A Triumph For Sakura

by Jason S. Ridler

Famed fight coach Ned Bangs was down and out, until he saw Sakura fight four deadbloods like a champ. The catch? Unlike Ned, she was human.

Under Ned’s guidance, Sakura fights from the street to the big time, gather fame and enemies as they reach the arena of Cascadia. Can they both survive when her courage fans the flames of a human revolution against their vampire overlords?

What cost will they both pay for a Triumph for Sakura.

Genres: Fiction, Horror, Ebooks

334 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Jason S. Ridler is a professional writer and historian. His novel DEATH MATCH, the first Spar Battersea thriller, set in the madcap world of pro wrestling, is available at Amazon! Sex, drugs and headlocks, oh my!

Doc Ridler has also published over forty short stories in such magazines and anthologies as Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Brain Harvest, Not One of Us, Chilling Tales, Tesseracts Thirteen, and more. His popular non-fiction has appeared in Clarkesworld, Dark Scribe, and the Internet Review of Science Fiction. A former punk rock musician and cemetery groundskeeper, Mr. Ridler holds a Ph.D. in War Studies from the Royal Military College of Canada and lives in Northern California with his wife, two dogs, and two parrots.

Reviews

[Selene ☾ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm no stranger to dystopian, vampire, survival, or fight themed books. But A Triumph for Sakura, I would say is kind of new to me. It's interesting in that it's a mix of genres from the opposite ends of the spectrum that at first, I wondered how could anyone use vampires and boxing in the same sentence, let alone in a novel. I wasn't sure if I'm going to like it, honestly I'm not a fan of Kung Fu or wrestling or boxing so I doubted a novel, or anything really, could change that. But I did love the characters as well as the creepy, violent world Jason Ridler has created. A Triumph for Sakura is very action-packed, incredibly written, and will keep you turning the pages. Nancy Kilpatrick compared it to the Hunger Games, Fight Club and True Blood. Although not a young-adult novel, it's very reminiscent of a lot of young-adult books I have read. If I have to pick what it reminded me of the most, I would say Melissa Marr's Carnival of Souls, Julie Kagawa's The Eternity Cure, and Moira Young's Blood Red Road. If you're a fan of action and fighting, the imagery is vivid enough to keep you entertained through the last page. It's an intense read.

Disclosure: A free copy of the book was sent to me by the author in exchange for an unbiased review.

Seen on Eat Read Shop.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not Forks and these vampires don't sparkle.

This novel is set in what seems to be the not-too-distant future, where a civil war has changed the US and vampires rule. Well, natural vampires rule. Those who have been turned are barely a step above humans. Ned is a turned vampire/fighting coach with a bad break behind him and a desire for revenge and redemption.

His previous protege's loss is not Ned's only demon. He also has to come to terms with some other losses in his life. This is where Sakura, his new fighting find, comes in.

I thoroughly enjoyed the style & tone. Cascadia & the Scrum seemed real. The characters were gritty, flawed. Fight scenes realistic (well, given the abilities of the fighters within the framework of the universe) and somewhat gory without being too graphic. The author has a great ear for dialogue and has mastered the art of writing in a descriptive way without overuse of tired cliches. Triumph would make a great graphic novel. I would almost call it noir. Not the subject matter but the prose style.

It ended right when I wanted to see what was next. I will be looking forward to another story.

Thanks, Jason, for providing me with a copy of this book to review.

[Marvin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jason S. Ridler has a cool scenario going for himself. I would call him the best, although probably the only, writer in the vampire wrestler sub-genre. His novel Blood & Sawdust is in the same arena (no pun intended), Yet A Triumph For Sakura builds on that idea and ends up creating an alternate reality where ancient and corrupt vampire lords pretty much run society with human and turned vampires being low in the hierarchy. For some strange reason, vampires love wrestling. I know. Just go with it.

The novel has a YA feel which is mainly due to the young protagonist Sakura. Personally I think there is too much violence and intensity to call it YA. As far as influences, Ridler's novel has as much to do with the classic men pulp fiction as it does horror novels yet beyond the gritty descriptions and somewhat gory action scenes there is some class peeping out of the dirty gyms and the back alleys. I think I hear a little F.X. Toole meets Anne Rice action going on. The characters may seem a bit stereo-typed. Ned Bangs is a washed up trainer and Sakura is the spunky and hard-to-control kid from the slums. Yet the author manages to break through the stereo-types and develops some flesh-and-blood protagonists. Other characters are right out of a boxing film. I couldn't help visualizing Burgess Meredith as the wise and experienced Arthur. And the villains are just plain evil. Yet it all works and the novel ends up with a strong endorsement of the human spirit.

