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A review by nishana
The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang
dark
emotional
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
this was easily my most emotionally devastating book of the year.
misaki's story is one that is all too familiar to many women. a skilled fighter in her younger years, with so much passion and potential ahead of her, only for it all to be crushed by her parents' expectations of her to be married and have children. 15 years later, she is lost in regret, wondering when all of this loneliness and despair will finally pay off.
on a personal level, reading about misaki was devastating, as i saw so much of my own mother, my aunts and even a future version of myself in her. it's such an important story to be told, one that doesn't get told enough yet is prevalent in the women all around us. misaki's perspective has moved me on a fundamental level, making me realise the importance of fighting for myself.
the second thing this book does so well is portraying death and grief. there were points in the story that the grief felt so real, so suffocating that it was painful. every character handles it differently, especially in such a violent situation, but i cried for every one of them. some characters survive grief and trauma and become stronger, whilst others are unable to. it's the harsh reality of life that this book portrays so well.
my main pain point with this story lies with the last few chapters. somehow, i wish we could've found a different outcome for misaki and takeru's relationship. and as for the final chapter, everything felt a bit clumsy and unnecessary. there was a whole new character arc introduced here and i feel like it would've been far more fitting to have a more brief and bittersweet conclusion to tie up those loose ends.
overall, this was a beautiful book that will stay with me for a long time. i recommend this highly but please check trigger warnings before reading.
misaki's story is one that is all too familiar to many women. a skilled fighter in her younger years, with so much passion and potential ahead of her, only for it all to be crushed by her parents' expectations of her to be married and have children. 15 years later, she is lost in regret, wondering when all of this loneliness and despair will finally pay off.
on a personal level, reading about misaki was devastating, as i saw so much of my own mother, my aunts and even a future version of myself in her. it's such an important story to be told, one that doesn't get told enough yet is prevalent in the women all around us. misaki's perspective has moved me on a fundamental level, making me realise the importance of fighting for myself.
the second thing this book does so well is portraying death and grief. there were points in the story that the grief felt so real, so suffocating that it was painful. every character handles it differently, especially in such a violent situation, but i cried for every one of them. some characters survive grief and trauma and become stronger, whilst others are unable to. it's the harsh reality of life that this book portrays so well.
my main pain point with this story lies with the last few chapters. somehow, i wish we could've found a different outcome for misaki and takeru's relationship. and as for the final chapter, everything felt a bit clumsy and unnecessary. there was a whole new character arc introduced here and i feel like it would've been far more fitting to have a more brief and bittersweet conclusion to tie up those loose ends.
overall, this was a beautiful book that will stay with me for a long time. i recommend this highly but please check trigger warnings before reading.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Violence, Grief, and War
Moderate: Miscarriage, Rape, and Suicide