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Yokai Calling #1
Spirit of the Dragon
alternate cover editions can be found here and here
There is a price attached to every dream...
After twins Genshu Masanori and Genshu Hidekazu witness a kidnapping at the annual Midsummer Festival, they discover the woman taken wasn’t this sorcerer’s first victim, nor will she be the last.
They will break clan laws against warfare if that’s what it takes to bring the missing women home safe.
They will sign their lives away to the prestigious Tsukiko Academy, regardless of the rumours about the Headmaster and the dark secrets harboured within the school grounds.
They will give up the lives they know for a chance to uncover the real reason their family gave up their legacy as wyvern-slayers and swore a vow of peace.
A pact with a mysterious dragon spirit, embracing their future as warriors, and servitude to the Tsukiko Academy is only the beginning.
The twins have one chance to unravel the sorcerer’s sinister plan. If they can’t find him in time, the game he whispers about might be the last anyone ever plays.
Jump into the world of Yumihari, a land filled with spirits, dragons, monsters, and stunning characters wielding elemental magic to save their homeland. If you love epic fight scenes, mystery and political intrigue, mythology, monsters, mayhem, and progression fantasy, you will love Spirit of the Dragon and the Yokai Calling series.
Pick up your copy of the book and experience the first part of the adventure today!
There is a price attached to every dream...
After twins Genshu Masanori and Genshu Hidekazu witness a kidnapping at the annual Midsummer Festival, they discover the woman taken wasn’t this sorcerer’s first victim, nor will she be the last.
They will break clan laws against warfare if that’s what it takes to bring the missing women home safe.
They will sign their lives away to the prestigious Tsukiko Academy, regardless of the rumours about the Headmaster and the dark secrets harboured within the school grounds.
They will give up the lives they know for a chance to uncover the real reason their family gave up their legacy as wyvern-slayers and swore a vow of peace.
A pact with a mysterious dragon spirit, embracing their future as warriors, and servitude to the Tsukiko Academy is only the beginning.
The twins have one chance to unravel the sorcerer’s sinister plan. If they can’t find him in time, the game he whispers about might be the last anyone ever plays.
Jump into the world of Yumihari, a land filled with spirits, dragons, monsters, and stunning characters wielding elemental magic to save their homeland. If you love epic fight scenes, mystery and political intrigue, mythology, monsters, mayhem, and progression fantasy, you will love Spirit of the Dragon and the Yokai Calling series.
Pick up your copy of the book and experience the first part of the adventure today!
291 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 9, 2019
150 people are currently reading
289 people want to read
About the author
Erynn Lehtonen
18 books30 followersErynn is amassing an army of fluffy minions to take over the world. She's currently at 42 and counting, but progress stalled because she hasn't figured out soul transmutation. In the meantime, she entertains a "mild" tea obsession, studies Japanese history and mythology, and writes epic fantasy. It's her goal to introduce readers to the complexities of mental illness through the perspectives of lifelike characters in fantasy worlds.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
January 4, 2022
4.5 stars.
I feel like I was reading a very well constructed and sophisticated historical with fantasy elements anime because it was so detailed (but not so much that it felt info dumpy) that it was very easy to visualize the world setting. The book was fast paced but doesn't feel rushed and has many well thought out details about the world environment.
I really loved the world setting as well as the magical system the most. This is one of those books where the deities are actually present to affect the world around even if they're in their own haven and not interacting directly with the people while having a very heavy role in the lore as to how everything came to be in the present.
As for the characters, they were well developed and fleshed out as well as their relationships. Their fears, ambitions and feelings are well introduced that you could understand their reasoning behind their actions. Masa and Hide are twins and while they get along pretty well, you can still feel this underlying tension between them. The suspense as well as the risks and consequences for their quest is what kept me reading.
A few issues I faced were Masa's feelings for Aihi, sometimes it felt like it was too much for me as well as the scene where Hide had to stop some sexy time between Masa and Zahra. That was hella awkward and wasn't expecting it (even more so because I read previous versions of the book and this wasn't present). Lastly, it felt a little forced with how Masa and Hide want to involve themselves in dealing with Lacotl despite their proper reasonings.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading through this with how fleshed out and well written the setting and the characters were. The magical system and the lore were the best parts for me.
If you were like me and have read the previous versions, you would see a big difference in this last version since it had improved immensely.
I would like to express my gratitude to the author and BookSirens for providing me with the digital copy for an honest review.
I feel like I was reading a very well constructed and sophisticated historical with fantasy elements anime because it was so detailed (but not so much that it felt info dumpy) that it was very easy to visualize the world setting. The book was fast paced but doesn't feel rushed and has many well thought out details about the world environment.
I really loved the world setting as well as the magical system the most. This is one of those books where the deities are actually present to affect the world around even if they're in their own haven and not interacting directly with the people while having a very heavy role in the lore as to how everything came to be in the present.
As for the characters, they were well developed and fleshed out as well as their relationships. Their fears, ambitions and feelings are well introduced that you could understand their reasoning behind their actions. Masa and Hide are twins and while they get along pretty well, you can still feel this underlying tension between them. The suspense as well as the risks and consequences for their quest is what kept me reading.
A few issues I faced were Masa's feelings for Aihi, sometimes it felt like it was too much for me as well as the scene where Hide had to stop some sexy time between Masa and Zahra. That was hella awkward and wasn't expecting it (even more so because I read previous versions of the book and this wasn't present). Lastly, it felt a little forced with how Masa and Hide want to involve themselves in dealing with Lacotl despite their proper reasonings.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading through this with how fleshed out and well written the setting and the characters were. The magical system and the lore were the best parts for me.
If you were like me and have read the previous versions, you would see a big difference in this last version since it had improved immensely.
I would like to express my gratitude to the author and BookSirens for providing me with the digital copy for an honest review.
August 1, 2020
4/5 stars
Some dreams are meant to die
Something to listen to while reading this ♥
I was given this book for an honest review, and it was such a breath of fresh air on fantasy. It had me on the "trying to show the reality of mental illness through an enjoyable story", and that is what it did, but it also did so many other things. This is, at the core, the story of two brothers, one who has no ki but works with other things to cover it, and one who has too much. They are trained to be warriors, and through their journey, the battles with evil and their own personal experiences with holding other people's fate in their hands, they start to open themselves up and grow.
