Scan barcode
A review by booksbythewindow
The Beast Warrior by Nahoko Uehashi
For full review: https://booksbythewindow.wordpress.com/2022/05/11/the-beast-warrior/
Summary: The Beast Warrior follows Elin, Ialu, and their son Jesse, who have been trying to live a quieter life since the events of The Beast Player. Elin has made a name for herself as the only one who can control the Royal Beast and is firm in her resolution not to allow her ability to be weaponised. As she is asked investigate a case of Toda deaths similar to the case which led to her mother’s death, she starts to discover more about the history and biology of the Toda which in turn reveals more about why she has had such strong warnings about controlling the Royal Beasts. Her investigations take place in the shadow of a coming war with a neighbouring country they know little about, and it isn’t long before she is given a choice: either use the Royal Beasts in the war or spend her life running with her family.
Overall Thoughts: Unfortunately, I did enjoy The Beast Warrior as much as The Beast Player, although I did appreciate the nuances that this sequel was trying to convey. I understood the point that Uehashi is making as she takes the time to draw out the political, ethical, and moral issues that surround the use of these creatures in war, but I could not help feeling that these issues could have been drawn out more succinctly. I am not generally someone who needs a fast-paced narrative to enjoy a novel, in fact I tend to prefer character development over action, but it did not feel as though the character development for Elin and Ialu was as strong as it had been in The Beast Player. In the midst of this, there were definite elements of The Beast Warrior that I enjoyed, particularly the middle section of action and the ending. The middle section, as Ialu and Jesse are forced to leave their home is by far some of the most interesting, with Jesse coming to understand more about his father’s past. I would definitely still recommend The Beast Player for younger fantasy readers, and I think The Beast Warrior does answer an important question raised at the end of that book, but it is definitely not as strong as the original novel.
Summary: The Beast Warrior follows Elin, Ialu, and their son Jesse, who have been trying to live a quieter life since the events of The Beast Player. Elin has made a name for herself as the only one who can control the Royal Beast and is firm in her resolution not to allow her ability to be weaponised. As she is asked investigate a case of Toda deaths similar to the case which led to her mother’s death, she starts to discover more about the history and biology of the Toda which in turn reveals more about why she has had such strong warnings about controlling the Royal Beasts. Her investigations take place in the shadow of a coming war with a neighbouring country they know little about, and it isn’t long before she is given a choice: either use the Royal Beasts in the war or spend her life running with her family.
Overall Thoughts: Unfortunately, I did enjoy The Beast Warrior as much as The Beast Player, although I did appreciate the nuances that this sequel was trying to convey. I understood the point that Uehashi is making as she takes the time to draw out the political, ethical, and moral issues that surround the use of these creatures in war, but I could not help feeling that these issues could have been drawn out more succinctly. I am not generally someone who needs a fast-paced narrative to enjoy a novel, in fact I tend to prefer character development over action, but it did not feel as though the character development for Elin and Ialu was as strong as it had been in The Beast Player. In the midst of this, there were definite elements of The Beast Warrior that I enjoyed, particularly the middle section of action and the ending. The middle section, as Ialu and Jesse are forced to leave their home is by far some of the most interesting, with Jesse coming to understand more about his father’s past. I would definitely still recommend The Beast Player for younger fantasy readers, and I think The Beast Warrior does answer an important question raised at the end of that book, but it is definitely not as strong as the original novel.