The Heavenward Path
core novel 1998 Mitsuko
Record
| First published | 1998 |
|---|---|
| Original language |  EN |
| Work type | novel |
| Canon status | core |
| Reader rating | 3.95 (293 ratings, collected 2026-11-01) |
| First-edition ISBN | 9780152016524 |
| Internal chronology | 2 |
Synopsis
Two years after she entered the land of the dead, Mitsuko is training to become a Buddhist nun. A ghost-king begins to haunt her dreams and demands that she rebuild his shrine, restore his tomb and find his descendants so they can worship him again. Her father opposes her mission and announces that she will marry an eleven-year-old prince to gain ties to the Imperial family. Mitsuko turns again to Goranu, the mischievous immortal shape-shifter who loves her, and to Suzume, a practical former rice-cake girl who becomes her ally. Their quest brings them up against a dragon, an oni and a vengeful spirit, and under the threat of being handed over to Lord Emma-O.
Where it sits
- Universe: Mitsuko
- Series: Mitsuko core; position 2 of 2 in the series' recorded order
- Author: Kara Dalkey
Awards (verified)
- Mythopoeic Award (Children's Literature), 1999: nominated
Notes
- From the series record (Mitsuko): Two linked novels following the noblewoman Mitsuko and the tengu Goranu in twelfth-century Japan.
Neighbouring works
Publication order and internal chronology are tracked as two separate orderings, but they resolve to the exact same sequence for this book, so one combined line is shown instead of two identical ones.
- Reading order, within the series Mitsuko: position 2 of 2: previous Little Sister (1996)
Sources
- Rivendell Group: Krentz reviews two books by Kara Dalkey
- Biblio listing (Harcourt Children's Books, 1998)
- Kirkus Reviews: The Heavenward Path
- Wikipedia: Kara Dalkey
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