Like I said, Ridler has a good thing going. An original alt-universe with the best parts of familiar genres used to create his own story. I suspect he still has a few more tales to tell from this universe and I will be looking forward to reading them.

[C Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, this was given to me by the author himself (very generous of you sir ^_^) to review and I like how he welcomes criticism. "Love it, hate it, or just meh"... Something along those lines.

Second, I agree with the comparisons to The Hunger Games, because the setting was similar: dystopia. True blood yes, because vampires coexist with humans, though not exactly peacefully. Fight club I haven't seen but given what they do, I'm inclined to agree.

My thoughts? I'm not being honest if I say I loved it. It's a 3.5-star read for me because though I could've read this in one sitting, I didn't. My attention waned, but there are a lot of things I appreciated, and one of those is the author's imagination. He created stereotypes and he gave voice to them. Though the title has Sakura's name, it's obvious Ned Bangs is the main character. It's he whom we see in the first and last pages. The fight scenes were vividly written and it's rare for me to read a good one. I could even compare this to Million Dollar Baby because of the relationship between coach and fighter.

I liked Sakura and her grandmother, they're kickass. Mr Ridler is not afraid to kill a protagonist, to incite hate towards the antagonist maybe? I thank him though for this read because I was riveted when the tournament started and that's where I continued until the end.

[Gretchen Schott · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was surprisingly entertaining to me. I really didn't think I would enjoy it, but I found myself wanting to know the secrets behind these fantasy characters. The title of the book is a bit silly and had the author not sent me the book personally to read & review, I wouldn't have read it. Don't let the word "Sakura" be a reason to pass up this story. I have described the story to friends as, "million dollar baby with vampires, ninjas, and a little judge dredd".

If you enjoy vampire stories you will like the book. It will very easily develop into a series. The main character Ned is a likable loser who you root for throughout the story. My favorite character was the Grandmother who is more like Linda Hamilton in Terminator 2, than a Granny. Although Artur is the conscience of the story and I enjoyed how his character evolved and ultimately revealed his reasons for being loyal to Ned. I didn't see that coming and it was a very genuine, "awhhh" moment. The chapters are short which allow you to progress quickly. The ending is abrupt and leaves you hanging as to what will be next for Ned. The author writes fight scenes well and makes you feel as if you are ringside watching the fight.

I won't continue to read the series, but I am truly honored and grateful to have been asked to read & review this book. Many thanks Jason!

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Triumph For Sakura (Jason Riddler)

Ned Bangs was a famous fight coach, he is down and out, old and needing a cane for his crippled legs. Then one day he sees a young lady named Sakura, she beats up and knocks out "deadbloods", he sees a champion in her. He takes on training her for the big fights, his goal is to get her to Cascadia, the arena of Champions.

Along the way they face many enemies and her wins cause the humans to revolt against the vampire overlords. Will Sakura be able to triumph? The stakes are high but Ned and Sakura are going for it all, no matter what price they may have to pay.

Action filled nail-biter. A new twist on a vampire tale. I enjoyed the unique plot, the characters were likable. I definitely would like to read more work by Jason Riddler.

[Seregil of Rhiminee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally published at Risingshadow.

Jason S. Ridler has refreshed the vampire genre fiction in a good way. His previous book, Blood & Sawdust, was an entertaining and totally different kind of a vampire book. Now, in A Triumph for Sakura, he continues to refresh the genre by writing about vampires and fighting in a society where vampire overlords have become rulers.

I don't normally read this kind of speculative fiction, but I enjoyed this book. In my opinion A Triumph for Sakura is a fresh and interesting combination of several different elements from True Blood to The Hunger Games. Note! Although I refer to The Hunger Games, this book can only be recommended to adult readers (one of the main characters, Sakura, is a young woman, but this book isn't YA fiction).

Here's a bit of spoiler-free information about the plot:

Ned Bangs is a fighting coach, who struggles with his life. His luck changes when he meet Sakura in the alley where she is confronted by vampires. After the first meeting Ned begins to train Sakura for fights. Sakura is a janitor, but she's a good and talented fighter. She's a stubborn young woman who has a lot to learn...

Jason S. Ridler's prose is delightfully hard-boiled, and so is the action. Although his prose is hard-boiled, it's also sharp and witty. His prose reminds me a bit of quality pulp fiction, but it's different from it - it's almost like he's honed pulp fiction to suit his needs and replaced all the mainstream elements with speculative fiction elements.

