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4.24 AVERAGE
4.24 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
slow-paced
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
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
I freakin loved it
It looks dense and intimidating but damn does it flow on by like it’s nothing
Hats off to the show for following the book to a tee
It looks dense and intimidating but damn does it flow on by like it’s nothing
Hats off to the show for following the book to a tee
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
inspiring
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, War
I initially struggled with how to rate this one. I do love how the reader’s experience mirrors that of Blackthorne: you start off completely unfamiliar with this alien place, unable to understand or engage with what is happening, but over the course of the novel, you become totally immersed in the culture of feudal Japan, just as the Anjin-san does. I learnt a lot (although sometimes the portrayal of Japanese people as completely and totally duty-bound and honourable, ready to commit seppuku at the drop of a hat, felt a little exaggerated). I was invested in the schemes and machinations of the various daimyos and priests and enjoyed watching them outmanoeuvre each other. Despite the limitations of being a woman living in this time period, some female characters play interesting and important roles (yes, the bar is low). Some scenes totally gripped me — but at other times, they really dragged or were very repetitive. Other parts were quite poorly written. But I just keep coming back to the story as a whole, and I don’t think those things are enough to detract from what really is an epic, sweeping tale, neh?
dark
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
informative
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes