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The Legacy
When Andy Tanaka finds an old wooden chest in a storage shed on his family’s flower farm, he can’t wait to share his discovery with his best friend, Leigh Becker.
Inside the dusty lacquered chest are a pair of swords, some Japanese clothing, and a mysterious scroll, which could provide links to his samurai ancestor. They find someone to translate the scroll and then research the significance of the other items, intent on ensuring the legacy isn’t forgotten.
In the process, they learn not only about samurai history, but also some surprising truths about themselves.
Inside the dusty lacquered chest are a pair of swords, some Japanese clothing, and a mysterious scroll, which could provide links to his samurai ancestor. They find someone to translate the scroll and then research the significance of the other items, intent on ensuring the legacy isn’t forgotten.
In the process, they learn not only about samurai history, but also some surprising truths about themselves.
49 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2011
6 people are currently reading
48 people want to read
About the author
Patricia Kiyono
44 books130 followers During her first career, Patricia Kiyono taught elementary music, computer classes, elementary classrooms, and junior high social studies. She now teaches part time at Grand Valley State University.
She lives in southwest Michigan, not far from her children and grandchildren. Current interests, aside from writing, include sewing, crocheting, scrapbooking, and music. A love of travel and an interest in faraway people inspires her to create stories about different cultures.
She lives in southwest Michigan, not far from her children and grandchildren. Current interests, aside from writing, include sewing, crocheting, scrapbooking, and music. A love of travel and an interest in faraway people inspires her to create stories about different cultures.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 28, 2011
I don't usually read novels of this length or subject matter, but found that this little novella was the perfect read for an evening when I wanted to curl up to a good book but didn't have the time to devote to a longer story. The author does a great job of providing an intriguing plot in such a short story, without leaving major gaps for the reader to imagine what happened between major points/events. The characters seem real and the story offers some surprising twists. For only $1, I found it a steal. I'm definitely looking forward to Kiyono's future pieces!
October 5, 2011
The Legacy is a quaint short story about two best friends are both likeable and fun, yet wholly complete and complex characters. Leigh, the main character, is a college graduate who likes to read comics (or Japanese manga) and has no idea what the future will hold for her. Andy, Leigh’s best friend, is the CFO of a successful family run flower store. The two have been best friends (only friends) for as long they can remember. When Andy finds of box of his ancestor’s heirlooms Andy and Leigh begin researching in order to find the meaning of the mysteries the box contains. As the two friends are unraveling the mystery of Andy's Japanese Legacy, both Leigh and Andy discover how each family’s legacies affect their personal life, and also come to the realization that it is their actions that define who they are and the legacy they will ultimately leave behind.
Even though the story is short, Kiyono weaves a strong storyline without trying to fit too much in. She allows the story to unfold at its own pace and gives the reader insight into what could be a captivating storyline (sequel, or prequel perhaps!!). The Characters are not one dimensional and have distinct personalities which make them the real strength of the work. Overall, a strong character-driven short story with likable and distinct characters with an open ending that would hint at a sequel or, perhaps, a novel length work.
Even though the story is short, Kiyono weaves a strong storyline without trying to fit too much in. She allows the story to unfold at its own pace and gives the reader insight into what could be a captivating storyline (sequel, or prequel perhaps!!). The Characters are not one dimensional and have distinct personalities which make them the real strength of the work. Overall, a strong character-driven short story with likable and distinct characters with an open ending that would hint at a sequel or, perhaps, a novel length work.
September 17, 2011
I loved Patricia Kiyono's story The Legacy. Although it is a short story, it was a very enjoyable read. I loved the details of the ties to Samurai Japan and the family's rich ancestry. I hope Ms. Kiyono writes more stories -- maybe a longer novel -- about this family. I'm sure there story is fascinating. How did they get from ancient Japan to the family flower farm in America. Please Ms. Kiyono, I want more.
March 24, 2012
Read this in an afternoon. Enjoyed this sweet, short romance. 100% of the purchase from this book goes to Japanese relief. http://www.astraeapress.com/#ecwid:mo...
February 13, 2019
Short and sweet
Hiro lives on through his descendents. I love the sweet way the characters still honor the Samurai and his garden even years and years later.
Hiro lives on through his descendents. I love the sweet way the characters still honor the Samurai and his garden even years and years later.
July 28, 2013
This is a case of over expectation letting you down. I expected full novel length story with a paranormal twist but instead it is a contemporary short story. I fully confessed that this is one of those times that I didn’t research the book and had let my imagination fill in the blanks based on cover, title, and vague recollection of blurb.
I am not a fan of short stories to begin with as I just find that they usually do not satisfy me. I think short story is a hard medium as with word limitation, you’d need to be able to tell the story succinctly but with enough zest to entertain. I found that there was too many things being fit into
The Legacy so the story really barely scratch the surface. Too many things were happening that I didn’t have time to relate or get attached to any characters. I found Andy to be a little confusing as he does weights and Leigh walked into ‘a wall of muscle’ [Andy] but yet, he couldn’t get a punch in? The story around the actual ‘Legacy’ has promise and is probably a good premise for a full length novel but I was a bit short and the ending was also a bit simplistic.
This is a simple story which you may like to read during a boring lunch time as it will help you while a way the time. For me, the disappointment mostly stemmed from incorrect expectation but as long as you know what you’re getting into, you may find the story to be tolerable and somewhat sweet.
Thank you, Astraea Press, for providing copy of story in exchange of honest review.
I am not a fan of short stories to begin with as I just find that they usually do not satisfy me. I think short story is a hard medium as with word limitation, you’d need to be able to tell the story succinctly but with enough zest to entertain. I found that there was too many things being fit into
The Legacy so the story really barely scratch the surface. Too many things were happening that I didn’t have time to relate or get attached to any characters. I found Andy to be a little confusing as he does weights and Leigh walked into ‘a wall of muscle’ [Andy] but yet, he couldn’t get a punch in? The story around the actual ‘Legacy’ has promise and is probably a good premise for a full length novel but I was a bit short and the ending was also a bit simplistic.
This is a simple story which you may like to read during a boring lunch time as it will help you while a way the time. For me, the disappointment mostly stemmed from incorrect expectation but as long as you know what you’re getting into, you may find the story to be tolerable and somewhat sweet.
Thank you, Astraea Press, for providing copy of story in exchange of honest review.
February 15, 2017
It was wonderful to read about Hiro and Hanako's decedents. Seeing that Tanaka Farms had lasted throughout the generations was really nice. What I liked most of all about this story was that it showed that Bushido continues to thrive and can be found in the most simplistic of places.
July 11, 2012
Author Patricia Kiyono seems to have a flair for compressing enjoyable romances into a tidy novella length. Here, best friends Andy and Leigh are stretching to become something more while Andy comes to terms with his family's historic samurai legacy: two swords, a scroll, and some Japanese clothing found in an inlaid box in storage. Just as important to the story, however, is the less savory legacy of Leigh's increasingly alcoholic and abusive stepfather. A quality story with good writing, good plot, and characters deeper than the novella norm.
July 8, 2013
I like Kiyono's concepts in The Legacy, but it felt like two separate stories - one concerning Leigh and her abusive stepfather and the other concerning the swords that Andy found. Obviously, the two characters tie the plotlines together, but it would have been stronger if Andy was the one trying to earn the legacy, not his grandfather. However, for a shorter work, all of the characters were nicely developed.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews