Series: Takamagahara Monogatari
Volume: 2/?Publisher: Self-Published
Genre/s: LGBTQ fantasy, Gay fiction, Historical fiction (it's NOT MM romance)
Length: 71 440 words
Read in: English
Review copy format: epub
Rate:✮✮✮✮✮✮
Hirotsugu's birth was an event that affected the world of mortals in a natural way, but also unexpectedly moved the one hidden from human sight, the supernatural one. The boy has been growing up like any other son of a wealthy family, but at some point the supernatural world begins to play an increasingly important role in his life. At the same time, Hiro crosses paths with a poor young boy, whom he decides to help. From now on, nothing is the same, because Hirotsugu is becoming more and more attached to his new friend, as he begins to care for him. But will fate be kind to these two and the feelings that are slowly being born between them?
"Shinigami" is the second, and definitely longer than the previous one, part of "Takamagahara Monogatari" series written by Xia Xia Lake. As far as possible, the style in which this novel was written is even more beautiful than in the first installment of the series. All descriptions and even dialogues are wonderfully poetic, melodious even. Discovering "Shinigami", we feel as if we were reading a beautiful and full of depth poem that describes a breathtaking work of art. On the other hand, the style of the novel makes reading it feel as if we were entering the world of a wonderful, extremely colorful, oriental fairy tale. To be honest, I believe this opinion is not too far from the truth, because the story presented by Xia Xia Lake has everything that the fairy tale should have, and even more. Well, in short, "Shinigami" was written in an amazing, beautiful way that really conquers our hearts.
As for the story presented in this novel, it is extremely beautiful in many, probably countless, ways. Let's start with the fact that this is undoubtedly a story about growing up, and thus about the formation of a young person. That's why "Shinigami" focuses largely on a topic of living and learning everything that life brings, in terms of both good and bad experiences. At the same time, our main character also learns about the world that surrounds him, the mortal one – starting from his safe home that protects him like a bubble of innocence, to the reality beyond it which is full of danger and injustice – as well as the paranormal. It is also worth mentioning that in "Shinigami" Hirotsugu learns mainly by experiencing everything the hard way, which is a source of the novel's action.
Feelings that translate into interpersonal relationships are an inseparable part of life, thus to a great extent the plot of "Shinigami" focuses also on them. In the novel, we find a wonderfully presented friendship, which is born between two people who in many respects are totally different from each other, which blooms like a magnificent flower and eventually evolves into love which is beautiful, sincere and ready for sacrifices. However, as I've mentioned, "Shinigami" is a novel about growing up, experiences and feelings, so there's no way to avoid the theme of pain and loss. This is all the more important because it clearly emphasizes the diversity and contrasts of the world, and hence the man, his feelings and emotions. I think it is also worth mentioning that thanks to showing such different feelings in the novel, the author moves the reader even deeper, as they really can't remain indifferent to the story shown in "Shinigami".
Finally, I would like to mention that emotions are also a great advantage in "Shinigami". On the one hand, Xia Xia Lake presents a wide range of emotions that from the beginning to the end torment our main character, shape him, teach him, show him the way - the good as well as the bad one. However, in this context the most important thing seems to be the fact that the author managed not only to present emotions, but above all to awake them in the reader. Her novel undoubtedly affects us in a various ways. We are constantly intrigued by the story presented in "Shinigami", but sometimes we smile gently, other times we observe the events told here with an open mouth and a fast beating heart, and then again we end up in tears. Reading this book, it's impossible to feel nothing, not to react, not to get attached to the characters or not to experience all these emotions with them. In short, "Shinigami" is a story that moves us really deeply.
In summary, "Shinigami" is simply a beautiful novel. Perfectly written, incredibly interesting, really addictive, deeply moving, which makes us cry and conquers our hearts. The moment we decide to read it, we're lost. It's a really magnificent story that I highly recommend to all readers.
Headcanon: -
Fanfiction idea: -
AU idea: Hiro is a famous actor, who one day helps Ryū, a homeless young man attacked by a bunch of punks.
Here's some more about:
Book Title: Shinigami
Author: Xia Xia Lake
Trope/s: Friends to Lovers
Themes: Mythology; gods; supernatural
Overall Heat Rating for the series: 3 flames
Release Date: October 1, 2019
Nothing is what it seems.
