“When the sea turned to silver and the cold chilled the light of the sun, Pinmei knew the Black Tortoise of Winter had arrived with his usual calmness. But when a shrieking wind pierced the sky, bursting it into darkness, she grew frightened. It was as if the Black Tortoise of Winter were being forced to the earth, screaming and struggling.”

The opening of the story foreshadows one of the plot’s main conflicts. Pinmei’s concerns prove valid, and her fear illustrates the motif of disruption, as both mythological and environmental elements are in chaos. The imagery of the Black Tortoise being “forced to the earth” symbolizes the imbalance between natural forces and the external power that seeks to control them, hinting at the broader struggle between harmony and oppression in the narrative.

“Alone with Amah, her words did not freeze in her throat. She didn’t know why, at the sight of anyone unfamiliar, she felt like a fish trapped in a bowl of ice, unable to even gasp for air.”

The quote highlights Pinmei’s initial struggle with self-expression, especially around strangers, symbolized by her feeling “like a fish trapped in a bowl of ice.” The story explores how her transformation into a storyteller empowers her to overcome this silence, as The Power of Stories helps her find her voice as well as create and find her identity. Her journey from a timid girl to a confident storyteller underscores the novel’s theme of the transformative power of art.

“‘I never wish for you to be anyone except yourself,’ Amah said, looking into Pinmei’s eyes. ‘I know that when it is time for you to do something, you will do it.’”

Pinmei wonders if Amah would prefer her to be braver, like Yishan. Amah quickly reassures her, expressing unconditional love for Pinmei as she is. Amah’s words, “I know that when it is time for you to do something, you will do it,” become a