Spirit's Chosen

March 15, 2013
In this sequel to a story set in medieval Japan, a girl continues to struggle with being the princess of a defeated village and an exceptional shaman at the same time. In Spirit's Princess (2012), the aggressive Ookami clan attacked Himiko's village and dragged off Noboru, her little brother, and others to slavery. Mad with grief, Himiko's mother becomes subject to the death penalty when she attacks a child. To save her mother's life, Himiko decides to travel to the Ookami village and free Noboru. The venture does not succeed, but Himiko's connection to the spirit world helps her to rise to the point where she can challenge Lord Ryu, the Ookami's belligerent and autocratic chieftain. Friesner's characterizations work nicely, especially Kaya, Himiko's self-confident huntress friend; Rinji, the insecure temporary shaman; Lady Sato, Ryu's caustic mother; and bombastic Ryu himself. The author runs into difficulty, though, with the sudden emotional shifts she forces on her characters whenever the plot requires a friend to become an instant enemy. Characters shift from love to hatred and from friendship to belligerence, usually abruptly and with no transitional period. Still, the rather slow-moving but suspenseful story gives readers an intriguing view into a fascinating society of the past, even as it takes Himiko's spirit world seriously. Interesting if flawed. (Historical fantasy. 12 & up)

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June 1, 2013

Gr 7 Up-This sequel to Spirit's Princess (Random, 2012) opens in ancient Japan with Princess Himiko, a young shaman and healer in training, setting out on a perilous journey to rescue her stepmother and younger brothers from the Ookami, the wolf clan that has taken them as slaves during a raid on her village. With her close friend and traveling companion, Kaya, she is taken into captivity by the Ookami on the orders of their chieftain, Lord Ryu, who holds a particular hatred for Himiko because of her rejection of his earlier offer of marriage. Using a combination of magic and will, the brave princess fights for her freedom and strives to unite the various clans, coming into her own as a shaman and leader. Friesner has created a magnificent story of a girl's rise to leadership that incorporates intricate and well-researched details of the complex societal, religious, and familial traditions of third-century Japan. This historical fiction/mythology/fantasy blend is perfect for fans of Tamora Pierce, Rick Riordan, and P. C. Cast.-Jane Henriksen Baird, Anchorage Public Library, AK

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