Set in a world inspired by pre-Shogun era Japan, this is a stunning
debut fantasy in the vein of Grace Lin about how a young pearl diver
goes to the ends of the earth to rescue her twin sister, who has been
stolen by a ghost whale.
Kai and Kishi share the same futon, the same face, and the same talent
for pearl diving. But Kishi is the obedient daughter, while Kai tries to
push the rules, and sometimes they fight. Still, when Kishi is stolen
and killed by the legendary Ghost Whale, nothing will stop Kai from
searching for her, deep in the ocean, hoping for a way to bring her back
to life.
But such a rescue is beyond the power of an ordinary mortal. Kai strikes
a deal with the gods: she'll steal a magic pearl in exchange for her
sister's soul. As she journeys across treacherous land scape, Kai must
navigate encounters with scheming bandits, a power-hungry war lord, and
a legion of conniving fox spirits. And when a new friendship becomes
something almost as powerful as her love for her sister, Kai must make
impossible choices and risk everything just to get home again.
Woven through with Japanese culture and legends, this many-layered story
will grip readers of all ages.