A Summary of "A Thousand-Year Dream" by Elena Kondratskaya

This book is a romantic Asian fantasy, published in 2023. Drawing on Japanese mythology, it pits humans against Shinto deities and yokai spirits. The protagonist finds herself caught in a centuries-old conflict between immortal beings hidden from human sight by magical barriers. The novel opens the "Dreams of Origin" series and is the first in the series. This series also includes the sequels "Oath of the Nine Tails" and "Shadow of a Thousand Moons."

Hostage of Demons

The story unfolds in a mystical inn run by a cruel demoness, Lady Rei. Nineteen-year-old Miko scrubs floors and serves monsters. She’s come here voluntarily. She’s searching for her younger sister, Hotaru, who was kidnapped by an unknown yokai. A disfiguring scar crosses Miko’s face. She hides her eyes and fears the ryokan’s terrifying guests. One night, Miko attempts to escape. Raiden intercepts her in the garden. The black-eyed tengu pins her to the ground.

Akira comes to the rescue. A beautiful crane yokai with snow-white hair intercedes for the girl. He buys Miko’s contract from Lady Rei for a sack of gold. Akira spreads his enormous wings and carries the rescued girl high into the sky. They arrive at a bright castle. Miko is overwhelmed by the kindness of her new patron. Akira promises to help her find Hotaru. To survive among the yokai, a mortal needs a special weapon. Tsuru sends his guest to the lair of an ancient tsuchigumo.

The spider’s cave is full of bones and abandoned treasures. Akira instructs Miko not to eat anything or disturb the silver web. The girl descends into the darkness. There, she unexpectedly encounters her sister. An illusion cruelly deceives Miko. The spider instantly swaddles her victim in a tight cocoon. The girl suffocates in the darkness. Raiden comes to the rescue again. The tengu cuts the web and forces Miko to swallow a magical sigil. The bargain is sealed in blood. Raiden gives the girl a katana. The sword is adorned with a metallic spider lily. The weapon is capable of cutting through spells. Miko kills a Tsuchigumo servant named Sengo.

Illusions and Mysteries

Miko returns to Akira. Tsuru admires her courage. They fly to the Yorumachi Night Market. There, Raiden catches up with them. The tengu constantly insults Akira. Tsuru takes Miko to a hidden shop. The headless woman, Bunko, keeps magical mirrors there. Miko makes a pact with Bunko. In exchange for a glimpse into the mirror, she promises to give her something valuable in the future. The artifact transmits the truth. Hotaru is alive, beautiful, and happy in the arms of a stranger. Miko feels bitterness. Her sister has simply forgotten about her.

The girl gets lost in the market. Raiden once again protects her from the hideous demons. The tengu places a raven mask on her head. A wooden beak conceals her human scent. Miko and Akira return to the castle. Tsuru confesses his tender feelings for the girl. He promises to find a healer and remove the scar from her face. Miko succumbs to his concern. Soon, Akira flies off to Mount Hogo. The Guardians of the Origin are gathering there.

Raiden is constantly nearby. The tengu pushes and pulls Miko. Akira tells the story of Princess Eiko. A thousand years ago, she created a barrier between worlds. Now the Red Moon Festival is approaching. The Guardians are obliged to renew their seals. Akira also holds the title of Guardian. Lady Katsumi and Lord Nobu rule alongside him. Raiden was once among them. The Guardians exiled him and tore out his wings. The tengu paid for trying to remove the barrier. The island is perishing, cut off from contact with the outside world. Raiden shows Miko a dying forest spirit to prove his point.

The Golden Cage

Lady Rei kidnaps Miko. The ryokan owner breaks her contract with Akira. Tsuru concealed the girl’s true value. Rei is convinced that Miko is the reincarnation of Princess Eiko. The girl is locked in a room. An oiran named Go tattoos a camellia on Miko’s back. Now the captive bears the name Yohn. The foreigner San teaches her the art of seduction, and the half-breed Ni advises her to bite guests in response to aggression. Miko refuses to comply. The ryokan owner orders the obstinate girl to be prepared for receiving clients.

