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Sunset Warrior Cycle #4
Beneath an Opal Moon
Terrible death stalks the streets of teeming Sha'angh'sei, and bloody vengeance rides in its wake. No man -- or woman -- is safe.
Then ghastly terror strikes at Moichi, oath-brother to the Dai-San. At the Circus of Souls, Moichi discovers a prize, more enchanting, more deadly than he can imagine, and he's pitched headlong into a mission of rescue and revenge, with the lovely, enigmatic Bujun warrior Chiisai at his side.
Together they search to the farthest reaches of the world, where the moon shines not in one color, but in many. There, beyond the limits of the human realm, waits a mad sorceress . . . and the Firemask, the fearsome key that will unlock every nightmare the world has ever known!
From the Paperback edition.
Then ghastly terror strikes at Moichi, oath-brother to the Dai-San. At the Circus of Souls, Moichi discovers a prize, more enchanting, more deadly than he can imagine, and he's pitched headlong into a mission of rescue and revenge, with the lovely, enigmatic Bujun warrior Chiisai at his side.
Together they search to the farthest reaches of the world, where the moon shines not in one color, but in many. There, beyond the limits of the human realm, waits a mad sorceress . . . and the Firemask, the fearsome key that will unlock every nightmare the world has ever known!
From the Paperback edition.
272 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1980
47 people are currently reading
406 people want to read
About the author
Eric Van Lustbader
166 books1,223 followersEric Van Lustbader was born and raised in Greenwich Village. He is the author of more than twenty-five best-selling novels, including The Ninja, in which he introduced Nicholas Linnear, one of modern fiction's most beloved and enduring heroes. The Ninja was sold to 20th CenturyFox, to be made into a major motion picture. His novels have been translated into over twenty languages.
Mr. Lustbader is a graduate of Columbia College, with a degree in Sociology. Before turning to writing full time, he enjoyed highly successful careers in the New York City public school system, where he holds licenses in both elementary and early childhood education, and in the music business, where he worked for Elektra Records and CBS Records, among other companies.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/ericva...
Mr. Lustbader is a graduate of Columbia College, with a degree in Sociology. Before turning to writing full time, he enjoyed highly successful careers in the New York City public school system, where he holds licenses in both elementary and early childhood education, and in the music business, where he worked for Elektra Records and CBS Records, among other companies.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/ericva...
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
June 1, 2017
I had fond memories of reading the original Sunset Warrior series of books, even if I had read them so long ago I could barely remember the story. The mix of Oriental mysticism and swords and sorcery fantasy made for something of a rip roaring read.
So what about the fourth book of the trilogy? Well it very much rekindled that heady mix and the backdrop to the story was as colourful as ever. The plot line itself was a bit tortuous, with Lustbader seemingly determined to use every alternative word in the thesaurus. While this added to the other worldliness of the storyline, it was at the cost of somewhat laboured prose. It did accelerate smoothly enough in the second half and the denouement was suitably climactic and satisfying.
It is certainly not the last word in fantasy story telling but it was a decent if not terribly challenging read and there is nothing wrong with that.
So what about the fourth book of the trilogy? Well it very much rekindled that heady mix and the backdrop to the story was as colourful as ever. The plot line itself was a bit tortuous, with Lustbader seemingly determined to use every alternative word in the thesaurus. While this added to the other worldliness of the storyline, it was at the cost of somewhat laboured prose. It did accelerate smoothly enough in the second half and the denouement was suitably climactic and satisfying.
It is certainly not the last word in fantasy story telling but it was a decent if not terribly challenging read and there is nothing wrong with that.
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October 23, 2025From the author of THE NINJA comes the fourth book in Eric Van Lustbader's epic fantasy series, THE SUNSET WARRIOR CYCLE. Terrible death stalks the streets of teeming Sha'angh'sei, and bloody vengeance rides in its wake. No man - or woman - is safe. Then ghastly terror strikes at Moichi, oath-brother to the Dai-San. At the Circus of Souls, Moichi discovers a prize, more enchanting, more deadly than he can imagine, and he's pitched headlong into a mission of rescue and revenge, with the lovely, enigmatic Bujun warrior Chiisai at his side. Together they search to the farthest reaches of the world, where the moon shines not in one color, but in many. There, beyond the limits of the human realm, waits a mad sorceress ...and the Firemask, the fearsome key that will unlock every nightmare the world has ever known!