I think it's great that the author is capable of writing about brutal happenings in a believable way. I find his stories and action scenes interesting, because he doesn't glorify and sugarcoat violence in any way. I'm sure that readers who watch boxing and wrestling, will enjoy this book very much, because the realistic action and fight scenes may appeal to them.

The author writes amazingly well about fighting and all things related to it. In this book, he writes about fighting in a much broader way than before. He has developed quite a lot as an author and delivers all the possible pain involved in fighting matches and training sessions to his readers by writing realistically about the fight scenes. He describes fluently and vividly how it feels to fight and how difficult and challenging it is to fight against an opponent - the heat and frenzy of the fight is totally believable.

Worldbuilding is minimalistic, but the world that the author has created begins to open to the reader as the story progresses. The author's vision of the world is wonderfully dark. He has been able to create a believable and grim society in which vampire overlords rule the world. It was interesting to read how the different social classes marked the humans and the vampires into different groups, because there was a distinct hierarchy in the society.

Although A Triumph for Sakura is a book about two characters who are brought together by chance and must try to work together, it can also be seen as a survival story, because both characters try to survive in a hostile environment.

The main characters, Ned Bangs and Sakura, are fascinating, because both of them are different. At first they seem a bit distant, but gradually the author deepens them and they develop nicely towards the end. The other characters are also interesting.

I noticed that there are certain things in this book which aren't fully explored. I don't know if the author intends to write a sequel someday, but it would be possible to write a sequel, because the world that he has created is interesting and several things could be explored more deeply.

A Triumph for Sakura is perfect summer reading, because it's a fast-paced book. It may not be to everybody's liking because of its contents (blood, fighting etc), but readers who want to read something different will probably enjoy it. I can recommend this book to readers who like vampire stories, because the author has created a bit kind of a vampire story.

By the way, if you haven't read Jason S. Ridler's stories and books, this book is a good starting point. If you like this book, you should take a look at the author's other books too, because they're interesting books.

Good and interesting fiction for vampire fans!

[Clay · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Triumph For Sakura is the latest book to join the growing catalog of bare knuckle brawling scribe Jason S. Ridler. A Triumph For Sakura tells the same age old story of the teenage phenom underground fighter who takes on a broken down vampire as her fighting coach and sets her sights on dismantling the despotic, dystopian hierarchy of vampire overlords who have come to dominate what's left of humanity. Okay, okay. Maybe it's not such an age old story after all.

Ned Bangs is a beaten down vampire who's lost everything and is looking forward to the terrifying prospect of a deathless future all alone with his failures, losses and regrets. Sakura is a teenaged orphan who cleans toilets by day and glories in the old Kung Fu movies of a forgotten past that her grandmother shows in their dilapidated old movie theater at night. Fate brings these two together and the resulting combustion is the stuff of revolution.

I think what worked so well in A Triumph For Sakura was it's tone. I'll admit that I'm something of a sucker for the hard-boiled pulp detective vibe and that seems to be Mr. Ridler's forte. Throughout A Triumph For Sakura I couldn't help but get wrapped up in the gritty existence of these characters who are just trying to get by in a world that has reduced humanity to nothing more than walking takeout for the pure-blooded vampires who rule the roost. I could almost taste the despair of this future society as its denizens went about their meaningless routines with nothing to look forward to except the designer chemicals offered up to dull their emotions and the hardcore bloodsport televised to sate their macabre entertainment lusts.

The story itself was just a little bit worn. I definitely felt as if I'd been here before. But Ridler added just enough window dressing in the form of vampires, blood banks and creepy immortals that it didn't wear me out. The plot was well paced and tight. I never really felt like the author was writing just to write. He had a story to tell and he told it without getting sidetracked on the minutia that so many new writers get bogged down with. The action was quick and didn't go on and on as with so many fight themed novels. I could tell Jason Ridler is a fan of all things martial but he didn't let his passion override his narrative. And for that, I was grateful.

The characters were likable if not as three dimensional as I would have liked. Don't get me wrong, there was plenty of back story and motivation for the two primary characters, just not a whole lot for the rest of the cast. I suppose there's only so much you can do without bogging down your story though. It's to Mr. Ridler's credit that he put in a handful of supporting characters that I actually wanted to get to know better. But as stated earlier, it was obvious that the author was afraid of derailing his tale with too much fluff. And that is to be commended.