It was full of action, and although some things were predictable, I really loved the way the story was written. The dual POV was an absolute delight, and the writing was descriptive enough without it being tiring (not that it would be tiring for me, I just know it might be to some people). I had a small problem with the fantasy element, which is that a lot isn't explain, and it seems like the author wants the reader to research Japanese mythology themselves. I absolutely don't mind educating myself, and it is even greater when it comes to folklore, but I wouldn't recommend it for fantasy beginners, for this reason.
Another thing I absolutely loved was the variety of strong female characters in this story. Someone's review mentioned that using the villain's femicides as a shock factor was a cliche, but I personally didn't mind it, considering all that is happening in the world right now, and I feel like it gave the women in this book all the more reasons to fight against evil. My favourite character was Kansai, and I found her to be absolutely stunning, both as a character and as a mentor, but I also really liked Aihi, Masanori and Hidekazu.
The world building in this book was dotted with references to Japanese culture, and the mythological aspects were an inescapable web that made the story come alive in my mind, as it pulled me in and tangled me with the fate of the characters. The aspect of portraying mental health was also important, even though it was subtle, and I also loved the talks on abuse, power struggles, using women as bargaining tools, communication problems in serious situations and grief.
Overall, I found it to be a very enjoyable story, and highly recommend if you like mythology, stories about strong family bonds, battles and bushi warriors ♥ Until the next review, stay strong, stay safe, and remember I love you all ♥
~Mary ♥
Some dreams are meant to die
Something to listen to while reading this ♥
I was given this book for an honest review, and it was such a breath of fresh air on fantasy. It had me on the "trying to show the reality of mental illness through an enjoyable story", and that is what it did, but it also did so many other things. This is, at the core, the story of two brothers, one who has no ki but works with other things to cover it, and one who has too much. They are trained to be warriors, and through their journey, the battles with evil and their own personal experiences with holding other people's fate in their hands, they start to open themselves up and grow.
It was full of action, and although some things were predictable, I really loved the way the story was written. The dual POV was an absolute delight, and the writing was descriptive enough without it being tiring (not that it would be tiring for me, I just know it might be to some people). I had a small problem with the fantasy element, which is that a lot isn't explain, and it seems like the author wants the reader to research Japanese mythology themselves. I absolutely don't mind educating myself, and it is even greater when it comes to folklore, but I wouldn't recommend it for fantasy beginners, for this reason.
Another thing I absolutely loved was the variety of strong female characters in this story. Someone's review mentioned that using the villain's femicides as a shock factor was a cliche, but I personally didn't mind it, considering all that is happening in the world right now, and I feel like it gave the women in this book all the more reasons to fight against evil. My favourite character was Kansai, and I found her to be absolutely stunning, both as a character and as a mentor, but I also really liked Aihi, Masanori and Hidekazu.
The world building in this book was dotted with references to Japanese culture, and the mythological aspects were an inescapable web that made the story come alive in my mind, as it pulled me in and tangled me with the fate of the characters. The aspect of portraying mental health was also important, even though it was subtle, and I also loved the talks on abuse, power struggles, using women as bargaining tools, communication problems in serious situations and grief.
Overall, I found it to be a very enjoyable story, and highly recommend if you like mythology, stories about strong family bonds, battles and bushi warriors ♥ Until the next review, stay strong, stay safe, and remember I love you all ♥
~Mary ♥
July 16, 2019
★★★⭐⭐ | A story about friendship, family, and fighting for what is right.
I’m not Japanese so I can’t say anything about how accurate was the portrayal of Japanese-based culture but the worldbuilding was interesting as well as quite well-developed for such a short thing and every fantasy inspired by something else than Medieval Europe is in demand.
I appreciated the relationships between the brothers and their closest friend which were based on trying to complement each other and making the most use of one’s specific skill set rather than jealousy, even though there were easy reasons for it. There were also some good male/female friendships present. However, there is a potential for developing better characterisation, since the characters seemed a bit flat. The trio’s flaws were focused mostly on their skills rather than personality and the villain was like a fairy tale villain -- evil just because, without a purpose stated until the end.
The end seemed a bit deus ex machina, especially with the side plots. And the problems seemed so… shallow? Most could be resolved with one conversation.
I didn’t like that the victims were for some reason only women and it was never explained. It felt like using crimes typically committed against women as a way to get the reader to be disgusted by the villain but never actually commenting on that. Also, beside the victims, there were only two other women with speaking parts. I understand that there weren’t that many characters overall but there were at least twice and many men.
I received an advance review copy for free from the BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I’m not Japanese so I can’t say anything about how accurate was the portrayal of Japanese-based culture but the worldbuilding was interesting as well as quite well-developed for such a short thing and every fantasy inspired by something else than Medieval Europe is in demand.
I appreciated the relationships between the brothers and their closest friend which were based on trying to complement each other and making the most use of one’s specific skill set rather than jealousy, even though there were easy reasons for it. There were also some good male/female friendships present. However, there is a potential for developing better characterisation, since the characters seemed a bit flat. The trio’s flaws were focused mostly on their skills rather than personality and the villain was like a fairy tale villain -- evil just because, without a purpose stated until the end.
The end seemed a bit deus ex machina, especially with the side plots. And the problems seemed so… shallow? Most could be resolved with one conversation.
I didn’t like that the victims were for some reason only women and it was never explained. It felt like using crimes typically committed against women as a way to get the reader to be disgusted by the villain but never actually commenting on that. Also, beside the victims, there were only two other women with speaking parts. I understand that there weren’t that many characters overall but there were at least twice and many men.
I received an advance review copy for free from the BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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September 15, 2019
The further I read the book “Ramshackled,” the more I didn’t like it.
I spent time reviewing the sales page to ensure this was a book I wouldn’t mind purchasing. There is nothing by the author or publisher to indicate this could easily be categorized as a YA novella, a genre I usually prefer not to read. Dialogue and plot lines in many (not all) YA books suffer from a shallowness and plot details contrived to allow the author to steer the book in a desired direction. I found that to be the case with this book.
As an example, two brothers (young teens) are given training to aid them in eliminating Lacotl, a danger that “…fully trained men and women with years of experience…” have struggled and failed to defeat. We are assured the twins will learn fast and the Princess Aihi assures their Captain that “…I guarantee the Genshu twins will be all you need to eliminate this pest.” Of course, the brothers’ as-of-yet unrevealed powers and skills are off the charts.
The dialogue wavers from speech that could be considered appropriate for a fantasy world to English colloquialisms. While the blips constantly tugged my suspension of disbelief, one character completely pulled me out of the book. During the scene, a communication device was being used, and the character asked, “Is this thing on?” Surely a different phrase could have been chosen rather than one echoed by stand-up comics across the world.
