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Lily Wong #2
The Ninja s Blade
Lily Wong--a Chinese-Norwegian modern-day ninja--has more trouble than she was bargaining for when controlling grandparents arrive in Los Angeles from Hong Kong at the same time she goes undercover in the dangerous world of sex trafficking in this second book in the Lily Wong series.
As she hunts for a missing high school girl, a kidnapped prostitute, and a sociopathic pimp, the surviving members of a murderous street gang hunt for her. Life would be easier if Lily knew who to trust. But when victims are villains, villains are victims, and even family is plotting against her, easy is not an option. All Lily can do is follow the trail wherever it leads: through a high school campus polarized by racial tension, the secret back rooms of a barber/tattoo/brothel, or the soul-crushing stretch of Long Beach Boulevard known as the Blade.
She relies on her ninja skills to deceive and infiltrate, rescue and kill--whatever is necessary to free the girls from their literal and figurative slavery. If only those same skills could keep Lily's conniving grandparents from hijacking her future.
As she hunts for a missing high school girl, a kidnapped prostitute, and a sociopathic pimp, the surviving members of a murderous street gang hunt for her. Life would be easier if Lily knew who to trust. But when victims are villains, villains are victims, and even family is plotting against her, easy is not an option. All Lily can do is follow the trail wherever it leads: through a high school campus polarized by racial tension, the secret back rooms of a barber/tattoo/brothel, or the soul-crushing stretch of Long Beach Boulevard known as the Blade.
She relies on her ninja skills to deceive and infiltrate, rescue and kill--whatever is necessary to free the girls from their literal and figurative slavery. If only those same skills could keep Lily's conniving grandparents from hijacking her future.
Audio CD
First published September 1, 2020
36 people are currently reading
335 people want to read
About the author
Tori Eldridge
21 books214 followersTori Eldridge is the bestselling author of the Lily Wong mystery thrillers as well as a two-time Anthony Award nominee, Lefty and Macavity Awards finalist, and winner of the 2021 Crimson Scribe Award for Best Book of the Year. She penned the standalone Dance Among the Flames and will launch her new Ranger Makalani Pahukula mystery series with Kaua‘i Storm on May 20, 2025. In addition to novels, Tori's short stories have been featured in numerous literary, crime fiction, and horror anthologies. Born and raised in Honolulu—of Hawaiian, Chinese, and Norwegian descent—she lived in New York and Los Angeles before settling in Portland, Oregon, where her grandchildren live. Before writing, Tori performed on Broadway, television, and film; and holds a 5th degree black belt in To-Shin Do ninja martial arts.
Find her online at ToriEldridge.com
Facebook @ToriEldridgeAuthor
Instagram @writer.tori
Twitter @ToriEldridge
Bookbub @ToriEldridge
Aloha and thanks for visiting!
Find her online at ToriEldridge.com
Facebook @ToriEldridgeAuthor
Instagram @writer.tori
Twitter @ToriEldridge
Bookbub @ToriEldridge
Aloha and thanks for visiting!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
November 3, 2021
3.5 ☆
After the rape and murder of her younger sister Rose about seven years ago, Lily changed her life by dropping out of college in order to work on behalf of defenseless women. She needs to atone and to honor her sister's memory. Driven by passion and equipped with her martial arts skills, Lily works for Aleisha's Refuge, a shelter for women escaping domestic abuse. After the events from The Ninja Daughter nearly went upside-down, Lily is in a bit of a funk. Only a month has elapsed and Lily may be experiencing PTSD.
In this sequel installment, one of Aleisha's recent rescues, high schooler Emma, is snatched at gunpoint just outside of her parents' home in an upscale suburb. Lily is not a licensed investigator but she begins to follow the crumb trail. Unfortunately, the clues leave prosperous suburbia and head straight to Compton, a poor area within Los Angeles County that is notorious for its past race riots and high crime rates. Daring, reckless, foolhardy, or all of the above - Lily doesn't hesitate in trying to infiltrate a human trafficking operation that exploits female teens in order to find Emma.
The Ninja's Blade is entertaining but I didn't find it as strong as the exciting debut of Lily Wong in The Ninja Daughter. It can be read as a standalone as Eldridge included sufficient allusions to her first book.
I like this character, her dual Chinese-Norwegian family and the cultural descriptions. Her vigilante tendencies are something she adamantly hides from her mother and her grandparents, who are visiting from Hong Kong. Now with the handsome Daniel's persistence, there's one other person from whom she'll hide her true self. Despite her floral name, Lily is no shrinking violet. She is aggressive, but she's not invincible. There are plenty of fight scenes. The themes of race relations and human trafficking are highly revelant. But I still found the pace in most of the story to be a bit too slow, not slow enough to consider abandoning it but not compelling enough to stay up late to keep reading. Also because she has flashback memories from the previous month, Lily's humor is in shorter supply. It isn't all grim though as levity comes from her family dynamics and her potential suitor.
#1 The Ninja Daughter 4 ☆
#3 The Ninja Betrayed 4 ☆
After the rape and murder of her younger sister Rose about seven years ago, Lily changed her life by dropping out of college in order to work on behalf of defenseless women. She needs to atone and to honor her sister's memory. Driven by passion and equipped with her martial arts skills, Lily works for Aleisha's Refuge, a shelter for women escaping domestic abuse. After the events from The Ninja Daughter nearly went upside-down, Lily is in a bit of a funk. Only a month has elapsed and Lily may be experiencing PTSD.
Nothing in my life felt in control and everything that could possibly go wrong did. I closed my mouth and kept these thoughts to myself.
In this sequel installment, one of Aleisha's recent rescues, high schooler Emma, is snatched at gunpoint just outside of her parents' home in an upscale suburb. Lily is not a licensed investigator but she begins to follow the crumb trail. Unfortunately, the clues leave prosperous suburbia and head straight to Compton, a poor area within Los Angeles County that is notorious for its past race riots and high crime rates. Daring, reckless, foolhardy, or all of the above - Lily doesn't hesitate in trying to infiltrate a human trafficking operation that exploits female teens in order to find Emma.