Blurb
Blurb
A coming of age love story between the heir of the richest family in the Land of Yamato and an orphan. The human world meets the yōkai world in a power struggle for the fate of Fujiwara no Hirotsugu. While he battles to find his own path in life, Hirotsugu finds solace in a boy who will first become his secret friend, then his salvation, then, as they become adults together, the love of his life.
The story is set during the Nara period of ancient Japan and will expand over a period of 25 years (715-740).
The story is set during the Nara period of ancient Japan and will expand over a period of 25 years (715-740).
Buy Links:
Book 2 - Shinigami
Book 1 - Kogitsune
It's a 40-page short story and is FREE on Smashwords.
Excerpt
Chapter 1: KagerōKagerō: The quivering appearance of the mist rising from the hot surface of the ground”
On the day Fujiwara no Hirotsugu was born, Mount Kasuga was covered in golden shimmering kagerō rising from the ground to cloak the mountain in mist. The uguisu sang from dusk until dawn, and a crane appeared in the palace garden and didn’t leave for five days.
It was late May, close to the final days of planting the rice. These were the days when finishing the paddy field work was paramount, lest next year’s crops be affected. Yet in celebration of Hirotsugu’s birth, his father, Umakai, sent an order to his bailiff to decree half a day off for all workers. Servants from the palace went down the mountain to offer rice, fish, and sake to the poor in Heijo-kyo.
Gifts poured through the gates for weeks, coming not only from the greatest families living in the land of Yamato, but also from as far away as Silla and Tang. Even the old Empress Genmei, who had no love for the Fujiwara clan, sent Hirotsugu a gift fit for royalty: a sword replica modeled after Kusanagi the Grass Slasher, the sacred imperial heirloom of the Yamato Emperors. Since it was forbidden for anyone except the reigning monarch and the High Priest of the Ise Grand Shrine to lay eyes on the real Kusanagi, no one could actually tell how good the replica was. But neither could they deny that the sword Hirotsugu received was of exceptional workmanship and extraordinary value.
The greatest gift of all came from Hirotsugu’s grandfather, Fujiwara no Fuhito. The leader of the Fujiwara clan made a secret pact with Crown Prince Obito that on the day Hirotsugu turned twenty, he would marry Princess Abe, Prince Obito’s firstborn child.
Upon Hirotsugu’s birth, the Fujiwara clan made great plans for his future, and I watched from my throne of skulls behind the kagerō veil and laughed and laughed and laughed.
SPRING
Chapter 2: Uguisu
Uguisu: The Japanese nightingale
In spring, nature was at its most beautiful at dawn, when Amaterasu’s robe touched the hills and dyed them red, and the blooming cherry trees turned a vibrant pink. Hanging from the eaves of every Fujiwara castle were tendrils of purple wisteria, their blooms awakening to welcome the Sun Goddess. The white clouds above resembled boughs of cherry flowers.
When night approached, the birdsong gently shifted from cheerful to forlorn. The uguisu went to sleep in its pot-shaped nest, and the brown-feathered night thrush—recently returned from wintering in Tenjiku—took its place and claimed the night. Now and then, a deer would call and a fawn would answer back.
The day Hirotsugu was born, a young god wandered up and down the high-forested slopes of Mount Kasuga, tired from the day he’d spent blessing the fields and the future harvest. He would have gone home to Mount Kurama in Kibune, but something was amiss with the yōkai living on Kasuga and he’d come to investigate.
At twilight, he found a group of kodama and an old kappa gathered underneath the budding leaves of a giant plum tree, transfixed by its beautiful red blossoms. When he entered the clearing, they were trying to touch the blossoms, but as soon as a hand came close, the tree would raise its branches out of reach.
“Don’t touch it,” the god commanded. His voice was calm, but it came like the snap of a whip and took them out of their reverie. “It’s a ghost tree. It’s not really here.”
The kodama stumbled backward, frightened.
“When did it appear?” the young god asked.
“This morning, Inari-sama,” the kappa answered. “When the baby was born.”
“Baby?” Inari frowned. “Come closer, child, don’t be afraid. Which baby do you speak of?”
About the Author
Xia Xia Lake is an Otaku & Slytherin that used to cosplay at every comic con she attended, until a kid asked if he could take a picture with the "old lady."
She decided a couple of years ago that she wanted to spend her free time writing stories and partying with vampires.
She lives in Transylvania with her fiancé and is a big fan of Romanian cuisine.
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