Great second book in the series and, while not absolutely necessary, best enjoyed if you’ve read book one, as there are repeat characters. Again, this falls somewhere between fairytale, manga and romance, yet is set in “present day” as the subway is mentioned.
Kimiko has been accepted in the new high school where humans, Reavers and Amaranthine attend together. While she considers herself and her family to be ordinary, Kimiko has made a point of learning the physical language of the Amaranthine.
With her positive attitude and actions, she is gradually recognized for her strengths. With her good deed, she finds herself engaged by accident with her classmate, who would never have had the option to marry and have his own family. Kimiko’s engagement creates new opportunities for her sisters in the marriage market.
Of note is the closeness of the relationships between brothers, sisters, and pack; and the respect between characters.
I usually listen at 1.5 speed, but I actually had to slow down to 1.0 to appreciate all the nuances in this one.
Baldree does a good job of narration, as this story is not wholly English or Japanese.
Recommend