I didn't need therapy: I needed justice.
I wasn't suffering from a syndrome: I was pumped for war.
The Ninja's Blade is entertaining but I didn't find it as strong as the exciting debut of Lily Wong in The Ninja Daughter. It can be read as a standalone as Eldridge included sufficient allusions to her first book.
I like this character, her dual Chinese-Norwegian family and the cultural descriptions. Her vigilante tendencies are something she adamantly hides from her mother and her grandparents, who are visiting from Hong Kong. Now with the handsome Daniel's persistence, there's one other person from whom she'll hide her true self. Despite her floral name, Lily is no shrinking violet. She is aggressive, but she's not invincible. There are plenty of fight scenes. The themes of race relations and human trafficking are highly revelant. But I still found the pace in most of the story to be a bit too slow, not slow enough to consider abandoning it but not compelling enough to stay up late to keep reading. Also because she has flashback memories from the previous month, Lily's humor is in shorter supply. It isn't all grim though as levity comes from her family dynamics and her potential suitor.
#1 The Ninja Daughter 4 ☆
#3 The Ninja Betrayed 4 ☆
September 3, 2020
An exciting and page-turning follow up to THE NINJA'S DAUGHTER! Fans will not be able to get enough of Lily Wong!
May 27, 2025
Ninja Lily Wong risks her life trying to save under age girls from the clutches of a sociopath pimp in Los Angeles. This is the second book in the Lily Wong series. It’s a roller coaster ride of action and danger. I’m hooked and moving on to the third book in the series.
September 27, 2020
The Ninja* Daughter Returns
Review of the Agora Books paperback edition (September 2020)
[3.5 rounded up]
The Ninja's Blade is a good second outing for what looks to be an extended series to come. Author Eldridge effectively incorporates her own varied ethnic upbringing and martial arts training into the mix of a quirky backstory for a vigilante but it does come across as authentic.
The Blade novel take a more realistic approach with vigilante Lily Wong seeking to work together with the authorities to combat human trafficking in the Los Angeles area. The Daughter novel did go over the top with its unlikely alliance and bloodletting towards the end of the book, which is causing carryover PTSD in Wong's thoughts in the current book.
There is no announced title for book 3 of the series as of this writing, but Blade hints at an international excursion involving the Chinese side of Wong's family and their business in Singapore.
The Ninja Daughter series should appeal to fans of the Jane Whitefield series (who similarly is a vigilante protecting the victimized) by Thomas Perry and the Ava Lee series (who similarly practices martial arts) by Ian Hamilton.
* Technically, this should have been The Kunoichi Daughter, but the average person wouldn't know what Kunoichi means.
Trivia and Link
You can read the first appearance of Lily Wong in the short story Call Me Dumpling in the December 2014 issue of Suspense Magazine here.
Review of the Agora Books paperback edition (September 2020)
[3.5 rounded up]
The Ninja's Blade is a good second outing for what looks to be an extended series to come. Author Eldridge effectively incorporates her own varied ethnic upbringing and martial arts training into the mix of a quirky backstory for a vigilante but it does come across as authentic.
The Blade novel take a more realistic approach with vigilante Lily Wong seeking to work together with the authorities to combat human trafficking in the Los Angeles area. The Daughter novel did go over the top with its unlikely alliance and bloodletting towards the end of the book, which is causing carryover PTSD in Wong's thoughts in the current book.
There is no announced title for book 3 of the series as of this writing, but Blade hints at an international excursion involving the Chinese side of Wong's family and their business in Singapore.
The Ninja Daughter series should appeal to fans of the Jane Whitefield series (who similarly is a vigilante protecting the victimized) by Thomas Perry and the Ava Lee series (who similarly practices martial arts) by Ian Hamilton.
* Technically, this should have been The Kunoichi Daughter, but the average person wouldn't know what Kunoichi means.
Trivia and Link
You can read the first appearance of Lily Wong in the short story Call Me Dumpling in the December 2014 issue of Suspense Magazine here.
September 27, 2020
I really love this series. Is there anything better than a slightly awkward, fully avenging, kick-ass female ninja?! 😍
I don’t think so.
Lily Wong is up against sex traffickers in this book.
I’ll admit, after finishing The Ninja’s Daughter I was wondering if we’d see Tran again. I could see a potential love interest between him and Lily. (Could she help him turn away from his indiscriminate killing? Would he want to be a better person through friendship with her?) I wasn’t a huge fan of Daniel. Mister Perfect Chinese Son = Momma’s Boy in my mind.
Then I read this book and my thinking flipped. Suddenly, Daniel started to turn into a George Zao-like character (shout out to Sex & Vanity by Kevin Kwan) and he’s not so much a momma’s boy as someone who is quiet, confident and looking for someone different. By the night of Lily’s Mom’s party, I was swooning along with Lily. ❤️
The parts of the novels I struggle with are the ninja-centric descriptions and practices. The story stops flowing for me as I want to understand and end up doing a lot of google searches on terms. However, I wouldn’t necessarily want these parts removed. They are an intrinsic part of Lily.
Overall, I’ll continue to look forward to reading about Lily’s next adventure. Also, would love to know more about Violet and Vern’s romance. Did opposites attract? Love at first sight? How does Violet really feel toward her parents? And WHY is she being called back to Hong Kong? Is Gung-Gung really not going to leave his business to his only highly-successful daughter simply because she’s female?!
And where is this romance leading between Lily & Daniel? Will she ever let him in on her secret? Could Daniel handle the truth? Will he support her or want her to change into a more traditional role? So many questions!
I don’t think so.
Lily Wong is up against sex traffickers in this book.
