The Sword of Kaigen: A Theonite War Story

THIS BOOK! It is the surprise of the year for me, up to now. It should not have been. Petrik did tell me to read it. TS loved it too. All my other friends who have read it since have loved it. And yet it still surprised me with it’s AWESOMENESS. I should have read it sooner, but you know how it is - sometimes books just get lost on the mountainous elephant that is your TBR list. So having just finished a book, there I was on Twitter, browsing around when the book cover popped up. Why not I thought, making a spur of the moment decision right there to jump the list and read The Sword of Kaigen next. I am so smart sometimes. *high-fives self and makes a mental note to reward self with a new book The blurbs do a pretty good job of explaining the basic premise, so let’s not taint them with my ramblings, other than to say JAPANESE MILITARY FANTASY! JAW DROPPING ELEMENTAL MAGIC! DEVASTATING BATTLES! SCINTILLATING SWORD FIGHTS! Got your attention? Great! Now forget those things, because while all those things are present, there is another something which elevates this book to magical. That something else is the thing that many of us readers cannot do without, and it makes or breaks a book. Compelling characterization. ML wang has written characters with such depth and humanity, that had the plot completely flown out of the window, I might not even have noticed, so engrossed was I. And there are a bevy to choose from. I mean, we have Mamoru! And Takeru! And Takashi! And Setsuko! And you have no idea who I am shouting about! Ok, let's backtrack slightly - the book takes us to a place called Takayabi whose inhabitants have for centuries been responsible for protecting their small corner of the Kaiganese empire from its enemies. While this is no small task, the warriors are exceptional - unrivalled in their fighting expertise and also wielders of deadly elemental magic, they are a force not to be trifled with. At the head of this village, stands the Matsudas, of whom Misaki and Mamoru Matsuda are the two main characters we follow. This noble house is well known for being without peers in terms of sword fighting, and their almost mythical bloodline technique called the Whispering Blade is a legend all on it’s own. As young Mamoru, son of Takeru & Misaki Matsuda grows up in this peaceful and isolated place, learning to fight and master The Whispering Blade, he tries to figure out his place in the world. Takayabi is steeped in lore and tradition, and there are very clear expectations of him. But his foundations are rocked to the core when he meets an outsider and the possibility comes to light that much of what he believes may be a lie. You learn over time that the world isn’t broken. It’s just… got more pieces to it than you thought. They all fit together, just maybe not the way you pictured when you were young.” The path Mamoru follows as he grows and learns is a joy to behold, and the way the author has written it is something else that elevates the story. Often times we are told to believe that characters have evolved from a to b, without having spent the time or effort validating the change for us readers, but here it is not the case, and character arcs are well thought out and believable. There is a particular character I loathed throughout. If you have read the book you are in no doubt as to whom I am referring. He inspired many a stabby thought. The word irredeemable might not be strong enough, and yet… I was shocked to be proven wrong. *slow clap The most significant example of the sublime characterization is reserved for Mamoru’s mother Misaki, the outright star of the show. She is a housewife, bound by tradition and duty to play the role she has been assigned. Obedient, subservient, loyal. She is so much more though. The ways she has grown from what we get to see of her in the past to present, the choices she has made. Misaki… is probably one of the best female characters I have ever had the pleasure to encounter on the page. To say nothing more may be a huge injustice to the complex characterization captured, but it is also a huge favour to you future reader, for I would prefer you to experience this masterful portrayal for yourself. While the characters are the lifeblood of this story, that's not to say that this fascinating world Wang has built lacks for anything. I know almost nothing about Japanese culture, their way of life, as I have had little exposure to any of it apart from my love of martial arts, but this little microcosm of an age gone by mixed with a fantastical world is just another added element that helped to cast a spell on me. The only thing I struggled with slightly was learning all the unfamiliar foreign words used throughout the book. I did not realise that there was a handy glossary in the back until a friend mentioned it, and by that point I was a fair way through the book already. The glossary made it easier, but it was a mission going back and forth on the Kindle. I have since learned that there is a downloadable pdf on the author’s website, so rather grab that if you can. Eventually though, I did learn most of the words and and was able to read without worrying if I was missing something, adding just another level of immersion for the eastern setting. And even with the learning curve it felt like I had barely picked the book up before story had transported me, bringing that magical whoomph of a rush that you get when a story just whisks you away. You’re with me, right? One minute you're getting a feel for it, yes, this is fascinating and entertaining and how did we end up here, this is the ending, WHEN DID THIS GET SO AMAZING!?!?! Woah. Did ML WANG just get a new fan? Yes, yes she DID. Lastly, it would be very remiss of me to forget to mention the explosive action sequences filled with exhilarating and creative elemental magic, the breathtaking duels and the cutthroat sword fighting that makes up much of the action packed second half of the book. And when the dust settles and the frantic drumbeat of your skewered heart wanes, the story eases you into a denouement that fittingly takes it’s time in assuring you of the final outcome, the future ahead and the power of empathy. Take a bow dear author, for you are a storyteller, and The Sword of Kaigen is a tale, beautifully told.

