Spirit's Princess

March 15, 2012
Himiko, pampered daughter of a clan chief, wants only to become a shaman. Friesner's previous Princesses of Myth duologies featured young women (Helen of Troy and Queen Nefertiti) about whom enough historical or mythological information exists to provide the framework of story. With far less source material for Queen Himiko, the third-century Japanese shaman ruler, Himiko's story is an original work overlaid on a historical framework. Himiko's chieftain father adores her, as do her older brother and her father's wives. Despite their love and affection, none of them takes Himiko seriously when she insists she is a shaman. Himiko herself isn't sure she can achieve her goal; with one leg lame since she was a child, she can't do a shaman's dances. Though the current shaman insists Himiko will be her heir, it can't happen until Himiko is ready to stand up to her father. As a nice twist, Himiko isn't fighting sexism (the current shaman is female, and a nearby clan has a female shaman chieftess), but family history. It's a somewhat plodding journey through Himiko's early childhood and adolescence, but fans of Helen and Nefertiti will take Himiko into their hearts as well. The slow-moving tale takes its readers on a journey through a tidily detailed historical setting, with a heroine not nearly as anachronistically progressive as is usual in such tales. (author's note) (Historical fiction. 11-13)

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April 1, 2012

Gr 8 Up-History meshes with mysticism and magic in this richly imagined account of the early life of Himiko, the legendary shaman queen who united and ruled over a vast number of clans in ancient Japan. First in a duology, this sprawling tale spans Himiko's childhood through her teen years as she discovers her calling and defies patriarchal rule to train in shamanistic magic. Positive feminist themes abound: Himiko is headstrong and brave, determined to pursue her goals and unwilling to accept the idea that a girl should settle for a quiet life. Readers will engage with the story's memorable cast of characters and strong sense of setting. Although the people of Japan's Yayoi era had no written language and many aspects of their culture have been lost to the ages, Friesner skillfully creates a vivid picture of life in third-century Japan based on information revealed by archaeological records. The pace of the episodic storytelling is perhaps too leisurely for some readers, and those seeking a strictly action-driven plot may need to look elsewhere, but this book has high appeal for those who enjoy immersing themselves in another time and place. Devoted readers of Friesner's "Princesses of Myth" series (Random) will welcome this newest heroine.-Allison Tran, Mission Viejo Library, CA

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