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estoycabezabajo's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Death, Physical abuse, Murder, Violence, and War
Moderate: Drug use, Drug abuse, and Alcoholism
astravars_thrubooks's review
3.0
'Victory at any cost?'
'The stakes demand conviction. There is no prize for second in this game.'
Just like book #1, it's a bit slow to start as the author takes his time threading his plot but once everything starts coming together around part III, it just starts raining revelations.
Great writing, humor and snark and it gets just freaking darker and darker + so many plot points/twists had me o.O
I really liked the dynamics between the siblings Yoshi and Hana, the way Kin's arc progressed and getting a lot more about Mishi + Yukiko's growth, even though she was away from the action most of the time (to allow space for the new povs I suppose and introduce new subplots).
I can't wait to see where the next installement goes how this series wraps up.
'You are a little magnificent, you know.
ONLY A LITTLE?'
'The stakes demand conviction. There is no prize for second in this game.'
Just like book #1, it's a bit slow to start as the author takes his time threading his plot but once everything starts coming together around part III, it just starts raining revelations.
Great writing, humor and snark and it gets just freaking darker and darker + so many plot points/twists had me o.O
I really liked the dynamics between the siblings Yoshi and Hana, the way Kin's arc progressed and getting a lot more about Mishi + Yukiko's growth, even though she was away from the action most of the time (to allow space for the new povs I suppose and introduce new subplots).
I can't wait to see where the next installement goes how this series wraps up.
'You are a little magnificent, you know.
ONLY A LITTLE?'
dantastic's review
4.0
In the wake of Yukiko slaying the Shogun, Hiro is tapped to wed Aisha and be the new Shogun to save the Shima Imperium. Meanwhile, Yukiko's powers are out of control and she and Buruu head north seeking knowledge. Will they return in time to aid the Kage and stop Hiro's impending wedding?
I received this book from the fine folks at St. Martin's in exchange for reviewing it.
Kinslayer is the second book in the Lotus War trilogy and Jay Kristoff Empire-Strikes-Backed the hell out of it. Things start off rough, with Yukiko bleeding and having headaches every time she uses her Kenning, Hiro being tapped to be the new Shogun, and the Kage doing their best to make Kin feel unwelcome, and keep getting worse.
Kristoff bounces between multiple plotlines, further fleshing out the Kage and their various cells. Michi-chan and her romance with Ichizo, Hana and her brother, Daichi and the bulk of the Kage, and Yukiko and Buruu share more or less equal time. Pretty much all of the characters go through the wringer, multiple times in many cases.
The story of Hana, her brother Yoshi, and her brother's boyfriend was my favorite, complete with the reveal at the end. Poor Kin. After Isao and the others treated him like crap, I didn't hate him very much when he Lando-ed everyone at the end. Hell, everyone except Daichi was an asshole to him so what did they expect to happen?
Yukiko and Buruu didn't actually do much that pertained to the main plotline, heading north to find the tattooed monks and encountering two more arashitora and some gajin. Although, that wasn't completely true. I should have seen what was really wrong with Yukiko coming a mile away and Kristoff surprised the crap out of me. Good show, old sport.
Kinslayer was very nearly as good as [b:Stormdancer|10852343|Stormdancer (The Lotus War, #1)|Jay Kristoff|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1337359560s/10852343.jpg|15767096] and I can't wait to see what Jay Kristoff is planning for the next installment of the series. He sure left things as messy as a frat house bathroom when he left off.
I received this book from the fine folks at St. Martin's in exchange for reviewing it.
Kinslayer is the second book in the Lotus War trilogy and Jay Kristoff Empire-Strikes-Backed the hell out of it. Things start off rough, with Yukiko bleeding and having headaches every time she uses her Kenning, Hiro being tapped to be the new Shogun, and the Kage doing their best to make Kin feel unwelcome, and keep getting worse.
Kristoff bounces between multiple plotlines, further fleshing out the Kage and their various cells. Michi-chan and her romance with Ichizo, Hana and her brother, Daichi and the bulk of the Kage, and Yukiko and Buruu share more or less equal time. Pretty much all of the characters go through the wringer, multiple times in many cases.
The story of Hana, her brother Yoshi, and her brother's boyfriend was my favorite, complete with the reveal at the end. Poor Kin. After Isao and the others treated him like crap, I didn't hate him very much when he Lando-ed everyone at the end. Hell, everyone except Daichi was an asshole to him so what did they expect to happen?
Yukiko and Buruu didn't actually do much that pertained to the main plotline, heading north to find the tattooed monks and encountering two more arashitora and some gajin. Although, that wasn't completely true. I should have seen what was really wrong with Yukiko coming a mile away and Kristoff surprised the crap out of me. Good show, old sport.
Kinslayer was very nearly as good as [b:Stormdancer|10852343|Stormdancer (The Lotus War, #1)|Jay Kristoff|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1337359560s/10852343.jpg|15767096] and I can't wait to see what Jay Kristoff is planning for the next installment of the series. He sure left things as messy as a frat house bathroom when he left off.
bookishvice's review
5.0
The Shima Imperium has been left without a Shogun. In the verge of civil war, The Lotus Guild joins forces with Hiro, the boy with the sea-green eyes, now a disgraced and crippled Samurai who should’ve committed seppuku upon his lord’s death. They’ve selected him to mary Aisha, the late Shogun’s sister, to preserve the Kazumitsu bloodline upon the throne. Hiro agrees with the only request the Stormdancer, Yukiko, be destroyed.
