| |
| | The Pedestal Magazine |
 | | As Susanoo sets off to find and slay the beast, his quest is interwoven not only with a recounting of the Shinto creation myth, but also the story of the monster and the maidens it has eaten told, remarkably, both in the creature and the young women’s voices. |
 | | Even though Susanoo spends the length of the book seeking the monster, his thoughts rarely stray from Izanami, his earth-bound mother whom he alone loves and remembers. |
 | | It is the hope of a reunion with her that ultimately drives him, and which brings the theme of parental abandonment and isolation full-circle, and ultimately brings the book to its unforgettable and beautifully understated conclusion. |
| www.thepedestalmagazine.com /Secure/Content/cb.asp?cbid=5014 (1125 words) |
|