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ronitjauthor's review against another edition
2.0
DNF
I hate abandoning books halfway, but the protagonist was so unlikeable that I was barely even skimming past pages in the last 5% before quitting.
I picked this one up because the premise looked interesting. I even read the prequel short which I really enjoyed. I was really looking forward to reading this one. I really wanted to like this one. Sadly, it just didn't work for me.
For starters, the story is told in First Person Present Tense. That's already a very tricky thing to work with. Add to that an archaic-sounding voice and you might just be left confused with what is happening. At least that's what happened with me. I constantly found myself rereading paragraphs cause I felt like I missed something important. Later on, I just moved on, skimming through some of the inner monologues cause I just couldn't get myself to care enough.
Now for the character – the protagonist. I kept forgetting her name. There were times I just pictured an angry Samurai Jack while reading because I just didn't connect with her. And that's really unfortunate cause I really liked her in the short story. But here, she's just an angry two-dimensional swordswoman with a singular mindset. Now that's a very interesting character, but the story's told in first person from her perspective, which means the story ends up flat and boring. Another major flaw here is that we don't get anything about her that makes us want to root for her. I'm neither rooting for her, neither do I care if she loses. Hating a character is still having some emotions towards them, which is why villains are so popular. But not caring about a character means there's very little to keep you hanging around.
Lastly, the world-building and plot. Around the 10% mark, I found myself completely lost with where this is going. Mind you, a lot does happen in the first 20% that I actually read. But none of it left any impact on me. If I were to guess, it was the protagonist that was at fault here, because once again I couldn't bring myself to care about the plot. Same goes for the world-building. We learn about all of it through the protagonist's eyes, but the info came in seemingly-garbled dumps. It would've been an interesting puzzle to piece together, but because I didn't care, it ended up just confusing me.
Smith knows what he's doing, because his writing shines brightly in many parts. But the other parts were tedious to read. With better editing, the protagonist could've been more relatable/likebale, the plot could've been tighter, and the writing could've been polished.
I repeat myself when I say I hate abandoning books midway. But I just couldn't find myself to care for this one. I'm only writing this review because it wouldn't be fair to just leave a 2* review without an explanation.
TL;DR:
WHAT I LIKED: Some parts of the writing were really good, interesting premise, interesting magic system.
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: Protagonist, pacing, first-person narrative
I hate abandoning books halfway, but the protagonist was so unlikeable that I was barely even skimming past pages in the last 5% before quitting.
I picked this one up because the premise looked interesting. I even read the prequel short which I really enjoyed. I was really looking forward to reading this one. I really wanted to like this one. Sadly, it just didn't work for me.
For starters, the story is told in First Person Present Tense. That's already a very tricky thing to work with. Add to that an archaic-sounding voice and you might just be left confused with what is happening. At least that's what happened with me. I constantly found myself rereading paragraphs cause I felt like I missed something important. Later on, I just moved on, skimming through some of the inner monologues cause I just couldn't get myself to care enough.
Now for the character – the protagonist. I kept forgetting her name. There were times I just pictured an angry Samurai Jack while reading because I just didn't connect with her. And that's really unfortunate cause I really liked her in the short story. But here, she's just an angry two-dimensional swordswoman with a singular mindset. Now that's a very interesting character, but the story's told in first person from her perspective, which means the story ends up flat and boring. Another major flaw here is that we don't get anything about her that makes us want to root for her. I'm neither rooting for her, neither do I care if she loses. Hating a character is still having some emotions towards them, which is why villains are so popular. But not caring about a character means there's very little to keep you hanging around.
Lastly, the world-building and plot. Around the 10% mark, I found myself completely lost with where this is going. Mind you, a lot does happen in the first 20% that I actually read. But none of it left any impact on me. If I were to guess, it was the protagonist that was at fault here, because once again I couldn't bring myself to care about the plot. Same goes for the world-building. We learn about all of it through the protagonist's eyes, but the info came in seemingly-garbled dumps. It would've been an interesting puzzle to piece together, but because I didn't care, it ended up just confusing me.
Smith knows what he's doing, because his writing shines brightly in many parts. But the other parts were tedious to read. With better editing, the protagonist could've been more relatable/likebale, the plot could've been tighter, and the writing could've been polished.
I repeat myself when I say I hate abandoning books midway. But I just couldn't find myself to care for this one. I'm only writing this review because it wouldn't be fair to just leave a 2* review without an explanation.
