This is a one of a kind story….

This book was probably my favorite book of the week, heck, maybe even the month. I went back and forth between a 4.75 star and 5 star rating only because the beginning of the book did take me a little while to get into. I actually was listening to this on audio and realized afterwards that there was a Glossary and a Cast of Characters in the printed version and I think that might have helped me if I had seen that first. The setting of this story is a Japanese styled or at least Asian inspired military fantasy so the words, the names, the locations – all of those took some time to understand and to adapt to while listening. I also think that reading the words vs listening to them would also have been easier to help me create the world in my mind.

With that being said, Ms. Wang did a phenomenal job with the world building of this story. As I mentioned, this is set in a created world where the main characters are living with Asian traditions that have basically stayed the same for a thousand years. Their village, which is on the top of a mountain, has the reputation of being the tip of the spear in defense of their Empire or as the title says – The Sword of Kaigen.

Where this book excels, is in creation and development of the characters, particularly these two main characters in the beginning – Misaki and her son Mamoru. The amount of growth that we see from these two – from the beginning of the book and through everything that occurs is just breathtaking. Misaki reminded me a little bit of Orka from the Shadow of the Gods. To me, that is one of the highest compliments I can give to a character because she is one that has stayed with me through hundreds and hundreds of books.

Mamoru is her 14 year old son who has been raised under a tremendous amount of expectations being the oldest son of a family line of sword wielders that is as close to gods as you can get. He is a wonderful combination of his father – who is strong and talented but extremely cold – and his mother, who is also strong but not as traditional in her thoughts and experiences as those who have lived on the mountain their entire lives. He definitely burrowed his way into my heart.

With that being said, there are so many other characters that as secondary characters are just as fleshed out and developed. I honestly cannot say enough about the people in this story. The trials that they go through, the growth that we see (seriously, I went from almost hating one of the MMC’s to eventually understanding him and almost feeling pity for him)….that’s some amazing character writing.

I haven’t even touched on the fantasy aspect of this story. This is High or Epic Fantasy and we have all of the great things that you would expect – a unique and amazing magic system. There is ice magic, water magic, fire and wind magic and blood manipulation. There are other magics that are mentioned but left open, but this is definitely a magic filled society.

Then the duels, or the fights. Oh my gosh. They were so well written that I had no problem understanding what was occurring at the time – even if it was a man made/magic tornado being used to destroy villages, or the fact that the uniforms denoted the talent level of the invading army and the ones in Black Uniforms were the ones with the power. So many details that just worked. And without going into spoilers, there is a scene that was so well written that tore out my heart. I think I spent a large amount of the book with tears (and I mean TEARS) yet not even wanting to stop or take a break, even though my heart was breaking.

So- all I can say is that this is a book worth reading. If you are a fantasy reader especially. Find the glossary, and have the information at your fingertips so you can dive right in, but stay with it, even if you are having a problem “feeling” it at the beginning. It IS worth it. The amount and KIND of feelings that I felt ran the gamut. The THINGS I felt, for Misaka especially, I can’t even put into words. The amount of growth this woman experiences is unparalleled, and unfortunately as we all know, growth usually comes from trials. This book, this book is going to stay with me, and I do not say that very often.