Review: Tokyo Dreaming by Emiko Jean
Thank you Flat Iron Books for my copy! All thoughts are my own.
If you liked The Princess Diaries you NEED to read this series. It’s even better. I read book one, Tokyo Ever After, on audio and it was fantastic. I have a feeling book 2 would thrive on audio as well but I enjoyed reading it with my eyes this time! The second book in a royal series is always interesting, especially in the case of a “I didn’t know I was a princess but now I do” set up, which is the case for Izumi. In this book, we see her settle into royal life, but it’s not a comfortable settling. There are growing pains and heartache, intense pressure and change. I love Izumi.
What I Liked:
Expanding the World—I love a royal story and seeing Izumi step into her role as Princess of Japan. I wish we got to see more of Mariko but I also know it was important to feature Izumi’s inner struggles.
Getting to Know The Twins—A redemption arc but not quite! The twins were a little two dimensional in the first books so I liked seeing more of them.
Izumi’s Journey—Izumi’s struggles with her identity are so relatable, even those of us who aren’t royal. I thought her tender age was handled so well, especially when it came to the responsibility she feels for her mother’s (and father’s) happiness. Also, the Christmas scene was a DELIGHT.
What Didn’t Work:
Pacing—Very minor, but I just wish a few moments were featured more, like when Izumi and the twins were sent away. I also felt like we didn’t get enough time at the end to settle into the result of the plot, but since it’s the second book in a series, I know book three will take us there.
Character Authenticity: 4/5 Steam Rating: None, YA Overall Rating: 4/5
Content Warnings:
panic attacks