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Samurai Awakening #2
Revenge of the Akuma Clan
It's time for Revenge. Benjamin Martin, author of the 2011 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award semi-finalist Samurai Awakening, returns with another masterpiece of young adult fiction and the next installment in his riveting shapeshifter saga.
American teenager David Matthews has more to deal with than the average exchange student living in Japan—a lot more. In Samurai Awakening, David woke one morning to discover that he'd been empowered and possessed by the tiger god Kou. Now a Jitsugen Samurai in Revenge of the Akuma Clan and able to take on Kou's form, David must use his new abilities to protect Japan from the terrifying evil creeping across the land—and waiting for him to fail.
As his relationships, especially with Rie his host sister, grow uncertain, he must forge deeper connections with Kou, the tiger god that resides with him, and form new alliances if he hopes to hold back the return of Japan's ancient enemies. It is up to David to stop the powerful and vengeful Akuma Clan—and time is running out.
American teenager David Matthews has more to deal with than the average exchange student living in Japan—a lot more. In Samurai Awakening, David woke one morning to discover that he'd been empowered and possessed by the tiger god Kou. Now a Jitsugen Samurai in Revenge of the Akuma Clan and able to take on Kou's form, David must use his new abilities to protect Japan from the terrifying evil creeping across the land—and waiting for him to fail.
As his relationships, especially with Rie his host sister, grow uncertain, he must forge deeper connections with Kou, the tiger god that resides with him, and form new alliances if he hopes to hold back the return of Japan's ancient enemies. It is up to David to stop the powerful and vengeful Akuma Clan—and time is running out.
- GenresYoung AdultFantasyJapan
320 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2013
2 people are currently reading
825 people want to read
About the author
Benjamin Martin
5 books34 followersBenjamin Martin was born in Phoenix, Arizona. He studied Japanese Language, Culture, and History at the University of Arizona before joining the Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme in 2008. He taught English on small islands in Okinawa for five years before starting work with the Okinawa Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Demonstration Facility. His manuscript was a semi-finalist in the 2011 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award competition and Samurai Awakening won the 2013 Crystal Kite award for the Asia/Middle East/India region.
His experiences working with students on small islands has greatly influenced his writing and strengthened his desire to help promote communication and exchange between East and West.
His experiences working with students on small islands has greatly influenced his writing and strengthened his desire to help promote communication and exchange between East and West.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 28, 2014
When I finished Samurai Awakening, the first book in this series, my reaction was basically "I love it!". Now, for Revenge of the Akuma Clan, my reaction is "I LOVE IT AND I NEED THE SEQUEL NOW!"
But before I start, I need to thank Benjamin for the review copy that he sent. And it's autographed so this is one book I'm never getting rid off :D
Revenge of the Akuma Clan follows David as he continues on his path to be a Jitsugen Samurai, a samurai who protects Japan. But Chul Soon, the antagonist in Samurai Awakening is planning his revenge on David. David prepares for the next attack, but will he be strong enough? -resistingtheurgetospoilthebook-
AHEM. To continue, this book continues the strong characterisation in the first book and even introduces a few new characters (or rather, more of David's classmates find out his secret). Plus, existing characters like Takumi, Natsuki and Rie continue to develop and form new relationships. And of course, there is Kou and Reimi, the two kami inhabiting David and Takumi respectively. That's a large cast of characters. And yet those are just the kids. There are more adults, and I even learned something new about Yukiko, David's host mother.
The pacing of this book starts of normal at first (an ookami incident, a bullying incident), but towards the end of the book, it starts to pick up and rushes at you like a shinkansen. It's definitely the more exciting part, with one event leading to another.
What I liked about this book, apart from the plot and the characters, was how David's personal (Jitsugen Samurai) life and school life started to get more and more intertwined. It felt like the most natural route, since there is no way that so many supernatural events/fights can happen without anyone noticing.
