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annabliss2016's review against another edition
4.0
This book probably deserves 5 stars but my experience was a little thrown off because I was more than halfway done before I found out it was a series and not a stand-alone book. Once I realized that the story and pace made so much more sense! Anyway, amazing writing and incredible imagery make for a special experience in samurai Japan. I love it and looking forward to the next one.
nigelbrown's review against another edition
5.0
Immensely enjoyable from page 1.
I thought I may have tired of historical fiction but I loved this and haven't read one as good since the first Ghengis by Iggulden.
I thought I may have tired of historical fiction but I loved this and haven't read one as good since the first Ghengis by Iggulden.
lets_get_fictional's review against another edition
5.0
Incredible. Reminded me why I love historical fiction. Kirk's writing is beautiful and the way he constructs the story left me shocked at every turn.
sephyhallow's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
This is by far the worst book I've read this year. It's one of the worst books I've ever read.
Not only does it commit the cardinal sin of being extremely boring, with splashes of gore between long passive-voice exposition that explains feudal Japanese culture in a way so removed the tone sounds like outsider-perspective sci-fi (think, The Forever War), but Kirk also borrows another shitty trope of classic white men science fiction: colonialism. Despite being a supposedly well-researched epic set in feudal Japan, the narrative feels extremely Eurocentric, especially when Kirk resorts to derogatory terms - among them, "peasant" and "hovel" for the largely unnamed working classes in a rigid, cruel hierarchy he explains but never truly examines (despite examination of the status quo being the protagonist's main focus throughout). Worse still, he casually falls back on a British slur for a Chinese person (p. 159 - "It's like they got infected with barbarity from the c*****"), homophobia as a stand-in for cowardice (p. 297 - "You fucking coward, Musashi! I always knew you were queer!"), and of course a strong tendency towards misogyny. Women appear only as mute wives (p.169), "beautiful girls" who "tend" to the needs of men (p.200), and Bennosuke's mother (the longest physical description of her being on p. 67: "Her fine kimono was twisted around her naked body like a serpent, her breasts and her sex exposed, filthy from the dirt like she was some half-wit kept drooling in rags on a leash"). Or they are featured as throwaway lines like this delightful dialogue (p.275 "... it is not scrap. It is perfectly serviceable, sir," said Bennosuke. "So is your hand when you can't find a woman, but you'd rather have one over the other, wouldn't you?") Thus women are literally compared to objects for men to use in their service.
It's navel-gazing, without answering any serious questions, or pushing the reader to consider any. It tries to be epic, with unnecessarily convoluted sentences, but often it's just crude, and when examined even briefly a lot of the descriptive prose is nonsense (e.g. p. 233 - "They crouched or squatted in tense repose, their eyes unused and staring at the floor, their ears sifting for the minutest whisper" - even though a repose is relaxed, and unused eyes can't stare; or p. 157, where the phrase "innate scheming" is used, despite scheming requiring conscious thought, and therefore not being an inherent property). The pacing is sluggish, the prose is sloppy. The only reason it seems to have such high praise is because white men love when other white men present a deeply colonized version of ancient foreign history through a distinctly Western filter and call it their own truth. It is a book that seeks to intellectually conquer, the appeal of restoring the great order of whiteness atop perceived savagery, so alluring to the descendants of colonizers who feel they have been denied glory by our modern times, leads Kirk to fail upwards. Perhaps it's simply an arrogant lack of talent and self-awareness, or maybe it's because he didn't have a copy editor - after all, he refuses to acknowledge one, taking credit for this confusing, dull cliche of a book all for himself.
Not only does it commit the cardinal sin of being extremely boring, with splashes of gore between long passive-voice exposition that explains feudal Japanese culture in a way so removed the tone sounds like outsider-perspective sci-fi (think, The Forever War), but Kirk also borrows another shitty trope of classic white men science fiction: colonialism. Despite being a supposedly well-researched epic set in feudal Japan, the narrative feels extremely Eurocentric, especially when Kirk resorts to derogatory terms - among them, "peasant" and "hovel" for the largely unnamed working classes in a rigid, cruel hierarchy he explains but never truly examines (despite examination of the status quo being the protagonist's main focus throughout). Worse still, he casually falls back on a British slur for a Chinese person (p. 159 - "It's like they got infected with barbarity from the c*****"), homophobia as a stand-in for cowardice (p. 297 - "You fucking coward, Musashi! I always knew you were queer!"), and of course a strong tendency towards misogyny. Women appear only as mute wives (p.169), "beautiful girls" who "tend" to the needs of men (p.200), and Bennosuke's mother (the longest physical description of her being on p. 67: "Her fine kimono was twisted around her naked body like a serpent, her breasts and her sex exposed, filthy from the dirt like she was some half-wit kept drooling in rags on a leash"). Or they are featured as throwaway lines like this delightful dialogue (p.275 "... it is not scrap. It is perfectly serviceable, sir," said Bennosuke. "So is your hand when you can't find a woman, but you'd rather have one over the other, wouldn't you?") Thus women are literally compared to objects for men to use in their service.