TL;DR:
WHAT I LIKED: Some parts of the writing were really good, interesting premise, interesting magic system.
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: Protagonist, pacing, first-person narrative
plot_head's review
5.0
I’ve known Dan was writing for a while now, watching his updates on Twitter as he posted about meeting various writing milestones and such. It came as a complete surprise, however, when he dropped an entire novel out of nowhere at the beginning of the year! What made it even greater was the premise, a Japanese-inspired tale of revenge and his personal love letter to Rurouni Kenshin! Sold! Though I am lucky to call Dan a friend, the following review is not influenced by that and are my personal thoughts about the book. Spoiler warning, it’s great!
Emerging from the waters, the droplets drip off me and so does the pity, the sadness I feel for myself, because now it is only anger. A wildness that won’t give way until they are all gone.
Masako’s story is on the surface one of vengeance—of righting a wrong committed against herself and her family. And, it is that in spades, but it’s also so much more. I really enjoyed the layers of emotion that was explored throughout the novel. Masako is, ultimately, a good person on a righteous quest. Her entire clan was destroyed and she was left for dead because of the greed of the ruling clan, so most would agree that that is plenty of justification for her to get revenge. The problem is that after Masako was brought low by the Lord Council, she never rose out of the mud. Instead, in her quest for justice she inevitably becomes the very thing she’s out to destroy.
Smith openly states that The Blood of Outcasts is his love letter to the anime Rurouni Kenshin and I can see that this story really wears that on its sleeve. What I found surprising after reading this though, was that he turned the story of Rurouni Kenshin, the wandering samurai forever trying to atone for the mistakes of his past, on its head. Masako is far from Kenshin, further than I am from Japan itself. She’s the antithesis of Kenshin. They each devote the “second” lives they’ve been given to justice, but they differ greatly on how they go about achieving it. Kenshin strives for atonement through peace and Masako through a blood-drenched trail of broken bodies. Masako is often a character that I found difficult to like because of this, but unlikeable doesn’t always mean uninteresting and Masako was everything but! In many ways I would liken her more to Samurai Champloo’s Mugen than Kenshin.
“Have you ever wondered why the gods are gone, but the demons remain?”
I think also it’s important to mention just how refreshing it is to read a character like Masako. Though she is at times a rage monster, she also has moments of extreme vulnerability and doubt. It’s these moments where I really grew to appreciate Masako as a protagonist. Through flashbacks, we see who she was before what lead her to the events of the beginning of the book and it’s hard to say that I wouldn’t make the same choices. She is brash and cocky to a fault, which is then only amplified with the loss of her clan and everyone she loves. She’s broken and she knows it. She’s also older and because of the wounds sustained when she was left for dead, she is no longer as proficient with her katana. Literally everything, her skill with the katana, her Master and only family she had ever known, is stripped from her and she must claw her way toward avenging the dishonor against her clan. Even if I can’t agree with her methods and certainly wish she made better decisions, the fact is that Masako is written as entirely too human, with messy emotions and deep-seated anger and pain. And, I really appreciated seeing a female character given such humanizing character traits because they’re too often shallow, misogynist cardboard cutouts put in place to support male characters. Not so, here. Masako demands attention and I couldn’t have said no if I wanted.
I would, of course, be remiss for not mentioning the worldbuilding in The Blood of Outcasts. Smith has developed a cool, Japanese-inspired world that feels authentic to the kind of world you’d find in Japanese myth and folklore. Basho is feudal land ruled by the Lord Council, with all the wealth controlled by the northern clans. Wealth which, of course, comes from the resource production of the southern clans. It’s an interesting dynamic and I really enjoyed the brief exploration of politics amongst the clans. Magic is present, if not a main focus of the story, and every glimpse into it shows how deeply Smith pulled from Japanese folklore and speaks to his appreciation of it. On that note, I want to take a second to really drive home just how Japanese feeling this world is. With the inclusion of Oni, dragons, and other creatures from Japanese mythology, as well as direct inspiration from history with a world that feels like it could fit in the Edo/Meiji era of Japan, it’s clear that Smith has a deep respect for the culture and history of Japan. All this is to say that it’s not a shallow portrayal of the culture, but neither is this historical fiction, and I think Smith treads the line beautifully and the worldbuilding glows because of it.
I provoke the boil and bubble within my blood. Listen to its coarse words, its hunger. Adding wood to the fire, I try to stoke the flame. To remember the anger.
