I'm with JD Nesa, that's a nice review
of Fudoki by Kij Johnson. I've never read the book but it sounds interesting.
Sounds a little bit like Lian Hearn's Tales Of The Otori set in a medieval/feudal Samurai-style alternate Japan. You read that series? I've skimmed the books before but I received this is as a omnibus edition of all 3 novels in a beautiful HB presentation for my Birthday, still to read it though!
Cheers and keep up the good work with those reviews...