My only caveat regarding A Triumph For Sakura is that Jason Ridler needs just a wee bit more polish. Don't get me wrong, this book is still better than his previous (which was better than the one before it). But it still had its share of minor misplaced words and editing mistakes. I can tell a little more time was spent on the editing of A Triumph For Sakura because it was much cleaner than his previous novels. And I understand no book is perfect.

All in all, A Triumph For Sakura is a novel that will thrill fight fans, inspire aficionados of the cult of Nosferatu and delight the lovers of gritty pulp fare. The violence wasn't overpowering and the humanity of its characters shined through all the way to the last page. Three stars (it's really 3 1/2 but that's not an option). Thanks for another interesting paranormal combat novel Mr. Ridler. I think you're on the right track to carving out your niche.

[Joe Hempel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review can also be seen at topoftheheapreviews(dot)com

Take the old fight coach who wants another shot at making a big fighter, and an underdog the likes you’ve never seen, shake them up, add a dash of vampire, and you have an action packed novel that combines motion picture style fights and the politics of high and low end society.



If you haven’t heard of Jason Ridler you should take a hard look at his writings. They are smart, action packed, and well written. A Triumph for Sakura is no different. Although it takes the rather over-played plot of an old coach, or an old fighter looking to regain their former glory, he adds another twist to it by adding vampires into the fray.

This works to elevate the story beyond just the coach/fighter relationship and adds political drama to the story. Essentially it tells a tale that goes beyond the lines between the poor and the wealthy and speaks about having power, and controlling those with that power. It’s also about getting behind something that should be impossible and rising to the challenge.

As an avid fan of fighting and wrestling it was good to see that the fights that took place, and the means of training that Ned and Artur use make sense. The descriptions of the fights are paced well, he describes and utilizes openings that might actually occur in a fight and capitalizes on them. He doesn’t insult the intelligence of people who enjoy the world of mixed martial arts by doing crazy things that are impossible, even against vampires.

Using the fight training and competitions he is able to build these flawed characters to be quite endearing. You are always rooting for Sakura, but Ned is pretty deplorable at times, you know he’s only really looking for redemption of himself. Yet along the way, you get to know more about him and his position and he becomes sort of a victim of circumstance and you then root for the team of Sakura and Ned Bangs. Jason also is able to create characters that you originally loath and slowly turn them into ones that you are rooting for.

One thing that I did like, and I think this may make it appeal to a wider audience, is that while there are vampires in it, and they do play a big part of the culture of the book, you could easily re-imagine them as a higher class of human society and be just fine. They don’t have to be vampires to make it work. It does make it more interesting however.



The Bottom Line: There is a lot going for this novel. The action and drama are both high and propel you through all 375 pages quickly and leave you wanting to know what will happen after the book ends. There is a LOT left to explore, and certain ramifications of Sakura fighting will have long lasting effects. I’m left wondering if there is more that Jason Ridler has to say about Cascadia in the future. I’d be interesting in looking into the past, and the future in this world.

[Matt Schiariti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ned Banks is a famous fight trainer. At least, he used to be. He's down and out, and relives his most recent failure every day of his life. Being he's a half vampire, that's a lot of days to fill with the replay of seeing your most promising human protege torn to shreds in the Arena by an elite vampire cage fighter. Then he witnesses a young, human girl take on a handful of vampires single handed without breaking a sweat. She wants to fight in the arena and Ned knows that with some training, they may just be able to change their harsh world, a world in which Vampire Lords rule a dystopian future through politics, bread, and circuses. Will Ned and Sakura be able to change the lives of the downtrodden or will they fail when the cards are set against them.

I'd first discovered Jason Riddler with Blood and Sawdust. I thought the world he'd created, along with his fresh take on vampires was inventive and entertaining. See, his vamps aren't all glamorous, walking works of art with breathtaking beauty and flowing hair. Some just struggle to make their way. The same holds true for Triumph. Triumph works the seasoned veteran takes the talented yet unfocussed newcomer trope and, thanks to Riddler's imagination and writing ability, makes it something new. The world he created in Triumph is part Fight Club, part Rocky, part Running Man, but it's filled with heart and fantastic characters. Ned suffers from a troubled past and a long history of losing, but he's got a code of honor;something that's sorely lacking in the current time period's blood thirsty populace. Sakura is naive but talented, but she's got heart and ability. At the end of the day, Triumph for Sakura is a very human story, a story about that one last chance to make a difference and try to change the oppressive world the characters inhabit.