While the worldbuilding is okay, it cannot make up for the dialogue and the plot. Younger readers may not object to the weaknesses and could find the book more enjoyable. Three stars.
I spent time reviewing the sales page to ensure this was a book I wouldn’t mind purchasing. There is nothing by the author or publisher to indicate this could easily be categorized as a YA novella, a genre I usually prefer not to read. Dialogue and plot lines in many (not all) YA books suffer from a shallowness and plot details contrived to allow the author to steer the book in a desired direction. I found that to be the case with this book.
As an example, two brothers (young teens) are given training to aid them in eliminating Lacotl, a danger that “…fully trained men and women with years of experience…” have struggled and failed to defeat. We are assured the twins will learn fast and the Princess Aihi assures their Captain that “…I guarantee the Genshu twins will be all you need to eliminate this pest.” Of course, the brothers’ as-of-yet unrevealed powers and skills are off the charts.
The dialogue wavers from speech that could be considered appropriate for a fantasy world to English colloquialisms. While the blips constantly tugged my suspension of disbelief, one character completely pulled me out of the book. During the scene, a communication device was being used, and the character asked, “Is this thing on?” Surely a different phrase could have been chosen rather than one echoed by stand-up comics across the world.
While the worldbuilding is okay, it cannot make up for the dialogue and the plot. Younger readers may not object to the weaknesses and could find the book more enjoyable. Three stars.
November 8, 2019
4.5 stars.
This was definitely better than before especially with the character traits emphasized and more details in their surroundings. Side characters have more screen time rather than just names or on the background. The fight against Lacotl was way better and I didn't find his dialogue as cringey as before.
Still not a big fan of the sudden training reasoning though and how Captain Tonkotsu felt off compared to the first installment where he felt a bit more real. Another thing that bothered me is how stiff the twins' relationship in the first two chapters felt to me but after that their relationship was fine. There was a bit of childish complaints from the twins at the last few chapters which I didn't really like.
Overall, definitely a big improvement in everything besides my small complains here and there. The author has plans to rewrite some stuff so I'll pick it up again in the future.
This was definitely better than before especially with the character traits emphasized and more details in their surroundings. Side characters have more screen time rather than just names or on the background. The fight against Lacotl was way better and I didn't find his dialogue as cringey as before.
Still not a big fan of the sudden training reasoning though and how Captain Tonkotsu felt off compared to the first installment where he felt a bit more real. Another thing that bothered me is how stiff the twins' relationship in the first two chapters felt to me but after that their relationship was fine. There was a bit of childish complaints from the twins at the last few chapters which I didn't really like.
Overall, definitely a big improvement in everything besides my small complains here and there. The author has plans to rewrite some stuff so I'll pick it up again in the future.
June 13, 2019
I received an ARC of this book via BookSirens in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! In no way does this affect my rating or review.
All included quotes have been taken from an ARC and may not match the finished publication.
Content Warning: Fighting, War, Abduction, Death
It's difficult to write novellas that are not rushed or leave out necessary details. I often find myself wanting more from them, not in length, but descriptive verbiage. They must be to the point, and include enough to make a full story. Ramshackled: A Wyvern Wars Novella does all of this.
Packed full of Asian folklore, this tale is told by two brothers, Masanori and Hidekazu. Born to a family with a long time of Majyu, warriors and weavers of ki, their family surprisingly forbade the brothers to practice the craft. But when trouble arises, and one of the brothers discovers is encourage to take up the one thing he'd never been allowed to do.
Ramshackled: A Wyvern Wars Novella has rich characters, developed and complex magic and societal systems, and was a joy to read. I'm looking forward to the next installment!
Vulgarity: None.
Sexual content: None.
Violence: Some.
My Rating: ★★★★★
My Blog ¦ Bookstagram ¦ Twitter ¦ Pinterest ¦ Facebook
All included quotes have been taken from an ARC and may not match the finished publication.
Content Warning: Fighting, War, Abduction, Death
All their lives, their father preached about how they should never fight unless there were no other options.
It's difficult to write novellas that are not rushed or leave out necessary details. I often find myself wanting more from them, not in length, but descriptive verbiage. They must be to the point, and include enough to make a full story. Ramshackled: A Wyvern Wars Novella does all of this.
Packed full of Asian folklore, this tale is told by two brothers, Masanori and Hidekazu. Born to a family with a long time of Majyu, warriors and weavers of ki, their family surprisingly forbade the brothers to practice the craft. But when trouble arises, and one of the brothers discovers is encourage to take up the one thing he'd never been allowed to do.
Ramshackled: A Wyvern Wars Novella has rich characters, developed and complex magic and societal systems, and was a joy to read. I'm looking forward to the next installment!
Vulgarity: None.
Sexual content: None.
Violence: Some.
My Rating: ★★★★★
My Blog ¦ Bookstagram ¦ Twitter ¦ Pinterest ¦ Facebook
August 12, 2019
This book was provided for me as e-arc by BookSirens. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
3.5stars
The writing style was okay.
The sentences felt a little abrupt at the beginning also changing between the full names and nick names(Masa & Hide)was annoying but as the story progressed I started to become invested and not care about that.
The world was interesting.I liked it but I needed something to explain all the expressions as a small glossary.
I loved the characters and the story itself was interesting. I liked all the fighting and the learning in the school.
I wasn't here for the bits of romance . I felt the characters were young for that.
The half star above 3 stars was for me that I returned to the story without forgetting the details or being bored.
3.5stars
The writing style was okay.
The sentences felt a little abrupt at the beginning also changing between the full names and nick names(Masa & Hide)was annoying but as the story progressed I started to become invested and not care about that.
The world was interesting.I liked it but I needed something to explain all the expressions as a small glossary.
I loved the characters and the story itself was interesting. I liked all the fighting and the learning in the school.
I wasn't here for the bits of romance . I felt the characters were young for that.
The half star above 3 stars was for me that I returned to the story without forgetting the details or being bored.
July 26, 2021
I absolutely loved reading this book. I enjoyed reading this book. I loved the storyline and characters.
Read
November 9, 2021As of March 25th 2020, the newest edition of Ramshackled, now officially known as Spirit of the Dragon, is available! Thank you everyone for your valuable feedback. I won't make the same mistakes in the future.
Now, to do an overhaul of Sleep Demons (to be renamed The Dragon's Eye)... more updates in May 2020.
Now, to do an overhaul of Sleep Demons (to be renamed The Dragon's Eye)... more updates in May 2020.
