A Thousand Steps into Night

I have never read any Traci Chee book before but I do own one of them and they've been on my radar for a long time. So, when I got the opportunity to read this arc which had such a fun premise, I couldn't resist.

I'm always up for books with fairytale feels and folklore inspirations and this book, with a blend of both, was super entertaining and fun. The world building is very immersive and we feel transported to Awara, meeting all the supernatural creatures. There were footnotes with explanations for terms, meanings and any underlying stories associated, along with pronunciations and I thought it was a perfect way to get to know the history of this world better. The writing is wonderful and fast paced and the adventure is very engaging, making me wonder every chapter where it was going next. And the fairytale feel was so strong that I knew ultimately, good would prevail.

The main theme of the book is also something I really enjoy when explored in SFF. Awara is a very patriarchal and misogynistic society with very a confined and restricted role for women and anyone crossing them is made to suffer. The author explores the confines and possibilities that gaining power can provide to a woman from such an environment. I thought the discussion about what is more important - never being powerless again or retaining one's humanity even if it means going back to a powerless existence - was very thoughtful and fascinating. And the story also proved that just having power doesn't mean anything, it's what is done with the power that gives meaning to it.

Muiko is an ordinary girl living in a forgotten village but she has always felt that she doesn't fit the box that she is expected to limit herself to. When she is cursed and chased away from her village, but the curse also keeps giving her more power, she faces the dilemma of what she wants to be - a malevolent demon who is shunned by everyone and is destined to kill, or a human woman with all the restrictions that come with her regressive society. The rest of the story is about what this young, kind but loud woman wants to choose for herself but frankly, it's never in doubt what she will do to protect the people she cares about and maybe even the country which doesn't actually accept her the way she is.

In her adventures, she is aptly supported by her new found friend Geiki, who is a magpie spirit and can't resist stealing whatever shiny thing he comes across. But he is absolute hoot whenever he is on page and probably the main source of entertainment throughout. We also encounter many other different kinds of spirits, humans, demigods and gods who all end up helping Muiko in their own ways and it all made for such a thoroughly captivating journey.

Overall, this was the perfect kind of fairytale-esque Japanese folklore inspired story I could have asked for which is full of thrilling adventures, an enchanting world and a cast of characters who are very easy to love. I'm so glad I finally got to experience Traci's writing and can't wait to checkout their backlist.