Dark Tempest

Help. I literally cannot stop reading and I'm afraid of the withdrawal that will definitely come when I finish the series.

Dark Tempest is just as good as Red Winter. It's a proper sequel that expands on the worldbuilding, adding more details and depth as Emi ventures further outside of the shrines she's familiar with, explores other regions, and encountering more deities in her journey. Emi herself also grows stronger, but not in the way that she suddenly becomes an expert warrior that kicks everyone's butts. It's more like she gains inner strength, while still staying consistent to who she is and what her goals are. The growth is subtle, but that doesn't make it any less impressive.

I'm rating this 5★ because of one reason. When it comes to stories based on Japanese mythology and deities, there is one figure that always makes an appearance because of how nasty it is in the legends. I'd been wondering if that certain creature would be a part of this story too, and this book not only answers that expectation but also goes beyond it by providing more details about it. There is also a plot twist about Shiro which I saw from a mile away, but it's still nice to see all the pieces fall into place.

The creature is, of course, Yamata no Orochi, and the book even connects him to Susano-o and Ame-no-Murakumo while still maintaining a close link to the main plot involving Inari. Bless the author, really.