January 2, 2022
Another decent entry into this series. Pros are the world creation, which basically consists of taking Earth cultures, mixing them up a bit, and throwing in magic--it's kind of fun to see what he does with this technique. Cons are the writing, which is often stilted and full of adjectives (not so different than a lot of swords and sorcery stuff). The characters are so-so. The plot has its interesting moments, when it is advancing at all. This is a "hero with bulging muscles who sleeps with almost every woman he comes across" kind of book.
November 18, 2019
Excellent adventure, and a nice follow-on from Lustbader's Sunset Warrior trilogy. (Yes, I still think of those books as a standalone set, even though the fourth and fifth books take place in the same world.)
The scenes are well-portrayed and the characters enigmatic. The plot develops through a series of revelations to a satisfying conclusion that is similar in its approach to that used in Lustbader's other books.
The scenes are well-portrayed and the characters enigmatic. The plot develops through a series of revelations to a satisfying conclusion that is similar in its approach to that used in Lustbader's other books.
May 9, 2017
I read this long ago, and the memory of the book is an exotic, misty blur that surfaces at the strangest times, and makes me want to go to Shanghai and travel by boat to the fantastical mountains of China's interior, dressed in darkest black with throwing stars and a sword. And rum.
June 9, 2025
Didn't realise this was the fourth in the series so some of the Lore was lost on me, which probably dulled the enjoyment a little but can absolutely be read as a one off. a lovely swash buckling story.
June 8, 2018
Well this is a very confusing book to read maybe caused by the very bad layout of the book or the very overly fleshed out writing. Had to back track several times to make sense of what was happening.
May 30, 2020
Did nothing for me
July 17, 2020
Fantastic story could not stop reading.
February 11, 2021
Just couldn't keep focused on the story or care about the characters.
April 13, 2025
a good new direction for a continuation of the story of this world
August 9, 2015
This is the fourth book in Eric Van Lustbader's Sunset Warrior cycle and with it we return to the fantastic world of the Sunset Warrior, a place of exotic sword and sorcery action.
The story's protagonist is Moichi-Annai-Nin, a navigator and 'blood brother' to the Sunset Warrior who is cooling his heels in the wondrously chaotic metropolis of Sha'angh'sei after having participated in the Kai Fang, the last battle for humankind. Moichi's reverie however is brought to a harsh end when he is asked by a friend, and the regent of the city, Aerent, to investigate a series of brutal deaths. Along the way Moichi meets the beautiful and enigmatic Aufeya, who is linked to both the victims and murderers, and the Bujun warrior Chiisai. Moichi's adventures take him, Aufeya and Chiisai to exotic lands to confront a mad sorceress, Sardonyx, and the struggle to possess a powerful magical artifact, the fabled Firemask.
I thought the story began well. I love the exotic setting that is Sha'angh'sei, a huge city and melting pot of cultures, predominantly oriental, which Lustbader's brilliant writing brings to vivid life. The action in the book bears Lustbader's hallmark of being brutal and bloody and the author keeps it coming thick and fast and if the story and adventure had matched the pace of the violence then I suspect it would have been a corker. Unfortunately, it didn't.
Sadly, somewhere between the descriptions of places, people and food the story slowed to a plod and ran out steam so that I didn't feel kept on the 'edge of my seat' with suspense but rather wondering when we were going to get to the real adventure. The quest for the Firemask, supposedly the meat of the story, only occupied the last few chapters of the book and the characterization of the female protagonists was also horribly clichéd with nearly all of them described as being beautiful and curvaceous - not to mention lethal! By the time I got to the end of the story not only was I bewildered but I also left feeling unsatisfied by the lack of real paced adventure, a bit like having a nibble and a sip instead of being well fed and watered.
I would describe Beneath an Opal Moon as swords and sorcery with a strong oriental, martial arts flavour. It has also the standard early Lustbader ingredients of well written descriptions of people and places and nobody does violence better but, in terms of a pacey adventure, this book left me wanting.
The story's protagonist is Moichi-Annai-Nin, a navigator and 'blood brother' to the Sunset Warrior who is cooling his heels in the wondrously chaotic metropolis of Sha'angh'sei after having participated in the Kai Fang, the last battle for humankind. Moichi's reverie however is brought to a harsh end when he is asked by a friend, and the regent of the city, Aerent, to investigate a series of brutal deaths. Along the way Moichi meets the beautiful and enigmatic Aufeya, who is linked to both the victims and murderers, and the Bujun warrior Chiisai. Moichi's adventures take him, Aufeya and Chiisai to exotic lands to confront a mad sorceress, Sardonyx, and the struggle to possess a powerful magical artifact, the fabled Firemask.
