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Tenkara Smart

Goodreads Author

Born

in Mystic, The United States

Website

https://tenkarasmart.com

Twitter

TenkaraS

Genre

Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Paranormal

Influences

Ken Follett; Phillipa Gregory

Member Since

June 2020

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Tenkara Smart is the author of The Many Lives of Wolf book series. Tenkara's novels appeal to readers who enjoy coming-of-age fiction, spiritual journeys of self-discovery, and unforgettable characters.

Raised in San Diego and now living in Australia, Tenkara grew up surfing the California coast before trading waves for kayaking, paddleboarding, hiking, and exploring the outdoors. Her travels, especially to Japan, a place close to her heart, continue to inspire her writing and adventurous spirit.

To keep up on her favourite reads, visit @TenkaraSmart.com.
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Tenkara Smart’s books

Average rating: 4.48 · 140 ratings · 121 reviews · 3 distinct works • Similar authors

	She Named Me Wolf (Book #1, The Many Lives of Wolf series) 4.49 avg rating — 91 ratings — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	His Name is Junsaku (Book #2, The Many Lives of Wolf series) 4.45 avg rating — 47 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	She Named Me Wolf: A Thrilling Novel about Friendship, Survival, and the Power of the Imagination. 4.50 avg rating — 2 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

* Note: these are all the books on Goodreads for this author. To add more, click here.

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Tenkara Smart's Blog

FREE Kindle ebook starting 18 Jun

SOME BATTLES ECHO ACROSS LIFETIMES.

For a limited time, His Name is Junsaku by Tenkara Smart is FREE on Kindle from 18 June.

Set in 17th-century Japan, this story of honour, family, sacrifice, and destiny follows a young samurai forced to choose between loyalty to his shogun and the people he loves most.

If you enjoy historical fiction, coming-of-age stories, and a touch of the supernatural, now is t Read more of this blog post »

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Published on June 17, 2026 16:09

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Series by Tenkara Smart

The Many Lives of Wolf (2 books)
by

Tenkara Smart (Goodreads Author)

4.48 avg rating — 138 ratings

Tenkara is Currently Reading

Tenkara Smart is currently reading

The Kingmaker's Daughter (The Plantagenet and Tudor Novels, #4; Cousins War, #4)

by Philippa Gregory (Goodreads Author)

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Jul 12, 2026 04:19PM

Tenkara Smart is currently reading

Beneath a Scarlet Sky

by Mark T. Sullivan (Goodreads Author)

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Mar 04, 2026 09:36PM

Tenkara Smart is currently reading

His Name is Junsaku (Book #2, The Many Lives of Wolf series)

by Tenkara Smart (Goodreads Author)

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Tenkara Smart said: " Editorial Review by Grant Leishman

His Name is Junsaku by Tenkara Smart is an absolutely riveting tale set in 17th-century Japan; a land of Samurai warriors, bloody territorial battles, and the all-powerful Shogunate. Junsaku Aoyama knew from a very e Editorial Review by Grant Leishman

His Name is Junsaku by Tenkara Smart is an absolutely riveting tale set in 17th-century Japan; a land of Samurai warriors, bloody territorial battles, and the all-powerful Shogunate. Junsaku Aoyama knew from a very early age that he was destined to be not only a great warrior but the greatest living Samurai in Japan. He trained relentlessly to ensure he was always at the top of his classes and would be chosen to join the local lord’s elite guard. When he was personally selected by the ruling Shogun to be part of the Shogunate Samurai guard, he was already near his destiny. The arrival in the Port of Edo (modern Tokyo) of a beautiful young European woman, the daughter of a Dutch trader, would be the defining moment in Junsaku’s life. From that day forward he would have to make decisions about his priorities; the Shogun or his family.

Every so often a book reminds me why literature is so important to me. His Name is Junsaku is such a novel; one that truly resonated with me and has what I look for in a story. Tenkara Smart has seamlessly combined the traditions, mysticism, and supernatural forces of Japanese 17th-century society into a thrilling adventure with an understanding of the period and a glimpse into the Japanese culture and psyche. There is plenty of action and battles to keep the most adrenaline-hooked reader satisfied but those moments are interspersed with wonderful descriptions of a loving father, a dedicated husband, and a conventional happy family life. The idea of a Samurai, especially a General of the Shogunate, marrying a gaijin (a foreigner) was so unheard of that it would have been downright scandalous. Yet, it was only Junsaku’s position and importance to the Shogun that could have allowed this to happen. I particularly appreciated the supernatural elements, which gave an extra mysterious edge. The overarching message of Junsaku’s life is just as relevant and important to note as it was some 400 years ago. I thoroughly enjoyed this wonderful story and highly recommend it. ...more "