Masako is a flawed, angry, and desperate person in a dogged pursuit of redemption for her fallen clan. The depths to which she’ll sink to achieve her goal and the questionable methods she uses to get there ultimately make her a compelling, if unlikable character. With twists and turns as sharp as Masako’s katana and a blistering pace that will leave you breathless, The Blood of Outcasts is a must-read for fans of Japanese-inspired fantasy. The tale of the Dattori Clans’ downfall and Masako’s rage-filled quest to restore her Master’s honor will leave its mark on your soul, as it has mine.
Emerging from the waters, the droplets drip off me and so does the pity, the sadness I feel for myself, because now it is only anger. A wildness that won’t give way until they are all gone.
Masako’s story is on the surface one of vengeance—of righting a wrong committed against herself and her family. And, it is that in spades, but it’s also so much more. I really enjoyed the layers of emotion that was explored throughout the novel. Masako is, ultimately, a good person on a righteous quest. Her entire clan was destroyed and she was left for dead because of the greed of the ruling clan, so most would agree that that is plenty of justification for her to get revenge. The problem is that after Masako was brought low by the Lord Council, she never rose out of the mud. Instead, in her quest for justice she inevitably becomes the very thing she’s out to destroy.
Smith openly states that The Blood of Outcasts is his love letter to the anime Rurouni Kenshin and I can see that this story really wears that on its sleeve. What I found surprising after reading this though, was that he turned the story of Rurouni Kenshin, the wandering samurai forever trying to atone for the mistakes of his past, on its head. Masako is far from Kenshin, further than I am from Japan itself. She’s the antithesis of Kenshin. They each devote the “second” lives they’ve been given to justice, but they differ greatly on how they go about achieving it. Kenshin strives for atonement through peace and Masako through a blood-drenched trail of broken bodies. Masako is often a character that I found difficult to like because of this, but unlikeable doesn’t always mean uninteresting and Masako was everything but! In many ways I would liken her more to Samurai Champloo’s Mugen than Kenshin.
“Have you ever wondered why the gods are gone, but the demons remain?”
I think also it’s important to mention just how refreshing it is to read a character like Masako. Though she is at times a rage monster, she also has moments of extreme vulnerability and doubt. It’s these moments where I really grew to appreciate Masako as a protagonist. Through flashbacks, we see who she was before what lead her to the events of the beginning of the book and it’s hard to say that I wouldn’t make the same choices. She is brash and cocky to a fault, which is then only amplified with the loss of her clan and everyone she loves. She’s broken and she knows it. She’s also older and because of the wounds sustained when she was left for dead, she is no longer as proficient with her katana. Literally everything, her skill with the katana, her Master and only family she had ever known, is stripped from her and she must claw her way toward avenging the dishonor against her clan. Even if I can’t agree with her methods and certainly wish she made better decisions, the fact is that Masako is written as entirely too human, with messy emotions and deep-seated anger and pain. And, I really appreciated seeing a female character given such humanizing character traits because they’re too often shallow, misogynist cardboard cutouts put in place to support male characters. Not so, here. Masako demands attention and I couldn’t have said no if I wanted.
I would, of course, be remiss for not mentioning the worldbuilding in The Blood of Outcasts. Smith has developed a cool, Japanese-inspired world that feels authentic to the kind of world you’d find in Japanese myth and folklore. Basho is feudal land ruled by the Lord Council, with all the wealth controlled by the northern clans. Wealth which, of course, comes from the resource production of the southern clans. It’s an interesting dynamic and I really enjoyed the brief exploration of politics amongst the clans. Magic is present, if not a main focus of the story, and every glimpse into it shows how deeply Smith pulled from Japanese folklore and speaks to his appreciation of it. On that note, I want to take a second to really drive home just how Japanese feeling this world is. With the inclusion of Oni, dragons, and other creatures from Japanese mythology, as well as direct inspiration from history with a world that feels like it could fit in the Edo/Meiji era of Japan, it’s clear that Smith has a deep respect for the culture and history of Japan. All this is to say that it’s not a shallow portrayal of the culture, but neither is this historical fiction, and I think Smith treads the line beautifully and the worldbuilding glows because of it.
I provoke the boil and bubble within my blood. Listen to its coarse words, its hunger. Adding wood to the fire, I try to stoke the flame. To remember the anger.
