Battle for Two Bridges

Kazuchiyo #1

by Melanie Schoen

At the final, rainy battle of Shimegahara, the renowned samurai known as The Red Dragon falls to his bitter enemy, Lord Aritaka. With his clan plunged into disarray, his eldest remaining son, Kazuchiyo, is captured and forcibly adopted by the enemy. Raised in an unfamiliar land, surrounded by schemers and mystics, Kazuchiyo teaches himself the arts of politics and war, determined to one day get revenge and return to his homeland. In this, he is aided by two men who will stir his heart: Yagi-douji, a young warrior of incredible strength; and Amai, a clever and mysterious shinobi. Together they are cast again into bloody war, forcing Kazuchiyo to choose whether to side with his abductors if it means moving closer to his revenge.

Battle for Two Bridges is the first book of the KAZUCHIYO series, a samurai drama tale full of warfare, intrigue, magic, and romance. Please visit www.melanieschoenbooks.com for updates and more information.

Genres: Fantasy, LGBT

414 pages, Paperback

Published November 7, 2019

About the author

Melanie Schoen, 30s, is a self-published author of graphic novels and fiction. With a stint as a professional translator under her belt and decades of private writing experience, she is finally putting out her first original works. She harbors a great love of historical fiction, romance, and adventure, her works frequently starring members of the LGBT+ community.

Reviews

[Gabi · Rating 3 out of 5]

As it turns out, this book can be found on Tapas. I might have preferred to read there in a serialized version for different reasons explained down below.

I'm not too crazy about the writing, it is a bit wooden and emotionless, but I also think it suits the story well enough, mainly because the culture is reflected in it. There are some odd phrases here and there that could be because it's a historical read. I also know very little of the Chinese culture (though the story takes place in a fictional country, so it could be any other Asian culture for all I know), that could be another reason for the oddities. Otherwise I feel it's well-written and well-edited.

The story started with a bang. I did not expect the gruesomeness of it (if one is not used to Chinese books, I should add) and I had to rearrange my expectations. Aaand after a while I had to adjust again, because it did not continue in that manner. The author pulled on the brakes. Sadly, I think that was the wrong move, because then I started getting bored. The cause for that might also be that this is a coming of age story as well. Kazuchiyo, losing his family at 13, has missed out on a lot and he needed time to grow into his character. I felt lukewarm about him. He did not act like someone who wants revenge, I expected more powerful emotions from him.

The two love interests kept me entertained during the slow-going parts where there was a lot of plotting and strategizing about war (the whole book is about war, the romance is secondary). Yagi and Amai are very likeable characters and at one point I even thought the both of them would work together without Kazu in the picture. Especially because sometimes the trio felt a bit forced. I'm not sure how to feel about it because the three of them did connect, and I liked them, but some scenes were like "I kissed you and now I'm gonna kiss the other, and ooh wait it's my turn, where's my kiss" it was just a bit eyeroll-worthy. But I guess I can forgive that much for Amai's cheekiness and Yagi's adorable gruffness.

So it took a while but eventually Kazu did manifest some strong leadership capabilities that I initially expected of him and finally I did feel that he has grown into the man he wanted to become, or at least he is on the path.

However, the end did not make sense to me at all. What the hell happened there? What was the point of all of it? Ugh. I actually know what the point was, but I don't agree with it fully. I know that readers usually want the main character to uphold his image and his principles, and not succumb to the "dark side". But I feel like there should have been a different solution, or it should have been delivered differently.

No cliffhanger, but this was just the first part of the story. Kazu's journey continues in Kazuchiyo: The Breaking of the Siege

3.5 stars for this one

[Siobhan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kazuchiyo: Battle for Two Bridges introduces readers to a story that is sure to have them eager for the next book in the series, one that leaves the reader curious to see what comes next for the characters.

Kazuchiyo: Battle for Two Bridges starts with drama and intrigue, offering more with each chapter that you read. Although a bit slow in places, the book has a lot packed into it that leaves you desperate to see how all the elements come together. From the war to the private lives of the characters, this one easily leaves you invested in all that is playing out.

By the time you finish this one, you will have a lot of theories about the characters and the events that play out. With all the questions left hanging, with all the expectations you have for the future, it will have you eager to see what the next book brings.

Overall, Kazuchiyo: Battle for Two Bridges is a great start to what promises to be an addictive series.

[Lisa Schoen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has a great blend of action, romance, and intrigue, wrapped up in the most amazing setting! As a fan of samurai lore, I love how authentic the world feels--it was so easy to picture the castles, forests, and battlefields, and the author sets everything up perfectly. The characters are so incredibly likable, and even the side characters feel like they've been well fleshed out. I've really enjoyed Melanie's other works, especially the BangBangBOOM series, but I know I'm going to have a special place on my shelf for Kazuchiyo. Though Battle for Two Bridges is fantastic on its own, I'm excited to see where it goes from here!