Dark Tempest (The Red Winter Trilogy Book 2)

by Annette Marie

  Katsuo (kah-tsoo-oh) – A sohei assigned to protect Emi.

  Ki (kee) – Meaning “spiritual energy or life force,” ki is the internal power used by kami and yokai, and, to a lesser extent, humans. Pure ki from a balanced mind and soul is stronger than impure ki.

  Kimono (kee-moh-noh) – A traditional Japanese garment resembling a robe with long, wide sleeves. Kimono are wrapped around the body and tied with an obi. Link: A formal women’s kimono. Link: A miko in her uniform of white kimono and red hakama.

  Kimura Emi (kee-moo-rah eh-mee) – The current kamigakari of Amaterasu. Note: In Japanese, the family name precedes the given name.

  Kiroibara (kee-roh-ee-bah-rah) – A small town located 0.5 miles (1 km) south of the Shirayuri Shrine.

  Kitsune (kee-tsoo-nay) – A type of fox yokai. The older and more powerful a kitsune is, the more tails it will have, up to a maximum of nine.

  Kitsunebi (kee-tsoo-nay-bee) – Orbs of foxfire used by kitsune.

  Kodama (koh-dah-mah) – A type of tree sprite yokai that inhabits most forests and is known for being very timid but powerful in large numbers.

  Kogarashi (koh-gah-rah-shee) – A katana with elemental wind magic belonging to the yokai Byakko. Its name means “cold winter wind.”

  Koma-inu (koh-mah-ee-noo) – Paired statues in the shape of lion-like creatures that guard a shrine, meant to ward off evil spirits. Link: A koma-inu statue.

  Kosode (koh-soh-day) – A traditional Japanese garment similar to a kimono but for more casual wear, with shorter sleeves and varying lengths.

  Koyane (koh-yah-nay) – A kami, vassal to Izanami.

  Kunitsukami (koo-nee-tsoo-kah-mee) – The four most powerful yokai who rule Tsuchi, the earthly spirit realm. They consist of Sarutahiko of the Mountain, Uzume of the Wood, Susano of the Storm, and Inari of the Fire.

  Kyubi no kitsune (kyoo-bee no kee-tsoo-nay) – A nine-tailed fox yokai, the most powerful form of the kitsune.

  Makoto no kokoro (mah-koh-toh noh koh-koh-roh) – Meaning “purity of heart,” it is a state of spiritual balance and purity that humans who worship kami strive to achieve.

  Marugata (mah-roo-gah-tah) – An exorcism circle created by drawing specific ritual symbols within a circle; they vary in complexity based on power and purpose.

  Miko (mee-koh) – A shrine maiden who assists the kannushi, performs in festivals, ceremonies, and other events, and carries out administrative duties. Link: A miko in her uniform of white kimono and red hakama.

  Minoru (mee-noh-roo) – A sohei assigned to protect Emi.

  Moryo (moh-ryoh) – A type of water yokai known for feeding on dead human bodies.

  Murakumo (moo-rah-koo-moh) – An abbreviated form of the name Ame-no-Murakumo.

  Nanako (nah-nah-koh) – A miko at the Shirayuri Shrine.

  Noriko (noh-ree-koh) – A bakeneko yokai that Emi encounters at Ajisai Inn.

  Obi (oh-bee) – A sash worn to tie kimono and kosode closed, varying in width and length depending on the outfit and gender of the wearer. Link: A woman wearing a formal kimono and obi.

  Ofuda (oh-foo-dah) – A talisman made of a rectangular strip of paper inscribed with an invocation.

  Okini (oh-kee-nee) – A term typically meaning “favorite” or “pet.” When used by yokai to describe a human, the meaning is unclear.

  Omamori (oh-mah-moh-ree) – A talisman of protection similar to an ofuda, worn around the neck in a small, flat silk or brocade bag.

  Onenju (oh-nen-joo) – Prayer beads, also called a prayer rosary. Link: A worshipper holding onenju.

  Oni (oh-nee) – A type of yokai resembling an ogre.

  Onusa (oh-noo-sah) – A wooden wand with paper streamers used in shrine rituals. Link: An onusa.

  Orochi (oh-roh-chee) – An eight-headed dragon yokai.

  Sabuten Islands (sah-boo-ten) – A group of small islands off the eastern coast.

  Sake (sah-kay) – Japanese rice wine.

  Sarutahiko (sah-roo-tah-hee-koh) – The Kunitsukami of the Mountain and ultimate ruler of the yokai, husband of Uzume.

  Sekisho no seishin (say-kee-shoh noh say-sheen) – An incantation for creating a protective barrier, translating literally to “barrier of the spirit.”

  Sensei (sen-say) – An honorific term meaning “teacher.”

  Shimenawa (shee-may-nah-wah) – A type of woven rope used for purification at a shrine.

  Shintai (sheen-tigh) – A physical object that can act as a temporary conduit for a kami’s power and spirit. Shrines have a shintai for their kami in the inner sanctuary.

  Shion Shrine (shee-ohn) – The largest shrine of Amaterasu and the seat of the Guji, located in the city of Shion.

  Shirayuri Shrine (shee-rah-yoo-ree) – A small Amaterasu shrine that serves the population of Kiroibara.

