Book Review: Kimiko and the Accidental Proposal by Forthright

Kimiko and the Accidental Proposal
Author: Forthright
Series: Amaranthine Saga (Book 2)
Publication: Twinkle Press (October 22, 2018)

Description: Kimiko enrolls at the In-between’s prestigious new high school, which is designed to promote the integration of the human and inhuman races. As a reaver, she’s supposed to act as peacemaker, bridging a formidable cultural gap, but the other two members of her triad don’t need any help in that department. Akira and Suuzu have been friends since middle school. Instead, the boys must rally behind Kimiko when she inadvertently initiates a courtship with Eloquence Starmark.

My Thoughts: Kimiko Miyabe is from a family of reavers who manage the Kikusawa Shrine. She is the middle daughter in her family. When she gets a chance to attend the New Saga High School with Amaranthines and other humans, she is eager to learn more and her family, especially her mother, is eager for the opportunity to form connections. The students are divided into triads containing one Amaranthine, one reaver, and one human. Kimiko's new triad partners are Suuku, a phoenix, and Akira, a human - both characters familiar to readers of Tsumiko and the Enslaved Fox.

Also a part of the class is Eloquence Starmark, whose father in one of the Five. Quen is reluctant to join the class because he is older than most of the other Amaranthine class members and has responsibilities to his clan. He'll also miss his daily closeness with his little crosser - hybrid - brother Ever.

Tenma Subaru is a human who was encouraged to apply by his father who is also looking for new connections. Tenma was fascinated when the Emergence happened nearly four years earlier but he is finding actual close contact with the Amaranthine frightening. He is saved from a panic attack when Quen offers him a sigil of protection and agrees to form a triad with him. Their third is Isla Ward who is twelve and already a brilliant reaver.

This school year will be a learning experience for all of these characters because there is a secret threat that is threatening the fragile peace between the Amaranthine and the humans in Japan. And each of the characters will grow and change because of contact with each of the others.

This change is especially true when Kimiko accidentally proposes to Quen. Gladly accepted by Quen's family, Kimiko has to quickly learn what it means to court a member of the dog clan. Meanwhile, she is concerned that she will never satisfy her mother who wishes her to marry another, stronger reaver to improve the status of their family. I loved the way Quen and Kimiko get to know each other and fall in love.

I enjoyed the rich, creative worldbuilding in this story. I also liked getting to know more about some of the characters from Tsumiko and the Enslaved Fox as they interacted with characters in this story. While the main plot of this story is resolved, there are still questions unanswered and problems unsolved which makes me eager for the next book set in this world.

Favorite Quote:

She asked, "Do you think knowing little things about someone is part of loving them?"

Akira considered that idea aloud. "Could be. I mean, the more you know about someone, the more reasons you may find to like them. Or maybe the more you like someone, the more you want to know the kinds of things nobody else does. Because that'd mean they trust you more than anyone."

I bought this one. You can buy your copy here.