September 6, 2020
Japanese-inspired fantasy is always bound to catch my attention. Written by someone studying Japanese history and mythology (rather than "my research consisted of anime and Wikipedia" à la Jay Kristoff), this first book in a series following two brothers torn between following their dreams and obeying their parents' wishes in a world where monsters roam and the magical force known as ki is a major part of life sounded very promising indeed.
The wonderfully descriptive writing breathes life into this fantasy world right from the start, touching all the senses as it paints a vivid, colourful vision of the characters' surroundings. It's obvious that the author has spent an immense amount of time lovingly crafting this world in minute detail, though I got the feeling that she occasionally forgets that her readers are not nearly as well versed in its particulars as she herself is, which risks leaving them rather confused at times if they don't want to go traipsing off to the glossary every five minutes. I'm fairly familiar with Japanese culture and mythology, so this wasn't as much of an issue for me as for someone entirely new to such material, but even so I was occasionally a bit lost, though nowhere near enough so to make me want to give up on the book.
The protagonists Masanori and Hidekazu between whose POVs the book switches back and forth are both likable and each come with their own set of fascinating skills, though it took me a lot longer to really begin to see differences in their personalities rather than just their skills and romantic interests. I felt the characterisation could have been stronger and more complex. Hopefully we'll see some strong character development going forward.
With the exception of Kansai, I wasn't a big fan of the female characters. I never found Aihi particularly likable, and any liking I had for her at all evaporated when she burst in in raging, raving bitch-mode in an entirely over-the-top manner somewhere around 70% into the book. WTF was that all about? Unless there was a hell of a lot going on in the background that we don't know about, her behaviour there and up until the climax was absolutely unwarranted. (On the upside, she finally stopped addressing everyone as "dear [insert name here]" at that point, a habit that got very annoying very quickly.) I have some suspicions about where her mysterious romantic interest might lie and am quite curious to see if things do indeed pan out that way.
The plot was solid for the most part and kept me entertained, but some characters' actions and motivations made little sense or were explained at best in an unsatisfactory manner (such as the Captain's absence, Governor Benri's inaction, the parents' whole reasoning for not allowing the brothers to train as warriors, etc.). I'm hoping at least some of these loose ends will be explained in the sequel, especially the villain's motivations and ultimate objective (so far, best I can tell the motivation is "he's evil" and that's about it), why he only took women, and so on. I would have liked to see at least some of these addressed in more detail already in this installment.
All in all, this was a good read that lives primarily from its outstanding worldbuilding and vivid writing, while plot and characters, while promising, could use some more development. There's definitely a ton of potential in this world and these characters - I would love to see it realized more completely. I do very much want to spend more time in this world and get to know the characters better, so I'll be back for the sequel.
*** I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review. ***
The wonderfully descriptive writing breathes life into this fantasy world right from the start, touching all the senses as it paints a vivid, colourful vision of the characters' surroundings. It's obvious that the author has spent an immense amount of time lovingly crafting this world in minute detail, though I got the feeling that she occasionally forgets that her readers are not nearly as well versed in its particulars as she herself is, which risks leaving them rather confused at times if they don't want to go traipsing off to the glossary every five minutes. I'm fairly familiar with Japanese culture and mythology, so this wasn't as much of an issue for me as for someone entirely new to such material, but even so I was occasionally a bit lost, though nowhere near enough so to make me want to give up on the book.
The protagonists Masanori and Hidekazu between whose POVs the book switches back and forth are both likable and each come with their own set of fascinating skills, though it took me a lot longer to really begin to see differences in their personalities rather than just their skills and romantic interests. I felt the characterisation could have been stronger and more complex. Hopefully we'll see some strong character development going forward.
With the exception of Kansai, I wasn't a big fan of the female characters. I never found Aihi particularly likable, and any liking I had for her at all evaporated when she burst in in raging, raving bitch-mode in an entirely over-the-top manner somewhere around 70% into the book. WTF was that all about? Unless there was a hell of a lot going on in the background that we don't know about, her behaviour there and up until the climax was absolutely unwarranted. (On the upside, she finally stopped addressing everyone as "dear [insert name here]" at that point, a habit that got very annoying very quickly.) I have some suspicions about where her mysterious romantic interest might lie and am quite curious to see if things do indeed pan out that way.
The plot was solid for the most part and kept me entertained, but some characters' actions and motivations made little sense or were explained at best in an unsatisfactory manner (such as the Captain's absence, Governor Benri's inaction, the parents' whole reasoning for not allowing the brothers to train as warriors, etc.). I'm hoping at least some of these loose ends will be explained in the sequel, especially the villain's motivations and ultimate objective (so far, best I can tell the motivation is "he's evil" and that's about it), why he only took women, and so on. I would have liked to see at least some of these addressed in more detail already in this installment.
All in all, this was a good read that lives primarily from its outstanding worldbuilding and vivid writing, while plot and characters, while promising, could use some more development. There's definitely a ton of potential in this world and these characters - I would love to see it realized more completely. I do very much want to spend more time in this world and get to know the characters better, so I'll be back for the sequel.
*** I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review. ***
September 12, 2019
Not really sure how to review or rate this one. Parts of it were good, and even more parts of it were bad? I don't know enough about Japan or Japanese customs to know if everything was done correctly. I do know that I was incredibly confused, the glossary helped but it wasn't as well put together as I hoped it was.
The characters were okay I guess. The standout was the villain, Lacotl. Everyone kind of... spoke weird? All of their conversations seemed really unnatural and strained. I don't know if the author was going for more of a fantastical feel, but to me all of the talking felt like no one would talk that way? I felt that Lacotl's strange way of speaking fit for an ancient evil, which is how I understood his character.
But I won't be picking up the next in the series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The characters were okay I guess. The standout was the villain, Lacotl. Everyone kind of... spoke weird? All of their conversations seemed really unnatural and strained. I don't know if the author was going for more of a fantastical feel, but to me all of the talking felt like no one would talk that way? I felt that Lacotl's strange way of speaking fit for an ancient evil, which is how I understood his character.
But I won't be picking up the next in the series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 15, 2020
I received a free copy of this book via BookSirens and am voluntarily leaving a review
Spirit of the Dragon was an interesting and beautifully written book, told by the points of view of the Genshu twins, Hidekazu and Masanori.
I honestly loved that we saw both brothers' POV, as they interacted with different characters or perceived the same things in a different way. Unfortunately, the only characters I cared about were the twins, so if something happened to another character I didn't really mind... Unless it somehow affected Hide or Masa, then I'd think about it more.