I’ll admit, after finishing The Ninja’s Daughter I was wondering if we’d see Tran again. I could see a potential love interest between him and Lily. (Could she help him turn away from his indiscriminate killing? Would he want to be a better person through friendship with her?) I wasn’t a huge fan of Daniel. Mister Perfect Chinese Son = Momma’s Boy in my mind.
Then I read this book and my thinking flipped. Suddenly, Daniel started to turn into a George Zao-like character (shout out to Sex & Vanity by Kevin Kwan) and he’s not so much a momma’s boy as someone who is quiet, confident and looking for someone different. By the night of Lily’s Mom’s party, I was swooning along with Lily. ❤️
The parts of the novels I struggle with are the ninja-centric descriptions and practices. The story stops flowing for me as I want to understand and end up doing a lot of google searches on terms. However, I wouldn’t necessarily want these parts removed. They are an intrinsic part of Lily.
Overall, I’ll continue to look forward to reading about Lily’s next adventure. Also, would love to know more about Violet and Vern’s romance. Did opposites attract? Love at first sight? How does Violet really feel toward her parents? And WHY is she being called back to Hong Kong? Is Gung-Gung really not going to leave his business to his only highly-successful daughter simply because she’s female?!
And where is this romance leading between Lily & Daniel? Will she ever let him in on her secret? Could Daniel handle the truth? Will he support her or want her to change into a more traditional role? So many questions!
August 20, 2020
✨Review✨
Thank you so much @booksforwardpr @polisbooks and @writer.tori for the free ARC of “The Ninja’s Blade” to review. Readers can grab a copy on 9/1/20.
“The Ninja’s Blade“ is the second Lily Wong thriller, but it can easily be read as a stand-alone. I didn’t read book one and I was able to follow along with the characters and with Lily’s story.
My favorite thing about this book had to be how action-packed it was! The story pulled me in from the beginning and the action held my attention the whole way through. I was even looking for a little more action as the book wrapped up! Reading the fight sequences brought the book to life and I would love to see Lily Wong on the big screen!
Lily is easily the coolest character I’ve read about in a book this year! She’s fierce, compassionate, and incredibly determined when she puts her mind to something. She’s a character to admire, but also to envy because she has the most hardcore ninja skills! Consider me a fan!
I would definitely recommend “The Ninja’s Blade” to readers who enjoy a fast paced read that is full of action, heart, and some good old fashioned fight scenes. You’ll definitely find me going back to read book one!
4/5 ⭐️
Thank you so much @booksforwardpr @polisbooks and @writer.tori for the free ARC of “The Ninja’s Blade” to review. Readers can grab a copy on 9/1/20.
“The Ninja’s Blade“ is the second Lily Wong thriller, but it can easily be read as a stand-alone. I didn’t read book one and I was able to follow along with the characters and with Lily’s story.
My favorite thing about this book had to be how action-packed it was! The story pulled me in from the beginning and the action held my attention the whole way through. I was even looking for a little more action as the book wrapped up! Reading the fight sequences brought the book to life and I would love to see Lily Wong on the big screen!
Lily is easily the coolest character I’ve read about in a book this year! She’s fierce, compassionate, and incredibly determined when she puts her mind to something. She’s a character to admire, but also to envy because she has the most hardcore ninja skills! Consider me a fan!
I would definitely recommend “The Ninja’s Blade” to readers who enjoy a fast paced read that is full of action, heart, and some good old fashioned fight scenes. You’ll definitely find me going back to read book one!
4/5 ⭐️
June 23, 2020
I have been eagerly awaiting the return of Lily Wong ever since I finished the first book--The Ninja Daughter. After her sister's brutal rape and murder, Lily became a ninja dedicated to protecting those who need it, primarily in connection with a local women's shelter. Set a few months after The Ninja Daughter, Lily is dealing with emotional ramifications from that case all while juggling with her mother's 50th birthday party, her grandparents' visit from Hong Kong, a potential boyfriend, and a search for a missing trafficked teenager. The book will sweep you along at a breakneck pace as Lily navigates the sex underworld of LA and tries to figure out her place in the world.
October 28, 2021
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
WHAT'S THE NINJA'S BLADE ABOUT?
I have abandoned this post five times since early August because of this section—I've written three that were too detailed (and therefore too long to read) and two that were too vague (and therefore too, well, vague to be any good). So, fine. I give up. Here's what's on Eldridge's website about it:
WORDS MATTER
I could not stop thinking about Robert B. Parker's Ceremony/Taming a Seahorse/ Hundred-Dollar Baby and any number of similar books by him (and others) featuring P.I.s looking for particular prostitutes. Many of these I'd considered treating the women in question with sensitivity and respect. But I'm starting to think they could've done better.
Of course, whatever social workers the P.I.s encountered weren't the same people Lily encountered. Lily was told in no uncertain terms that it's not child/teen prostitution, but commercial sexual exploitation, and if she wanted to get anywhere with that agency, she'd adjust her language. Not only is it a language thing—but it reframes the activity. And the criminal culpability of those involved.
You can see its effect on Lily from that point on in the novel, if anything it probably made her more determined.
LILY'S PERSONAL LIFE
Ask Peter Parker, it's hard being a vigilante without your family finding out. The Ninja Daughter showed Lily's skill in keeping that from her family, but it wasn't easy. Add in trying to date—something Lily hasn't successfully done since the night her sister died—and you've yet another bit of trouble.
Lily finds herself liking Daniel, but can't make herself make time for him. Until her grandparents intervene, and suddenly, there's one more plate for Lily to keep spinning.
But the fact that her grandparents are involved in her life is the big thing—they've come to visit from Hong Kong to check up on their business. Lily's mother runs the LA/American branch of the family's corporation.