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars I’ve got to admit, when I first sat down to read this book, I wasn’t really sure what to expect. It had been sitting in my to-read pile for a few years, and I knew from reading a few reviews and the blurbs of the other Theonite books (now discontinued) that it wasn’t just another Japanese-inspired fantasy, but beyond that I hadn’t allowed any real expectations to develop. In effect, I went in blind, and I am so glad I did. The core story revolves around the Matsuda family, a warrior house famed for their control of water and for their legendary Whispering Blade technique that allows them to form swords made of ice that are said to be stronger and sharper than any other known weapon. For the most part the narrative focuses on Misaki, wife to the second son of the family, and her oldest son Mamoru, as they try to come to terms with the world changing around them and adapt to the growing storm of war approaching their otherwise quiet little peninsula. However, there is also a secondary storyline that explores the wider setting of the Kaigenese Empire, and its relationship with its closest neighbours. Stylistically, the book seems to have been influenced by a mix of manga and anime, with a dash of Eastern (particularly Japanese) heroic fantasy thrown in for good measure, and for me this is a good thing. The action sequences are well-written, easy enough to follow, and capture the essence of those influences really well. But there’s also some remarkably well-paced plot growth and character development that gently pulls the reader forward, building in intensity through to the mid-point of the novel, and the first of two crescendos in the story. Without giving away any spoilers, the second half of the novel shows us how the characters deal with the aftermath of certain cataclysmic events, and here we see the true strength of Wang’s writing as those characters are irrevocably changed by what has gone before. And it really is the characters that make this book so captivating. As well as the beautifully written and realised characters, there’s also a lot of gorgeous world building going on here. The principle locale of the Kusanagi Peninsula is described so well that it’s easy to picture it in your mind as you read. Add to that the imaginative and well-thought-out magic systems presented throughout, and you soon feel like what you’re reading is just a small part of a much bigger whole. All-in-all, I absolutely adored this book and will almost certainly have a look at other works by the author. The series that this one was spun out of has been discontinued in the last few years, but she has a few other books out there that look interesting. If you’ve read and enjoyed Ron J Hayes’ Mortal Techniques books, or just like Japanese-inspired fantasy in general, definitely give this one a try. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

On the Physical Book: Sturdy and easy to handle. The paper selection could have opted for a paper quality that would allow a more flexible spine. The cover treatment is average, as the outer plastic film shows signs of peeling after a few days at the beach (under shade, no sun exposure). On the Story: The Sword of Kaigen (@mlwangauthor ) is a gut wrenching epic with an amazing set of character arcs with really cool development that show depth and uniqueness . The world building is detailed and immersive with good socio-political nuances. The magic system is well developed and easy to grasp and complements well a martial arts background. The Sword of Kaigen is sadly only 600+ pages and seems to be a standalone. My wish is that the author may eventually bless us with more incursions into Duna and the Matsudas.