I thought the story began well. I love the exotic setting that is Sha'angh'sei, a huge city and melting pot of cultures, predominantly oriental, which Lustbader's brilliant writing brings to vivid life. The action in the book bears Lustbader's hallmark of being brutal and bloody and the author keeps it coming thick and fast and if the story and adventure had matched the pace of the violence then I suspect it would have been a corker. Unfortunately, it didn't.
Sadly, somewhere between the descriptions of places, people and food the story slowed to a plod and ran out steam so that I didn't feel kept on the 'edge of my seat' with suspense but rather wondering when we were going to get to the real adventure. The quest for the Firemask, supposedly the meat of the story, only occupied the last few chapters of the book and the characterization of the female protagonists was also horribly clichéd with nearly all of them described as being beautiful and curvaceous - not to mention lethal! By the time I got to the end of the story not only was I bewildered but I also left feeling unsatisfied by the lack of real paced adventure, a bit like having a nibble and a sip instead of being well fed and watered.
I would describe Beneath an Opal Moon as swords and sorcery with a strong oriental, martial arts flavour. It has also the standard early Lustbader ingredients of well written descriptions of people and places and nobody does violence better but, in terms of a pacey adventure, this book left me wanting.
August 28, 2020
This is the fourth book in Eric Van Lustbader's Sunset Warrior Cycle and with it we return to the fantastic world of the Sunset Warrior, a place of exotic sword and sorcery action.
The story's protagonist, Moichi-Annai-Nin, a navigator and 'blood brother' to the Sunset Warrior, is cooling his heels in the wondrously chaotic metropolis of Sha'angh'sei after having participated in the Kai Fang, the last battle for humankind. Moichi's reverie however is brought to a harsh end when he is asked by a friend, and the regent of the city, Aerent, to investigate a series of brutal deaths. Along the way Moichi meets the beautiful and enigmatic Aufeya, who is linked to both the victims and murderers, and the brave Bujun warrior Chiisai. Moichi's adventures take him, Aufeya and Chiisai to exotic lands to confront a mad sorceress, Sardonyx, and the struggle to possess a powerful magical artifact, the fabled Firemask.
I thought the story began well. I love the exotic setting that is Sha'angh'sei, a huge city and melting pot of cultures, predominantly oriental, which Lustbader's brilliant writing brings to vivid life. The action in the book bears Lustbader's hallmark of being brutal and bloody and the author keeps it coming thick and fast. However, if the story had matched the pace of the violence then I suspect it would have been a corker. Unfortunately, it didn't.
Sadly, somewhere between the descriptions of places, people and food the story slowed to a plod and ran out steam, so that I didn't feel kept on the 'edge of my seat' with suspense but left wondering when we were going to get to the real adventure. The quest for the Firemask, supposedly the meat of the story, only occupied the last few chapters of the book and the characterization of the female protagonists was also clichéd and degrading with virtually all of them depicted as feminine porn icons - beautiful and curvaceous albeit lethal! By the time I got to the end of the story not only was I bewildered but I also left feeling unsatisfied by the lack of real paced adventure, a bit like having a nibble and a sip instead of being well fed and watered.
I would describe Beneath an Opal Moon as swords and sorcery with a strong oriental, martial arts flavour. It has also the standard early Lustbader ingredients of well-drawn descriptions of people and places and nobody does violence better but, in terms of a pacey adventure, this book left me wanting.
The story's protagonist, Moichi-Annai-Nin, a navigator and 'blood brother' to the Sunset Warrior, is cooling his heels in the wondrously chaotic metropolis of Sha'angh'sei after having participated in the Kai Fang, the last battle for humankind. Moichi's reverie however is brought to a harsh end when he is asked by a friend, and the regent of the city, Aerent, to investigate a series of brutal deaths. Along the way Moichi meets the beautiful and enigmatic Aufeya, who is linked to both the victims and murderers, and the brave Bujun warrior Chiisai. Moichi's adventures take him, Aufeya and Chiisai to exotic lands to confront a mad sorceress, Sardonyx, and the struggle to possess a powerful magical artifact, the fabled Firemask.
I thought the story began well. I love the exotic setting that is Sha'angh'sei, a huge city and melting pot of cultures, predominantly oriental, which Lustbader's brilliant writing brings to vivid life. The action in the book bears Lustbader's hallmark of being brutal and bloody and the author keeps it coming thick and fast. However, if the story had matched the pace of the violence then I suspect it would have been a corker. Unfortunately, it didn't.