Their presence changes—at least temporarily—the dynamic between Lily and her mother. Instead of the fairly antagonistic relationship we saw last time, there's an alliance of sorts. Lily becomes as much of the supportive, obedient daughter as she can. Her mother's stress level is through the roof, feeling like every decision she makes and has made—personal and professional—is being weighed and found wanting. So Lily does what she can to take the pressure off—she spends time with them, allows them to meddle in her life (rather than her mom's), and so on.
I really appreciated this—mutual affection, familial bonds, and so on were present in The Ninja Daughter, but we got to see them in action here. It keeps Ma from being merely an obstacle to Lily's mission and turns her into a character (that is frequently an inadvertent obstacle to Lily's mission, sure—but that's different).
THE FALLOUT FROM THE NINJA DAUGHTER
Lily's character is defined by her reaction to the trauma and guilt over her sister's murder. But in The Ninja's Blade, she has a fresh batch of trauma to deal with. The events of The Ninja Daughter have done some significant damage to her psyche (to paint with a broad brush, Eldridge does a better, and more subtle job of depicting it—don't let my need for pithiness fool you).
She doubts herself, second-guesses her choices, makes costly errors, and this causes problems for her in the midst of battle (literal or figurative)—and for what Lily's trying to do, this could be fatal. It's also making things difficult for her outside of her work.
It's not like she can seek out a counselor or anything—it's not like she can tell a lot of people what caused the trauma. So it's up to Lily—with some help from Stan and Aleisha at the shelter—to work through this.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT THE NINJA'S BLADE?
Eldridge here takes what was a strong adventure series with heart and a social conscience and improves it here—adding psychological depth, more layers to the protagonist, developing the characters of those around her, and showing that there are real risks and consequences for the protagonist. This isn't a Reacher-like series, things that happen to Lily matter and will have a lasting impact on the character.
I really enjoyed this book—there's enough humor and action to make sure this stays entertaining, and the darkness and complexity of the world add weightiness to the novel so that it doesn't become a disposable thriller.
I strongly recommend this one to you and think it would serve alright as a jumping-on point, but I think you'd be better off jumping back to the prior novel. But starting with this one and then backtracking would work, too. Just do yourself a favor and pick these up.
---
WHAT'S THE NINJA'S BLADE ABOUT?
I have abandoned this post five times since early August because of this section—I've written three that were too detailed (and therefore too long to read) and two that were too vague (and therefore too, well, vague to be any good). So, fine. I give up. Here's what's on Eldridge's website about it:
In THE NINJA’S BLADE, Lily Wong―a Chinese-Norwegian modern-day ninja―has more trouble than she was bargaining for when controlling grandparents arrive in Los Angeles from Hong Kong at the same time she goes undercover in the dangerous world of youth sex trafficking. As she hunts for a kidnapped prostitution victim, a missing high school girl, and a sociopathic trafficker, the surviving members of a murderous street gang hunt for her.
Life would be easier if Lily knew who to trust. But when victims are villains, villains are victims, and even family is plotting against her, easy is not an option. All Lily can do is follow the trail wherever it leads: through a high school campus polarized by racial tension or the secret back rooms of a barber/tattoo/brothel or the soul-crushing stretch of Long Beach Boulevard known as The Blade.
She relies on her ninja skills to deceive and infiltrate, rescue and kill―whatever is necessary to free the girls from their literal and figurative slavery. If only those same skills could keep Lily’s conniving grandparents from hijacking her future.
WORDS MATTER
I could not stop thinking about Robert B. Parker's Ceremony/Taming a Seahorse/ Hundred-Dollar Baby and any number of similar books by him (and others) featuring P.I.s looking for particular prostitutes. Many of these I'd considered treating the women in question with sensitivity and respect. But I'm starting to think they could've done better.
Of course, whatever social workers the P.I.s encountered weren't the same people Lily encountered. Lily was told in no uncertain terms that it's not child/teen prostitution, but commercial sexual exploitation, and if she wanted to get anywhere with that agency, she'd adjust her language. Not only is it a language thing—but it reframes the activity. And the criminal culpability of those involved.
You can see its effect on Lily from that point on in the novel, if anything it probably made her more determined.
LILY'S PERSONAL LIFE
Ask Peter Parker, it's hard being a vigilante without your family finding out. The Ninja Daughter showed Lily's skill in keeping that from her family, but it wasn't easy. Add in trying to date—something Lily hasn't successfully done since the night her sister died—and you've yet another bit of trouble.
Lily finds herself liking Daniel, but can't make herself make time for him. Until her grandparents intervene, and suddenly, there's one more plate for Lily to keep spinning.
But the fact that her grandparents are involved in her life is the big thing—they've come to visit from Hong Kong to check up on their business. Lily's mother runs the LA/American branch of the family's corporation.
Their presence changes—at least temporarily—the dynamic between Lily and her mother. Instead of the fairly antagonistic relationship we saw last time, there's an alliance of sorts. Lily becomes as much of the supportive, obedient daughter as she can. Her mother's stress level is through the roof, feeling like every decision she makes and has made—personal and professional—is being weighed and found wanting. So Lily does what she can to take the pressure off—she spends time with them, allows them to meddle in her life (rather than her mom's), and so on.
I really appreciated this—mutual affection, familial bonds, and so on were present in The Ninja Daughter, but we got to see them in action here. It keeps Ma from being merely an obstacle to Lily's mission and turns her into a character (that is frequently an inadvertent obstacle to Lily's mission, sure—but that's different).
THE FALLOUT FROM THE NINJA DAUGHTER
Lily's character is defined by her reaction to the trauma and guilt over her sister's murder. But in The Ninja's Blade, she has a fresh batch of trauma to deal with. The events of The Ninja Daughter have done some significant damage to her psyche (to paint with a broad brush, Eldridge does a better, and more subtle job of depicting it—don't let my need for pithiness fool you).
