A review by frootlupo
The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang

emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

An emotional rollercoaster of epic proportions. If you’re the kind of person who reads more than one book at a time, I suggest a nice fun light book on the side. This book will probably rip your heart to shreds in the middle, but leave you with hope for the future by the end. 
 
I picked up Sword of Kaigan due to what seemed like universal acclaim. This acclaim is very much deserved. It is brilliant and powerful and I will certainly find myself recommending it time and time again to people who I think need a good cry. A protagonist who is a mother (and frankly not a teenager) was a very fresh perspective, and I thought M.L. Wang did a fantastic job painting the mixed emotions that make up every human being. If I had a solitary gripe it would be that it spends a little more time lore-dropping in the middle of the book than I would have liked - but this is more than forgivable considering the gut-punches that occurred earlier on. 
 
I feel like this book deserves a much much longer review, but honestly I've said all that needs to be said. The Sword of Kaigan is a great book. It is not a book for the faint of heart, but it definitely is a book that will make you feel things.