The guards lead Miko down a secret corridor. They see Akira in Rei’s office. Tsuru coldly declares he doesn’t love Miko. He only needs her for the ritual. Miko’s heart breaks. Tsuru leaves, having struck a one-night stand. Miko is thrown into the room of the first guest, who turns out to be Raiden. The tengu drives away the guards. He bites Miko on the neck, feigning passion. Raiden explains his plan for a quick escape. She must cut the contract with a magic sword.

The night of the escape arrives. Oiran Ichi brings another guest to Miko. Ichiro of the Kuro clan attacks the girl. Miko desperately fights back. She gouges out his eye with a hairpin. In the struggle, the girl snatches a yokai knife. The short blade slits Ichiro’s throat. Covered in blood, Miko flees through secret corridors. Raiden sets the ryokan on fire. In the confusion, Miko makes her way to Lady Rei’s office. The sword cuts the paper. The contract bursts into flames.

Red Moon

Miko runs into the garden. Raiden carries her into the sky. Akira catches up with the fugitives. Raiden takes the blame for Ichiro’s death. Akira arrests the tengu. Tsuru takes Miko to Mount Hogo. The Guardians prepare for the ceremony. The dead Sengo haunts Miko in nightmares. The spirit of the servant avenges her death.

The Red Moon Festival arrives. Akira takes Miko to the square. The Guardians announce Raiden’s execution. Miko is forced to offer the tengu a bowl of poisoned golden ginkgo fruits. Raiden eats the sweet fruits. The tengu slowly dies. Miko begins a ritual dance with bells, concentrating her magical energy. Akira awaits her soul spark. Miko directs the spark to the dying Raiden. Their souls intertwine. The girl sees memories of others. Lady Katsumi mercilessly rips out Raiden’s wings.

Magic heals the tengu. Raiden leaps to his feet. He wounds Lord Nobu. The tengu is caught by Miko. They dive into a dimensional breach. Raiden loses consciousness from the remaining poison. The fugitives fall into the forest. Miko gives him water from a stream. A man named Shin saves the tengu’s life. The healer restores Raiden’s strength.

The Princess’s True Face

They return to the tengu’s secret home. A shock awaits them there. Hotaru is in the castle. Her sister is safe and sound.

Hotaru arrogantly proclaims the truth. She is the true Princess Eiko. Raiden found her in the human world. The Tengu stole Katsumi’s beads to test them. The Guardians captured Raiden. He took the blame for the kidnapping. Raiden lost his wings to save Hotaru. The Tengu orchestrated a meeting between Miko and Akira. His sister became the perfect bait. The Guardians believed Miko to be the princess. Akira fell in love with the illusion. Hotaru and Raiden planned to destroy the barrier. Miko is devastated by the betrayal.

Akira appears in the castle courtyard. Tsuru holds a spear in his hand. He has seen through the deception. Akira throws the spear straight at Hotaru. The sharp blade pierces the girl’s chest. Hotaru bleeds before her sister’s eyes. Miko lunges at Akira with her fists. Raiden engages in a brutal fight. The wingless tengu is no match for the powerful Guardian. A wave of his maple fan sends Akira flying. Raiden grabs Miko. They escape through a magical breach. The fugitives find themselves high in the cliffs.

Miko looks out over the endless forest. Raiden stands nearby. The tengu’s plan has failed. The true princess is dead. The allies will turn their backs on the rebels. The seals will remain intact. Akira took Hotaru’s life without a trace of regret. Miko is overcome with rage. She is no longer a frightened servant. She turns to Raiden. None of the youkai know Eiko’s true face. Miko offers the tengu a deal. She will take Hotaru’s place. She will play the princess. In exchange, Raiden will help her take revenge on Akira.