Es un increíble libro lo que más me gusta usa frases del japonés para referirse a cosas comunes para que tu vayas como aprendiendo y es muy listo me encanta el sistema muy bueno

The Sword of Kaigen is a deeply moving standalone fantasy. The slow beginning worked perfectly for me, building up the family and setting so that when tragedy struck, it hit incredibly hard. The battle scenes are cinematic, but what truly stands out is the subtle emotional writing — a single quiet line of grief often carried more weight than pages of description. Where the book lost me was in the final act. After such an unforgettable middle, the story seemed to lose focus. The Robin subplot felt forced, and several loose ends felt bolted on, as if the author was preparing for sequels that never came. The wider political threads also faded away, leaving an ending that didn’t provide the closure I had hoped for. Still, this remains one of the most emotional and impactful fantasies I’ve read in a while, and I’d strongly recommend it to anyone looking for a standalone with real depth.

Sometimes when I am about half-way through a book and I am reading something as powerful and impressive as this was, I have a fairly good idea what my review is going to be about. And at that half-way point, I did think I was going to write about the world building, and characterizations, magic and everything else that I found to be notable about this story. But, then I read the last half, and I can say that since reading Stephen King’s Wizard and Glass a few years back- I haven’t been so affected by a story as I was this one, or so emotionally invested in characters as these, that I cried through a good twenty percent of this book. See, I was expecting a regular epic-style fantasy, and when we had that amazing battle midway through, all I could think was holy crap, how is the author going to top this? And where can this possibly go from here with so many pages left? What I didn’t realize was, that the incredibly intense first half the book, was only part of the story and not even the best part. So, this stand-alone book works to set-up a little history of a country, and way of life of a people for a later series. While the front-half gives us this incredible world, people, and epic scale battle, the back-half deals with the aftermath, and is about a community finding strength to survive events that are just too horrifying to even imagine- surviving loss of everything from your loved ones to your home and livelihood. It’s about rebuilding and finding hope in each other, and coming together as people. But, at the core of all of that- was Misaki, and even though it was filled with a community of people that were just as full of life as her, this was really her story. Misaki was the heart of this book. She is a mother and wife, coming to terms with a life that maybe didn’t quite go the way she expected. Her story is about healing, regrets, grief, and feeling like you have no voice but also being scared to have one. And just as importantly, it’s about being responsible for your own happiness. Misaki’s journey is raw and painful but it’s also fulfilling and beautiful. As a mother, daughter and wife- her every fear, joy, and regret, resonated with me, and I applaud her characterisation. Without her this would have been a great book with some very cool fight scenes (I’m still in awe over the Matusda brother’s Ice Dragon) and a good solid base for a later series. With her though- it became an outstanding piece of storytelling that needs to be experienced, and one that is going to stick with me for a long time. Other Notes and small criticisms - Even with the huge amount of subtitled stuff I watch, which most of it is tv and film (where they sometimes tend to drop/change this sort of thing in favor of digestibility) and not print, it took me a while to keep the honorifics straight in my head. Particularly when there were a lot of different characters addressing one character. Misaki for instance, who is an elder, mother, and/or respected member of the community, has a different honor appropriate for each title depending on who is addressing her. There was a handy dandy glossary at the back of the book, which I did use once at the beginning, but kindle makes these things not the funnest things to flip back and forth between, so I rarely end up using them once I get going, and just rely on my bad memory for the rest of the book. Making this quibble more my problem than the authors’. Hey, I had to think of something to criticize. -The ending while I did like it giving Misaki a little closure, and setting up stuff for later books, I also felt it could have been trimmed a lot. At that point, I was happy with her present and didn’t want her past to interfere with the contentment she was beginning to find. c/p from my goodreads

this book was so good, amazing