book review

Review: Risuko

4/12/2016




Title: 
Risuko: A Kunoichi Tale
(Seasons of the Sword #1)

Author: 
David Kudler

★★★★☆
4 out of 5
Though Japan has been devastated by a century of civil war, Risuko just wants to climb trees. Growing up far from the battlefields and court intrigues, the fatherless girl finds herself pulled into a plot that may reunite Japan -- or may destroy it. She is torn from her home and what is left of her family, but finds new friends at a school that may not be what it seems. 

Magical but historical, Risuko follows her along the first dangerous steps to discovering who she truly is.

Kano Murasaki, called Risuko (Squirrel) is a young, fatherless girl, more comfortable climbing trees than down on the ground. Yet she finds herself enmeshed in a game where the board is the whole nation of Japan, where the pieces are armies, moved by scheming lords, and a single girl couldn't possibly have the power to change the outcome. Or could she?

**I received an eArc of this book provided by Netgalley and Stillpoint Digital Press in exchange for an honest review**


The book takes place in Japan during an era of civil war where the country and its people have been divided; our main character Risuko- a young girl with a peculiar gift for climbing- finds herself involved with warlords after she is sold to a rich woman by her own mother.  Risuko is thrown into a world she can barely comprehend and starts training to be a good maiden, however things get a little more complicated and she starts developing other abilities without even noticing.

Risuko is a strong character and the circumstances surrounding her affect her emotionally obliging her to grow, she is very likable and a solid lead. The secondary characters are interesting and unique, we have men and women fighting for the same cause with very similar abilities where women may be stronger than men, and men respect them for that. Most of the characters grow on you and some of them even feel multidimensional.  

The first half of the book is slow paced, the main character starts making friends and forming bonds with others trying to understand where is they are going and why her mother got her involved with these people, there isn't much action but the characters grow on you. The second half is much more interesting, there's a mystery to solve but also a secret is revealed to Risuko, we are given a lot of hints so the ending isn't so surprising but it is gripping. To be honest, I was expecting more action but the way the book is written, with very detailed information made me appreciate the culture and understand it better, you can tell there was a lot of investigation previously done so the book portrays the Japanese culture and the era where the story takes part as accurately as possible. 

Judging by how things ended and the hints we were given all throughout the book I am guessing Risuko will grow to be a fine Kunoichi, and I can't wait for that to happen. I am for sure hooked up and will continue on with this series.

I recommend this book to anyone who likes to enrich themselves with the knowledge of Japanese culture.

Happy reading,



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