May 12, 2025 09:26PM · see review

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Tenkara Smart liked GetChrissy's review of Fluffy the Safari Cat: A Cheeky Cat’s Wild Adventure Through the Kenyan Bush (Tails of Whiskers & Wonders): "I wonderful tale about a cat on safari. Ms. Fluffy is a sly, funny, cat that likes to do things her way. She's intrigued with her trip to the safari where she encounters wonderful things she never experienced before. It was a good entertaining read."
Jul 12, 2026 04:24PM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Fluffy the Safari Cat by Wolf Norris. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Fluffy the Safari Cat by Wolf Norris <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Tenkara Smart liked Sabiha Din's review of The Names:
Jul 12, 2026 04:22PM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Names by Florence Knapp. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Names by Florence Knapp <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
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Jul 12, 2026 04:22PM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Love Wager by Lynn Painter. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Love Wager by Lynn Painter <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Tenkara Smart is 15% done with The Kingmaker's Daughter The Kingmaker's Daughter (The Plantagenet and Tudor Novels, #4; Cousins War, #4) by Philippa Gregory (Goodreads Author) progress:	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jul 12, 2026 04:20PM · like · see status · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Kingmaker's Daughter by Philippa Gregory. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Kingmaker's Daughter by Philippa Gregory <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Tenkara Smart started reading The Kingmaker's Daughter (The Plantagenet and Tudor Novels, #4; Cousins War, #4) by Philippa Gregory (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jul 12, 2026 04:19PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Kingmaker's Daughter by Philippa Gregory. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Kingmaker's Daughter by Philippa Gregory <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Tenkara Smart rated a book it was amazing Echoes of Childhood: How Early Experience Shapes the Mind and the Vote by Angie Gust	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Echoes of Childhood really made me think about how much a child’s early years and experiences shape the people we become. The author explains how childhood experiences can affect empathy, the way we think, and even how we see the world as adults, wit ...more
Jul 09, 2026 09:12PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Echoes of Childhood by Angie Gust. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Echoes of Childhood by Angie Gust <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Tenkara Smart rated a book it was amazing Echoes of Childhood: How Early Experience Shapes the Mind and the Vote: A thought-provoking exploration of the unseen ways early stress, attachment, and parenting influence adult behavior and society by Angie Gust	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jul 09, 2026 08:49PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Echoes of Childhood by Angie Gust. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Echoes of Childhood by Angie Gust <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Tenkara Smart rated a book it was amazing The Afterlife & Times of Femi Yukimo by Don Locke (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this book. It struck the unique and quirky balance between metaphysics, quantum physics, the supernatural, and an intriguing whodunnit mystery. The whole experience reminded me of The Midnight Library crossed with a cozy murder myste ...more
Jul 06, 2026 06:38PM · 1 like · like · see review
Tenkara Smart rated a book it was amazing A Respectable Trade by Philippa Gregory (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
This is without question the most intense book I've read by Philippa Gregory. (I listened on Audible and the narrator was exceptional). The story was confronting, heartbreaking and impossible to put down. While I've always loved Gregory's historical ...more
Jul 01, 2026 05:19PM · 1 like · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of A Respectable Trade by Philippa Gregory. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — A Respectable Trade by Philippa Gregory <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Tenkara Smart rated a book it was amazing Frozen Fates (Fated for the Holidays #1) by Reina Everhart (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
If you enjoy romance with a touch of magic, mystery, and plenty of heart, this is an easy five-star read. Ryan is trapped reliving the same New Year’s Eve, falling in love with Makenley over and over while she wakes each morning with no memory of him. ...more
Jun 30, 2026 06:57PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Frozen Fates by Reina Everhart. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Frozen Fates by Reina Everhart <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

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Quotes by Tenkara Smart (?)

“Because of your exemplary service, I am promoting you to the highest rank in my personal guard: General.”
― Tenkara Smart, His Name is Junsaku: A Haunting, Historical Fantasy Romance

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“There is only choice, and at every moment, you only have two choices. When you make your decision, you'll know if it was right by the way you feel. If you know it wasn't the right choice, make a different choice.”
― Tenkara Smart, She Named Me Wolf

tags: coming-of-age-stories, inspiratonal-quotes, karate, karate-quotes, motivational-inspirational, motivational-quotes, spirituality, young-adult-fiction, young-adult-fiction-quotes

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Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
Review Group: Group 380. Out of this World - Mod. Gene - CLOSED	154	81	Aug 17, 2025 03:00AM
Review Group: * Group 382. General - Mod. Gene	205	86	Nov 02, 2025 04:57AM
Review Group: * Group 385. Out of this World - Mod. Jennifer	204	82	Jan 10, 2026 08:55AM
Review Group: Group 390. General - Mod Jennifer	297	94	May 23, 2026 09:25AM

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Tenkara’s Quotes

“When you think everything is someone else's fault, you will suffer a lot. When you realize that everything springs from yourself, you will learn both peace and joy.”
― Dalai Lama

tags: abraham-hicks, buddism, dalai-lama, inspirational, louise-hay, religion-spirituality, spiritual, wayne-dyer

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“All secrets sound the same in the dark.”
― Ryan Graudin, All That Burns

tags: dark

4 likes

“You can lose your way anywhere.”
― Christine Heppermann, Poisoned Apples: Poems for You, My Pretty

tags: life, lost

15 likes

“The problem is that I know exactly how I feel about you and that terrifies me.”
― Laelia Starla, From Prying Eyes

tags: romance-book-quotes

1 likes

“Love doesn't always come when you want it to. Sometimes it just happens, despite your will.”
― V.C. Andrews, Flowers in the Attic

Tenkara’s Year In Books

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