Origin Curse: 1 (Dynasty Codes)

"Origin Curse" by Ishii, Sarah Kate, published by Ocean Reeve Publishing. A curse placed on a noble family in the east has unraveled the fragile dynasty codes across the world. Yoshiko, daughter of the daimyō of Hié, has inherited an ancient consuming power—the burning dragon’s spirit, Kiyohimé. After an act of betrayal collapses the world around her, Yoshiko and her mother are forced to flee their castle home. The council are hunting them down, fear and misfortune are plaguing the people of Hié, and people keep going missing, including Yoshiko’s best friend. Gora, a jack-of-all-trades foreigner who came to Hié to hide from his past and live a new life, is recruited by Yoshiko to help the desperate noble to return to her castle home and bring peace and safety to the people. But neither of them knows who their enemy is or how to control Yoshiko’s increasing mysterious powers, and Gora must help her while watching her try to control the searing heat that threatens to release an ancient magical beast and destroy everything around her. Are Yoshiko’s powers a blessing to help bring peace to her people, or, like Kiyohimé in the folk tales of old, is she cursed to seek vengeance and watch the world burn? · • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • · Editorial Reviews: ''The story is fantastic ... everything feels real ... You can feel the heat from Yoshiko's power and her frustration as she struggles to control it. Origin Curse has political tension and constant action, and the mythology and folklore aspects are well-researched and adapted to the story ... I hope the sequel to the story comes out soon.''—Rabia Tanveer, 5 stars, Reader's Favorite. ''... this book is a genuine treat. First things first, as a woman from an East Asian family with a South Asian daughter, it is refreshing to find a novel with a strong Asian female protagonist. Better still, Yoshiko is a warrior who isn't bowled over or saved by love, except for the love and care she has for her family, her people, her land, her country, and their survival. Yoshiko is both the blessing and the curse, quite literally, and while those who walk, ride, fight, and sometimes die beside her are important parts of the journey, Yoshiko is the story. There are moments of complete and utter sadness, one in particular that happens in a near instant with a twist that sears at the heart. One would expect a coming-of-age fantasy to be written for a readership not quite as—shall we say mature?—in age, but the adult themes in Origin Curse are as strong as the writing. And the writing is very strong. Overall, this is an incredible novel and the start of what is sure to be a spectacular series.''—Jamie Michele, 5 stars, Reader's Favorite. ''Sarah Kate Ishii takes fantasy to new heights with a mix of contemporary themes and traditional social values. The setting and East Asian influences are completely devoid of even a hint of samurai and Asian warrior tropes and it is character authenticity and actions that outside the fantasy realm reflect our lived experiences, making what Sarah Kate Ishii brings to the table in Origin Curse and the Dynasty Codes so important. As an Eastern immigrant to the West, I had to learn a new language myself as an almost-adult teenager and when Yoshiko is unable to understand the language of her foes and is surrounded by a culture and way of life that is foreign to her, and when Yoshiko says, ''Our people aren't your belongings,'' I felt it in my bones. Ishii's writing holds the restrained fluidity of a skilled writer and the panache of a gifted storyteller. The prose sing, the tension is palpable, and I eagerly await book two! Very highly recommended.''—Asher Syed, 5 stars, Reader's Favorite. ''Sarah Kate Ishii presents an original and highly conceptual fantasy where the magical qualities of the lead character are used to ask poignant questions about controlling our emotions, whether we truly seek peace or justice, and whether those two things can come about in harmony with one another. Yoshiko is a fantastic central figure for this as she is ripped from her noble life and forced to start rethinking everyone around her ... I do not hesitate to recommend Origin Curse, and I'm excited to see where the rest of this atmospheric and fascinating fantasy series takes us.''—K.C. Finn, 5 stars, Reader's Favorite. ''The unusual plot enhances Sarah Kate Ishii's ability to develop suspense. The intensity of her mother's teaching swiftly overcomes Yoshiko's naivety. The vivid details of Yoshiko's surroundings were effective in immersing me in the story. I found myself listening out for possible danger and wandering blindly in the dark tunnels with Yoshiko.''—Stephanie Chapman, 5 stars, Reader's Favorite. Book details: published 2023. Order now on BookShops.in with fast, reliable delivery across India.