Masako is a flawed, angry, and desperate person in a dogged pursuit of redemption for her fallen clan. The depths to which she’ll sink to achieve her goal and the questionable methods she uses to get there ultimately make her a compelling, if unlikable character. With twists and turns as sharp as Masako’s katana and a blistering pace that will leave you breathless, The Blood of Outcasts is a must-read for fans of Japanese-inspired fantasy. The tale of the Dattori Clans’ downfall and Masako’s rage-filled quest to restore her Master’s honor will leave its mark on your soul, as it has mine.
dominish_books's review
2.5
* I reviewed this title for SPFBO8, you can find my full video review here: https://youtu.be/zDl_h4ubtQ8 *
The Blood of Outcasts is a tale of bloody revenge set in a feudal-Japan inspired world. We have battling clans fuelled on generations of distrust, and one woman trying to bring them together in her quest for vengeance.
This story is told through Masako’s eyes in a first person, present tense narrative, which allows us to learn her thoughts and feelings in the moment. Her clan has been destroyed and her master killed, and she herself has been apparently executed. Rather than dying though, Masako is kept alive by a blood curse and a promise to destroy the Lord Council.
As can often be the case with a first-person narrative, I found there was a bit of an imbalance in the depth of the characters, as naturally we learn so much about Misako, but don’t get into the heads of any other characters. This means that the majority of the characters we meet aren’t as fleshed out as I would have liked them to be.
In terms of Masako, we don’t see too much depth beyond the rage and the pride that drive her forward in this tale. We do see a little bit of history though, with flashbacks detailing the inciting incident of the story, and the moments leading up to it.
In terms of the world, we get quite an interesting one here. Those familiar with Japanese culture will recognise the feel of the world and the terminology used throughout the book. For those less well-versed, like me, there was nothing that left me scratching my head and trying to piece together what it meant, so overall I think it’s quite an accessible bit of worldbuilding.
We see some magic and mystery with oni, sora dragons, Meaters and the blood magic that Masako wields. The Meaters are interesting and the whole concept is one with plenty of potential, although I don’t think it was explored in enough detail for me, possibly because we’re seeing them through Masako’s eyes and she abhors them.
The blood magic, again is quite an interesting take, although I still don’t really know the limits of the magic or the full consequences, let alone the how and the why of it. The immediate consequences though, of how it effects Masako, do give us some of the more intense moments in the book however.
Overall, I like the general concept that we get here. The main character had both highs and lows but was at least a narrator that I could follow, and the world was quite well visualised and has potential as the series progresses.
The main thing that I didn’t get on with though, and that really impacted my overall enjoyment of the book, was the writing itself. I just didn’t gel with the overall style. I found that too many times I was coming across little two- or three-word sentences that just didn’t work for me and made for a very jumpy reading experience.
With the pacing I felt that at times we would barrel from one thing to the next without any proper build-up, and that includes within dialog, where intensity would often seem to change without adequate provocation.
So as a whole, The Blood of Outcasts had some hits and some misses for me, but the misses definitely had a bigger impact on my overall perception of the book. I can be quite picky when the writing isn’t working for me, and fixate on things that might not bother other readers, so if you like Japanese-inspired tales with rōnin and katanas slashing through the pages, definitely consider giving this one a go.
The Blood of Outcasts is a tale of bloody revenge set in a feudal-Japan inspired world. We have battling clans fuelled on generations of distrust, and one woman trying to bring them together in her quest for vengeance.
This story is told through Masako’s eyes in a first person, present tense narrative, which allows us to learn her thoughts and feelings in the moment. Her clan has been destroyed and her master killed, and she herself has been apparently executed. Rather than dying though, Masako is kept alive by a blood curse and a promise to destroy the Lord Council.
As can often be the case with a first-person narrative, I found there was a bit of an imbalance in the depth of the characters, as naturally we learn so much about Misako, but don’t get into the heads of any other characters. This means that the majority of the characters we meet aren’t as fleshed out as I would have liked them to be.
In terms of Masako, we don’t see too much depth beyond the rage and the pride that drive her forward in this tale. We do see a little bit of history though, with flashbacks detailing the inciting incident of the story, and the moments leading up to it.
In terms of the world, we get quite an interesting one here. Those familiar with Japanese culture will recognise the feel of the world and the terminology used throughout the book. For those less well-versed, like me, there was nothing that left me scratching my head and trying to piece together what it meant, so overall I think it’s quite an accessible bit of worldbuilding.