What left me speechless were the scenery descriptions and how magic, or in this case ki, was used in everyday life and in battle. Speaking of battle, the battle scenes confused me at times. I don't know if I just didn't understand what was told because I'm not a native English speaker or if there was something "wrong" with the description.
As a lover of Japanese language and culture I really enjoyed it, especially the parts I knew without having to check the glossary or the Internet.
I believe it's a book that even someone who knows nothing about Japan can enjoy, since it is set in its own unique universe and you can find anything you need in the glossary at the end of the book.
Spirit of the Dragon was an interesting and beautifully written book, told by the points of view of the Genshu twins, Hidekazu and Masanori.
I honestly loved that we saw both brothers' POV, as they interacted with different characters or perceived the same things in a different way. Unfortunately, the only characters I cared about were the twins, so if something happened to another character I didn't really mind... Unless it somehow affected Hide or Masa, then I'd think about it more.
What left me speechless were the scenery descriptions and how magic, or in this case ki, was used in everyday life and in battle. Speaking of battle, the battle scenes confused me at times. I don't know if I just didn't understand what was told because I'm not a native English speaker or if there was something "wrong" with the description.
As a lover of Japanese language and culture I really enjoyed it, especially the parts I knew without having to check the glossary or the Internet.
I believe it's a book that even someone who knows nothing about Japan can enjoy, since it is set in its own unique universe and you can find anything you need in the glossary at the end of the book.
April 21, 2021
I was testing out a free book website which unknown authors use to get word out about their debuts etc. Can't say I'll be rushing back...
This was just really boring and I couldn't even give you a summary of what happened. Obviously this is aimed at a younger age group and maybe some early stage weeb would enjoy it but I do find that unlikely.
I read a couple sentences aloud to Lozza and she asked if it was written by a boomer. That's what we're dealing with. Very little plot and fairly indistinguishable characters.
If I weren't so into logging my books I probably would have DNFed.
This was just really boring and I couldn't even give you a summary of what happened. Obviously this is aimed at a younger age group and maybe some early stage weeb would enjoy it but I do find that unlikely.
I read a couple sentences aloud to Lozza and she asked if it was written by a boomer. That's what we're dealing with. Very little plot and fairly indistinguishable characters.
If I weren't so into logging my books I probably would have DNFed.
December 17, 2019
This book was a hard read, mainly due to the whining of the twins. They don't have what they want so they whine, they get what they want so they whine. At times it over powers the actual plot. But there is a lot of world building that you'll need here to really get into the next book. (Which is a great book so worth starting the series for!)
January 4, 2022
4.75 stars
RTC
RTC
September 18, 2019
Erynn Lehtonen is a young Canadian writer. She shows an interest in Japanese culture and aims to represent mental illness in her writing. She is also currently studying creative writing. Her first (partial) novel is Ramshackled, part one of four novels which are supposed to form a complete story.
I chose to receive this book for free and give my honest review, which follows.
*Summary recommendation: read the book and be ready to read the following parts. The book promises much, and if it delivers in the latter parts it will be worth reading the beginning. *
Ramshackled takes place in an alternative Japanese world where magic is possible, and fighting is held high. Twin brothers are destined to not become great warriors as their family, having a well-known warrior tradition, has taken a different path and would not allow either to fight. Each brother has his own strengths, as one has magic powers and the other is a born engineer. Both have a possible career path, and neither is convinced it is what they really want. Thus, they train in secret with the daughter of the Shogun, aiming to learn what they are forbidden at home. As they are having a training session, a small town under the protection of the princess is attacked by a creature with magic powers which do not seem quite right. The creature kidnaps a woman in front of the princess and the two brothers and disappears.
A promising premise for a young adult fantasy. Further in the plot the idea of representing mental illness is lightly brushed with the sudden and unexpected disorder that the princess appears to have always had, but I presume this would be developed in the following parts of the book. As it is, only a promise has been made.
The idea of a world turned upside-down, where a family with centuries old tradition of martial arts, with katana’s going down from generation to generation, in a Japanese setting, an unheard-of situation, is to say the least fascinating. The execution of this promise is as lacking as that of the story, as no explanation is given of why the family would stop training their heirs in the art of fighting, and no foreshadowing as to a coming explanation in the future parts. Fighting is “taboo”, but at the same time expected of future employees in the palace.
Other problems with the logic of the book are also present. Why do a couple of fifteen-year-olds have to do everything on their own, including waking over the princess’ health when she has hopefully at least a number of capable people in her employ? Why do some of these people have no idea how they should communicate with the princess (most notably, the captain of the guard)? How can one of the brothers suddenly do advanced lost magic by reading a book for a couple of minutes, while this magic has been lost to all, including the teachers in the Academy? And still not “meet the princess’ expectations”? And finally, when the brothers get the opportunity to achieve their dreams, they have to think about it, because they dream of travelling, while this opportunity would set them back just a year… Even fifteen-year-olds should not think like this.
The writing itself also requires work. Often too much information is given where not necessary (explaining the benefits of education for example…), while too little is given when needed (why was the guard so reluctant to appear? The reader asks this question far before any of the characters does; some foreshadowing would have cleared this discrepancy).
Furthermore, new words are introduced without referral to the glossary in the end, which is often annoying, especially when multiple words happen to reside in the same sentence. Footnotes would be quite welcome here.
My conclusion is that this book requires more work, as the promise which it makes is not at all fulfilled. Still, that promise is so big, that I am inclined to allow for the author’s inexperience and give it a second chance. I hope to be pleasantly surprised, and I hope the author delivers.
I chose to receive this book for free and give my honest review, which follows.
*Summary recommendation: read the book and be ready to read the following parts. The book promises much, and if it delivers in the latter parts it will be worth reading the beginning. *
Ramshackled takes place in an alternative Japanese world where magic is possible, and fighting is held high. Twin brothers are destined to not become great warriors as their family, having a well-known warrior tradition, has taken a different path and would not allow either to fight. Each brother has his own strengths, as one has magic powers and the other is a born engineer. Both have a possible career path, and neither is convinced it is what they really want. Thus, they train in secret with the daughter of the Shogun, aiming to learn what they are forbidden at home. As they are having a training session, a small town under the protection of the princess is attacked by a creature with magic powers which do not seem quite right. The creature kidnaps a woman in front of the princess and the two brothers and disappears.
A promising premise for a young adult fantasy. Further in the plot the idea of representing mental illness is lightly brushed with the sudden and unexpected disorder that the princess appears to have always had, but I presume this would be developed in the following parts of the book. As it is, only a promise has been made.
