Kurara has never known any other life than being a servant on board the Midori, but when her party trick of making paper come to life turns out to be a power treasured across the empire, she joins a skyship and its motley crew to become a Crafter. Taught by the gruff but wise Himura, Kurara learns to hunt shikigami – wild paper spirits sought after by the Princess. But are these creatures just powerful slaves, or are they beings with their own souls? And can a teenage girl be the one to help them find their voice – and change the course of an empire? Excellent world-building, a dramatic and pacy plot, and an array of deep and believable characters – explored through multiple perspectives – make this a hugely exciting fantasy adventure debut.
Recommended reading age: 12+ yrs
Rebel Skies by Ann Sei Lin
Ann Sei Lin is a writer and librarian with a love for all things fantasy. Though London is now her home, she spent several years living and working in Chiba, Japan. When not writing, she is often studying, gaming, or trying to make that origami rabbit for the one hundredth time.
The first book in her debut trilogy, Rebel Skies, is a Ghibli-style Asian Fantasy book based on the Meiji era, full of origami magic, powerful shikigami, and sky cities.