She doubts herself, second-guesses her choices, makes costly errors, and this causes problems for her in the midst of battle (literal or figurative)—and for what Lily's trying to do, this could be fatal. It's also making things difficult for her outside of her work.
It's not like she can seek out a counselor or anything—it's not like she can tell a lot of people what caused the trauma. So it's up to Lily—with some help from Stan and Aleisha at the shelter—to work through this.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT THE NINJA'S BLADE?
Eldridge here takes what was a strong adventure series with heart and a social conscience and improves it here—adding psychological depth, more layers to the protagonist, developing the characters of those around her, and showing that there are real risks and consequences for the protagonist. This isn't a Reacher-like series, things that happen to Lily matter and will have a lasting impact on the character.
I really enjoyed this book—there's enough humor and action to make sure this stays entertaining, and the darkness and complexity of the world add weightiness to the novel so that it doesn't become a disposable thriller.
I strongly recommend this one to you and think it would serve alright as a jumping-on point, but I think you'd be better off jumping back to the prior novel. But starting with this one and then backtracking would work, too. Just do yourself a favor and pick these up.
September 21, 2020
Lily Wong, a Chinese-Norwegian modern-day ninja, finds herself in more trouble than she bargained for when her controlling grandparents arrive in Los Angeles from Hong Kong in the midst of her investigation into the dangerous world of sex trafficking. Lily is on the hunt to find a missing high school girl, a kidnapped prostitute, and a sociopathic pimp who just might have the answers she needs. If only Lily knew who to trust. In an underground world where deception means survival, Lily will find herself risking it all to find the truth.
THE NINJA’S BLADE is the second installment in Tori Eldridge’s series about Lily Wong. Rest assured that you don’t need to know the details of book one in order to fully enjoy getting to know badass Lily!
Eldridge instantly allows the reader to bond with Lily by tagging along on her investigations. At first I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book or the main character, but I quickly found myself loving the humor and determination that drives Lily. Our main character is one you definitely want in your corner and she proves herself as a loyal friend, protector, and daughter repeatedly over the course of this book. Lily also has a sarcastic sense of humor that radiates throughout the novel and lightens the mood throughout.
THE NINJA’S BLADE is packed with action reminiscent of watching a movie, as the reader witnesses Lily take charge and unleash her ninja abilities on the criminals in Los Angeles. It might seem like an unlikely combination at first glance, but it works so well! Eldridge has crafted Lily in a way that isn’t cartoonish or over-the-top, but more so an homage to a modern superhero motif.
What really makes THE NINJA’S BLADE a powerful read is Eldridge’s exploration into sex trafficking. It’s certainly a topic well known and talked about in the media these days. Often I feel these outlets don’t focus on how a vulnerable person can find themselves so easily wooed into these situations. Eldridge hits the nail on the head with girls from many backgrounds making up the victims that Lily comes into contact with. The subject matter is approached in a very real way that shows how much research Eldridge put into the topic.
If you’re looking for something guaranteed to entertain, but also touch on a powerful topic, this is the book you’ve been looking for!
A huge thank you to Books Forward PR for my gifted copy!
THE NINJA’S BLADE is the second installment in Tori Eldridge’s series about Lily Wong. Rest assured that you don’t need to know the details of book one in order to fully enjoy getting to know badass Lily!
Eldridge instantly allows the reader to bond with Lily by tagging along on her investigations. At first I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book or the main character, but I quickly found myself loving the humor and determination that drives Lily. Our main character is one you definitely want in your corner and she proves herself as a loyal friend, protector, and daughter repeatedly over the course of this book. Lily also has a sarcastic sense of humor that radiates throughout the novel and lightens the mood throughout.
THE NINJA’S BLADE is packed with action reminiscent of watching a movie, as the reader witnesses Lily take charge and unleash her ninja abilities on the criminals in Los Angeles. It might seem like an unlikely combination at first glance, but it works so well! Eldridge has crafted Lily in a way that isn’t cartoonish or over-the-top, but more so an homage to a modern superhero motif.
What really makes THE NINJA’S BLADE a powerful read is Eldridge’s exploration into sex trafficking. It’s certainly a topic well known and talked about in the media these days. Often I feel these outlets don’t focus on how a vulnerable person can find themselves so easily wooed into these situations. Eldridge hits the nail on the head with girls from many backgrounds making up the victims that Lily comes into contact with. The subject matter is approached in a very real way that shows how much research Eldridge put into the topic.
If you’re looking for something guaranteed to entertain, but also touch on a powerful topic, this is the book you’ve been looking for!
A huge thank you to Books Forward PR for my gifted copy!
September 2, 2020
Lily Wong is a modern day ninja who goes undercover to find missing girls who have become victims of sex trafficking. As she searches for a kidnapped prostitution victim, she comes across many other victims as well as the sociopathic trafficker, all while the surviving members of a murderous street gang are hunting for her.
This is the second book in the series and although fine as a stand alone, I do prefer to have more background on the characters, but that’s just me personally. This book is action packed but also has a good mix of family drama and a hint of romance. Although not my typical read, I really enjoyed this one. Lily is a strong female lead who takes no crap and I equally enjoyed her skills and the family dynamics in the book. And wow that girl can eat! Loved all the delicious dishes described in the book. Definitely curious to see where the next book takes us. 3.75⭐️
This is the second book in the series and although fine as a stand alone, I do prefer to have more background on the characters, but that’s just me personally. This book is action packed but also has a good mix of family drama and a hint of romance. Although not my typical read, I really enjoyed this one. Lily is a strong female lead who takes no crap and I equally enjoyed her skills and the family dynamics in the book. And wow that girl can eat! Loved all the delicious dishes described in the book. Definitely curious to see where the next book takes us. 3.75⭐️
September 4, 2020
Lily Wong is a lot of things: half-Hong Kong Chinese, half North Dakota Norwegian, and full ninja. She works with a women’s shelter to extract women from dangerous situations. In The Ninja’s Blade, Lily is trying to break up a child sex trafficking ring in her own Los Angeles backyard.