Riddler's prose is fast and furious, but also descriptive. His characters are fantastic, each having their unique voice and consistent characterizations, and the dialogue is quick, snappy, and at times laugh out loud funny.

In a sea of 'safe' and 'been there done that' vampire fiction, Riddler sets himself apart by being different, by doing something that goes against the grain. The good thing? He does it well and makes it entertaining.

If you're looking for a break from the norm, if you like an alternative history David Vs. Goliath story, with a hint of the fantastical, and a good does of action, look no further than Jason Riddler. His is a great and welcomed new voice in vampire fiction.

[Kent Krause · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the not so distant future, the United States has ceased to exist – its government collapsed after a bloody civil war. In the city-states that emerged in the aftermath, an elite caste of highborn vampires holds power. Below them in the hierarchy are the turned vampires and masses of ordinary humans. Despite their bleak and meager existences, the underclasses are kept in line with government-supplied drugs and base entertainments, most notably an endless series of gory MMA-style fights.

Ned Bangs is among the most desperate denizens of this domain. A Vietnam vet in his former human life, Ned has endured for decades as a crippled vampire who earns his living training cage fighters. Haunted by the brutal defeat of his star protégée at the hands of a vicious pureblood, the penniless coach is finally circling the drain. But one night in the gutter, he observes an extraordinary display of fighting skill from a young woman who holds off three powerful attackers. Ned convinces this girl – Sakura – to accept his rigorous cage-fighting training regimen. Rising through the ranks, she soon makes powerful enemies both inside and outside the ring.

As with Ridler’s other works, the urban setting for A Triumph for Sakura is dark and grim. I’m not a big fan of MMA or vampire fiction, so it took me a while to get into this book. About one-third of the way in, the story grabbed me like one of Ned’s hammerlocks. Similar to the characters inhabiting this dystopian world, the author’s prose is fierce and unrepentant. Conversations brim with bitterness and threats; fight scenes splatter with blood and gore. This is not just a tale of violence though; Ridler mixes in doses of history, philosophy, and sociopolitical commentary to augment a story that careens toward an explosive ending that does not disappoint.

[Chrissy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't think I would care for this book knowing that it would involve vampires. But it wasn't your typical teenage vampire novel it was way better! It had the hunger games element to it sort of. Same sort of fighting to the death element only no one is forced to fight, it is just something those do to obtain more money. If this is the second book I would love to read the first one as I felt that there may have been things I missed in the first one. It seems to give you a jist as to what happened previously. I sure hope there is a third book with the cliff hanger that you're left with, this was well worth the read.

Ned is a vampire but not a born vampire, he's what they called a turned vampire. He is living in the far future when the world has changed dramatically. He fought in a war and becomes a vampire, he learns how to fight well and becomes a trainer. He trains for the military and then when he leaves he trains a man named Wallace to fight in the arena. When he looses in the arena by a man named Trent, whom he also trained but is a vampire, he becomes penny-less. His fighter Wallace is hospitalized in a coma. He runs into Sakura on a nights walk when she is attacked by three vampires which is illegal. They are not allowed to drain a human as it would put them in prison. Ned goes to save her and to his surprise Sakura fights them well. Better than any human he has encounter fight. He jumps in to back off the other vampires and walks her home. He proposes that she trains with him to be a fighter.

Certainly action packed and not a dull moment.

[Jon · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a preface, I received a review copy of this book.

This is the 2nd book by Ridler that I've read, and I think I enjoyed this one more than Blood & Sawdust. That's not to say it's perfect, far from it, but it's a interesting read, with some enjoyable characters and situations.

Again, we're tossed into a gritty world, and the plot centers around no holds barred fighting. Where the hook in Blood was a fighter who couldn't be killed, here the hook is vampires. The world itself is interesting, and the parts where we get a glimpse of how the world works, and how it came to be are some of the most intriguing, at least to me.

The meat and potatoes of this story is a fairly stereotypical trainer/trainee relationship and build up to The Fight, of course with some novel situations and changes. Remember, vampires.

Overall it was good. The vampires felt like they were an integral part of the story from the beginning, rather than something added on later to pull in an audience, which was pleasant. They're also not over-used as a plot device. Sure, you get a lot of "hey, vampires" scenes and stuff, because, well, there's vampires. However, it's not like, "HEY LOOK AT THIS VAMPIRE, AND THIS ONE, WHEEEEE VAMPIRES" all the time, which would have been a huge turn-off.