Sadly, somewhere between the descriptions of places, people and food the story slowed to a plod and ran out steam, so that I didn't feel kept on the 'edge of my seat' with suspense but left wondering when we were going to get to the real adventure. The quest for the Firemask, supposedly the meat of the story, only occupied the last few chapters of the book and the characterization of the female protagonists was also clichéd and degrading with virtually all of them depicted as feminine porn icons - beautiful and curvaceous albeit lethal! By the time I got to the end of the story not only was I bewildered but I also left feeling unsatisfied by the lack of real paced adventure, a bit like having a nibble and a sip instead of being well fed and watered.
I would describe Beneath an Opal Moon as swords and sorcery with a strong oriental, martial arts flavour. It has also the standard early Lustbader ingredients of well-drawn descriptions of people and places and nobody does violence better but, in terms of a pacey adventure, this book left me wanting.
August 25, 2014
“Beneath an Opal Moon” was published in 1980 and was written by Eric Van Lustbader (http://www.ericvanlustbader.com). Mr. Lustbader has published over 40 Fantasy and Thriller novels.
I picked up this paper back edition of book #4 of “The Sunset Warrior Cycle” a few years ago. This is a Fantasy with a strong martial arts flavor. I would rate the book as “R” due to the Violence and some Mature Situations. The story is set in the city of Sha’angh’sei and other locations within this world. The book is written in the third person with the major characters being Moichi Annai-Nim and Chiisai if Ama-no-moni.
It has been six years since The Dolman was defeated (Books 1-3 of the series). Unusual deaths in Sha’angh’sei cause the city’s regent, Aerent to ask Moichi to investigate. Moichi and friend Kossori rescue a young woman, Aufeya Seguillas y Oriwara, who seems to be tied to one of the murdered men.
Chiisai of Ama-no-moni arrives in Sha’angh’sei as a representative of the Dai-san. She is no diplomat, but a Bujun warrior. Soon she and Moichi are in route to lands far to the north in pursuit of a kidnapped Aufeya and Hellsturm, who they think kidnapped Aufeya and was responsible for the unusual deaths.
As the two search for Aufeya and Hellsturm, they encounter many obstacles they must overcome. I enjoyed the 10.5 hours I spent reading this novel. I had read the first three novels in the series several years ago. Fortunately, this is more of a tale set in the same world, rather than a continuation of the story. I liked the characters of Moichi and Chiisai, and the plot moved along well. Overall I rate this book a 4 (actually more of a 3.5, but I will round it up) out of 5.
Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at http://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.
I picked up this paper back edition of book #4 of “The Sunset Warrior Cycle” a few years ago. This is a Fantasy with a strong martial arts flavor. I would rate the book as “R” due to the Violence and some Mature Situations. The story is set in the city of Sha’angh’sei and other locations within this world. The book is written in the third person with the major characters being Moichi Annai-Nim and Chiisai if Ama-no-moni.
It has been six years since The Dolman was defeated (Books 1-3 of the series). Unusual deaths in Sha’angh’sei cause the city’s regent, Aerent to ask Moichi to investigate. Moichi and friend Kossori rescue a young woman, Aufeya Seguillas y Oriwara, who seems to be tied to one of the murdered men.
Chiisai of Ama-no-moni arrives in Sha’angh’sei as a representative of the Dai-san. She is no diplomat, but a Bujun warrior. Soon she and Moichi are in route to lands far to the north in pursuit of a kidnapped Aufeya and Hellsturm, who they think kidnapped Aufeya and was responsible for the unusual deaths.
As the two search for Aufeya and Hellsturm, they encounter many obstacles they must overcome. I enjoyed the 10.5 hours I spent reading this novel. I had read the first three novels in the series several years ago. Fortunately, this is more of a tale set in the same world, rather than a continuation of the story. I liked the characters of Moichi and Chiisai, and the plot moved along well. Overall I rate this book a 4 (actually more of a 3.5, but I will round it up) out of 5.
Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at http://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.
