Lin, Ann Sei

Barely escaping from Princess Tsukimi, Kurara continues searching for clues to her own mysterious past, no matter the dark truths she might find about her forgotten role in the war. She also keeps seeking to understand and free the shikigami--origami creatures that come to life--who have been enslaved by the empire. Catching up with her old friends and getting back to their airship proves difficult, however, especially when the greatest shikigami of all--Suzaku--is furiously waiting for them.

"Kurara has never known any other life than being a servant onboard the Midori, a flying ship serving the military elite of the Mikoshiman empire, a vast realm of floating cities. Kurara also has a secret--she can make folded paper figures come to life with a flick of her finger. When the Midori is attacked and Kurara's secret turns out to be a power valued and feared across the empire, a gut-wrenching escape leads her to a new life and a new mentor. Under his tutelage and with the grudging support and friendship of a new ship's crew, Kurara learns to hunt shikigami--wild paper spirits sought by the Imperial Princess. But what does the princess really want with the shikigami? Are they merely enchanted figures without will or thought, or are they beings with souls and minds of their own? As fractures begin to appear both across the empire and within Kurara's understanding of herself, Kurara will have to decide who she can trust. Her fate, and the fate of her friends--and even the world--may rest on her choice. And time is running out"--Provided by publisher.