Natsuki isn't like the other girls. She has a wand and a transformation mirror. She might be a witch, or an alien from another planet. Together with her cousin Yuu, Natsuki spends her summers in the wild mountains of Nagano, dreaming of other worlds. When a terrible sequence of events threatens to part the two children forever, they make a promise: survive, no matter what. Now Natsuki is grown. She lives a quiet life with her asexual husband, surviving as best she can by pretending to be normal. But the demands of Natsuki's family are increasing, her friends wonder why she's still not pregnant, and dark shadows from Natsuki's childhood are pursuing her. Fleeing the suburbs for the mountains of her childhood, Natsuki prepares herself with a reunion with Yuu. Will he still remember their promise? And will he help her keep it?

Why You Should Read?

• Explore a unique narrative that blends magical realism with a poignant exploration of societal pressures and the search for identity.
• Delve into themes of childhood trauma, conformity, and the desperate measures individuals take to survive in a world that doesn't understand them.
• Experience Sayaka Murata's distinctive voice and her incisive commentary on modern Japanese society, similar to her acclaimed novel Convenience Store Woman.
• Engage with complex characters and a story that challenges conventional notions of family, love, and normalcy.

About the Author

Sayaka Murata is a Japanese writer. She has won numerous awards for her work, including the Gunzo Prize for New Writers, the Mishima Yukio Prize, and the Akutagawa Prize. Her novel Convenience Store Woman was a bestseller and brought her international acclaim for its sharp social commentary and unique protagonists. Murata's writing often explores themes of alienation, societal expectations, and the unconventional lives of individuals.