Returning My Sister's Face: And Other Far Eastern Tales of Whimsy and Malice

by Eugie Foster | Science Fiction & Fantasy |
ISBN: 1607620111 Global Overview for this book
Registered by wingGoryDetailswing of Nashua, New Hampshire USA on 11/22/2013
Buy from one of these Booksellers:
Amazon.com | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon DE | Amazon FR | Amazon IT | Bol.com
2 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by wingGoryDetailswing from Nashua, New Hampshire USA on Friday, November 22, 2013
I first heard of this author via this LiveJournal post from BCer N8an, and I ordered this fair-condition softcover (which was inscribed by the author in 2009) to try her work for myself.

And I really love it! Most of the stories are inspired by folk tales from Japan, China, and Korea, with a few taking inspiration from other sources.

"Daughter of Botu" uses several fairy-tale tropes in this account of a rabbit-turned-maiden and her trials.

"The Tiger Fortune Princess" has elements of "Sleeping Beauty" and "Snow White", with an oriental twist and a charming and funny resolution.

"A Thread of Silk" opens and closes in the present day, but flashes back a thousand years to tell of a doomed love, family loyalty, and betrayal. It's based loosely on historical events in Japan in the 10th century, and I really enjoyed the twists that the story took.

"The Snow Woman's Daughter" looks at the snow-woman myth from the viewpoint of the child rather than of the husband, an interesting twist. It has elements in common with many myths in which magical creatures, shapeshifters, or deities take up with mortals on condition that the mortals never reveal their secrets; inevitably the mortals break their promise, and however benignly this was done, it doesn't bode well.

"The Tanuki-Kettle" is a very charming story about a young woman, trying to make a humble living as a tea seller, finds herself sheltering a fleeing tanuki who's taken on the form of a kettle. As in many fairy tales (and sometimes even in real life!), kindness to a persecuted stranger pays off, though not without some bumps along the way.

"Honor is a Game Mortals Play" is another story featuring a snow-woman, but in a very different context and tone than "The Snow Woman's Daughter". Here, the granddaughter of a demon-hunter vows to avenge her grandfather's death by slaying the demon that killed him. When she finds him, she's unwillingly drawn to him (why do demons have to be so hunky?), and is troubled by the conflict between her vows and her heart - but things aren't always what they seem...

"The Raven's Brocade" is a nice little take on the shapeshifter-marries-a-mortal theme, with the usual results; the difference here is the choice of creature and the details of the broken promise.

"Shim Chung the Lotus Queen" is set in Korea, and deals with a young woman who finds herself making a terrible choice in an attempt to restore her father's sight. According to the author's notes, this one is based on a folk tale well-known in Korea if not elsewhere - and she mentions a ballet based on it as well...

"The Tears of My Mother, the Shell of My Father" is another filial-vengeance story, in which a young monk and his cat set out to avenge his parents - after his father's spirit speaks to him from the helmet-face of a certain species of crab. [They really do look like they have faces on their shells; rather eerie, really.]

"Year of the Fox" introduces two young kitsune who, after their mother's death at the hands of a hunter, swear to take human shape and to destroy the lives of as many humans as they can in the coming year. But the female finds herself drawn to the humans - especially to the lovely young woman who saves her life - and opts not to fulfill her promise, even though this will put her at odds with her beloved brother.

"The Archer of the Sun and the Lady of the Moon" is a traditional-style tale of squabbling, jealous gods and the results of their pettiness.

"Returning My Sister's Face" is the darkest of the stories, in which a brother and sister who had been leading a very happy life find themselves facing terrible treachery. It's based on a traditional Japanese story, but it's one I wasn't familiar with, so I was glad to read this version.

Very good collection; I'd like to read more of her work!

[The author has a web site here.]

Journal Entry 2 by wingGoryDetailswing at Nashua, New Hampshire USA on Monday, December 9, 2013

Released 10 yrs ago (12/9/2013 UTC) at Nashua, New Hampshire USA

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

I'm putting this book in the Asian-themed bookbox, which will be on its way to its first stop soon. [See the forum post for mailing order.] Hope someone enjoys it!

*** Released as part of the What's in a Name release challenge, for the embedded "Ace" in the title. ***

Journal Entry 3 by HI77 at Fort Myers, Florida USA on Monday, January 6, 2014
A pretty tail,

the sharp eye of fate
is dangerous in its seduction.

Are you sure you want to delete this item? It cannot be undone.