Lily is also suffering from PTSD from her adventures in the last book. She refuses to accept help. After all, ninjas don’t do therapy.
She is also trying to stop her mother from marrying her off to “Mister Perfect Chinese Son”, Daniel Kwok. That job gets even more impossible once her mother’s parents arrive from Hong Kong. Her grandfather, Gung-Gung, had failed to have sons. His daughter, Lily’s mom, has also failed in his mission. Only Lily could provide him with the male heir he so deeply craves. But first, she must be married, of course. And Daniel is Perfect, after all.
The Ninja’s Blade is the ideal choice for action movie fans! It has fights, clear evil villains, and a kick-a$$ heroine. It is also very cinematic. I could see each scene perfectly choreographed in my mind’s eye throughout the plot. It helps that I lived in Los Angeles for the first thirty years of my life. Just a fun, feminist, culturally diverse read with a real-life ninja. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 stars! Don’t miss it!
Thanks to Agora Books and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.
Lily is also suffering from PTSD from her adventures in the last book. She refuses to accept help. After all, ninjas don’t do therapy.
She is also trying to stop her mother from marrying her off to “Mister Perfect Chinese Son”, Daniel Kwok. That job gets even more impossible once her mother’s parents arrive from Hong Kong. Her grandfather, Gung-Gung, had failed to have sons. His daughter, Lily’s mom, has also failed in his mission. Only Lily could provide him with the male heir he so deeply craves. But first, she must be married, of course. And Daniel is Perfect, after all.
The Ninja’s Blade is the ideal choice for action movie fans! It has fights, clear evil villains, and a kick-a$$ heroine. It is also very cinematic. I could see each scene perfectly choreographed in my mind’s eye throughout the plot. It helps that I lived in Los Angeles for the first thirty years of my life. Just a fun, feminist, culturally diverse read with a real-life ninja. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 stars! Don’t miss it!
Thanks to Agora Books and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.
August 22, 2020
Book two of this series was even better than book one. I loved the flow of the story and how each character played their part. This book if you haven't read book one I think you would be able to read this one without it. Although you might miss some of the connections from book one it can still stand on its own. If you loved fast paced stories with action etc. Then you totally need to check this one out.
August 30, 2020
“A warrior’s heart is full, and her capacity to feel is great. You fight to protect others out of fierce emotion. You kill when there is no other way to protect the innocent or yourself. You carry this burden because of the commitment, actions and sacrifices you continue to make. Because of who you are. Because of your heart. Because of what you feel.”
I couldn’t wait to finish my daily to-do list, so I could jump right back into ‘The Ninja’s Blade’. It’s rare for me to look forward to reading a book and maintain that interest. Usually I get excited by the prospect of reading something new and my interest slowly dwindles, but, with The Ninja’s Blade, my interest kept increasing, and I kept wondering: will Lily be able to save Emma and the girls?
The Ninja’s Blade deals with commercial sexual exploitation of young girls, and you’d think because of how terrifying the subject is that it would be a heavy read, but it’s explored with so much compassion and a subtle love and care for the young girls that you end up feeling lighter for it. It’s a careful study of how vulnerable young girls are trafficked, and absolutely horrifying and eye-opening to see just how easy it can be. And in the end, when the final missing piece is solved, it feels like a sort of harsh slap to the face because, of course, how did I not see it coming? And even then, it doesn’t promise a happy ending… because that’s just not life, not after everything we see in The Ninja’s Blade. But there is a glimmer of hope, a faint hope and little chance of happiness.
“Love, support, opportunity – so much of it depended on who gave birth to you and where. It all felt so arbitrary.”
I was paranoid throughout reading this… who can even be trusted? Will Lily save the day? How will she get out of that one? The Ninja’s Blade had me at the edge of my seat.
I really, really enjoyed this, so I went ahead and asked for the first book in the series, and I can’t wait to read the third book when it releases. And I would LOVE to read more books like this. I’m slow to jump into the badass heroine trope in the year of 2020, but give me all of the Lily Wong and Arya Stark heroines please! Plus, there’s a lovely bit of side romance with a special guy called Daniel who’s just ridiculously dreamy and will have you “ay-ay-ay”ing like high Jess during Cece’s casual hen do, and I also really enjoyed learning more about Chinese culture.
“I didn’t need therapy: I needed justice.”
I want to thank Jennifer Vance, from Books Forward, for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
I couldn’t wait to finish my daily to-do list, so I could jump right back into ‘The Ninja’s Blade’. It’s rare for me to look forward to reading a book and maintain that interest. Usually I get excited by the prospect of reading something new and my interest slowly dwindles, but, with The Ninja’s Blade, my interest kept increasing, and I kept wondering: will Lily be able to save Emma and the girls?
The Ninja’s Blade deals with commercial sexual exploitation of young girls, and you’d think because of how terrifying the subject is that it would be a heavy read, but it’s explored with so much compassion and a subtle love and care for the young girls that you end up feeling lighter for it. It’s a careful study of how vulnerable young girls are trafficked, and absolutely horrifying and eye-opening to see just how easy it can be. And in the end, when the final missing piece is solved, it feels like a sort of harsh slap to the face because, of course, how did I not see it coming? And even then, it doesn’t promise a happy ending… because that’s just not life, not after everything we see in The Ninja’s Blade. But there is a glimmer of hope, a faint hope and little chance of happiness.
“Love, support, opportunity – so much of it depended on who gave birth to you and where. It all felt so arbitrary.”
I was paranoid throughout reading this… who can even be trusted? Will Lily save the day? How will she get out of that one? The Ninja’s Blade had me at the edge of my seat.
