Shadows on the Moon

Shadows on the Moon by Zoë Marriott. On what should have been a celebration of her fourteenth birthday, Hoshima Suzume witnesses the murder of her beloved father, who has been accused of treason. Suzume miraculously manages to elude the pursuing soldiers although her cousin is killed while fleeing right next to her. She hides in the family kitchens with the help of an aged servant. Eventually the soldiers leave and Suzume's mother and a family friend find her. It is soon apparent that Suzume's mother and Terayama-san are lovers who plan to marry and erase all memories of the Hoshima family. Suzume also discovers that Terayama betrayed her father. In her grief and anger, Suzume starts to harm herself. Her only friend is the kitchen servant who hid her, Youta, who also tells her that she is a shadow weaver; this is how she was able to escape from the soldiers. He begins to work with her to develop her gift. Despite his concern and support, Suzume realizes that eventually Terayama-san will kill her. Her mother, now preoccupied with the birth of twins, either doesn't notice the threat or doesn't care. Suzume's story becomes one of assuming various identities to hide from Terayama while she plans her revenge. These plans are complicated by the distracting presence of Otieno, a foreign visitor who is also a shadow weaver. Suzume is eventually confronted with an agonizing choice--continue to plot to avenge her family by training to become the chief courtesan of the Moon Prince or travel to Athazie, the home of the man she loves. Suzume is a resilient and talented heroine. The setting reflects the author's research on ancient Japan, with detailed descriptions of dress, language and culture. Elements of romance, psychological pain, superhuman talents and moral dilemmas combine to make this a very satisfying read.