I'm not sad I've read this, and I'll certainly read more from Ridler.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Thoughts: What do you get when you add an old fighting coach and a dirt poor a bit more than semi-decent at fighting street urchin? Oh, and don't forget the dash of vampire. You get what I thought would be a disaster. But, my thinking was oh so wrong. With any other author, I think it would be a disaster. However, Jason Ridler writes so brilliantly and elegantly that getting pulled into this world is easy. I couldn't put it down, and really didn't want it to end. Another positive? It was so refreshingly unique. This wasn't your usual take on vampires. It was probably the most realistic book involving vampires that I've ever read or ever will read. I want to take a minute to talk about how amazing all the characters were described. I pictured them down to a T, including smell, which was occasionally revolting at times. I loved the characters and how they developed. I also loved how strong of a lead Sakura was. This book is going to be hard to forget and nearly impossible for me to get out of my head. Trust me, I finished it a few days ago and still haven't been able to get it off my mind. This book has something for everyone, and I do mean everyone. Pick it up and don't let this pass you by!

Final Thoughts: My fingers are crossed for a sequel!

[Kathy Chung · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed at A Triumph For Sakura by Jason S Ridler


I thought there is nothing new that any author can add on to the existing Vampire series but obviously I was wrong.

The author certainly put new twist in "A Triumph For Sakura".

Of all characters in the book, I think I like Ned best. Probably because of his flash back on the good old days and current time.

I also love that this book despite all the fighting and everything, there are not much of foul language. In here, four letter words were being used at appropriate place. Yeah...I do sound snobbish but that's how I feel. I really hate it if nearly every page of a book being splattered with four letters words.

Overall it has been a good read

[Jen Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jason Ridler has really impressed me with this one. Not only is it a unique and refreshing vampire story but what really engaged me was the unexpected heart of the story, Ned Bangs. I expected the blood, the action, and the violence in the ring or the cage but I didn't expect to have a vampire character like Coach Ned Bangs. As Mr. Ridler gives us more insight into Ned Bangs and his life story, along with his friends, I was really engaged me and was truly pulling for Coach and Sakura throughout the novel in the matches and on the street.
This book had all the action of a good thriller combined with vampires, fight club, political and social undertones, and the importance of family/friends. Highly recommend.

[T.K. Toppin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This will be the third book by Jason Ridler that I've read, and I have to say, his work gets better and better. I enjoyed A Triumph For Sakura, a story of a young woman with amazing skill and strength in the fighting arena in a post-war world ruled by vampires. I'm not a huge fan of vampires or fight clubs - especially in books - but Ridler has the ability to drop in the right amount without boring or overplaying. The world he created is frighteningly realistic, gritty and glamorous, and has all my favourite elements: engaging characters, fast-paced, action and excitement.

[Georgiann Hennelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ned Bangs is an old fight coach, down and out.One day he meets Sakura a young lady who beats up and knocks out dead bloods. He decides to take on her training for the big fights, his goal is together to Cascadia the arena of champions. Along the way they will face many enemies and her wins will cause the humans to revolt against the Vampire overlords.W ill Sakura triumph? The stakes are high but Ned and Sakura are going for it no matter the price. If you enjoy vampire stories this is a real page turner of a read. I look forward to reading more books by Jason Ridler

[Brandon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will preface that I was supplied a copy by the author but I am doing my best to remain impartial and fair:
This books seems to offer a little something for everyone. The plot does seem familiar at times but with a nice fresh twist. I found myself really enjoying this read, especially the action scenes. I definitely recommend this book, even if you're typically on the fence when it comes to vampire stories.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Round Two...

This is the second Jason Ridler book I have reviewed, and I have to say...Jason fixed the majority of problems I had with Blood and Sawdust. Jay definitely has a "niche" and this book sky rockets him up on my list of favorite authors.

The characters have back stories and you genuinely learn to care for them. The story is enthralling and hard to escape from. Even with the books SMALL nuances, this is a must read.

[Jacq · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again enjoyed Jason's work. He puts a different twist on vampires and how they must earn their money. Recommended read to those who like fight clubs, drama, and a different view of vampire politics.
Thanks Jason for the free read!

[*¨·٠•●♥✿LINLAN✿♥●•٠·¨* · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just finished reading "A Triumph for Sakura" and I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised. At first, I was a bit skeptical. I thought it might be just another run-of-the-mill vampire story but this book really delivered on its promise of being a thrilling mix of The Hunger Games, Fight Club, and True Blood.

