Leah asked Jonathan Maas:

Not a question, but a comment: Can't wait to read your books! Congratulations, love. Ok, now a question. Could you talk about your use of Yokai in COG - Hellenica?

Jonathan Maas Great question Leah! Yōkai have always fascinated me, and I believe I first fell in love with them while watching Princess Mononoke. I watched the movie 'The Great Yōkai War' and I was hooked.

What are yōkai? They are simply Japanese Spirits, Monsters and Demons. What makes them amazing is their uniqueness, especially in regards to the Western canon of mythical creatures.

Japan's art and spirit world, from the yōkai to manga is almost completely different than anything else out there. I don't know why this is, perhaps it was because Japanese art grew up in isolation, but in any case, when you are in the world of yōkai, the rules change.

They're not all good, they're not all bad, they're just yōkai. Great animators like Studio Ghibli understand this, and that's why their creatures do not always follow the standard narratives.

The book City of Gods: Hellenica envisions a world where all the gods have come back, from Dagon to Loki, from Thor to Zeus to Lugh. They each control a district, and in this world yōkai live in a district as well.

I wanted to see what would happen if the yōkai entered a world with the petty, powerful gods of yesteryear. The yōkai in City of Gods: Hellenica live in a sort of shantytown. They thrive in the forest and rivers, but in an urban environment? They do not fare that well.

But regardless, they still have powers, they're still unpredictable, and they're still yōkai. So if you are walking in their district, keep an eye out for spirits. One might just surprise you:)

flag