This coming of age story follows Nori, a child born out of wedlock to the estranged daughter of old Japanese royalty who struggles to find acceptance. Nori is dumped at her grandparents’ home as a young child, and her grandmother takes her in not as an act of love but to conceal her, fearful for how she will impact their royal status. Chance brings her only half-brother to the estate, and for once Nori has a glimpse at a world with acceptance and love. But Nori’s attempts to join that world cost her everything.

This novel is pretty much a tragedy fest, so buckle in for some real sadness with this one! The writing is beautiful. You can’t help but find sympathy for Nori’s character and all of the hardships she endured. I really wanted this book to have a happy ending for her, and while in a way it does, it certainly isn’t a happy ending in the traditional sense, and it frustrated me because I wanted SOMETHING to go right for this poor girl. Overall this was a moving story that was incredibly well written, but I wish it had a brighter ending.