KOKUN

A fantasy abounding with imperial intrigue and ecological sensitivity.

This series kickoff features plenty of elements familiar to fantasy readers but soon veers off in an unexpected direction. When it begins, young siblings Aisha and Milucha Keluahn are on the run; they’re eventually captured by the forces of Lord Jookuchi. Aisha figures out that Jookuchi is being poisoned, which saves the siblings’ lives. Imperial inspector Masyu Kashuga—whose work involves “considering the empire as a whole”—connects Aisha to Olie, who is considered to be the reincarnation of the deity Lady Kokun, and with whom Masyu shares a romantic history. Olie seeks to prevent an agricultural catastrophe brought on by the arrival of insects called giant yoma. As it turns out, Aisha’s preternatural ability to recognize scents suggests that she, not Olie, is the true successor to Kokun, which may have broad political implications for the empire. As Olie points out, “the Kokun is like a beautiful statue of a goddess that has been given an important role to play.” Our heroes attempt to piece together the true history of the Umal Empire, and what hidden documents can tell them about the true location of “the land of the gods.” Uehashi’s attention to detail, in Hirano’s translation, should impress readers fond of palace intrigue, and the cliffhanger ending suggests a shift in direction for subsequent volumes. While some of the dialogue can be overly expository—“They’re descendants of Keluahn—a ruler so despised that his own people drove him from the throne!”—the attention to sensory detail and the theme of history as deception make this an enveloping read. You might be surprised how much dramatic tension can arise from crop layouts.

An unconventional but exciting start to a fantasy epic.