robyndansereau's review against another edition
4.0
When I finished "The Beast Player," I knew I needed to find out how Elin's story ended. Set about a decade after the events of the first book, Elin is married and has a son. She's tried to keep her past from impacting her family, but with war on the horizon, Elin is forced to train the Royal Beasts for something that goes against her core beliefs. Although the ending wasn't what I expected, it fit the story well and ultimately I liked the conclusion. The cover is also gorgeous
antivancrowe's review against another edition
5.0
Character 5
The characters in this series are vividly there and I can touch and feel them. I love all of the characters in this series old and new. We get a couple of new characters added in this installment and they dont feel tacked on and just add to the story.
Setting 5
The setting is just added on and we get to know so much more about the world in this final piece
Plot 5
Unlike The Beast Player which didn't seem to have a lot of plot, The Beast Warrior gives us a plot and story to wander onto. I enjoyed the build up from the past and what was lost and how Elin resolved things in the end.
Writing 5
I really felt the writing come alive in this book. I felt like Uehashi grew as a writer with this one!
Enjoyability 5
I loved this one! My heart was warmed, I laughed, and everyone felt so alive to me.
I cried and sobbed at the end. This book series is a favorite for me!
Overall rating 5
The characters in this series are vividly there and I can touch and feel them. I love all of the characters in this series old and new. We get a couple of new characters added in this installment and they dont feel tacked on and just add to the story.
Setting 5
The setting is just added on and we get to know so much more about the world in this final piece
Plot 5
Unlike The Beast Player which didn't seem to have a lot of plot, The Beast Warrior gives us a plot and story to wander onto. I enjoyed the build up from the past and what was lost and how Elin resolved things in the end.
Writing 5
I really felt the writing come alive in this book. I felt like Uehashi grew as a writer with this one!
Enjoyability 5
I loved this one! My heart was warmed, I laughed, and everyone felt so alive to me.
I cried and sobbed at the end. This book series is a favorite for me!
Overall rating 5
animafeline's review against another edition
Slow start, just had a hard time getting into it. Will try again later.
booksbythewindow's review against another edition
For full review: https://booksbythewindow.wordpress.com/2022/05/11/the-beast-warrior/
Summary: The Beast Warrior follows Elin, Ialu, and their son Jesse, who have been trying to live a quieter life since the events of The Beast Player. Elin has made a name for herself as the only one who can control the Royal Beast and is firm in her resolution not to allow her ability to be weaponised. As she is asked investigate a case of Toda deaths similar to the case which led to her mother’s death, she starts to discover more about the history and biology of the Toda which in turn reveals more about why she has had such strong warnings about controlling the Royal Beasts. Her investigations take place in the shadow of a coming war with a neighbouring country they know little about, and it isn’t long before she is given a choice: either use the Royal Beasts in the war or spend her life running with her family.
Overall Thoughts: Unfortunately, I did enjoy The Beast Warrior as much as The Beast Player, although I did appreciate the nuances that this sequel was trying to convey. I understood the point that Uehashi is making as she takes the time to draw out the political, ethical, and moral issues that surround the use of these creatures in war, but I could not help feeling that these issues could have been drawn out more succinctly. I am not generally someone who needs a fast-paced narrative to enjoy a novel, in fact I tend to prefer character development over action, but it did not feel as though the character development for Elin and Ialu was as strong as it had been in The Beast Player. In the midst of this, there were definite elements of The Beast Warrior that I enjoyed, particularly the middle section of action and the ending. The middle section, as Ialu and Jesse are forced to leave their home is by far some of the most interesting, with Jesse coming to understand more about his father’s past. I would definitely still recommend The Beast Player for younger fantasy readers, and I think The Beast Warrior does answer an important question raised at the end of that book, but it is definitely not as strong as the original novel.
Summary: The Beast Warrior follows Elin, Ialu, and their son Jesse, who have been trying to live a quieter life since the events of The Beast Player. Elin has made a name for herself as the only one who can control the Royal Beast and is firm in her resolution not to allow her ability to be weaponised. As she is asked investigate a case of Toda deaths similar to the case which led to her mother’s death, she starts to discover more about the history and biology of the Toda which in turn reveals more about why she has had such strong warnings about controlling the Royal Beasts. Her investigations take place in the shadow of a coming war with a neighbouring country they know little about, and it isn’t long before she is given a choice: either use the Royal Beasts in the war or spend her life running with her family.
