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A review by magnus_iskander_reim
Silk Threads: Three Tales of Passionate Japan by Cecilia Tan, Laura Antoniou, Midori
3.0
Three stories linked to Japan and Japanese culture :
The Past : The Way of Heaven, by Laura Antioniou : a young bride discovers her husband with the help of his female general and over badass warrior. The story was well-told and historically very satisfying. The two main characters' relationship remained believable and sweet while retaining its historical accuracy.
The Present : The Secret of Silk, by Midori : A countryside doctor starts a relationship with Kansaburo, a gentle and burly young man still living in the traditional ways. Swept away in their affair, she however quickly discovers he's more than he appears. A lyrical and heartening mix of relationship study and fairy-tale based on traditional Japanese folklore. There be kitsunes and tengus ! My favourite story of the three. The narrative structure, style and relationship were particularly believable and deep and mixed beautifully with the supernatural element. A five-star story which I'll definitely need to re-read.
The Future : The Bonds of Love, by Cecilia Tan. Ami, Crown-Princess to the Chrysanthemum Throne, challenged her father's way, who wants to marry her and give the Emperor title to her future husband rather than her. She then flees and discovers what she always wanted, the rope-skills of shibari. A compelling story but to my opinion lacking the depth and grace of the two first ones. I felt like the shibari aspect of it was under-developed and under-exploited as a theme. Character development was also not as good as the first two stories.
The three stories are linked by recurring families and figures, but also by the theme of silk? It is sometimes the same silk which is being passed from character to character and stand as an obvious but efficient metaphor for the Japanese ways of life, love and aesthetic.
I was very happy to find stories who are celebrating Japanese culture without use of orientalism.
Thanks to NetGalley from providing me with an advanced copy of this work !
The Past : The Way of Heaven, by Laura Antioniou : a young bride discovers her husband with the help of his female general and over badass warrior. The story was well-told and historically very satisfying. The two main characters' relationship remained believable and sweet while retaining its historical accuracy.
The Present : The Secret of Silk, by Midori : A countryside doctor starts a relationship with Kansaburo, a gentle and burly young man still living in the traditional ways. Swept away in their affair, she however quickly discovers he's more than he appears. A lyrical and heartening mix of relationship study and fairy-tale based on traditional Japanese folklore. There be kitsunes and tengus ! My favourite story of the three. The narrative structure, style and relationship were particularly believable and deep and mixed beautifully with the supernatural element. A five-star story which I'll definitely need to re-read.
The Future : The Bonds of Love, by Cecilia Tan. Ami, Crown-Princess to the Chrysanthemum Throne, challenged her father's way, who wants to marry her and give the Emperor title to her future husband rather than her. She then flees and discovers what she always wanted, the rope-skills of shibari. A compelling story but to my opinion lacking the depth and grace of the two first ones. I felt like the shibari aspect of it was under-developed and under-exploited as a theme. Character development was also not as good as the first two stories.
The three stories are linked by recurring families and figures, but also by the theme of silk? It is sometimes the same silk which is being passed from character to character and stand as an obvious but efficient metaphor for the Japanese ways of life, love and aesthetic.
I was very happy to find stories who are celebrating Japanese culture without use of orientalism.
Thanks to NetGalley from providing me with an advanced copy of this work !