May 4, 2015
This is another book I'm finding it hard to review – perhaps because, published over 30 years ago, it seems to come from another era? It makes me wonder whether I should be applying different criteria to it. The book puts me in mind of Robert E Howard's Conan stories, being that kind of heroic sword and sorcery tale. I think for me the characters weren't as fully fleshed as I like. They weren't stereotypes, yet somehow seemed just a bit thin. The plot, and the dangers, and the exotic locales are all pretty good. But again, I'm in two minds about the descriptive passages – in part I felt they were a little too flowery, yet in some places just lightly sketched for the reader to fill in the details. I find myself feeling ambivalent about them. I also found the dramatic fight scenes a mixed bag: occasionally some bit of action seemed (to me) implausible, at other times I found the description too sketchy – so I couldn't feel I was there, witnessing it – but they were still reasonably satisfying. The hero's personal interactions in one case seemed implausible to me (he falls in love with Aufeya, and while on his quest to rescue her, when he meets her mother...). I also wish he'd invented some other name for the deadly and mysterious martial arts – 'koppo' kept sounding to me like 'biffo' in my head. Overall, though, I enjoyed the story.
July 28, 2011
I want to cry from dissapointment. After "Sirens" - piece of shit i wasn't able to read - I gave Lustbader one last chance.
First 100 pages were really good. I took this book to train and started reading. Suddenly.. something happened. I don't know what moment this EXACTLY was but after all the action, th author, suddenly, I suppose, forget what he wanted to write. There were more and more characters with similliar names and after the scene Ronin is changing I decided to read only dialogs 'cause I couldn't stand it anymore. I got this book from old library and when I noticed that it missed at least 200 pages in the middle I was almost glad I've got excuse to stop reading :(
The worst thing is that the beginning of "Beneath..." was good and I expected.... more. Expected good action and got chaos without any sense. After putting this book back to my bag I started some shitty drama about japanese geisha and it was A LOT better than Lustbader :// It only shows how bad "Beneath..." was in my eyes.
First 100 pages were really good. I took this book to train and started reading. Suddenly.. something happened. I don't know what moment this EXACTLY was but after all the action, th author, suddenly, I suppose, forget what he wanted to write. There were more and more characters with similliar names and after the scene Ronin is changing I decided to read only dialogs 'cause I couldn't stand it anymore. I got this book from old library and when I noticed that it missed at least 200 pages in the middle I was almost glad I've got excuse to stop reading :(
The worst thing is that the beginning of "Beneath..." was good and I expected.... more. Expected good action and got chaos without any sense. After putting this book back to my bag I started some shitty drama about japanese geisha and it was A LOT better than Lustbader :// It only shows how bad "Beneath..." was in my eyes.
April 30, 2013
In this novel, Moichi the navigator, is waiting for a ship to take him home. Stranded on land, he is co-opted by the Regent to investiate two savage deaths. Instead of answers, he finds himself rescuing a young stranger from the slave market, who is in turn kidnapped. With his friend, he sets out to find her and ends up having to face a wickid sorceress with a mission of her own.
Pretty standard fantasy fair, although the chinese feel was a nice change. I did find the blurb on the back a bit misleading, as the 'hunt' for the Firemask takes up the short section right at the end and is somehow disappointing. It's supposed to be this great, powerful artifact, and yet the author barely builds up it's part. Therefore, the climax in the land of the opal moon, is a bit of a let down. Still, it was an ok read and kept me entertained for a few days.
Pretty standard fantasy fair, although the chinese feel was a nice change. I did find the blurb on the back a bit misleading, as the 'hunt' for the Firemask takes up the short section right at the end and is somehow disappointing. It's supposed to be this great, powerful artifact, and yet the author barely builds up it's part. Therefore, the climax in the land of the opal moon, is a bit of a let down. Still, it was an ok read and kept me entertained for a few days.
March 23, 2021
The Sunset Warrior series had a great impact on my as a writer and an individual. I have read Book One at least six times. However, each of the next books lost a little of the flavor and tone from the one before. This novel's shift if the most dramatic, with changing the main character to Moichi. He was a great character in previous novels, and this book is still a good read, but it doesn't hold up when compared to The Sunset Warrior itself. I enjoyed learning a bit more about the world, but Moichi didn't grip me as strongly as Ronin. I guess it's a bit cliché, but this falls into the category of not wanting to read the sequel(s) because they don't shine as brightly as the original. Nonetheless, I own them all. Recommended, but don't expect the same charge as book one.
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December 19, 2015I read this book when I was like thirteen. I can't believe goodreads has it. Like I remember the love in this book TWELVE years later to the point I spent months trying to figure out what the title was. I had no idea it belonged to a series. I have to read this all over again and in ORDER :D
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews