Passage to Tokyo - (Ancestor Memories) by Poppy Kuroki

Book Synopsis

In the second book in the Ancestor Memories historical fantasy series, a young woman finds herself back in 1920s Tokyo as Japan enters a new and dangerous era--and a deadly tragedy awaits her city.

Yui Sanada struggles to raise her twelve-year-old brother, Hiro, while contending with the antics of their neglectful, alcoholic mother. During a trip to Ueno Park, Hiro runs away from his sister into a strange passage beneath a samurai statue. Yui chases after him and soon finds herself in a Tokyo far removed from the familiar world of 1995.

When Yui emerges from the tunnel, she cannot find Hiro but meets a young woman named Chiyo and her family and learns she has traveled back through time to 1923. As feelings between the two women develop, Yui and realizes it's just weeks before the devastating Great Kanto Earthquake will happen, killing tens of thousands and leveling the city. Will Yui be able to find her brother and save her new family from the coming disaster?

Review Quotes

"Kuroki launches a historical romantasy series with this addictive, high-concept epic that travels from the modern day to 1870s Japan. . . . . Isla's foreknowledge keeps the stakes of the love story sky-high against the vivid, wonderfully detailed backdrop of feudal Japan. Readers won't be able to turn the pages fast enough." -- Publishers Weekly on Gate to Kagoshima

"Gate to Kagoshima is steeped in rich historical detail, blending samurai battles with a heartfelt romance that heightens the stakes. The novel's smooth pacing and immersive setting will captivate fans of historical fiction, especially those drawn to time-travel stories with a balance of action and emotional depth. Perfect for readers who appreciate both history and love woven into their adventures." -- Booklist on Gate to Kagoshima

"Fans of Outlander will appreciate Kuroki's treatment of a familiar story, while the Japanese setting, language, and culture sprinkled throughout are a fresh addition to the genre." -- Library Journal on Gate to Kagoshima

"Gate to Kagoshima is an action-packed adventure that opens in Scotland and makes its way to Kagoshima, Japan, as our heroine flees the ghosts of relationships past only to find new loves―and new heartbreak. Set at the close of the Samurai era, the story blends Outlander by way of Before the Coffee Gets Cold." -- Marie Claire on Gate to Kagoshima