It's navel-gazing, without answering any serious questions, or pushing the reader to consider any. It tries to be epic, with unnecessarily convoluted sentences, but often it's just crude, and when examined even briefly a lot of the descriptive prose is nonsense (e.g. p. 233 - "They crouched or squatted in tense repose, their eyes unused and staring at the floor, their ears sifting for the minutest whisper" - even though a repose is relaxed, and unused eyes can't stare; or p. 157, where the phrase "innate scheming" is used, despite scheming requiring conscious thought, and therefore not being an inherent property). The pacing is sluggish, the prose is sloppy. The only reason it seems to have such high praise is because white men love when other white men present a deeply colonized version of ancient foreign history through a distinctly Western filter and call it their own truth. It is a book that seeks to intellectually conquer, the appeal of restoring the great order of whiteness atop perceived savagery, so alluring to the descendants of colonizers who feel they have been denied glory by our modern times, leads Kirk to fail upwards. Perhaps it's simply an arrogant lack of talent and self-awareness, or maybe it's because he didn't have a copy editor - after all, he refuses to acknowledge one, taking credit for this confusing, dull cliche of a book all for himself.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Torture, Excrement, and Vomit
croik's review against another edition
5.0
THIS is the samurai book I've been aching for. A rich, intriguing narrative, strong and distinctive characters, tons of historical details and an unflinching look at the complex culture of the times. Though not the most accurate retelling of Musashi's early life, I found it to be a fascinating and engaging take on this well known figure. I listened to the audiobook version and loved every minute. Without spoiling anything, I was especially captivated while approaching the ending, which to my mind was nearly perfect. I'm looking forward to digging into the next installment!
This book probably isn't for everyone, however. I found every name drop exciting, especially approaching the battle of Sekigahara, but someone unfamiliar with the history may or may not be overwhelmed. The writing itself is very wordy, sometimes dwelling on the same points and revelations longer than necessary. There is also an excruciating amount of detail when it comes to the violence, with decapitations and disembowelings drawn out horrifically. I personally appreciated that the author didn't gloss over anything (I'm a horror fan and gorehound), but some will probably find it excessive.
I strongly recommend this book for anyone who is a fan of samurai stories, especially those already familiar with the era. But if this your first experience with the period, or if vivid descriptions of viscera aren't your speed, you might want to hold off.
This book probably isn't for everyone, however. I found every name drop exciting, especially approaching the battle of Sekigahara, but someone unfamiliar with the history may or may not be overwhelmed. The writing itself is very wordy, sometimes dwelling on the same points and revelations longer than necessary. There is also an excruciating amount of detail when it comes to the violence, with decapitations and disembowelings drawn out horrifically. I personally appreciated that the author didn't gloss over anything (I'm a horror fan and gorehound), but some will probably find it excessive.
I strongly recommend this book for anyone who is a fan of samurai stories, especially those already familiar with the era. But if this your first experience with the period, or if vivid descriptions of viscera aren't your speed, you might want to hold off.
biblioholicbeth's review against another edition
4.0
What would you do if you had to choose between life and death? Life means following the path of Amaterasu as a priest, death means becoming a samurai to spite the father who abandoned you. Life means helping others - death means killing them. It's a hard choice to make, made harder by the parallel decision to listen to the uncle who has raised you, or the father who requires vengeance.
This is the decision facing Musashi Miyamoto in Child of Vengeance. Based on the sketchy past of the real Musashi Miyamoto, and on well-researched history of the time, Child of Vengeance takes the legendary samurai and creates a childhood for him. The book is fascinating with its period details, and the story itself is quite well done. I never felt lost, or bored - the momentum of the story carried well throughout. And the ending...I quite loved it. I don't do spoilers, so that is all I will say, other than this - some choices don't necessarily have to be choices at all.
I really enjoyed this book, and I definitely recommend it. Even without the myth of the main character, it's just a really good story. And in the end, that's all I can every really ask from a book.
This is the decision facing Musashi Miyamoto in Child of Vengeance. Based on the sketchy past of the real Musashi Miyamoto, and on well-researched history of the time, Child of Vengeance takes the legendary samurai and creates a childhood for him. The book is fascinating with its period details, and the story itself is quite well done. I never felt lost, or bored - the momentum of the story carried well throughout. And the ending...I quite loved it. I don't do spoilers, so that is all I will say, other than this - some choices don't necessarily have to be choices at all.
I really enjoyed this book, and I definitely recommend it. Even without the myth of the main character, it's just a really good story. And in the end, that's all I can every really ask from a book.