Book Jacket

 

rank 6561 (-129)
word count 15715
date submitted 05.03.2009
date updated 29.09.2009
genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Fantas...
classification: moderate
complete

The Sword Smith's Lady

R. Bronwen Gould

 

Could you share your husband with a goddess? Would you share your body with her? What if your livelihood depended on her?

 

For generations, Inari has guided the hands of blacksmiths to create exquisite swords. For generations, the men she guides have given their tangible love to mortal women. The goddess pines for real affection, and believes she may have found it in the most talented smith of them all. When Masakiyo takes a wife, Inari's jealousy catches fire. Yoritada considered herself lucky to love the man she married. But she has the sense she is not welcome in his home. She's haunted by foxes lurking in the bushes; no one is allowed near her husband's workshop. Is she imagining the threats, or are they real--going inside her very body?

 
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tags

blacksmith, fox, goddess, inari, japan, japanese, jealousy, katana, kitsune, motherhood, myth, mythology, possession, shinto, sword smith

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5 comments

 

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Keefieboy wrote 325 days ago

Beautiful, lush writing not in a hurry to get anywhere. Nicely observed details, and not an interrobang in sight. Shelved.

Oh, I did find one typo: wicked away -> whisked.

Keefie
Tybalt & Theo

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Lord Biro wrote 517 days ago

Hi there. I found this while trawling the nether regions and what a find! It's the most interesting thing I've seen here for some time so i'm happy to back it. The prose style is very spare but quite poetic in effect, something I wish I could achieve.

The story of Yoritada and her goddess rival grabbed me once I got used to the narrative style with alternating POVs etc. The goddess's shape-shifting from spirit to animal to human to fire is something that makes perfect sense within the world you have created. I think Shinto is a fascinating subject, funnily enough my story also features a fire goddess although set in the ancient world.

best of luck, Kevin

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Fred Le Grand wrote 478 days ago

I enjoyed reading this vey much. it is cleverly constructed and I think the voices of the two MC's are very well done. You have done a great deal of research into the folding of swords and their utimate construction which is evident from the text.
This is very well written too in an unusal style which as someone else has commented ,takes a little getting used to.
Excellent writing in fact, enjoyable read,
Shelved.
best,
Fred

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Keefieboy wrote 325 days ago

Beautiful, lush writing not in a hurry to get anywhere. Nicely observed details, and not an interrobang in sight. Shelved.

Oh, I did find one typo: wicked away -> whisked.

Keefie
Tybalt & Theo

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R Bronwen Gould wrote 337 days ago

Many thanks, Sandie!

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Sandie Newman wrote 338 days ago

I liked the look of this from the cover and the fact that I am very into swords and ancient weaponry. I love the opening, the fact that he has pet foxes, never heard of that before and I liked the part about him letting the forge go cool. Excellent writing, very easy to read and imaginative, Shelved with pleasure.

Sandie
The Crown of Crysaldor

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Fred Le Grand wrote 478 days ago

I enjoyed reading this vey much. it is cleverly constructed and I think the voices of the two MC's are very well done. You have done a great deal of research into the folding of swords and their utimate construction which is evident from the text.
This is very well written too in an unusal style which as someone else has commented ,takes a little getting used to.
Excellent writing in fact, enjoyable read,
Shelved.
best,
Fred

report abuse
Lord Biro wrote 517 days ago

Hi there. I found this while trawling the nether regions and what a find! It's the most interesting thing I've seen here for some time so i'm happy to back it. The prose style is very spare but quite poetic in effect, something I wish I could achieve.

The story of Yoritada and her goddess rival grabbed me once I got used to the narrative style with alternating POVs etc. The goddess's shape-shifting from spirit to animal to human to fire is something that makes perfect sense within the world you have created. I think Shinto is a fascinating subject, funnily enough my story also features a fire goddess although set in the ancient world.

best of luck, Kevin

report abuse
1