★ "An epic fantasy unlike any other, combining the fantastical environmentalism of works like Miyazaki's film Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, Rachel Carson's lyrical descriptions of nature, and the court intrigue of Game of Thrones."—Booklist (starred review)
A sweeping ecological fantasy from one of Japan's most beloved storytellers—where two girls must unlock a forgotten power to save their world from collapse.
The vast Umar Empire has flourished for centuries thanks to the miraculous Ohaleh rice, a sacred grain brought by the first Empress Kokun from a distant land. Resistant to all parasites, the rice has sustained peace and prosperity—until now. When a mysterious infestation strikes, famine spreads, and the empire begins to crumble.
Fifteen-year-old Aisha, granddaughter of the deposed king of the West Kantar domain, flees...
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