Thank you to Balzer + Bray, the author, and NetGalley for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review. This book was released on February 7, 2023.
“Mortal, you are a pearl hunter. Trust the pearl to tell you what to do.”
Kai and Kishi may be twins, but they’re also opposites. Both pearl divers living on the coast of the Freshwater Sea of the Heiwadai Empire, Kai is stubborn and prone to rule-breaking, while Kishi is more responsible and obedient. When the girls hold a competition between themselves during a diving trip to see who can carry the most mussels to the surface, Kishi is captured by the ghost whale—and dies. Determined to reverse her sister’s fate, Kai makes deals with deities, treks across the Empire, forms alliances both tenuous and firm, challenges the leader of the fox spirits, and ultimately must choose between saving her sister or continuing along the path she has begun to forge on her own.
I think I’ve read this book about four times now, and each time I’ve read it, I’m struck by how fully realized the characters, setting, and even folklore all are. The Heiwadai Empire is based on pre-Shogun era Japan, and it’s clear that Beck has done a great deal of research in order to make the reader feel immersed in this world, whether that is through descriptions of the colorful clothing and delectable foods Kai eats in the general’s house, the landscape, or the explanation of social norms. On a prose level, the narrative is so beautiful, and there’s a lot of great imagery, particularly when it comes to the scenes set underwater. I just really like it when (it seems like) I can tell that an author enjoys writing a particular thing, and Beck’s passion shines through.
And although the book is full of magic and myth, featuring the goddess Benzaiten, the Dragon King, a magical cloak and other artifacts, and pearl-wielding foxes, I think its greatest strength is something very real—Kai’s love for her sister and the growth she experiences on her journey to rescue Kishi. I’m not sure what more I can say about the depth of Kai and Kishi’s relationship that isn’t evident in the lengths Kai goes to in order bring Kishi back from the dead.
I will also say that while I think the ending may not be for everyone, I loved it. It’s bittersweet while potentially leaving room for further adventures despite this being a standalone, and although I think some readers might end up feeling that it takes away from Kai’s journey and character arc—and I was surprised when I first read it!—I think it was the right choice, and I so appreciate that Beck went there.
A captivating adventure with a beautiful historical and mythical backdrop, The Pearl Hunter is an exciting tale of resourcefulness, inner strength, and the bond between sisters. It’s impossible not to get swept up in Kai’s journey across the empire—from the belly of a ghost whale to a magical fox den—to rescue her sister.
Gabriella Crivilare 