The other thing that I liked was the school trip to Kyushu. It is the island where I'm living on after all. In addition, I've been to most of the places that David and his class goes to. I do wish there was more detail, but I didn't see any mistakes. And since a lot of books set in Japan tend to focus on Tokyo (or Osaka), it was refreshing to see Fukuoka and the rest of Kyushu appear.
If you liked Samurai Awakening, you have to get the sequel. If you're a fan of Japan/fiction set in Japan but haven't read it yet, what are you waiting for? Go and get these two books now!
Disclaimer: I got a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for a free and honest review.
This review was first posted at Inside the mind of a Bibliophile
But before I start, I need to thank Benjamin for the review copy that he sent. And it's autographed so this is one book I'm never getting rid off :D
Revenge of the Akuma Clan follows David as he continues on his path to be a Jitsugen Samurai, a samurai who protects Japan. But Chul Soon, the antagonist in Samurai Awakening is planning his revenge on David. David prepares for the next attack, but will he be strong enough? -resistingtheurgetospoilthebook-
AHEM. To continue, this book continues the strong characterisation in the first book and even introduces a few new characters (or rather, more of David's classmates find out his secret). Plus, existing characters like Takumi, Natsuki and Rie continue to develop and form new relationships. And of course, there is Kou and Reimi, the two kami inhabiting David and Takumi respectively. That's a large cast of characters. And yet those are just the kids. There are more adults, and I even learned something new about Yukiko, David's host mother.
The pacing of this book starts of normal at first (an ookami incident, a bullying incident), but towards the end of the book, it starts to pick up and rushes at you like a shinkansen. It's definitely the more exciting part, with one event leading to another.
What I liked about this book, apart from the plot and the characters, was how David's personal (Jitsugen Samurai) life and school life started to get more and more intertwined. It felt like the most natural route, since there is no way that so many supernatural events/fights can happen without anyone noticing.
The other thing that I liked was the school trip to Kyushu. It is the island where I'm living on after all. In addition, I've been to most of the places that David and his class goes to. I do wish there was more detail, but I didn't see any mistakes. And since a lot of books set in Japan tend to focus on Tokyo (or Osaka), it was refreshing to see Fukuoka and the rest of Kyushu appear.
If you liked Samurai Awakening, you have to get the sequel. If you're a fan of Japan/fiction set in Japan but haven't read it yet, what are you waiting for? Go and get these two books now!
Disclaimer: I got a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for a free and honest review.
This review was first posted at Inside the mind of a Bibliophile
February 26, 2013
Revenge of the Akuma Clan is book two in the Samurai Awakening series. I'm really proud be able to present my second book just less than a year after the first. So, what's going to happen in this book?
You'll get a taste of Japan's school trips,
A bit of this:
and
(Don't tell Kou)
Definitely some
But without the vampires...
And maybe even a little:
Find out more at SamuraiAwakening.com. Coming this Fall from Tuttle Publishing.
See the trailer at http://youtu.be/VFC-ck2ykL4
You'll get a taste of Japan's school trips,
A bit of this:
and
(Don't tell Kou)
Definitely some
But without the vampires...
And maybe even a little:
Find out more at SamuraiAwakening.com. Coming this Fall from Tuttle Publishing.
See the trailer at http://youtu.be/VFC-ck2ykL4
April 30, 2014
Disclaimer: I won this book from a Goodreads giveaway.
This book was quite enjoyable even though I hadn't read the first book in the series. Some particular highlights included the author's clear familiarity with Japanese culture/society as well as the rather unique take on the internal dialogue between the protagonist and his inner "tiger self" so to speak.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fantasy, particularly shapeshifting ones, but wants something fresher than just another werewolf story. The writing is strong and overall this is a solid book.
This book was quite enjoyable even though I hadn't read the first book in the series. Some particular highlights included the author's clear familiarity with Japanese culture/society as well as the rather unique take on the internal dialogue between the protagonist and his inner "tiger self" so to speak.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fantasy, particularly shapeshifting ones, but wants something fresher than just another werewolf story. The writing is strong and overall this is a solid book.
