What do You think about White Jenna (2004)?
I found the characters and story to be rather "meh," but the mode of storytelling to be fantastic! I read both books simply because I loved the format of "The Story," "The Legend," "The Myth," "The Song," or "The History." It's absolute genius. As a historian I couldn't help but be amused by the historical articles interspersed throughout the novel. I highly recommend White Jenna for this alone! Of course the world building was also quite fun...but the way the story is told definitely takes the front seat.
—Kimberly
I enjoyed this story, especially the way it was structured - each section told through "myth", "ballad", "song", "prophecy", "legend", "history", and "story" according to Yolen's whim, and the unfolding of the plot. I especially enjoyed the voice that the "history" sections were written in; the writer's clear distaste and even disgust at those who would allow any truth to the events of myths and legends. His - at least, I read his voice as male - outrage and petulant whining at the end of the book, when the historical society apparently give the legends even more credence, is priceless. I also thoroughly enjoyed the story and action, only occasionally feeling as if I were missing a bit of background (what is piiji?) , but feeling that it all filled in rather nicely... and then I realized, at the end, that I'd picked up book 2 to star with, instead of book 1. Oops. The fact that I never realized it, and enjoyed it as much as I did even so, speaks highly of Yolen's skill as a storyteller. I may even have liked it more, had I read it in proper sequence.
—Shilo
