Common Sense Media Review
By Andrea Beach
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Fantastic, sweeping, folklore-based fantasy epic.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
In A THOUSAND STEPS INTO NIGHT, 17-year-old Miuko is fairly at peace with the knowledge that she'll never truly fit into the rigid expectations of her fellow villagers. She's too loud, too clumsy, and too plain to attract a husband, so she contents herself with helping her father run the village inn. That is, until she's cursed by a demon and starts to transform into a demon herself. She sets out on the thousand-step highway in hopes of reaching a temple where she can be cured before the curse becomes irreversible. But to get there she'll have to face demons, ghosts, tricksters, and even the mighty God of Stars himself.
Is It Any Good?
This epic fantasy inspired by Japanese folklore is gorgeously written and deeply realized. In A Thousand Steps Into Night, author Traci Chee builds a vast, vivid, detailed world populated with colorful, believable characters. Their page-turning adventures are filled with humor and suspense while Miuko discovers her humanity and self-worth.
Teens will relate to Miuko as she chafes against society's expectations, and longs for empowerment and the freedom to be herself. The made-up language with pronunciations and definitions in footnotes can be a bit overwhelming at first but taper off as the story picks up. The ending is sweetly satisfying, but leaves room for further adventures.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in A Thousand Steps Into Night. Is it too much? How is reading violent acts different from seeing or hearing it in other media?
Do you like Miuko? What are her character strengths and weaknesses? Is she a positive role model?
Why are fantasy novels so popular? What do we love about them? What are some of your favorites?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , Friendship
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Clarion Books
- Publication date : March 1, 2022
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 12 - 18
- Number of pages : 384
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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