the only one who was like her and understood her.
A great evil is looking for a piece of a sword that will allow him to dominate the world. After the death of her grandfather, Kira finds herself in a quest to gather seven dead gods before the blood moon, before the evil can restore his power and conquer the world. The problem is that the Shinigamis, dead gods,dislikes humans and have no qualms in what can happens to them.
This story has been a nice ride. First, the book cover provides a fairly accurate feel of the book’s tone. While I’ve never been to Tokyo or Kyoto, this book depicted a delightful picture of the cities, culture and traditions allowing me to visit foreign places from the comfort of my home. I would not be able to tell if it’s accurate, but I enjoyed reading about it.
This book is about a quest where death lurks at every corner. Ideal for action-packed fantasy book lovers, the story is a quick and easy read. The two main characters, Kira and Shiro, go through a great deal to save the world from a great evil. I appreciate how Kira did not discard her responsibilities (school, work at the shrine…) while fighting for what she believes in. She is grounded and has a profound respect for her elders, especially the work of her late grandfather. Her character also evolves in the book thanks to Shiro who gives her the love and support she needs to thrive. She does not have a loving family, but as the story progresses, she will find people who care for her and she learns how to stand her for herself.
As for Shiro, I enjoy his character immensely. He too deals with a lot of family issues. The fact that he is not human made the story even better. He is powerful, yet he is not cocky or arrogant and helps Kira in her journey. The romance is a slow burn and a wonderful development to read.
I really enjoyed reading about all the legends and history. The Shinigamis, dead gods, play a very interesting role in the story and keep you on your toes. Though sometimes, it feels as if the main characters deal with powerful gods who can easily throw tantrums.
To conclude, this was a pleasant read that I highly recommend.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
About the author: Courtney Alameda
A veteran bookseller and librarian, Courtney Alameda now spends her days writing thriller and horror novels for young people. Her debut novel, SHUTTER, was nominated for a Bram Stoker award and hailed as a “standout in the genre” by School Library Journal. Her forthcoming novel, PITCH DARK (Spring 2017), is a genre-blending science fiction/horror novel in the vein of Ridley Scott’s 1979 film ALIEN.
Courtney holds a B.A. in English literature with an emphasis in creative writing. She is represented by the talented John M. Cusick of Folio Literary. A Northern California native, she now resides in Utah with her husband, a legion of books, and a tiny five pound cat with a giant personality.
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About the author: Valynne E. Maetani
Valynne E. Maetani (pronounced Vuh-lin Mah-eh-tah-nee) grew up in Utah and obtained a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania. In a former life, she was a project manager and developed educational software for children with learning disabilities.
Currently, she is a full-time writer. She is a member of the We Need Diverse Books team and is dedicated to promoting diversity in children’s literature because every child should grow up believing his or her story deserves to be told. Her debut novel, Ink and Ashes, is the winner of the New Visions Award 2013, a Junior Library Guild 2015 selection, and Best Fiction Book in Salt Lake City Weekly’s Best of Utah Arts Award for 2015. She lives in Salt Lake City.
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INTERNATIONAL GIVEAWAY
Grand Prize: Win a signed copy of SEVEN DEADLY SHADOWS, a signed copy of Courtney Alameda’s SHUTTER, and a signed copy of Valynne Maetani’s INK AND ASHES; anime portraits of Kira and Shiro; a stuffed fox omamori charm from the Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine in Japan; an origami fox hand-folded by Valynne Maetani; a yokai mini sticker sheet; and an assortment of Japanese Kit Kats (not pictured) [INT]
Second Prize: Win (1) of (2) A signed copy of SEVEN DEADLY SHADOWS with anime portraits of Kira and Shiro (INT)
STARTS: 28th January 2020 – ENDS: 11th February 2020
