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Title: Autumn Princess, Dragon Child
Series: The Tale of Shikanoko #2
Author: Lian Hearn
Rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars
Genre: SFF
Pages: 289
Format: Kindle digital edition
| Synopsis: Spoilers |
Shikanoko raises his 5 “sons” and slowly regains his powers so that he can confront the Abbot again. The boy emperor hooks up with some entertainers and becomes a monkey trainer. The boy emperor’s protector and Shikanok’s love interest, is out on her own, pregnant with Shikanoko’s child.
Shikanoko finally confronts, and defeats, the Abbot but in the process loses control of his 5 spider children, who are only getting stronger and stronger in magic. Shikanoko’s lover dies at the Abbot’s hand and the boy emperor’s child companion, who was taking care of Shikanoko’s child, drowns along with his kid.
And in defeating the Abbot, Shikanoko gives himself fully to the forest magic which controlled his mask. He is no longer in control of his destiny. Happy Endings all round!
| My Thoughts: |
I enjoyed this more than the first book, Emperor of the Eight Islands. Partially because it wasn’t as depressing. Which, given my synopsis, is kind of hard to believe, but it’s true.
Given that this is a japanese fairy tale, I am not expecting a happy ending to the series as a whole. Even in this book, Shikanoko loses his love, his child, his chance at determining his own destiny and quite possibly ANY happiness for the rest of his life.
Makes me thankful my life is as boring as it is.
If you like slightly depressing stories filled with magic, heroes, swords and warriors and like eastern existentialism, this series should make you miserably ecstatic.
Bookstooge's Reviews on the Road 
What age range would you put this? I’ve read one of her books before, but it was a Middle Grade novel and I always thought she wrote for children. The themes in this seems way darker and more mature though.
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young adult to adult. This is written as a fairy tale, but I’d be hesitant to blanket recommend it to a highschooler. Definitely not for middle grade at all!
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I’m reading this one (and book III) very soon! (<- As soon as I can get to the library and pick it up!) I loved book I, and wow, you're right, I can't believe that book II will be any cheerier with a description like that 😅 Thanks for the review!
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The peculiar thing is, even with all the mature, dark themes, I am still enjoying the series 🙂
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I totally know what you mean! The ending of the first book is horribly awful, but I couldn’t wait to read book II, haha.
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Hearn really knows how to write, that is for sure…
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I think this is something I might actually enjoy. I haven’t heard of them before, but I enjoy Japanese Folklore and fairy tales normally 🙂
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Then definitely check these out. My only issue is that all 4 books tell an overarching story and so each book doesn’t stand so well on it’s own.
If you want to check out something older of hers, try “the Nightengale floor”, which is the start of her Tales of the Otori. Not quite so fairytale’ish though.
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I remember reading your review of the first book, but the sound of “no happiness” is really intriguing. I wonder how dark it can get.
– Lashaan
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Perhaps deeply melancholic would be a better word choice? It’s not that there isn’t any satisfaction, but Shikanoko is NOT a knight who ends up with the princess, the castle, the happily ever after.
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haha sometimes I like being miserably ecstatic 😉 (what a way to put it!) I do like Hardy and Dostoevsky after all- and this has magic thrown in for a bonus- looks like it might be worth checking out!! Great review!
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Thank you.
And what is the point of happiness if you can’t be miserable in it? I regularly tell my wife that I can’t be happy if I’m not miserable 😀
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hahaha that’s just fantastic! haha yes, we all have to revel in misery from time to time 😉
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