Overall Thoughts: Unfortunately, I did enjoy The Beast Warrior as much as The Beast Player, although I did appreciate the nuances that this sequel was trying to convey. I understood the point that Uehashi is making as she takes the time to draw out the political, ethical, and moral issues that surround the use of these creatures in war, but I could not help feeling that these issues could have been drawn out more succinctly. I am not generally someone who needs a fast-paced narrative to enjoy a novel, in fact I tend to prefer character development over action, but it did not feel as though the character development for Elin and Ialu was as strong as it had been in The Beast Player. In the midst of this, there were definite elements of The Beast Warrior that I enjoyed, particularly the middle section of action and the ending. The middle section, as Ialu and Jesse are forced to leave their home is by far some of the most interesting, with Jesse coming to understand more about his father’s past. I would definitely still recommend The Beast Player for younger fantasy readers, and I think The Beast Warrior does answer an important question raised at the end of that book, but it is definitely not as strong as the original novel.
averydappercat's review against another edition
5.0
I adore Nahoko Uehashi's novels with every fiber of my being. I discovered her stories through their anime adaptations, but ohmygoodness are the novels ever more satisfying. Not better, just that there's more detailed and offer more in terms of character interactions and world building. The Beast Warrior is the sequel to The Beast Player and just came out in English. It starts up ten years after the ending of the first book and boy does it ever deliver! I thought the ending of the first book was satisfying enough, but The Beast Warrior offers answers to questions I didn't even know I was dying to learn the answers to. Not to mention, I adore that Elin and Ialu got married and had Jesse. If there was one thing I wish the book had more of was happy scenes with the whole family together. But of course, we can't have that. I was crying so much throughout the book. I love all the characters and Nahoko's writing style makes character interactions so vivid that I can almost hear the actual voices of the characters. I read this book in three days and I'm already itching to read it again. Considering the book itself spans several years and I sped through reading it, there's definitely some things that went over my head. I absolutely loved The Beast Player and its sequel, The Beast Warrior. And even though it looks like Nahoko Uehashi hasn't written anything else and doesn't plan to, I'm still holding out hope that she'll write a new enthralling fantasy series just like Beast Player and Moribito.
alindstadtcorbo's review against another edition
5.0
Star Rating: —> 5 Stars
First of all, this is a translated work, originally written in Japanese, and seriously everyone needs to read it! There's great world building, but ultimately it is a VERY, VERY Character based story; I love these characters with all of my heart! Also interesting fact— They made an anime based upon this story! When I remember what its called I will update this lol.
My heart is BROKEN! I am trying to keep the tears in, but it totally isn’t working. The ending was not what I expected, and it may be sad, but in ways, so happy as well. The sadness is the one dominating my heart, at the moment. Can you cry both sad & happy tears at the same time?
My God. What a masterpiece ! Following the events of The Beast Player (link at very bottom), this picks up 20 years after a fateful battle that changed everything. I believe it takes place about 10 (give or take) years after the ending of the first book. It is a beautiful, fantastical tale... filled also with the darkness of war (in so many different ways) & what comes with that.
This novel is very much about a struggle with morality vs reality, in a time of war, that arises in Elin, now a grown woman. An ultimatum most dire is thrust upon her— risk death of, possibly, the entire human race as she knows it, or live up to her reputation as The Beast Player, the only one who can tame & ride a royal beast safely (beautiful Leelan & other Royal beasts that she has now bred, and with the help of her son & her husband, is teaching others to handle Royal Beasts at a school where she once attended !), let alone safely into a WAR, where their fighting instincts will be positively deadly.
Elin comes to realize that she MUST sacrifice her principles, and do things she hates herself for including using the Royal Beasts she has dedicated her life to, & the Toda she dedicated her early childhood to caring for with her mother (who was killed by those very creatures), as all too willing, due to their nature, pawns in the human war if the need should arise (and boy... just you wait!)—because these regal Beasts deserve to thrive on their own, not be involved with humans in this way, and certainly not be pitted against one another by humans.
I explain both of these creatures below, but they are both types of massive beasts, reminiscent of something out of a Miyazaki film, or Japanese folklore/mythology!
Elin knows how very wrong it is to use these creatures in this way, & that fact torments her to her core. She knows how very wrong things could go, for a long list of reasons, for everyone,if things were to go awry…which is most probable as these beasts are natural enemies in the wild, but she does what she must.
Elin is haunted both by thoughts of both action AND inaction... both etched in mass destruction, bloodshed, & death. Even she, herself, could be in danger... because just how much can you trust a wild beast, "tamed," or not, in a bloody battle?
But... these are risks that one must take when action is forced upon you by your Kingdom's ruler, with war looming ever closer.
It is in this sense, that this is quite a cautionary tale as well.
