4.5
Across the river, bathed in light, the samurai smiled. “I’ve finally found you.”
...
Night of the Dragon surprised me, broke my heart, and effectively concluded a soulful, delightfully adventurous YA fantasy trilogy. Conclusions usually don't stick the landing for me, but this one was so good!
After the emotionally intense ending of Soul of the Sword, Night of the Dragon began with our characters in dire straights. The stakes couldn't have been higher, and I was continuously bemused by how Yumeko and her band of lovable misfits were going to pull through and save the day. The Great Kami Dragon - a Harbringer of change - presents himself to humanity every thousand years, and whomever possesses the Scroll of a Thousand Prayers will be granted an all-powerful wish. In the wrong hands, this wish could be cataclysmically devastating.
As always, I was immediately sucked into the story by Julie's beautiful writing and charming characters. While I usually don't love journey books (they can be pretty monotonous), the Shadow of the Fox series excels in its episodic format. I find so much enjoyment in these books, thanks to the creative, vibrant world-building, lovely prose, and well-paced storytelling.
The world of Iwagato continues to shine in this conclusion, and I loved learning more about Japanese culture and mythology. The monsters and magical creatures leapt off the page, and I honestly could read a hundred more books set in the world of Iwagato. I hope Julie doesn't plan on saying goodbye to this world just yet.
The heart and soul of this series, though, is its characters. Yumeko is a dear, wonderful main character, and she's grown so much throughout these books. I've always admired Yumeko's cheerfulness and overly kind, trusting heart - honestly, we need more YA fantasy protagonists that aren't afraid to emote - and her friendships with the rest of the cast warm my heart. The side characters in this series are excellently crafted. Reika, Okame, and Daisuke are all spirited, dynamic, and completely lovable. They hold a special place in my heart, and I'm still thinking about them. Don't talk to me, okay? I have a lot feelings.
Also, Okame is just hilarious. I adore him.
“So, it’s the old kick down the door and slaughter anything that moves approach, after all, is it? Seems to be our favorite.”
Tatsumi continues to be one of my favorite characters in this series. His character arc was so cathartic for me, and Tatsumi and Yumeko's romance was tender and unbearably sweet. Their connection felt substantial, and even though some of the quotes between them were a little sappy, I couldn't get enough of it. I've been frank about my cold, dead heart in the past, but DAMN, I loved these two so much. I'm a total sucker for the fated lovers trope, okay? I'm a simple girl.
While I found some aspects of this book's ending to be a little rushed, I was knocked completely flat by this conclusion. Who gave Julie the right to so thoroughly break my heart? The amount of pain I was put through should make me eligible for financial compensation. Wild, emotional, and bittersweet, Night of the Dragon was a wonderful conclusion to a fantastic fantasy series. Please, if you haven't read Shadow of the Fox, do yourself a favor and read the entire trilogy. You'll be thoroughly satisfied!
And maybe a little heartbroken.
...
“Maybe in a different form, under a different name, but in some small way, our souls will always recognize each other.”