Unable to remain in her own clan where her chieftain father would not recognize her as a shaman, Himiko of the Matsu (pine) people ran away from her village to stay with the Shika (deer) clan, where her best friend Kaya lives. But after sickness claimed her brother's secret Shika wife, Himiko prepared to return, only to learn that the war-loving Ookami had attacked her clan. At the start of Spirit's Chosen, Himiko and Kaya walk into the conquered Matsu village. Many of the clan's warriors are dead or dying of their injuries, and every survivor is like a ghost. Himiko's family has not remained untouched--her father and two of her brothers are dead, and her younger brother, one of her stepmothers, and one of her half-brothers have been taken away and enslaved to the Ookami (wolves). But even the remaining members of her family--her brother Masa, her stepmother Yukari, her half-brother Takehiko, and her mother--aren't totally well. When her young son Noboru was taken from her, Himiko's mother snapped. She terrorizes Takehiko because she thinks that he's Noboru, and behaves possessively towards him. When Yukari and Takehiko try to flee, she is inconsolable. Himiko ends up receiving a less-than-happy welcome home. Her mother's madness mounts, and finally, a near-tragedy turns the whole Matsu village against the hapless woman. She is sentenced to death for attempted murder, despite the clear evidence that she has no way of knowing what she was doing, and Himiko knows that the only cure for her is to return Noboru. With Kaya ("Lady Badger") at her side, Himiko sets off to spirit Noboru away from the Ookami settlement, but of course many things are more easily said than done.
But speaking of the big twist, it's not one I like. I won't say a lot, but it was rather disappointing. Even worse, though, was the other big twist, in which a certain stupid person who we all hate suddenly stops being stupid and gains some sense. An earthquake is not magical, people; I don't think that said stupid person would change so drastically in the space of five minutes! But this is only at the end; the book is quite good up until the weird part begins.
In short, I would recommend this book to anyone who has read Spirit's Princess and wants to know what happens to Himiko next.