School Library Journal Review
Gr 9 Up-First in a fantasy series set among the First Nations of Canada, this is the story of Kateiko, 17, a member of the Rin tribe who can shapeshift and possesses the ability to hear voices from the dead. Kateiko is not satisfied with life in her tribe and is annoyed with what she feels to be her culture's antiquated belief system; the Rin hold the elder spirit world in greater regard than our tangible world. Tired of this conflict, Kateiko decides to leave her people and journey across a rainforest to another tribe. On her journey, Kateiko is wounded in a skirmish where she kills a soldier and wounds a high-ranking political leader. Her distrust of those who have taken her in is matched only by their mistrust of her. While convalescing, she meets Tiernan, a mentor and potential love interest. It is only once the auspicious and powerful wind spirit Suriel threatens the Rin and the people she loves that Kateiko's fearlessness and courage shine and her transformation occurs. Waller puts a great deal of thought into her world-building, including maps, cultures to know, slang, a glossary, and a time line. This work exemplifies the hero's journey and the enormous role fate and destiny play. VERDICT A mature choice for those who love high fantasy and magical realism.-Laura Dooley-Taylor, Lake Zurich Middle School North, IL © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
In Waller's stunning debut, a young woman is forced to choose between love and duty.Kateiko, tan-skinned with light-brown hair, is an antayul (water-caller) of the Rin-jouyen, the oldest of the Indigenous peoples of the Aikoto Confederacy. Their small numbers mean her list of potential husbands is limited until she turns 18 and can marry outside of her jouyen. Hoping to do just thatand to escape haunting visions of what Rin elders believe is the Aeldu-yan (spirit world)she treks southward to the Iyo-jouyen. A deadly encounter during her travels with soldiers of the itheran, or foreign settlers, leads her to Tiernan, a jinrayul (fire-caller) and ex-mercenary, also tanned and brown-haired, who takes her into his home. When the Suriela not-so-dormant air spiritsuddenly attacks the colonists, war is declared, more political schisms erupt, and Kateiko and Tiernan find themselves engulfed in chaos. Waller's worldbuilding is beautiful and lavish, her alternate history rich and complex (thank saidu for the backmatter), and even her characters' profanities are colorful. Kateiko's relationships with far older men are disconcerting (at 18 her virginity is lost in a consensual encounter with someone over twice her age) yet she remains in control throughout. Readers will admire the fierce strength which drives her coming-of-age journey.An intricately lush and well-crafted new fantasy that deserves (and demands) a sequel. (glossary, timeline, maps) (Fantasy. 15-adult) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.