Looking for a short, yet intriguing novel with swords, powers, deities and a young adult theme? Well, Aiko, is the exact book you need. Aiko: Rise of the goddess of war is a fantasy novel, published on www.dreame.com.
Synopsis:
Aiko, a seventeen year old girl has been going from one foster home to another due to the fact that she had her parents abandon her as soon as she was born. All her life, she has faced backlash, being bullied and talked about because of her looks and the bad luck she brings with her to every home she lives in.
Finally, she has a home and parents to call hers. A loving family and a good friend from when she was little, all her life, she passes out or dreams about herself in a strange land, a small village where she feels she has been there before. She begins to see a life that doesn't belong to her and at the same time, she feels she knows the places she always sees in her dreams and unconsciousness.
Aiko begins to see different men in similar cloaks and she believes that she has always been followed.
With more dreams, Aiko begins to question her existence and the life she sees that belongs to someone else.
All is revealed when she finally meets a student from her school who reveals himself as Theodore and he addresses her as the offspring of the Japanese god of warriors and war, Hachiman-Shin, which she had on numerous occasions, heard from her unconsciousness and dreams.
Doubting the words of the stranger, she tries to walk away only to be called out by her full title and taken out of the spot where she was to the past where she had lived before.
With a new found curiosity, Aiko begins to listen to Theodore as he explains her past life to her. From her parents, Hachiman-Shin and Mary Anne meeting at a river bank in a village, hundreds of years before her birth, to the stories he told her of the war that was waged in the spirit world that was caused by a goddess, Hama-Noshima due to her greed for more power, that sent the whole realms into Jeopardy, weakened gods and goddesses of from around and caused the banishment of her father from above.
Hachiman-Shin and Mary Anne are separated by Hama-Noshima’s men and a heavily pregnant Mary Anne is taken by a goddess to another realm which doesn't last long until it is breached and she has no other option but to flee while pregnant. Mary Anne finds herself on the river bank of Shiromizu where she gives birth to Aiko and ascends into heaven, leaving Aiko with a woman who takes care of Aiko till she's grown.
Aiko begins to live a life of discrimination from the villagers as she is labelled an omen after her destruction on the villagers a few times, due to her getting in touch with her in born powers.
Years later, Hama-Noshima kills the Empress of the village and takes her form, rules the village and keeps a watchful eye on Aiko.
Aiko is finally captured by Hama-Noshima and taken to prison for a few months until she is brought to a battle ground where Aiko has to either fight for her freedom or die in the hands of her opponents.
Aiko's fate becomes the latter as she is killed by Hama-Noshima and the prophecy about the rise of Aiko to put an end to Hama-Noshima, fails. Fortunately, Aiko is reborn in New York and is abandoned not long after she is born by her mother, this is from the manipulation of the spirits protecting her from Hama-Noshima, who learns that she is reborn.
Theodore shows Aiko the rest of her life, the power she possesses, the things put in place to keep her alive for her second coming. With a new found confidence about herself and who she is, Aiko begins to understand her duty as the savior and her aim to restore balance in all the realms.
Shiromizu gets visited by Aiko, in order to call for peace and beg for forgiveness for the harm she had caused. Unfortunately, the remaining survivors of the damaged village decline her request for forgiveness and fight together to restore peace in Shiromizu. With a heavy heart, she goes back home where she sees Hama-Noshima in her home, pretending to be a new friend to her mother.
After making sure that her parents were safe and away from danger, Aiko runs back to Theodore, who had revealed to her that he had always been her protector since her past life. Together, they quickly plan to bring down Hama-Noshima with the little they can and Aiko is finally visited by her mother and a few other deities who bless her and give her the power to connect with her abilities she has within her.
Aiko and Theodore head back to Shiromizu after Hama-Noshima sends a message that she had her parents and her only friend in her palace. On their way, they are stopped by the Bishamon Brotherhood who had broken the oath they took to protect the people of Shiromizu and had sided with Hama-Noshima. The leader surrenders and in hesitation, Aiko allows the brotherhood to lead her to the palace where her family was kept.
After getting her parents out, they are stopped by Hama-Noshima and her men. A fight ensues and Aiko begins to get in touch with her powers with every rage within her.
Hama-Noshima requests a duel and Aiko agrees but on the condition that the people she knew would watch. The battle becomes intense, Hama-Noshima cheats and harms Aiko's mother and a war between the few people, including the people of Shiromizu against Hama-Noshima’s men.
The battle is won and Aiko comes out a winner, she restores peace and the deities rejoice. Aiko gives leadership to her friends of her past life and goes back to New York, where she stays with her family and protector, Theodore. She meets with her father one last time and wishes him farewell as he descends into the spirit world.