The idea of a world turned upside-down, where a family with centuries old tradition of martial arts, with katana’s going down from generation to generation, in a Japanese setting, an unheard-of situation, is to say the least fascinating. The execution of this promise is as lacking as that of the story, as no explanation is given of why the family would stop training their heirs in the art of fighting, and no foreshadowing as to a coming explanation in the future parts. Fighting is “taboo”, but at the same time expected of future employees in the palace.
Other problems with the logic of the book are also present. Why do a couple of fifteen-year-olds have to do everything on their own, including waking over the princess’ health when she has hopefully at least a number of capable people in her employ? Why do some of these people have no idea how they should communicate with the princess (most notably, the captain of the guard)? How can one of the brothers suddenly do advanced lost magic by reading a book for a couple of minutes, while this magic has been lost to all, including the teachers in the Academy? And still not “meet the princess’ expectations”? And finally, when the brothers get the opportunity to achieve their dreams, they have to think about it, because they dream of travelling, while this opportunity would set them back just a year… Even fifteen-year-olds should not think like this.
The writing itself also requires work. Often too much information is given where not necessary (explaining the benefits of education for example…), while too little is given when needed (why was the guard so reluctant to appear? The reader asks this question far before any of the characters does; some foreshadowing would have cleared this discrepancy).
Furthermore, new words are introduced without referral to the glossary in the end, which is often annoying, especially when multiple words happen to reside in the same sentence. Footnotes would be quite welcome here.
My conclusion is that this book requires more work, as the promise which it makes is not at all fulfilled. Still, that promise is so big, that I am inclined to allow for the author’s inexperience and give it a second chance. I hope to be pleasantly surprised, and I hope the author delivers.
July 27, 2020
2.5 Stars
It's definitely rough, but there is something there that hints-hints at being truly spectacular.
Spirit of the Dragon follows the classic format of two siblings with similar traits yet completely different destinies. Masa can't control ki but is a brilliant engineer, and Hide has exceptional amounts of ki but doesn't have the motivation to be a bushi - not like his brother who, because of his inability to wield ki, has been told would be unable to become one.
Classic. Not boring or wrong since classics become classics for a reason, but the characterisation was a bit off and the plot's pacing and motivations felt a bit lacklustre. This meant that I felt totally uninvested in the characters' lives and their world's problems. The world-building, by the way, was gorgeous and the author's writing definitely lends itself to more mature writing perhaps, whereas the story felt fit for 10-12-year-olds.
There were also a couple of typos and grammar mistakes, as well as a couple of sentences and paragraphs that were a bit unclear and read awkwardly, but nothing that a good proofread cannot solve. Sentences were varied and they allowed the story to flow - I definitely cannot find fault with the writing style.
I can't comment on the accuracy of the Japanese lore and setting, but it's fantasy and merely based on the culture, just like how every story with selkies isn't going to be exactly the same or faithful to the source. I can, however, comment on the way the culture was integrated into the writing and this, I thought, was really well done. The right words were substituted in such a way that their meaning could still be inferred. The cultural norms and mannerisms were also noted, and whist the behaviour, such as kneeling, the ideas of respect and master-student relationships, were relatively well explained, some of the other societal aspects were kind of just left in the air, especially considering how the royal-family functioned, the societal hierarchy, as well as the gender balance.
Essentially, it was okay. It would normally be exactly my cup of tea, but the plot was a bit meh, and my greatest attraction to any story is a personal investment in the characters, and I felt nothing for these characters (perhaps because the dialogue and their interactions were so stilted and blank?). I probably won't read the second book, but I won't outright say no to trying any other book Lehtonen might publish in the future.
It's definitely rough, but there is something there that hints-hints at being truly spectacular.
Spirit of the Dragon follows the classic format of two siblings with similar traits yet completely different destinies. Masa can't control ki but is a brilliant engineer, and Hide has exceptional amounts of ki but doesn't have the motivation to be a bushi - not like his brother who, because of his inability to wield ki, has been told would be unable to become one.
Classic. Not boring or wrong since classics become classics for a reason, but the characterisation was a bit off and the plot's pacing and motivations felt a bit lacklustre. This meant that I felt totally uninvested in the characters' lives and their world's problems. The world-building, by the way, was gorgeous and the author's writing definitely lends itself to more mature writing perhaps, whereas the story felt fit for 10-12-year-olds.
There were also a couple of typos and grammar mistakes, as well as a couple of sentences and paragraphs that were a bit unclear and read awkwardly, but nothing that a good proofread cannot solve. Sentences were varied and they allowed the story to flow - I definitely cannot find fault with the writing style.
I can't comment on the accuracy of the Japanese lore and setting, but it's fantasy and merely based on the culture, just like how every story with selkies isn't going to be exactly the same or faithful to the source. I can, however, comment on the way the culture was integrated into the writing and this, I thought, was really well done. The right words were substituted in such a way that their meaning could still be inferred. The cultural norms and mannerisms were also noted, and whist the behaviour, such as kneeling, the ideas of respect and master-student relationships, were relatively well explained, some of the other societal aspects were kind of just left in the air, especially considering how the royal-family functioned, the societal hierarchy, as well as the gender balance.
Essentially, it was okay. It would normally be exactly my cup of tea, but the plot was a bit meh, and my greatest attraction to any story is a personal investment in the characters, and I felt nothing for these characters (perhaps because the dialogue and their interactions were so stilted and blank?). I probably won't read the second book, but I won't outright say no to trying any other book Lehtonen might publish in the future.
August 17, 2020
Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free.
By chapter two I felt I wasn't going to enjoy this book, but as I had a free copy in exchange for my review I read on trying to give it a fair go.
My initial issue was that the two main protagonists (brothers) take the lead in alternate chapters, but the whole book is in third person. There isn't really anything that made me feel I was seeing the action from the viewpoint of either brother.
The author uses character names incessantly, I think more pronouns would make the action flow better as Hidekazu and to a lesser extent Masanori jarred with me phonetically. There are Japanese words inserted to give atmosphere, but they largely seem unnecessary and superficial. One character says a couple of sentences in Japanese, which is referred to as the ancient language, it just felt to me like the author was trying a bit too hard there.
My second issue was that early on I found the ki energy that fuels the whole story was particularly unconvincing. Everybody climb on a big rock that the princess can levitate into the air and we can get a good view of the dancers on stage. Then later a "great master" uses it to pour his teapot. It reminded me of the Simpsons episode when Homer uses his handgun to turn the light switch on, i.e. total overkill for what is the special power of the goddess that everyone struggles with.
