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The Unsought Light: A Japanese Fairytale Retelling with a Gothic Twist
Daughters don't get to choose their fate. But there's one choice no one can deny her.
Promised from birth to the son of the clan lord, Hana's only joy is gazing out over the lake beyond her window. She dreams of floating away on the breeze like the cherry blossoms, but when an otherworldly stranger offers a chance at escape, duty and desire collide in a war that threatens to bring down her family, her clan, and her village.
Freedom. Passion. Family. Fate. What do you do when there are no good choices left?
A gothic retelling of the ancient Japanese folktale The Maiden of Unai, this short story explores the untold perspective of the "maiden" destined for an arranged political marriage in a time and place where family fortunes mattered more than individual happiness or choice. A historical romance in the vein of Rome & Juliet with a supernatural twist.
Trigger warning for suicide.
Promised from birth to the son of the clan lord, Hana's only joy is gazing out over the lake beyond her window. She dreams of floating away on the breeze like the cherry blossoms, but when an otherworldly stranger offers a chance at escape, duty and desire collide in a war that threatens to bring down her family, her clan, and her village.
Freedom. Passion. Family. Fate. What do you do when there are no good choices left?
A gothic retelling of the ancient Japanese folktale The Maiden of Unai, this short story explores the untold perspective of the "maiden" destined for an arranged political marriage in a time and place where family fortunes mattered more than individual happiness or choice. A historical romance in the vein of Rome & Juliet with a supernatural twist.
Trigger warning for suicide.
- GenresRetellings
23 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 28, 2019
About the author
K.A. Wiggins
19 books197 followersK.A. Wiggins is a Vancouver-born Canadian speculative fiction writer, speaker, and creative writing coach. Her work explores social movements, environmental crises, and identity issues through intricate, dreamlike tales of monsters and magic.
Her debut, Blind the Eyes, was shortlisted in the Page Turner Awards 2020 eBook Awards category and a Barnes & Noble Press pick for "20 Favorite Indie Books of 2018." Her short fiction has been published by Enchanted Conversation: A Fairytale Magazine, Frozen Wavelets by the Earthian Hive Mind, Fiction-Atlas Press, and Virgibooks Inc.
Notably, she was a guest speaker at the first ORCHIDS Children's Literature Fest in Mumbai, won the Literary Arts Award in the 2021 Arty's, and is an executive team member and registered speaker with the Children's Writers and Illustrators of British Columbia (CWILL BC) Society. She's currently a creative storytelling coach with the Metro-Vancouver-area Creative Writing for Children Society (CWC).
Her debut, Blind the Eyes, was shortlisted in the Page Turner Awards 2020 eBook Awards category and a Barnes & Noble Press pick for "20 Favorite Indie Books of 2018." Her short fiction has been published by Enchanted Conversation: A Fairytale Magazine, Frozen Wavelets by the Earthian Hive Mind, Fiction-Atlas Press, and Virgibooks Inc.
Notably, she was a guest speaker at the first ORCHIDS Children's Literature Fest in Mumbai, won the Literary Arts Award in the 2021 Arty's, and is an executive team member and registered speaker with the Children's Writers and Illustrators of British Columbia (CWILL BC) Society. She's currently a creative storytelling coach with the Metro-Vancouver-area Creative Writing for Children Society (CWC).
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 2, 2019
I received this eARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of this book in any way. All quotes are taken from the uncorrected proof and are subject to change.
Obligatory Summary
Set to be wed to the son of a lord since birth, a girl struggles to accept her role in life, especially when another lord comes to her home to see her fabled beauty and the two fall madly in love. Destiny has other plans, and the three fall victim to a devastating fate.
Based on a Japanese legend.
My Thoughts
I just couldn't get into this. The writing was fine, though it relied too heavily on metaphors and similes, which became pretty repetitive fairly quickly. I liked each chapter being headed by a different season, and I appreciated the message at the end discussing the importance of suicide, listing numbers you can contact if you're struggling.
I think the biggest issue for me was that I just didn't particularly like the story, which as the entire foundation of a work of fiction, means I didn't really care about anything. The characters felt dull and the insta-love was groan-worthy. I just never cared, and I think that's mostly because of the pacing. I knew intellectually that what was happening was tragic, but I didn't feel anything. Perhaps it's just because I've read too many things like this, along the same vein as Romeo and Juliet, and I've never liked particularly Romeo and Juliet. Give me Macbeth any day, but keep the sappy stuff far away.
But this wasn't bad by any means. I didn't hate it but I didn't love it. I think it's important to make non-Western legends and folklore more widely known, so I really appreciate that aspect of this, and would recommend it to anyone who's interested in lesser known fairy tales. Just be warned: There is in fact a suicide pact in this.
This would be my freedom: not the flight of a blossom nor even the slow decay of a leaf, but the inexorable plunge of a stone cast into the depths. No more would the webs of Unai constrain me.
Obligatory Summary
Set to be wed to the son of a lord since birth, a girl struggles to accept her role in life, especially when another lord comes to her home to see her fabled beauty and the two fall madly in love. Destiny has other plans, and the three fall victim to a devastating fate.
Based on a Japanese legend.
My Thoughts
I just couldn't get into this. The writing was fine, though it relied too heavily on metaphors and similes, which became pretty repetitive fairly quickly. I liked each chapter being headed by a different season, and I appreciated the message at the end discussing the importance of suicide, listing numbers you can contact if you're struggling.
I think the biggest issue for me was that I just didn't particularly like the story, which as the entire foundation of a work of fiction, means I didn't really care about anything. The characters felt dull and the insta-love was groan-worthy. I just never cared, and I think that's mostly because of the pacing. I knew intellectually that what was happening was tragic, but I didn't feel anything. Perhaps it's just because I've read too many things like this, along the same vein as Romeo and Juliet, and I've never liked particularly Romeo and Juliet. Give me Macbeth any day, but keep the sappy stuff far away.
But this wasn't bad by any means. I didn't hate it but I didn't love it. I think it's important to make non-Western legends and folklore more widely known, so I really appreciate that aspect of this, and would recommend it to anyone who's interested in lesser known fairy tales. Just be warned: There is in fact a suicide pact in this.
September 3, 2020
She has been promised to another since the day she was born but she wants more. She wants to fly away across the lake. When a stranger arrives it may change her kife. How could it change? Will she take it? See how she goes
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 4, 2019
Just wonderful. Might be short but absolutely superb. Well worth the read.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews