In the Realm of Ash and Sorrow
In the months preceding the atomic bomb, American soldier Micah Lund dies on a mission over Hiroshima. He wakes up in Japan as a spirit, alone and far from home. Feeling drawn to the woman, Kiyomi, who found his body, he follows her through the unfamiliar city.
Kiyomi is a single mother who, with her eight-year-old daughter, lives with her in-laws. They treat Kiyomi as a servant and expect her to remarry a man of their choosing to produce an heir and carry on their family name. Kiyomi has already suffered a loveless marriage once before but feels compelled by duty… and then she meets Micah in a dream. Meanwhile, time is drawing short, and Micah knows it’s only a matter of time before something terrible befalls Hiroshima and the woman he’s beginning to care about.
The impact of war on average citizens is poignantly explored as Kiyomi and her family struggle through food shortages, starvation, and a city that’s lost itself to militarism. Micah learns about Japanese culture through experiences with other spirits he meets and by observing Kiyomi. Harmon effectively explores the time and place through the eyes of wonder. There is an enjoyable variety of characters, particularly Micah’s new friends.
The spirit world in which Micah travels is both mysterious and magical, most particularly in the last half, which is quite stunning. Micah and Kiyomi grow as characters while learning about each other, helping them construct a new narrative to the story of war they’ve been told. The prose is elegantly constructed, bringing to life the emotions and experiences before and after the atomic bomb. Harmon has created a tale of improbable love, redemption, and finding hope in the midst of devastation. Recommended.