Meanwhile, Yukiko has become a hero to the people and many follow the call of the Stormdancer to fill the ranks of the rebellion. But dealing with her father’s death, the memories of that fateful night, hasn’t been easy and Yukiko has become a bit heartless. It’s up to Kin and Buruu to open her eyes and remind her that there is still life to fight for. But the rage inside her is an untamable beast. Yukiko’s control over the Kenning is slipping and she spends the days fighting overloaded senses.
Beautiful poetic prose tempered by sharp descriptions and an eye for detail, Jay Kristoff returns with the continuation of Yukiko’s tale in Kinslayer, an immersing read that leaves you believe you can smell red lotus and hear the rumble of the arashitora in the distance.
With a wide cast of well rounded characters, brutal action scenes, and a prose that comes alive, I didn’t just read Kinslayer. I lived it. I felt Hiro’s poisonous rage for Yukiko, Michi’s desperation as a prisoner, Hana’s bravery, Buruu’s love for Yukiko. Interesting new characters appear in this second book, people who have risen to the call of the Stormdancer, people with their own secrets and complicated lives. Kristoff did a great job of making them fully three-dimensional in no time, making me emphasize and care for them, which is why the ending hurt a heck of a lot more! (Jurou…so brave…)
Like the deadly lotus fumes covering most of Shima, this sequel story is covered in a layer of warning. Things are escalating, no one is safe, and as we delve closer to the political and corrupt insides of Kigen City, we know something is about to go down.
The third part of this book should’ve been titled “Everyone and Everything Goes to Hell. Literally.” It took me a while to get through the last few chapters because oh my gods…so much destruction and death and betrayal and horrible surprises and good surprises. So much everything! It was beautiful, but it kept making me so angry I had to take breaks in between deaths, which meant after every freaking chapter. (Death in every chapter. I am not kidding.)
The end wasn’t pretty or happy. The Lotus War begins now. Yukiko and her allies—new and old—must prepare to face threats from all sides now that the clans of Shima are divided. Will they find common ground and unite under a same banner, or destroy themselves in the race to win the throne? I cannot wait to find out!
Give Stormdancer and Kinslayer a read and enjoy Buruu the sassy arashitora, Yukiko the badass girl with a chainkatana, the Kage rebels, No One the shit-girl, Yoshi and his Princess Jurou, The Painted Brethren and their nipple scrolls, deadly Michi and her lovesick puppy Ichizo, the real identity of the Kinslayer, people catching the sky, and much more.
PS: Can we have a movie of this? Like seriously. Movie-making people hear me! This is the kind of book-to-movie I want to see!
*Arc copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley*
Meanwhile, Yukiko has become a hero to the people and many follow the call of the Stormdancer to fill the ranks of the rebellion. But dealing with her father’s death, the memories of that fateful night, hasn’t been easy and Yukiko has become a bit heartless. It’s up to Kin and Buruu to open her eyes and remind her that there is still life to fight for. But the rage inside her is an untamable beast. Yukiko’s control over the Kenning is slipping and she spends the days fighting overloaded senses.
Beautiful poetic prose tempered by sharp descriptions and an eye for detail, Jay Kristoff returns with the continuation of Yukiko’s tale in Kinslayer, an immersing read that leaves you believe you can smell red lotus and hear the rumble of the arashitora in the distance.
With a wide cast of well rounded characters, brutal action scenes, and a prose that comes alive, I didn’t just read Kinslayer. I lived it. I felt Hiro’s poisonous rage for Yukiko, Michi’s desperation as a prisoner, Hana’s bravery, Buruu’s love for Yukiko. Interesting new characters appear in this second book, people who have risen to the call of the Stormdancer, people with their own secrets and complicated lives. Kristoff did a great job of making them fully three-dimensional in no time, making me emphasize and care for them, which is why the ending hurt a heck of a lot more! (Jurou…so brave…)
Like the deadly lotus fumes covering most of Shima, this sequel story is covered in a layer of warning. Things are escalating, no one is safe, and as we delve closer to the political and corrupt insides of Kigen City, we know something is about to go down.
The third part of this book should’ve been titled “Everyone and Everything Goes to Hell. Literally.” It took me a while to get through the last few chapters because oh my gods…so much destruction and death and betrayal and horrible surprises and good surprises. So much everything! It was beautiful, but it kept making me so angry I had to take breaks in between deaths, which meant after every freaking chapter. (Death in every chapter. I am not kidding.)
The end wasn’t pretty or happy. The Lotus War begins now. Yukiko and her allies—new and old—must prepare to face threats from all sides now that the clans of Shima are divided. Will they find common ground and unite under a same banner, or destroy themselves in the race to win the throne? I cannot wait to find out!
Give Stormdancer and Kinslayer a read and enjoy Buruu the sassy arashitora, Yukiko the badass girl with a chainkatana, the Kage rebels, No One the shit-girl, Yoshi and his Princess Jurou, The Painted Brethren and their nipple scrolls, deadly Michi and her lovesick puppy Ichizo, the real identity of the Kinslayer, people catching the sky, and much more.
PS: Can we have a movie of this? Like seriously. Movie-making people hear me! This is the kind of book-to-movie I want to see!
*Arc copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley*
weronine's review
4.0
I was left speechless :)
''Kinslayer'' is one of the best books I've ever read. I loved the new characters and the storyline. At the beginning I wasn't convinced to Yukiko's chapters, but eventually I loved her and Buruu again. Can't wait to read the last book in the trilogy - I know for sure it will blow my mind and break my heart.
''Kinslayer'' is one of the best books I've ever read. I loved the new characters and the storyline. At the beginning I wasn't convinced to Yukiko's chapters, but eventually I loved her and Buruu again. Can't wait to read the last book in the trilogy - I know for sure it will blow my mind and break my heart.
tanika127's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75