I really, really enjoyed this, so I went ahead and asked for the first book in the series, and I can’t wait to read the third book when it releases. And I would LOVE to read more books like this. I’m slow to jump into the badass heroine trope in the year of 2020, but give me all of the Lily Wong and Arya Stark heroines please! Plus, there’s a lovely bit of side romance with a special guy called Daniel who’s just ridiculously dreamy and will have you “ay-ay-ay”ing like high Jess during Cece’s casual hen do, and I also really enjoyed learning more about Chinese culture.
“I didn’t need therapy: I needed justice.”
I want to thank Jennifer Vance, from Books Forward, for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 3, 2020
Tori Eldridge has emerged as one of the most exciting thriller authors of the new decade. I was instantly smitten by Lily Wong in “The Ninja Daughter” and had the opportunity to be an advance reader for book 2 in the series. We get a deeper dive into Lily’s fascinating personality in “The Ninja’s Blade” with even more twists and turns in a world where danger and double cross hide around every corner and nobody is quite what they seem to be.The family dynamic is prominent in this tale, adding both joy and stress to a life that is already coping with too much of the latter. The plot flies at a lightning pace and each chapter is delectably constructed to keep you coming back for more. “The Ninja’s Blade” is perfectly crafted for the big screen. Hoping to see this smart super heroine there soon.
September 8, 2020
Modern day ninja Lilly Wong is back in the second book in the Ninja Daughter series.
Lilly is out of sorts and struggling from PSTD after a violent confrontation with gang members in book one. But she’s still working for the women’s shelter and must search for one of the shelter’s residents who gets kidnapped. Lilly’s search takes her to a very dark place- a sex trafficking ring. Lilly must find the trafficker and infiltrate his ring by posing a prostitute if she has any hope of finding the missing girl or saving other girls who are being exploited.
Lilly is an interesting main character. She tough and compassionate, very independent and guilt ridden. You don’t have to read the first book on the series to read this one. There’s enough info on Lilly’s backstory and her last adventure let’s any new readers to the series know where she’s coming from.
A solid second outing for this unique series. Content warning: kidnapping, rape, child sex trafficking, abuse, violence. The subject matter is dark but not detailed. The author writes about the victims with compassion and empathy.
Lilly is out of sorts and struggling from PSTD after a violent confrontation with gang members in book one. But she’s still working for the women’s shelter and must search for one of the shelter’s residents who gets kidnapped. Lilly’s search takes her to a very dark place- a sex trafficking ring. Lilly must find the trafficker and infiltrate his ring by posing a prostitute if she has any hope of finding the missing girl or saving other girls who are being exploited.
Lilly is an interesting main character. She tough and compassionate, very independent and guilt ridden. You don’t have to read the first book on the series to read this one. There’s enough info on Lilly’s backstory and her last adventure let’s any new readers to the series know where she’s coming from.
A solid second outing for this unique series. Content warning: kidnapping, rape, child sex trafficking, abuse, violence. The subject matter is dark but not detailed. The author writes about the victims with compassion and empathy.
August 2, 2021
Lily Wong is back and dealing with the trauma of the events of The Ninja Daughter (well worth a read). Instead of being able to take time to recover, she gets a call from a friend to look into the abduction of a young girl who's life was headed in the wrong direction. Soon she is deeply involved in the dark world of human trafficking and must use her martial arts skills to protect the young victims and her own life.
Things are no less complicated on the home front with having to babysit her visiting grandparents trying to smooth tensions between them and her mother.
This 2nd in the Lily Wong series is even better than that first, and that one was one of my favorite books. I'm looking forward to the book three, The Ninja Betrayed.
Things are no less complicated on the home front with having to babysit her visiting grandparents trying to smooth tensions between them and her mother.
This 2nd in the Lily Wong series is even better than that first, and that one was one of my favorite books. I'm looking forward to the book three, The Ninja Betrayed.
April 5, 2021
Lily Wong is BACK, and I'm all-in for this sequel to THE NINJA DAUGHTER. This second book in the series has all the action of the first, but now that the groundwork for Lily's life has been laid, Tori Eldridge can dig deeper into Lily's relationships with her parents, the men in her life, and her efforts to balance her progressive attitude with cultural traditions. The result is a fast-moving and gripping thriller with a soft side. Lily Wong is fast becoming one of my favorite thriller protagonists, and I can't wait to see where she goes next.
September 20, 2022
tough themes, wonderful character
Lily Wong captivated me in Tori Eldridge's first book featuring her. This second outing contains tough themes, but Lily is up for the challenge. Lily Wong is no paladin--she makes mistakes and suffers the consequences. Still, her heart is big and her body tough, and her dad and her Sensei keep her on track.
Lily Wong captivated me in Tori Eldridge's first book featuring her. This second outing contains tough themes, but Lily is up for the challenge. Lily Wong is no paladin--she makes mistakes and suffers the consequences. Still, her heart is big and her body tough, and her dad and her Sensei keep her on track.
December 3, 2020
I don't normally read fiction, but was intrigued because the author is a high ranking martial artist in the Martial art that I study so I picked up her first book, The Ninja Daughter. The first one was a quick and interesting read and upon seeing that the sequel was release I had to read it also. The Ninja's Blade is in my opinion better than the first novel. It really sucked me in. The novel takes us into the dark world of sex trafficking. Lily Wong, the novel's heroine is still coping with events from the first novel and the author does a great job taking us inside the mind of someone who has had some pretty violent encounters and the aftermath of that. I love how the author uses her knowledge of the martial arts that she has personally studied to craft excellent fight scenes, and it's a cool bonus for me because I practice the same martial art so I can picture exactly what is going on.
May 12, 2022
I think I'm done with Lily and her vigilante journey. It looks like I'm in the minority with my rating, but I found it disconcerting that Lily had reached a point of questioning the violence she was spewing out to the "bad guys", yet she continued to smash, slash and kick anyone in her way. Vigilante justice walks a fine line between right and wrong and I thought several of Lily's choices crossed the line.
