“The future of Japan now rests on their shoulders, and an army of Yōkai stands on their path.”
Get ready to be spirited away on an exciting, action-packed, and dangerous journey through the mystical lands of feudal Japan in Blood of the Kami. Filled with rich culture and mythology, a motley crew of vibrant characters, and tons of humour and heart, this fast-paced YA historical quest fantasy is just a treat for the soul.
Blood of the Kami tells the story of Ren Fudō, a rebellious young soul-hunter desperately trying to pay off his debt to the Yaseki; the secret sect of Yokai hunters who saved him and his mother 5 years ago. So, when a new mission with an insanely high reward is presented by the heart of the Yaseki itself, he jumps on the chance to be the hero. Does he really know what the mysterious mission entails? No. Does he like that he has to team up with a young, troubled shrine maiden possessed by a violent land kami? Also definitely no. And did he expect that the mission might change the fate of the nation forever? Absolutely the hell not. But hey, no going back now, so let the quest begin!
Okay hear me out, if Geralt of Rivia was a 17-year-old boy living in feudal Japan, you’d get Ren. He is admittedly quite a force to be reckoned with, but at the same time he is also way too reckless, snarky and broody for his own good. And you know what, that is exactly what made him so irresistibly loveable to me. Experiencing this entire wild ride through his eyes was just so much fun, and all his deadpan reactions or hysterical thoughts during some of the most high stakes scenes had me chuckling and shaking my head more times than I’d like to admit.
Moreover, the entire cast of side characters just absolutely leapt off the page with personality, be they human, animal (companion) or spirit. Even though some of them felt maybe a bit over-the-top in their characterisation, I just couldn’t help but be charmed by the unconventional found family vibes that slowly started to develop as more unexpected allies joined the quest (much to Ren’s chagrin). Especially the increasingly heartfelt dynamic between Suzume and Ren tugged on my heartstrings in all the most unexpected ways, and the way that they both helped each other grow and heal was just beautiful to see.
Now, I do have to say that I personally found the incredibly fast pacing and relentless action of Blood of the Kami to be a bit exhausting, and I wouldn’t have minded some more quiet moments to appreciate this rich world in all its glory. You see, even though all the detailed historical touches, authentic Shinto rituals, and countless interactions with yokai and kami made this story incredibly rich, I found myself not as immersed or emotionally invested as I wanted to be because we just raced through it all so quickly.
Ultimately though, this book is just bloody fun, and I think Pinson Wu absolutely nailed that dangerously addictive ‘just one more chapter’ quality. The prose is smooth (if a bit more modern than you’d expect from a story set in feudal Japan), the banter is entertaining, the stakes are deadly high, and the fun factor is just out of this world. I already can’t wait to go on the next adventure with these characters, especially after that ominously enticing epilogue.
If you think you have outgrown YA, then you better think again. Blood of the Kami is a true breath of fresh air in the fantasy genre, and I can’t recommend it highly enough to anyone who just wants to escape into a wild fantasy adventure that feels like a love letter to the most wonderfully magical and darkly mystical parts of Japan.
Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Blood of the Kami is scheduled for release on April 2nd, 2025.