One thing that stood out to me was how well-paced and tightly plotted the book was. The action kept me on the edge of my seat, and I found myself eagerly turning the pages to see what would happen next. The main character was well-developed with a compelling backstory and clear motivations, and I really appreciated the effort the author put into fleshing out this character.

However, I do have to say that some of the supporting characters felt a bit one-dimensional in comparison. While the main character was complex and multi-faceted, some of the other characters seemed to lack depth and complexity.

Overall, I would give "A Triumph for Sakura" a weak 3 out of 5 stars. While it didn't quite reach the heights of some of my favorite books, it was definitely an enjoyable read. I would recommend it to fans of the genres it blends together.

Thanks to the author for providing me with a copy of the book to review!

[Lolly's Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

As much as I hate to, I feel I have to DNF this one. It's just not catching on with me. Well-drawn and atmospheric, I really, really wanted to like A Triumph for Sakura, but it's just not connecting with me.

So why then did I rate the book so highly? Because I know there are readers out there that will absolutely lap up this book and sob desperately for more. And on a simple technical level, I can't blame them. Ridler is a damned fantastic writer. He's created a world here that's gritty and grubby and downright depressing as hell, filled with old-school style vampires that you really don't want to meet in a dark alley. Yet despite the vampires, it's a world that's vividly realistic: you can smell the blood and sweat of the fights, feel the heat from the press of bodies, hear the cheers and jeers and thumping of feet. And the story is told in a tight, attention-grabbing manner: the narrative flows, the dialogue feels genuine, and you get enough info about how the world of A Triumph for Sakura came to being without Ridler relying on lengthy exposition or falling into the trap of using info dumps. The only hiccup for me were the frequent flashbacks to Vietnam experienced by Ned Bangs, Sakura's trainer and the actual focus of the novel. I get that Bangs is suffering from PTSD, even as a vampire, and that Ridler is simply showing the triggers and consequences, but it seemed excessive. Although no specific year is given, it's obviously been several decades since Vietnam and in that time Bangs hasn't been able to come to grips with even just a little bit of his experience there? Those little interludes were just a bit too frequent and attention-disrupting for my liking. Even so, the story still has its merits. Sadly, though, in spite of all its charms and achievements, A Triumph for Sakura is just not connecting with me on a visceral level. Which really sucks. For me, that is.

This is the first book I've (semi-)read by Jason Ridler, thanks to him contacting me and offering me a copy in exchange for an honest review. (As he put it, “If you love it, hate, or think it was meh, totally cool.”) Despite the unfinished state of A Triumph for Sakura (which, I promise, I will try to finish at a later date because it bugs me; just consider it to be on hold at the moment), don't for a moment think I won't try reading any of Ridler's other novels. Because he's certainly got a unique voice that I want to hear more of- uh, of which I want to hear more. Oh, screw it. Who really cares anyway?

[Eva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fans of Ridler’s longer works have come to expect supernatural thrillers usually set in a wrestling background. This time around in A Triumph for Sakura, he switches things up and makes it about cage-fighting, and he has introduced a female protagonist to drive the story.

Ned is a semi-cripple who has to train a very talented girl, Sakura, into a cagefighter because she can beat up vampires, but she’s rough around the edges and learned to fight from movies, so she’s far from being a pro fighter. She has to disguise herself as a man to be able to compete, and her first fight is with a tough guy, Fife. Ned has to make sure Sakura doesn’t get too cocky or brash, and to make her a better fighter.

Their plan is to eventually reveal her true gender in a fight that she wins, but she has other things to worry about. Through the course of the book, she gets better at thinking quickly on her feet. But she also has endearing qualities, such as her relationship with her grandmother, who, despite her age, is just as feisty as some of the fighters Sakura encounters in the ring.

Personal stakes abound for all the characters, with Ned and Sakura’s fates being more tied together than either of them realizes. There’s also plenty of good tension throughout. It’s an entertaining, quick read that packs a punch–with fangs.

It’s gritty, funny, and features great dialogue as with Ridler’s other books. UFC fans, fans of the film and book versions of "Fight Club", as well as wrestling fans will find this book an entertaining read. If you’re longing for a follow-up to the film "Haywire" featuring former MMA fighter Gina Carano, and waiting until Ronda Rousey has her next fight, read "A Triumph For Sakura."

(This review can be found on my website here).

