from VIZ Media:
VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has announced the release of author Noriko Ogiwara’s fantasy adventure novel, Mirror Sword and Shadow Prince, on May 17th. The hardcover book will be published by the company’s Haikasoru literary imprint and will carry an MSRP of $21.99 U.S. / $25.99 CAN.
Haikasoru publishes some of the most compelling contemporary Japanese science fiction and fantasy stories for English-speaking audiences and is the first imprint based in the U.S. dedicated to Japanese science fiction and fantasy in translation.
When the heir to the empire comes to Mino, the lives of young Oguna and Toko are changed forever. Oguna is drafted to become a shadow prince, a double trained to take the place of the hunted royal. But soon Oguna is given the Mirror Sword, and his power to wield it threatens the entire nation. Only Toko can stop him, but to do so she needs to gather four Magatama, beads with magical powers that can be strung together to form the Misumaru of Death. Toko’s journey is one of both adventure and self-discovery, and also brings her face to face with the tragic truth behind Oguna’s transformation.
“Author Noriko Ogiwara garnered well-deserved praise from North American readers for Dragon Sword and Wind Child, the first book in her award-winning Magatama Trilogy,” says Nick Mamatas, Haikasoru’s Editor. “Mirror Sword and Shadow Prince continues the saga — centuries after the events of Dragon Sword and Wind Child the magical magatama have to be found once again by a young girl named Toko. Only she can stop her best friend, the orphan prince Oguna, from destroying their nation, and himself. It’s a wonderful retelling of one of Japan’s foundational myths, and I’m excited to present a new flavor of epic fantasy to English-speaking audiences.”
Noriko Ogiwara was inspired to write by the classic Western children’s books she read while growing up. Dragon Sword and Wind Child (also published in North America by Haikasoru) was her first book and launched the award-winning Magatama Trilogy. Her other books include The Good Witch of the West and Fuujin Hisho.
For more information on Mirror Sword and Shadow Prince and the Haikasoru imprint, please visit the dedicated website at haikasoru.com.