As the story progressed I found the actions of many people quite unconvincing, and several loose ends, such as the head guard's absence from town at a critical point.
It is the first in a series so maybe the loose ends will get tied together in later books, but I didn't get involved enough with the characters to want to follow them any further.
All in all the story would probably be more entertaining for much younger readers
By chapter two I felt I wasn't going to enjoy this book, but as I had a free copy in exchange for my review I read on trying to give it a fair go.
My initial issue was that the two main protagonists (brothers) take the lead in alternate chapters, but the whole book is in third person. There isn't really anything that made me feel I was seeing the action from the viewpoint of either brother.
The author uses character names incessantly, I think more pronouns would make the action flow better as Hidekazu and to a lesser extent Masanori jarred with me phonetically. There are Japanese words inserted to give atmosphere, but they largely seem unnecessary and superficial. One character says a couple of sentences in Japanese, which is referred to as the ancient language, it just felt to me like the author was trying a bit too hard there.
My second issue was that early on I found the ki energy that fuels the whole story was particularly unconvincing. Everybody climb on a big rock that the princess can levitate into the air and we can get a good view of the dancers on stage. Then later a "great master" uses it to pour his teapot. It reminded me of the Simpsons episode when Homer uses his handgun to turn the light switch on, i.e. total overkill for what is the special power of the goddess that everyone struggles with.
As the story progressed I found the actions of many people quite unconvincing, and several loose ends, such as the head guard's absence from town at a critical point.
It is the first in a series so maybe the loose ends will get tied together in later books, but I didn't get involved enough with the characters to want to follow them any further.
All in all the story would probably be more entertaining for much younger readers
August 11, 2020
This book is based on a really interesting concept and introduces distinctive elements that’s sets it apart from other fantasy series I have read. Overall, it’s a fresh, exciting story with likeable protagonist ideas.
However, this story felt incomplete, the characters were quite flat and lacked soul. Although the twins were presented as a strong dynamic, there was little dimension to their relationship, both between themselves and also with other characters. In addition, these relationships were not explored in much depth, for example, the twins (particularly Masanori) were unhappy with Torra’s presence, but were suddenly willing to go against their family, enter an unbreakable bond and ultimately put their lives on the line to save her. And their reasons for wanting to fight Lacotl so fiercely aren’t really justified. Yes, their ‘friend’ was taken by him and Aihi wanted to find her, but it isn’t clarified why they couldn’t just leave it to the guards/ officials to sort out, when those in power already knew and were looking for a solution. This makes the twins involvement in the plot seemed forced too. Why were two teenagers and a princess left to defend a city alone? The guards’ purpose and absence is never fully explained or justified. It seems strange that an entire city full of mayju, bushi and guards abandoned two people who were untrained and barely of age to join a fight against a foe with untold power. The lack of explanation or context really pulls this story down and made it difficult to follow at times. A lot of the questions left unanswered by the book could be solved with just a few extra sentences.
But on the whole this story had a lot of potential. If the concepts/ events/ characters were explained more thoroughly and had more substance then it would have been a really great read.
However, this story felt incomplete, the characters were quite flat and lacked soul. Although the twins were presented as a strong dynamic, there was little dimension to their relationship, both between themselves and also with other characters. In addition, these relationships were not explored in much depth, for example, the twins (particularly Masanori) were unhappy with Torra’s presence, but were suddenly willing to go against their family, enter an unbreakable bond and ultimately put their lives on the line to save her. And their reasons for wanting to fight Lacotl so fiercely aren’t really justified. Yes, their ‘friend’ was taken by him and Aihi wanted to find her, but it isn’t clarified why they couldn’t just leave it to the guards/ officials to sort out, when those in power already knew and were looking for a solution. This makes the twins involvement in the plot seemed forced too. Why were two teenagers and a princess left to defend a city alone? The guards’ purpose and absence is never fully explained or justified. It seems strange that an entire city full of mayju, bushi and guards abandoned two people who were untrained and barely of age to join a fight against a foe with untold power. The lack of explanation or context really pulls this story down and made it difficult to follow at times. A lot of the questions left unanswered by the book could be solved with just a few extra sentences.
But on the whole this story had a lot of potential. If the concepts/ events/ characters were explained more thoroughly and had more substance then it would have been a really great read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 1, 2019
Ramshackled is the first novella in the Yokai Calling series and follows the story of twin brothers, Hidekazu and Masanori Genshu. They have grown up, forbidden to fight by their family and continue the family legacy. While Hide possesses abilities to channel ki ‘energy’, Masa does not but this does not frazzle him. I really enjoyed the mental commentary of the characters and it helped me get to know them faster. Hide and Masa are strong characters, even if they are only 15 years old. Their comradeship with the Princess Aihi is evident throughout the story. They want to do the right thing and would rather train and fight than watch. They struggle with going against their parent’s wishes openly but always think through their actions.
Erynn does a great job of describing the setting and explaining mythology. Her description of fighting scenes was smooth and I found this book easy to follow. Shrouded in mystery, I was interested from the get-go. Can’t wait to read book 2!
Note: I received an advanced reader copy of this book for an honest review
Erynn does a great job of describing the setting and explaining mythology. Her description of fighting scenes was smooth and I found this book easy to follow. Shrouded in mystery, I was interested from the get-go. Can’t wait to read book 2!
Note: I received an advanced reader copy of this book for an honest review
July 22, 2020
Overall I liked this book and felt the world was very vivid. I liked the Japanese associations and the world seems to fit other Japanese-esque fantasies I've read, although I am not Japanese so can't speak for accuracy there. I thought Masa and Hide were well written, and their personal journeys well-written. I like how Masa actually reconsiders what he wants at one point because that makes him very human and believable.
I think my biggest frustration was that we never get any answers. The story is very action-packed and I like the development/introspection of Hide and Masa, but after a while I had trouble remaining invested because we don't get any answers on why - why are the attacks conducted? why were only women chosen as victims? why was Lacotl so powerful? what is the story between Aihi and several other characters? (I think I know who Aihi is interested in romantically but I don't mind waiting on that). What was going on in the neighboring city that was so important? Again, I kind of liked that this was clearly a detective/action story and the point that in a real world, sometimes things that are important to many still won't get the priority they need. But for storytelling purposes, please give us more information on the why's (or at least hints!) even if Masa and Hide can't know yet.
