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Yasuke: Dead Man Walking
"... the story is compelling, with some violence and much court intrigue. The author includes a lot of great detail; some of the descriptions of Japan, especially of the natural features, are quite beautiful... and the battle scenes are tightly composed and suspenseful. .. An engaging historical epic."
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From the slave markets of India to the battlefields of feudal Japan, Dead Man Walking tells the extraordinary historical fiction story of history's first African samurai. Torn from his family and sold into bondage, Majok endures unimaginable hardships until fate delivers him to Oda Nobunaga, the most powerful warlord in 16th-century Japan. Through courage, honor, and an unbreakable spirit, he transforms from nameless slave Majok to legendary warrior Yasuke, earning the respect of emperors and the hatred of those who refuse to see beyond the color of his skin. But when betrayal strikes at the heart of the empire, Yasuke must face his greatest enemy in a final battle that will determine not only his own fate but also the future of Japan itself. A gripping tale of transformation, brotherhood, and the timeless truth that a man's worth is measured not by his origins, but by his choices.
EVEN THE ACURSED, FIND SALVATION
From the slave markets of India to the battlefields of feudal Japan, Dead Man Walking tells the extraordinary historical fiction story of history's first African samurai. Torn from his family and sold into bondage, Majok endures unimaginable hardships until fate delivers him to Oda Nobunaga, the most powerful warlord in 16th-century Japan. Through courage, honor, and an unbreakable spirit, he transforms from nameless slave Majok to legendary warrior Yasuke, earning the respect of emperors and the hatred of those who refuse to see beyond the color of his skin. But when betrayal strikes at the heart of the empire, Yasuke must face his greatest enemy in a final battle that will determine not only his own fate but also the future of Japan itself. A gripping tale of transformation, brotherhood, and the timeless truth that a man's worth is measured not by his origins, but by his choices.
245 pages, Hardcover
Published February 3, 2026
About the author
Braxton A. Cosby
33 books172 followersMulti-Award Winning and #1 Amazon Bestselling author Braxton A. Cosby is a dreamer who transitioned his ideas on pen and paper to pixels and keyboards. He has penned over 21 novels, 8 comics, and written several screenplays based on his works. He tells stories that evoke emotions and stimulate thought. THE STARCROSSED SAGA, BROKEN, YASUKE, and THE CAPE are currently Young Adult and Superhero series he created, with spins-offs for INFINITY 7: GODS AMONG MEN and his latest Bounty Hunter, SciFi release, STEEL REIGN: FLIGHT OF THE STARSHIP CONCORD. THE STARCROSSED SAGA has won multiple science fiction and young adult awards, while THE CAPE has also earned recognition for its prowess as a literary fiction series. Braxton is the CEO of Cosby Media Productions and lives in Georgia with his amazing wife and a highly energetic Morkie named StarKozy.
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Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review
March 1, 2026
Yasuke: Dead Man Walking by Braxton A. Cosby is a historical fiction book that focuses on a very enigmatic figure in history known for his position as an African warrior who later became a samurai. It begins with the story of an African man named Majok, a warrior who hailed from the Dinka tribe in East Africa. On a particular day, his life changed when he was captured and thrusted into slave trade. Majok faced hardship as he journeyed with his captors to an unknown destination and fell into the hands of Portuguese missionaries. These people traveled to Japan and handed him over to Oda Nobunaga, a powerful warlord who served during Japan's Sengoku period. Nobunaga, on seeing Majok, noticed something extraordinary about him and bestowed a new name on him, calling him “Yasuke,” and gave him the rank of samurai, which was the highest an African man like him could attain. These new positions elevated Yasuke to an elite position, allowing him to oversee the Japanese court's political tensions and fierce battles. Soon after, Nobunaga was attacked, forcing Yasuke to choose between his loyalty to Nobunaga and the forces that threatened to destroy their world. In the face of this conflict, Yasuke must decide between his real-life identity and the one he has forged through sweat, pain, and dedication.
Opinion:
The story begins in East Africa, where it tells of Majok’s early life as a member of the Dinka tribe and their traditions. After being captured, Cosby describes Majok's journey across oceans and cities before arriving in Japan. On arrival in Japan, the novel depicted the Sengoku era, and the country is considered a society coated in strict order but internally filled with political chaos. As the narrative progressed, I observed that the setting explored continents and cultures, and after the last chapter, I came to the conclusion that Yasuke's exploration of these diverse locations helped mold him into something new and different.
In Yasuke: Dead Man Walking, Cosby’s writing style intertwined Yasuke’s change from being a young man captured as a slave to becoming a warrior. It also depicts Nobunaga's political transformation from a reckless man to a leader forged by loss and betrayal. Each story is individually written, but they form a connection that is personal and political. Their journeys explore loyalty and ambition as qualities that build outstanding relationships even when there is clearly a cultural difference.