We see some magic and mystery with oni, sora dragons, Meaters and the blood magic that Masako wields. The Meaters are interesting and the whole concept is one with plenty of potential, although I don’t think it was explored in enough detail for me, possibly because we’re seeing them through Masako’s eyes and she abhors them.
The blood magic, again is quite an interesting take, although I still don’t really know the limits of the magic or the full consequences, let alone the how and the why of it. The immediate consequences though, of how it effects Masako, do give us some of the more intense moments in the book however.
Overall, I like the general concept that we get here. The main character had both highs and lows but was at least a narrator that I could follow, and the world was quite well visualised and has potential as the series progresses.
The main thing that I didn’t get on with though, and that really impacted my overall enjoyment of the book, was the writing itself. I just didn’t gel with the overall style. I found that too many times I was coming across little two- or three-word sentences that just didn’t work for me and made for a very jumpy reading experience.
With the pacing I felt that at times we would barrel from one thing to the next without any proper build-up, and that includes within dialog, where intensity would often seem to change without adequate provocation.
So as a whole, The Blood of Outcasts had some hits and some misses for me, but the misses definitely had a bigger impact on my overall perception of the book. I can be quite picky when the writing isn’t working for me, and fixate on things that might not bother other readers, so if you like Japanese-inspired tales with rōnin and katanas slashing through the pages, definitely consider giving this one a go.
kayshiddenshelf's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
3.5/5 Stars
I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
The Blood of the Outcasts is book one in the Bane Sword Saga and a self-published Japanese inspired fantasy. A bloody start to the series and a new author to watch!
Story Overview:
Masako escapes death and is hell bent on revenge against the Lord Council who killed her master and left her clan in pieces. A curse in her blood cries out and a godsborne answers.
Given a second chance Masako must unite the outer clans, move past old rivalries and worse, face annihilation at the hands of a foreign sect of sorcerers and their silent invasion.
Given a second chance Masako must unite the outer clans, move past old rivalries and worse, face annihilation at the hands of a foreign sect of sorcerers and their silent invasion.
Only Masako is meant to be dead.
Review:
If you’re looking for a bloody story filled with great fight scenes, grimdark elements, political scheming, and an unlikable character, all set in a Japanese inspired world, you’ve come to the right place.
If you’re looking for a bloody story filled with great fight scenes, grimdark elements, political scheming, and an unlikable character, all set in a Japanese inspired world, you’ve come to the right place.
The Blood of the Outcasts is told in first person, present tense narrative, through the perspective of an unlikable character, Masako. As a result, it was a bit tricky for me to settle into at first. It took me about 40% before I finally felt comfortable with the writing style and storytelling method used by the author.
Eventually, I ended up associating the writing style with Masako’s personality. She’s a hot-tempered warrior of few words, who would rather rely on her sword to do the talking. Valuing honour, loyalty, and justice above all else, she strives for revenge and restoring her clan. As a single minded, angry character, I found Masako to be a refreshing protagonist.
I also appreciated that despite Masako being an unlikable character, she does get some development throughout the book. As unlikeable characters can be tricky for readers, this may not be for everyone. However, I do see promise with Masako’s character and the authors writing.
With a wide side cast, there are many characters, and clans to keep track of. Personally, I used the glossary at the beginning of the book to help with this. I also enjoyed the variety of characters we see and the roles they each played.
Since this is told in Masako’s POV, it was harder to anticipate what would happen with the plot and I loved the mystery that this added to the story.
While the worldbuilding felt familiar to other anime or manga series, I did have trouble keeping up with the magic. I would have liked more exploration of the magic and Meaters as they do play a significant role in the story, and I often found myself struggling to understand how it all worked.
A great tale of revenge with demons, political scheming, a caste system, Samurai, and a bit of magic to top it off.
While this did take me longer to get into, I ended up enjoying this and Masako’s character. As a result, I’m eager to start book 2, Wrath from the Mountains.
Ultimately, this is one of those books that may not be for everyone, but I do think it’s worth picking up and trying for yourself.
daelly's review
Didn't care about the main character when all she consisted of was rage and revenge thoughts without more layers, plot was not compelling enough as it was mainly the revenge aspect with very little regard to the initial mystery, setting was not compelling enough to outweight the other points.
soulcutter's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
2.0
Very angry/revenge-driven book.
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