“空色勾玉” - Sorairo Magatama

by: Noriko Ogiwara

translated by: Cathy Hirano

Illustrations by: Miho Satake

The magatama are stones of destiny, magical amulets passed down to a chosen few. But all knowledge of the stones’ true nature has been lost, and each bearer must discover the power of the magatama to calm the Dragon’s destructive spirit before it destroys the world.

The forces of the God of Light and the Goddess Darkness have waged a ruthless war across the land of Toyoashihara for generations. But for 15-year-old Saya, the war is far away and unimportant-until the day she discovers that she is the reincarnation of the Water Maiden and a princess of the Children of the Dark.

Raised to love the Light and detest the Dark, Saya must come to terms with her heritage even as she is tumbled into the very heart of the conflict that is destroying her country. The armies of the Light and Dark both seek to claim her, for she is the only mortal who can awaken the legendary Dragon Sword, the fearsome weapon destined to bring the end to war.

Can Saya make the dreadful choice between the Light and Dark, or is she doomed-like all the Water Maidens who came before her….?

If I’m not mistaken this is my very first Japanese Novel.  A few years ago, a friend tried reading some Japanese fairy tales-I think maybe because of western fairy tales influence- she was not so enthusiastic about it. I could still remember her exact words “walang ka romance-romance (not romantic at all” . Translation may also have some tendency to affect the narration though. But this book is far from being romantic, its probably one of the greatest love story ever told.

I think the situation is somewhat familiar with Psyche and Cupid of the Roman Mythology. Well, they did not however became the first ruler of a country though.. opps..

Anyway, aside from the love story part, the whole book is about the choices you made in life and its consequences. Adventure, destruction, war , hope and love.. A really great book, deserving of the award it received.

P.S. my first entry to Reading Japan and Orbis Terrarum Challenge

This entry was posted on Sunday, May 25th, 2008 at 12:15 am and is filed under Blog365, Book Challenge. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.