[Digit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again, I thoroughly enjoyed JR's newest. I knew what to expect after reading Blood and Sawdust (good thing), and was pleased to find more of what I enjoyed from that book. The plot has fresh ideas (something very hard to do these days), and the book moves at a good pace.
I have to offer a bit of constructive criticism in addition to the well-deserved compliments. JR can describe a situation with a grandiose and verbose turn of phrase. This is good in most situations; as it can really describe the moment and bring the reader more fully into the world. IMHO, however, this can be a liability when it is used in character dialogues. It can become jarring and break the reader from the world if all of a sudden, the character says something that seems out of character. Example - Instead of saying 'I commenced her training by hurling her into the maelstrom'; a coach would be more likely to say 'I started her out by throwing her into the crapper'.
I really like this author, and think he will do well. I've said this before, but it's worth repeating - this guy can pull you in and make you root for his characters quicker than a lot of more established authors out there.
I'm already looking forward to his next book.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had told myself that I was not going to read any more vampire novels, but I'm glad that I made an exception for this book. Ridler's vampire caste system adds a new dimension to a genre that is fast becoming timeworn and uninspired. Add to this new dimension the dystopian element and you have a very readable book that is high in action, takes a couple of interesting twists,and has you rooting for a down-and-out PTSD veteran vampire and his young protege.

I enjoyed and recommend this book, but I need to add a caution marker for those readers who prefer not to read books with a lot of strong language. While one would expect the use of profanity in a book that is mainly set in a gym in the slums of a post-wartorn country under the almost dictatorial rule of elite vampires, there is so much profanity that, at times, it is a distraction instead of an understandable, realistic character trait.

This,IMO, weakness, did not stop me from reading the book. I was too interested in seeing how the story would end to let the language stop me. I look forward to reading the sequel to this story. I need to know what is going to happen next.

[Teresa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Frankly, I struggled with this story. It was difficult for me to figure out what time frame of the world the story is taking place. About half way through, when characters are using computers, and they begin to refer to the way, way past, it finally came to me this is fiction taking place way in the future. A far different future than any of us may have imagined. This future is devoid of present day government, state lines, and cities within. Vampires and humans have been told how to co-exist in this future world, and there is enough enforcement of those laws each side seems to abide by them. Ned Bangs is an interesting person who you really do not get to know until somewhere in the middle. Perhaps I missed it, but I still do not know why his wife and child are deceased. I wish there were more details of this story since Ned is blaming himself for their deaths. There are many, many vampire fans out there, but I personally am not one of them. Perhaps this tainted my opinion of the book. The ending leaves it wide open for a sequel, and I sense she will be the leader of a revolution and New World. Keep writing, Jason!!!

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my second book from Jason Ridler and both have a similar theme of vampires and fighting, and after enjoying the first book was happy to be reading another from him.

The story follows a young lady called Sakura, how is unlike any other human fighter, she's faster, stronger and tougher than anyone else. However in a world run my vampires she's going to need the help from coach (and vampire) Ned Bangs to succeed.

The characters within the book are varied and colourful and the post-war world ruled by vampires is an interesting place. The pace of the book is fast enough to keep you turning the page and the detail in the fight scenes helped bring them to life and shows off Jason's passion for it.

If your a fan of vampire books are grittier and original, or a fan of fighting books (or both) then you'll find this a very enjoyable read and well worth getting.

The novel was received in exchange for an honest review.

[Dany · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author was kind enough to give me a copy of his book, so first of all: Thank you!

This book mixes a dystopian society, vampires, half-vampires and bloody, horrible fights that make you glad that it is just a book, because oh, boy, it felt REAL!. While it took me a while to warm up to the main character (the manifestations of his PTSD were a little distracting at times), once I truly situated myself in the universe the author was proposing, it was a really entertaining read.

However, I have to strongly advice an editor or something, because I found too many "you're" instead of "your", and even though English is my second language, it was quite off-putting. Same thing with a few misplaced names.

Other than that, I really enjoyed this book, the characters were really interesting and engaging, and the end had me literally grabbing my head because I was too nervous, which I consider a VERY good thing. Three stars!! :D

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is second book I've read by this author, and as with the first one, I was given a free copy for review. That said, I knew what to expect when I saw it was about vampires and fighting. The fighting is a sort of boxing-MMA hybrid. Very violent. I will say that it took me a little bit to get into the story. I think there were too many questions in my head about Ned, the turned vampire, and hid background and motivation. But once a little detail was revealed, it quickened the pace and I was eager to read more. The book ends immediately after the story's climax, and I was very curious about the aftermath of the last fight. The fighting scenes were also very interesting to read. Sometimes in fight scenes there's too much going on and I can't keep things straight, but not in this case. It was well paced. I would read a follow up to this book.