But it is not all dark, despite the underlying plot, and the writing always makes this story feel so very bright and full of light, and so very full of heart. I laughed, I smiled, I cried, I hung on to every word. The bond between Elin & Leelan is absolutely extraordinary. Scenes with the two of them together warmed my heart & left me so very happy.
This is a YA fantasy worthy of so much attention !
First of all, this is a translated work, originally written in Japanese, and seriously everyone needs to read it! There's great world building, but ultimately it is a VERY, VERY Character based story; I love these characters with all of my heart! Also interesting fact— They made an anime based upon this story! When I remember what its called I will update this lol.
My heart is BROKEN! I am trying to keep the tears in, but it totally isn’t working. The ending was not what I expected, and it may be sad, but in ways, so happy as well. The sadness is the one dominating my heart, at the moment. Can you cry both sad & happy tears at the same time?
My God. What a masterpiece ! Following the events of The Beast Player (link at very bottom), this picks up 20 years after a fateful battle that changed everything. I believe it takes place about 10 (give or take) years after the ending of the first book. It is a beautiful, fantastical tale... filled also with the darkness of war (in so many different ways) & what comes with that.
This novel is very much about a struggle with morality vs reality, in a time of war, that arises in Elin, now a grown woman. An ultimatum most dire is thrust upon her— risk death of, possibly, the entire human race as she knows it, or live up to her reputation as The Beast Player, the only one who can tame & ride a royal beast safely (beautiful Leelan & other Royal beasts that she has now bred, and with the help of her son & her husband, is teaching others to handle Royal Beasts at a school where she once attended !), let alone safely into a WAR, where their fighting instincts will be positively deadly.
Elin comes to realize that she MUST sacrifice her principles, and do things she hates herself for including using the Royal Beasts she has dedicated her life to, & the Toda she dedicated her early childhood to caring for with her mother (who was killed by those very creatures), as all too willing, due to their nature, pawns in the human war if the need should arise (and boy... just you wait!)—because these regal Beasts deserve to thrive on their own, not be involved with humans in this way, and certainly not be pitted against one another by humans.
I explain both of these creatures below, but they are both types of massive beasts, reminiscent of something out of a Miyazaki film, or Japanese folklore/mythology!
Elin knows how very wrong it is to use these creatures in this way, & that fact torments her to her core. She knows how very wrong things could go, for a long list of reasons, for everyone,if things were to go awry…which is most probable as these beasts are natural enemies in the wild, but she does what she must.
Elin is haunted both by thoughts of both action AND inaction... both etched in mass destruction, bloodshed, & death. Even she, herself, could be in danger... because just how much can you trust a wild beast, "tamed," or not, in a bloody battle?
But... these are risks that one must take when action is forced upon you by your Kingdom's ruler, with war looming ever closer.
It is in this sense, that this is quite a cautionary tale as well.
But it is not all dark, despite the underlying plot, and the writing always makes this story feel so very bright and full of light, and so very full of heart. I laughed, I smiled, I cried, I hung on to every word. The bond between Elin & Leelan is absolutely extraordinary. Scenes with the two of them together warmed my heart & left me so very happy.
This is a YA fantasy worthy of so much attention !
writingwwolves's review against another edition
5.0
Something about this series made it become a piece of me from the very first chapter of The Beast Player, & now that it’s over I feel both heartbroken & like I’ve found a missing piece of myself. Connections like the one I feel for Elin & Leelan’s story don’t happen very often & I know this series will be special to me for the rest of my life. Going in to The Beast Warrior I was nervous that it wouldn’t live up to book one & that the ending would let me down completely, but all 640 pages were perfect & if I could only ever read one series for the rest of my life, it would be this one. If I had to, I would give up every other story in the world for this one. I actually reread very few books but I know I will reread this duology over & over & over again for the rest of my days. I don’t know how else to say how much I love Nahoko for writing this story & Pushkin Press for bringing it to the world in English. It’s extraordinarily beautiful & I just love it so much.
⚠️ Dissection of fantasy animals, violence, war & battle themes, near drowning, fantasy animals being used for war/battle purposes & graphic fighting & injuries ⚠️
I was sent this book by the publisher in return for an honest review - thank you so much Poppy!
Extended Review to follow.
⚠️ Dissection of fantasy animals, violence, war & battle themes, near drowning, fantasy animals being used for war/battle purposes & graphic fighting & injuries ⚠️
I was sent this book by the publisher in return for an honest review - thank you so much Poppy!
Extended Review to follow.
bookishglitter's review against another edition
April 1 2021 DNF at page 135. I really loved the first book but I can't really get through this one. Many boring parts and it just doesn't interest me.
mal_eficent's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
tense
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? It's complicated
4.0