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jonnypevans's review against another edition
4.0
"‘It’s good to come home,’ he said quietly. ‘But just as the river is always at the door, so is the world always outside. And it is in the world that we have to live.’"
I was given this book as a child, but never finished it, so I thought it would be a fitting way to start 2019's reading challenge. There was a lot I really enjoyed, in particular; Hearn's talent for controlling pace, seamlessly shifting between microscopic, ethereal detail of her alternative Japan, and broad folklore style storytelling where large events or travel occurs in a handful of lines. Takeo was an engaging hero, his single-minded goal and relationshisp with Shigeru and Kaedo propelling the novel forward to a bittersweet ending. In the end, there is no escape from a sense of purpose.
"I would have been happy to die afterwards but, like the river, life dragged us forwards."
I was given this book as a child, but never finished it, so I thought it would be a fitting way to start 2019's reading challenge. There was a lot I really enjoyed, in particular; Hearn's talent for controlling pace, seamlessly shifting between microscopic, ethereal detail of her alternative Japan, and broad folklore style storytelling where large events or travel occurs in a handful of lines. Takeo was an engaging hero, his single-minded goal and relationshisp with Shigeru and Kaedo propelling the novel forward to a bittersweet ending. In the end, there is no escape from a sense of purpose.
"I would have been happy to die afterwards but, like the river, life dragged us forwards."
karatechoptime's review against another edition
I wanted to like this as it was gifted to me, but I didn't like the style, and was struggling with what felt like... not accurate? Maybe I'll revisit this one later?
jo486's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed reading this book. However all the names were very confusing at first but then you just knew who everyone was. I thought this book was very interesting and fun to read. It was mysterious and I just wanted to know more.
fromdusktil's review against another edition
3.0
A collection of notes:
- A lot of people complain that "it's a rip off of Japan!" guys.... Shush. It's an author who liked a culture and based their own off of it. This is FICTION. And a fantasy. If the author had said "takes place in Japan" then you could moan and groan. They did not. So enjoy the book for what it is: a story.
- The romance was unbelievable and forced. With everything going on, you could have easily let Takeo and Kaede have a slow burn relationship. War does that. But no, they were immediately in love and would die for each other. Meh.
- Related to above... Takeo just beheaded his own father and still finds the time to fuck Kaede despite being in enemy territory? Then goes right back to murder? Kaede, who hates most men and was just almost the victim of rape, immediately wants to fuck and die with Takeo? Again, poorly done.
This was no grand novel. The romance was forced and tacky. We were told about development rather than shown it. It was entertaining enough that I will read the other books (since I already own them) but I would be in no rush to find them all otherwise.
- A lot of people complain that "it's a rip off of Japan!" guys.... Shush. It's an author who liked a culture and based their own off of it. This is FICTION. And a fantasy. If the author had said "takes place in Japan" then you could moan and groan. They did not. So enjoy the book for what it is: a story.
- The romance was unbelievable and forced. With everything going on, you could have easily let Takeo and Kaede have a slow burn relationship. War does that. But no, they were immediately in love and would die for each other. Meh.
- Related to above... Takeo just beheaded his own father and still finds the time to fuck Kaede despite being in enemy territory? Then goes right back to murder? Kaede, who hates most men and was just almost the victim of rape, immediately wants to fuck and die with Takeo? Again, poorly done.
This was no grand novel. The romance was forced and tacky. We were told about development rather than shown it. It was entertaining enough that I will read the other books (since I already own them) but I would be in no rush to find them all otherwise.
sfljack's review against another edition
4.0
Think, GOT, set in feudal Japan without dragons and you'd be fairly close. That does not take anything away from the story witch is damned good.
sminismoni's review against another edition
3.0
A largely plot driven book, that for all its claims of being set in a fantasy pseudo-Japan, achieved very little in terms of world building. References to clans, tea drinking and Japanese sounding names were about as much as we were given of the setting. The themes were those of identity, conflicting loyalties and revenge, but I never felt as though any of these were explored in any great depth; the inner conflicts of our main character were externalized via acts of defiance or violence. The love story was a cliched "love at first sight" scenario, although tolerable enough if you viewed it as a hedonistic, Romeo-Juliette style affair of teenage lust. That said, I did find myself often turning page after page, waiting to see what happened, and the novel certainly holds your interest. That's why I ultimately gave it 3 stars.
jelka's review against another edition
5.0
Japanese hot girl summer 6/?
I adored this book as a kid and am absolutely overjoyed to report that it holds up! If anything, I liked it even more this time round. The atmosphere is just gorgeous, almost calming despite the book packing a good amount of action. The characters are all very distinct, certainly built upon archetypes but so well crafted that I want to spend more time with every single one. The tragedy and heroism and romance hits that perfect beat where it is inevitable and still hits hard, like in the good old epics. And there is a sprinkle of a heist in there which I, as a major heist-enjoyer, have to delight in.
I never read the sequels as a kid but now I just might.
I adored this book as a kid and am absolutely overjoyed to report that it holds up! If anything, I liked it even more this time round. The atmosphere is just gorgeous, almost calming despite the book packing a good amount of action. The characters are all very distinct, certainly built upon archetypes but so well crafted that I want to spend more time with every single one. The tragedy and heroism and romance hits that perfect beat where it is inevitable and still hits hard, like in the good old epics. And there is a sprinkle of a heist in there which I, as a major heist-enjoyer, have to delight in.
I never read the sequels as a kid but now I just might.
wyvernfriend's review against another edition
4.0
A wonderful blend of myth and fiction, very readable and remarkably entralling. I want to find the remainder of the series NOW!
gabrielamagdalene's review against another edition
Though it is interesting and I will definitely give it another chance in the future, it simply didn't grip me.
camillac's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5