by Kij Johnson
First published 2003
A small tortoiseshell cat survives when fire destroys her family and devastates the Imperial city. She alone remains to carry the stories of her clan: the Cat Born the Year the Star Fell, the Cat with a Litter of Ten, the Fire-Tailed Cat. Without her fudoki, her identity and spiritual home, she cannot preserve her clan's power. She cannot join another clan without losing herself entirely. The cat begins a journey along the kami road, the spirit path. Ancient gods notice this creature and grant her human form. She becomes Kagaya-hime, a woman warrior and philosopher who serves as confidante to noblemen. Her story intertwines with that of an aging empress who leaves court life behind, traveling toward a nunnery and reflecting on her long life. Kagaya-hime must choose her path and discover what happiness she can find in her transformed existence.
Genres: literary-fiction, historical-fiction, fantasy, magical-realism
Vibes: intimate, lyrical, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: Imperial City, Kami Road
Period: Ancient
320 pages · Hardcover · Tor Books