Stories which dive into the morality of power as a double-edged sword have always fascinated me. When I find villains in speculative fiction intriguing, it’s often because something about their extreme actions is recognisably human. Along similar lines, I also love stories where protagonists grapple with moral ambiguity as a result of dangerous newfound powers, and must decide what they are willing to compromise and to stand for.
A Thousand Steps Into Night by Traci Chee is a captivating exploration of these ideas, centering on a young girl’s transformation as she journeys through a Japanese-inspired supernatural world and faces the collisions between demons and humanity.
