Griffins are supposed to be extinct. So when Yukiko and her warrior father are sent to capture one for the Shogun, they fear that their lives are over. Everyone knows what happens to those who fail him. But the mission proves less impossible and more deadly than anyone expects. Soon Yukiko finds herself stranded: a young woman alone in her country's last wilderness, with only a furious, crippled griffin for company. Alhough she can hear his thoughts, and saved his life, all she knows for certain is he'd rather see her dead than help her. Yet trapped together in the forest, Yukiko and Buruu form a surprising and powerful bond. Meanwhile, the country verges on collapse. A toxic fuel is choking the land, the machine-powered Lotus Guild is publicly burning those they deem Impure, and the Shogun cares for nothing but his own dominion. Authority has always made Yukiko uneasy, but her world changes when she meets Kin, a young man with secrets, and the rebel Kage cabal. She learns the horrifying extent of the Shogun's crimes, both against her country and her family.
Returning to the city, Yukiko and Buruu are determined to make the Shogun pay -- but what can one girl and a flightless griffin do against the might of an empire?
Oh God, that ending was intense!! Anyway, I really liked this book, even though I was quite confused at the beginning and I wasn't a big fan of the first 100 pages. The world building is really well done and I think Jay Kristoff has done a good job intertwining the steampunk elements with the fantasy ones. The lotus, the chi, the guildsmen... they were really interesting to read about and the main reason why I liked this book so much. I also particularly enjoyed the fact that this series is set in a Japan-like world, but the cultural references at times seemed sloppy and not thoroughly researched. The characters were cool, the two main protagonists well written and believable, the others not so much (Hiro was a joke and Kin... I would have liked to read more about him, about his childhood and about his life... maybe in the next book). This book is very action packed (which is something that I don't usually enjoy), but it has also great political schemes and a dystopian vibe that sold it for me. The ending... oh boy, the ending was perfect. And now we wait for book 2 to arrive at my house...
