Stars: 2.5 out of 5
I usually love books set in the Legend of the Five Rings realm, because that world is so rich in history, mythology, and lore that it sucks me right in. Add a few compelling characters and an interesting goal for them to achieve, and you have me hooked and happily exploring Rokugan with them.
Unfortunately, this wasn’t the case in this book. Now, I realize that this is the continuation of The Heart of Iuchiban, so the story follows directly after the events of the previous book ended. If you haven’t read the first book, it would be very difficult to understand what is going on and who is who. In fact, I would say that you shouldn’t start with this book at all. You need to have read The Heart of Iuchiban to fully appreciate the story in this book.
But even that isn’t really the main problem. Plenty of other stories are told in duologies, and I loved the second books in the series just as much as I loved the first ones. My issue is that about 70% of the book feels pointless. Characters start off in different parts of Rokugan and seem to wander aimlessly for three-quarters of the book until they all meet back in the Imperial City and the action really picks up.
I mean, what was the point of Naoki’s journey back to the Twilight Mountains? The only positive outcome out of that trip was to pick up Seiji. Other than that, it just feels like an aimless road trip designed to add page time to an already long book. I’m sure the author could have found another way of getting Seiji to the Imperial City and have the main characters meet. Heck, make them meet in the basement of horrors, just like they met with Quadan! That would have worked just as well.
And while most of the book drags and meanders in these pointless detours, the last few chapters rush towards the resolution at a breakneck pace. So much so that you don’t have a chance to breathe and understand what is happening and how the characters jump to the conclusions they jump to.
Also, for an immortal sorcerer who prides himself at being smart and planning for every possibility, Iuchiban’s actions in the end were pretty dumb. And I am going to avoid spoilers here, but why lock them up for just asking about names when NOBODY had any suspicion about you? Just let them attend the ceremony and continue as planned, and nobody would have been the wiser. And why leave such an important artefact as one of your original names in the hands of someone who has the power and will to use it against you?
All in all, I enjoyed this foray into Rokugan, as I always do with these books, but a lot less than many other series set in this world.
PS: I received an advanced copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