Anyways, looking forward to the sequel! I received a complimentary copy from the author.
I think my biggest frustration was that we never get any answers. The story is very action-packed and I like the development/introspection of Hide and Masa, but after a while I had trouble remaining invested because we don't get any answers on why - why are the attacks conducted? why were only women chosen as victims? why was Lacotl so powerful? what is the story between Aihi and several other characters? (I think I know who Aihi is interested in romantically but I don't mind waiting on that). What was going on in the neighboring city that was so important? Again, I kind of liked that this was clearly a detective/action story and the point that in a real world, sometimes things that are important to many still won't get the priority they need. But for storytelling purposes, please give us more information on the why's (or at least hints!) even if Masa and Hide can't know yet.
Anyways, looking forward to the sequel! I received a complimentary copy from the author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 11, 2020
I loved this story! It was developed very well and I really enjoyed immersing myself in this alternate Japanese realm. The only problem I had was understanding what some of the Japanese terminology was referring to. Since I have very little background knowledge on Japanese mythology, I had to constantly stop and research some of the topics brought up in the book so I could understand what was going on. Since I like researching the mythology of different cultures, I didn't mind doing so, and I learned a lot of interesting information! But some new readers who don't want to spend the time doing that while reading the book may not have a good experience reading this book if they don't understand the mythology. But overall, I really enjoyed the story and I look forward to reading the sequel!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 10, 2019
I really enjoyed the story. The brothers Hidekazu and Masanori are very similar people with very different powers. I liked watching them each develop different skills through their training.
The plot of Lacotl was interesting, finally learning about his motivations behind the abductions. This novella does leave that plot unresolved, so I can’t wait for the princess Aihi and the brothers to unravel the remaining mysteries.
I received an ARC from booksirens, but this doesn’t affect my review.
The plot of Lacotl was interesting, finally learning about his motivations behind the abductions. This novella does leave that plot unresolved, so I can’t wait for the princess Aihi and the brothers to unravel the remaining mysteries.
I received an ARC from booksirens, but this doesn’t affect my review.
May 9, 2023
3.5/5 rounded to 4
I found this during an Indie book sale posted on r/Fantasy in early April. I like the premise of the story and the world building is quite well done. I found the pacing to be sporadic as in a major fight scene would happen and I would get hyped and then the next chapters would feel very mundane in comparison, with little to no follow up of the action.
I also didn’t feel particularly connected to any of the main characters, but they are also supposed to be 19/20 so maybe there’s just an age disconnect in general. I am hoping that there is more insight/perspective from Aihi in the rest of the series because she was the one I connected with the least but felt like she had the most at stake?
Overall I enjoyed this and hoping that the second book in the series ups the ante and answers some questions!
I found this during an Indie book sale posted on r/Fantasy in early April. I like the premise of the story and the world building is quite well done. I found the pacing to be sporadic as in a major fight scene would happen and I would get hyped and then the next chapters would feel very mundane in comparison, with little to no follow up of the action.
I also didn’t feel particularly connected to any of the main characters, but they are also supposed to be 19/20 so maybe there’s just an age disconnect in general. I am hoping that there is more insight/perspective from Aihi in the rest of the series because she was the one I connected with the least but felt like she had the most at stake?
Overall I enjoyed this and hoping that the second book in the series ups the ante and answers some questions!
May 17, 2020
As I understand, Spirit of the Dragon is a rewrite of Ramshackled. I didn’t read the original version, but from reading reviews of it, I would say this new version is much better! I really enjoyed the Japanese folklore and overall I found it to be a well paced and interesting story. Twin brothers from a family that has forsaken their warrior roots must betray their parents’ ideals to save their friend from the hands of a monster. As a novella, this is a quick read, but it’s well written and includes quite a bit of world building. I’m interested in continuing the series, and I definitely recommend it!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 30, 2019
Japanese Folklore, Magic, and Heroes, oh my!
Action flows nicely and does not overwhelm the storyline. Enjoyed the character building as much as the epic battles. Particularly fascinated by the blending of Japanese folklore, the vocabulary lending it authenticity. I would recommend reading over the glossary first ( which reads like a novella in itself, highlighting the major and minor characters, places, and hierarchy’s). The glossary provides everything you need to make this adventure exciting, and leaving you wishing for the journey to continue.
Action flows nicely and does not overwhelm the storyline. Enjoyed the character building as much as the epic battles. Particularly fascinated by the blending of Japanese folklore, the vocabulary lending it authenticity. I would recommend reading over the glossary first ( which reads like a novella in itself, highlighting the major and minor characters, places, and hierarchy’s). The glossary provides everything you need to make this adventure exciting, and leaving you wishing for the journey to continue.
March 13, 2025
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This is a difficult review for me to write, because everything here is so aggressively middle of the road. If you enjoy this style of young adult fantasy, there's enough complexity, but it was difficult for me to stay focused because it felt like there were too many moving parts for an introduction while also failing to elaborate on some of the magic elements. It's a decent enough book, I wouldn't say I disliked my time with it, it was just not the read I was hoping it would be. The world is here, but it isn't built up enough in my opinion, and the focus flipping between the twins as often as it did felt jarring at times.
I didn't hate it? But it wasn't the strongest book I've read.
This is a difficult review for me to write, because everything here is so aggressively middle of the road. If you enjoy this style of young adult fantasy, there's enough complexity, but it was difficult for me to stay focused because it felt like there were too many moving parts for an introduction while also failing to elaborate on some of the magic elements. It's a decent enough book, I wouldn't say I disliked my time with it, it was just not the read I was hoping it would be. The world is here, but it isn't built up enough in my opinion, and the focus flipping between the twins as often as it did felt jarring at times.
I didn't hate it? But it wasn't the strongest book I've read.
August 5, 2019
they were not destined to be anything and their family name would die with them. They train in secret to become the warriors their parents are. Will they get their chance? Will they stay warriors? See how they get on
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 6, 2019
It was a nice book to read, though it is not my favourtite genre. However I liked it.
The characters were strong, the plot was well described and the book had more than enough tension.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you very much for that!
The characters were strong, the plot was well described and the book had more than enough tension.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you very much for that!
November 15, 2019
Excellent read
I thoroughly enjoyed this novella. The characters and their world are interesting. Magic, myth and adventure all wrapped in Japanese style world. It kept my attention. I will definitely be watching Erynn to see what she does next.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novella. The characters and their world are interesting. Magic, myth and adventure all wrapped in Japanese style world. It kept my attention. I will definitely be watching Erynn to see what she does next.
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