  Shiro (shee-roh) – A kitsune yokai.

  Shukusei no tama (shoo-koo-say noh tah-mah) – An incantation for purifying ki, translating literally to “purge of the soul.”

  Sohei (soh-hay) – A type of warrior priest trained in martial and spiritual combat who acts as a shrine guardian and yokai exorcist.

  Sotei no shinketsu (so-tay noh sheen-keh-tsoo) – An incantation for immobilizing a foe, translating literally to “binding of the heart’s blood.”

  Sumire (soo-mee-ray) – A remote, mountainous northern region.

  Susano (soo-sah-noh) – The Kunitsukami of the Storm.

  Tabi (tah-bee) – A style of traditional Japanese socks, typically ankle-high with the big toe separated from the other toes, that are worn with thonged footwear and sandals. Link: White tabi with zori sandals.

  Takamahara (tah-kah-mah-hah-rah) – The “high heavenly plain,” a realm inhabited by kami.

  Tamaki (tah-mah-kee) – A miko at the Shion Shrine.

  Tanuki (tah-noo-kee) – A type of Japanese racoon dog yokai that is known for its trickster nature and shapeshifting abilities. “Tanuki” refers to both regular racoon dogs and the yokai. Link: A pair of racoon dogs.

  Tatami (tah-tah-mee) – A type of mat, typically made from rice straw, used as a flooring material in traditional Japanese rooms. Link: A room with tatami.

  Tengu (ten-goo) – A title belonging to the raven yokai Yumei, who is also known as the Lord of Crows and the Prince of Shadows.

  Tenjikubotan (ten-jee-koo-boh-tan) – Burial caves located at an Izanami shrine near Wasurenagusa.

  Torii (toh-ree) – A traditional gate that denotes the entrance to a shrine and the boundary between the mundane world and sacred land. They are typically made from wood or stone and are often painted red. Link: A small torii.

  Tsuchi (tsoo-chee) – The earthly spiritual realm inhabited by yokai, which overlaps and reflects Earth.

  Tsuchigumo (tsoo-chee-goo-moh) – A type of spider yokai that is feared for its venomous bite, which can incapacitate any yokai. Tsuchigumo exist only in Tsuchi, or where the realms of Tsuchi and Earth intermingle.

  Tsukiyomi (tsoo-kee-yoh-mee) – The Amatsukami of the Water, brother of Amaterasu.

  Uzume (oo-zoo-may) – The Kunitsukami of the Wood, wife of Sarutahiko.

  Wasurenagusa (wah-soo-reh-nah-goo-sah) – A mountain that is famous for its numerous hot springs.

  Yamachichi (yah-mah-chee-chee) – A type of monkey yokai that steals the breath of its victims.

  Yokai (yoh-kigh) – Spiritual beings who originate from Tsuchi, the earthly spirit realm, and are closely tied to nature. Yokai are sometimes considered a subset of kami and are often perceived as monsters or demons.

  Yomi (yoh-mee) – The realm of the dead into which human spirits pass after death.

  Yumei (yoo-may) – A raven yokai known as the Tengu, as well as the Lord of Crows and the Prince of Shadows.

  About the Author

  Annette Marie is the author of the Amazon best-selling YA urban fantasy series Steel & Stone, which includes the 2015 Goodreads Choice Award nominee Yield the Night. Her first love is fantasy, a limitless realm of creativity where she can break all the borin
g rules of real life, but fast-paced urban fantasy, bold heroines, and tantalizing forbidden romances are her guilty pleasures. She proudly admits she has a thing for dragons, and her editor has politely inquired as to whether she intends to include them in every book.

  Annette lives in the frozen winter wasteland of northern Alberta, Canada (okay, it’s not quite that bad). She shares her life with her remarkably patient, comparatively sensible husband and their furry minion of darkness—sorry, cat—Caesar. When not writing, she can be found elbow-deep in one art project or another while blissfully ignoring all adult responsibilities.

  Website: www.authorannettemarie.com

  Facebook: www.facebook.com/AuthorAnnetteMarie

  Twitter: twitter.com/AnnetteMMarie

  Goodreads: www.goodreads/Annette_Marie

  Amazon: amazon.com/author/AnnetteMarie

  About the Artist

  Brittany Jackson, also known as Bea, is an award-winning freelance illustrator based in Michigan. Taken by a passion for the arts at a young age, Bea embraced her gift of drawing and learned how bring her vivid imagination to life in a variety of artistic styles she's learned throughout the years. With a strong sense for concepts and design, Bea has become well recognized for her ability to paint a picture from words, communicating ideas—hers and others—through beautiful narrative illustration.

  Find out more about Bea at BeaGifted.com.

  THE STEEL & STONE SERIES

  YA urban fantasy by Annette Marie

  Piper knows the first rule for an apprentice Consul is don’t trust daemons. But when she’s framed for the theft of the deadly Sahar Stone, she has no choice but to trust two daemons to help her. With the dark secrets of her allies unravelling around her, her desperate mission to clear her name carries her into the dangerous realm of daemons, where her life is the least of what she might lose.

  See the Steel & Stone Series on Amazon.