November 22, 2020
Wonderful cozyish drama with heart and humor. Lovable martial arts mighty girl hero, opening cans of whoop-ass on some nasty men. Delightfully multicultural.
Eagerly awaiting Lili’s 3rd adventure.
Eagerly awaiting Lili’s 3rd adventure.
June 23, 2025
3.65 stars
September 4, 2020
I thought the first book in the Lily Wong series was excellent. This second installment is even better. Highlighting the horror of child sex trafficking with empathy and sufficient outrage, calling it what it is and not shying away or attempting to glamorize gives Tori Eldridge's alter ego Lily a chance to do what she does so well; taking names and kicking ass. I enjoy the character development, no one dimensional fillers here, all with plenty of scope to be further developed in the future chapters of Lily's story, of which I hope there are many.
September 14, 2020
Thank you @booksforwardpr for a copy of The Ninja’s Blade by Tori Eldridge. The second in the Lily Wong thriller series is available today.
Content warnings for sexual abuse, kidnapping, drug use, grooming, violence and sex trafficking.
The Ninja’s Blade opens starts with main character Lily Wong seeing an unlikely pair of young adults talking, two girls who would never be friends. One leads the other to a car driven by a handsome older man and they leave together. This coupled by the fact that Lily was recently hired to find a runaway, leads her to the world of sex trafficking.
The Ninja’s Blade is the second in a series but I haven’t read the first and I managed to follow along. It did seem like the events of the first book had a significant effect on Lily in this book though, so I did feel like I missed out on some character development because of that. Lily is a badass woman though, working as an investigator for a women’s shelter and using her fighting skills to help while trying to impress her parents and maybe start dating.
Content warnings for sexual abuse, kidnapping, drug use, grooming, violence and sex trafficking.
The Ninja’s Blade opens starts with main character Lily Wong seeing an unlikely pair of young adults talking, two girls who would never be friends. One leads the other to a car driven by a handsome older man and they leave together. This coupled by the fact that Lily was recently hired to find a runaway, leads her to the world of sex trafficking.
The Ninja’s Blade is the second in a series but I haven’t read the first and I managed to follow along. It did seem like the events of the first book had a significant effect on Lily in this book though, so I did feel like I missed out on some character development because of that. Lily is a badass woman though, working as an investigator for a women’s shelter and using her fighting skills to help while trying to impress her parents and maybe start dating.
August 27, 2020
L.A. ninja Lily Wong is still troubled by her harrowing experiences from her first case detailed in The Ninja's Daughter. Lily agrees to help her friends at Aleisha's Refuge, a haven for abused women, to find Emma Hughes. The teen was abducted by gunpoint at her Bel Air home while visiting her parents. In searching for Emma and her trafficker Manolo in the Long Beach Blade area, Lily uncovers another juvenile sex-trafficking ring and vows to free the girls. But Lily also becomes the target of the surviving members of Varrio Norwalk 66, the street gang she encountered in her first case.
Meanwhile, Lily's parents are stressed about the upcoming visit of her Hong Kong grandparents and preparations for her mother's 50th birthday party. A potential love interest with businessman Daniel Kwok also keeps Lily's emotions on edge.
All these plotlines intertwine and come together in a thrilling conclusion.
I received an eARC from Netgalley and Polis Books with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and provided this review.
Meanwhile, Lily's parents are stressed about the upcoming visit of her Hong Kong grandparents and preparations for her mother's 50th birthday party. A potential love interest with businessman Daniel Kwok also keeps Lily's emotions on edge.
All these plotlines intertwine and come together in a thrilling conclusion.
I received an eARC from Netgalley and Polis Books with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and provided this review.
September 1, 2020
Lily Wong is the type of character that I like to read about. She's strong but also human. In this edge of your seat story follow Lily as she fights to help young girls. Oh and her personal life is a mess too. Don't pass up this amazing book. A must read. Happy reading! #TheNinjasBlade #NetGalleu
September 20, 2020
I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this book. This is such a great sequel to the first book The Ninja Daughter. The Ninja Blade did not disappoint the action scene had me at the edge of my seat and love how this book explored with sex trafficking, which is an important topic and issues that is face here in America as well as all over the world. Really like Lily Wong but wish there was more romantic scenes with David. Hope there will be another book in the series.
August 28, 2020
A highly entertaining and gripping story. Sometimes I had to suspend my belief but I thoroughly enjoyed it
Interesting world building, fleshed out characters and a solid plot that kept me hooked.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
Interesting world building, fleshed out characters and a solid plot that kept me hooked.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
August 15, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author, for an ARC of this book, in exhange for an honest review.
The Ninja's Blade is the 2nd book in the Lily Wong series and I was lucky enough to have read the 1st book in the series, The Ninja Daughter.
I actually enjoyed this book a little more than The Ninja Daughter because of the subject matter.
This book has romance, a little mystery, lots of action and great characters.
I hope that Tori Eldridge decides to write another book in this series because I would definitely read it.
The Ninja's Blade is the 2nd book in the Lily Wong series and I was lucky enough to have read the 1st book in the series, The Ninja Daughter.
I actually enjoyed this book a little more than The Ninja Daughter because of the subject matter.
This book has romance, a little mystery, lots of action and great characters.
I hope that Tori Eldridge decides to write another book in this series because I would definitely read it.
September 13, 2020
This is one of my favorite series of books. I love how the main character is so nuanced: strong and independent but also probably suffering from PTSD. This novel focuses on the horrors of child trafficking without ever being preachy. Instead, the author lets the characters and their traumas speak for themselves. I also liked how the novel focuses on Lily’s personal life, including her grandparents’ strained relationship with her mom as well as her budding romance with Daniel. I can’t wait for the next installment in this chapter to see Lily’s new mission.
ARC from NetGalley
ARC from NetGalley
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