Although the book is grounded in history, it also discusses topics that serve as themes on which the plot is built. Starting from Yasuke’s fight to belonging and fitting in Japanese society, the book showed how he evolved from being an African man to his drastic change and how he struggled to understand his new identity. While reading the book, I noticed that power stood out as one of the forces that dominated the book. At first, it was presented as a physical appearance because when I imagined what Yasuke’s body looked like, I noticed that it was a form of power on its own. His body structure, height, and strength were always a cause for attracting attention. This earned him some respect and distinguished him from others on the battlefield since he was very different from them. Secondly, Yasuke's crash came about when he was taken and sold into slavery; he was stripped of his identity, making him powerless and weak. However, he did not stop there. When he was given the position as a samurai, he rose to a higher spot, reclaiming his lost power. Apart from Yasuke's rise to power and his physical appearance, power also appeared as political ambition. As a leader whose main goal was to unify Japan, Nobunaga’s authority demonstrated that power brings forth betrayal; the higher he climbed, the more enemies he accumulated, and in some situations, power demanded sacrifice for certain things to happen.
I appreciated Yasuke’s loyalty as one of the qualities that founded his new identity. Most of the warriors born of Japanese parents have their lives already laid out, but Yasuke, who lacked such identity in the country, had to serve Nobunaga, who entrusted him with a status he did not even expect. The only thing he had to offer was his loyalty, which served as a trademark and proof of his worth.
Yasuke: Dead Man Walking is a historical narrative with themes that make it stand out and emotional depth that would make a reader relate well with the characters. I recommend this book to fans of historical fiction as well as readers interested in anything related to history. Because of some traces of violence and political themes that may seem complex to understand, I best recommend this book to mature young adults and adult readers, Readers interested in stories with themes pointing to belonging and identity should also read this book since it focuses on these themes as the core aspect of the book.
Opinion:
The story begins in East Africa, where it tells of Majok’s early life as a member of the Dinka tribe and their traditions. After being captured, Cosby describes Majok's journey across oceans and cities before arriving in Japan. On arrival in Japan, the novel depicted the Sengoku era, and the country is considered a society coated in strict order but internally filled with political chaos. As the narrative progressed, I observed that the setting explored continents and cultures, and after the last chapter, I came to the conclusion that Yasuke's exploration of these diverse locations helped mold him into something new and different.
In Yasuke: Dead Man Walking, Cosby’s writing style intertwined Yasuke’s change from being a young man captured as a slave to becoming a warrior. It also depicts Nobunaga's political transformation from a reckless man to a leader forged by loss and betrayal. Each story is individually written, but they form a connection that is personal and political. Their journeys explore loyalty and ambition as qualities that build outstanding relationships even when there is clearly a cultural difference.
Although the book is grounded in history, it also discusses topics that serve as themes on which the plot is built. Starting from Yasuke’s fight to belonging and fitting in Japanese society, the book showed how he evolved from being an African man to his drastic change and how he struggled to understand his new identity. While reading the book, I noticed that power stood out as one of the forces that dominated the book. At first, it was presented as a physical appearance because when I imagined what Yasuke’s body looked like, I noticed that it was a form of power on its own. His body structure, height, and strength were always a cause for attracting attention. This earned him some respect and distinguished him from others on the battlefield since he was very different from them. Secondly, Yasuke's crash came about when he was taken and sold into slavery; he was stripped of his identity, making him powerless and weak. However, he did not stop there. When he was given the position as a samurai, he rose to a higher spot, reclaiming his lost power. Apart from Yasuke's rise to power and his physical appearance, power also appeared as political ambition. As a leader whose main goal was to unify Japan, Nobunaga’s authority demonstrated that power brings forth betrayal; the higher he climbed, the more enemies he accumulated, and in some situations, power demanded sacrifice for certain things to happen.
I appreciated Yasuke’s loyalty as one of the qualities that founded his new identity. Most of the warriors born of Japanese parents have their lives already laid out, but Yasuke, who lacked such identity in the country, had to serve Nobunaga, who entrusted him with a status he did not even expect. The only thing he had to offer was his loyalty, which served as a trademark and proof of his worth.
Yasuke: Dead Man Walking is a historical narrative with themes that make it stand out and emotional depth that would make a reader relate well with the characters. I recommend this book to fans of historical fiction as well as readers interested in anything related to history. Because of some traces of violence and political themes that may seem complex to understand, I best recommend this book to mature young adults and adult readers, Readers interested in stories with themes pointing to belonging and identity should also read this book since it focuses on these themes as the core aspect of the book.
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review