April 18, 2017
I have not read the first but this was the first book I've read that introduced me to Japanese culture. I love to travel and have added Japan to my list. :) The chapters were numbered in Japanese and I enjoyed learning them. The names were a bit difficult for me to pick up on the difference between male and female characters. The growth and depth of the characters made this an enjoyable read for me.
Goodreads win!
Goodreads win!
April 10, 2014
I won this book as a First Read... This book was very good. I enjoyed the Japanese side and the storyline was excellent. This book may well have been better than the first one!
Read
March 31, 2020This is uncomplicated story. The interesting part is the culture. I used to read manga and not surprise about the culture.
December 31, 2014
David is growing more comfortable with life in Japan. With the lingering threat of the Chul brothers to remind him the future may not be entirely easy, he's busy fending off attacks from small monsters and trying to plow through massive amounts of homework. Just everyday life for a Jitsugen Samurai. But he knows Chul Soon is not content to leave him alone for long. It is only a matter of when and where he will strike.
This book falters in some ways from the previous. For a while, as David is battling through minor monsters and has to deal with the second years' class trip, the tension ratchets up. It's his first time away from home with people who can't find out what he is, and he can't put down his secret life entirely when various monsters are still trying to kill him.
After that, though, it's almost an entirely different book. It is interesting to read about David's second-to-third year in school, and the various cultural things that happen at this point in life. But the book really struggles to maintain a sense of tension. Chul Moo provides a bit of narration at the head of each chapter, which helps keep tabs on the brothers, but that doesn't change the fact they spend the whole book doing virtually nothing and then show up right at the end. There could have been other monsters to fill the meantime, but the only things David faces are tiny critters he can kill in about a paragraph. It lacks the variety the first book had, as well as the sense that every new threat might be enough to take him down, with or without Chul Soon.
Once the ookami pack shows up, too, the fight seems hardly worth the effort. With the presence of so many powerful fighters, and David able to ambush at least half of the pack, and no yuurei in reserve, it feels like a watered-down version of the warehouse battle from the first book.
Overall, it's still not too bad as a life-in-Japan story with some supernatural action on the side. It's just not as compelling as the first book due to the pacing. I rate this book Neutral.
This book falters in some ways from the previous. For a while, as David is battling through minor monsters and has to deal with the second years' class trip, the tension ratchets up. It's his first time away from home with people who can't find out what he is, and he can't put down his secret life entirely when various monsters are still trying to kill him.
After that, though, it's almost an entirely different book. It is interesting to read about David's second-to-third year in school, and the various cultural things that happen at this point in life. But the book really struggles to maintain a sense of tension. Chul Moo provides a bit of narration at the head of each chapter, which helps keep tabs on the brothers, but that doesn't change the fact they spend the whole book doing virtually nothing and then show up right at the end. There could have been other monsters to fill the meantime, but the only things David faces are tiny critters he can kill in about a paragraph. It lacks the variety the first book had, as well as the sense that every new threat might be enough to take him down, with or without Chul Soon.
Once the ookami pack shows up, too, the fight seems hardly worth the effort. With the presence of so many powerful fighters, and David able to ambush at least half of the pack, and no yuurei in reserve, it feels like a watered-down version of the warehouse battle from the first book.
Overall, it's still not too bad as a life-in-Japan story with some supernatural action on the side. It's just not as compelling as the first book due to the pacing. I rate this book Neutral.
March 30, 2015
I received this book as a first read from goodreads. I was really excited to continue David's journey. This book was as exciting as the first one and kept me wanting to read. I really enjoyed seeing the characters grow in this book and can't wait for to get my hands on the next book.
August 21, 2015
Overall, the story is great. I'm looking forward, if ever, to it's possible sequel. It was just kinda distracting because of numerous typos, grammatical and punctuation errors. But nevertheless it's great. So 4/5 stars.
July 29, 2016
This was an okay book, but at times it was hard to keep my attention.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews