The Initiate Brother (Initiate Brother, #1)

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The Initiate Brother (Initiate Brother #1)

4.05 of 5 stars 4.05 · rating details · 408 ratings · 30 reviews

Plague and warfare has swept across the Orient, ravaging the ancient kingdom of Wa, devastating the royal line, and leaving a new dynasty on the throne--a new Emperor, Akantsu, filled with fear of all who might seek to wriest the Empire from his grasp. Among those out of favor with the new liege is the Order of the Botahist Monks, whose mystical powers have enabled them to...more

Mass Market Paperback, 480 pages

Published April 3rd 1991 by DAW

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Jul 10, 2011 Kat Hooper rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook

ORIGINALLY POSTED AT Fantasy Literature.

War and plague have recently swept across the kingdom of Wa, leaving a new emperor feeling insecure on his throne. He feels threatened by the ancient houses of Wa, and most especially by the revered Lord Shonto, an intelligent and highly competent man. When the emperor appoints Shonto as governor of the northern province of Seh, Shonto isn’t sure if this is an honor, or a trap.

Both men have some excellent allies. Shonto has adopted the lovely and gifted La...more ORIGINALLY POSTED AT Fantasy Literature.

War and plague have recently swept across the kingdom of Wa, leaving a new emperor feeling insecure on his throne. He feels threatened by the ancient houses of Wa, and most especially by the revered Lord Shonto, an intelligent and highly competent man. When the emperor appoints Shonto as governor of the northern province of Seh, Shonto isn’t sure if this is an honor, or a trap.

Both men have some excellent allies. Shonto has adopted the lovely and gifted Lady Nishima, the last heir of the former empire, and has recently secured as his spiritual advisor the Botahist monk Shuyun who is recognized by his brothers as the most promising monk in ages. He has also befriended a minor lord from the North who has little influence in that region, but seems to see things more clearly than his elders do. The emperor’s staff includes handsome and clever General Jaku Katta, the famous kickboxer, and Jaku’s clever young brother.

Of course, all of these allies — Lady Nishima, Shuyun, Jaku Katta — have their own human desires and concerns. For example, Shuyun is worried about the Botahist order — the ancient scrolls are missing, and some of his brother monks have disappeared. When he leaves his monastery, he sees things which make him question some of the teachings of his faith.

As you can tell by the names, Sean Russell’s The Initiate Brother, first published in 1991, is an Eastern-flavored fantasy similar to Lian Hearn’s Tales of the Otori and Guy Gavriel Kay’s Under Heaven. The Initiate Brother also reminds me of GGK’s work because it’s full of fascinating twisty political intrigue and there’s a large cast of realistic and appealing characters who we get to know well when we’re privy to their internal thoughts. If you’re a fan of GGK, you’re almost certain to enjoy The Initiate Brother (and you probably won’t mind the frequent POV shifts).

The occasional use of short Japanese poems and a strategy game similar to the ancient Chinese boardgame Go, add to the world-building and inspire the story. The plot, which is layered with conflict and intrigue, gradually and inexhaustibly rises to a tense climax at the end of the novel. Then it stops. I was sorry that I didn’t have the sequel, Gatherer of Clouds, on hand to begin immediately, but I will be picking it up soon — it promises plenty of excitement and I look forward to finding out what happens to these interesting people.

I listened to Blackstone Audio’s production of The Initiate Brother, read by Elijah Alexander. Mostly I enjoyed Mr. Alexander’s narration — he has a superb reading voice. However, because the cast of characters was so large, he used a couple of annoying techniques to distinguish minor characters. For example, in this ancient Oriental culture, the merchant Tanaka has a Boston accent and a female nun sounds like a Chicago mobster. More distracting, though, was what happened when Mr. Alexander ran out of voices. Instead of recycling, he gave each new character a peculiar speech tempo which often makes the character seem like he has a speech impediment or, worse, like he is mentally disabled. I doubt that this is what Sean Russell intended for his emperor. Realizing that such a large cast must be problematic for an audiobook reader, I’m willing to overlook this little quirk — and I’ll be happily reading the sequel on audio.(less)

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Sep 09, 2012 Robin Tell rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewing-this-from-memory, fantasy

A flawed but beloved old favorite from college, one I worry will pass from the collective memory sooner than it ought. That said, I must confess that I'm giving it stars based, I suppose, on a separate scale from that I might apply to Beowulf, say, or Dubliners. Perhaps--and I am realizing this as I consider the question of how many stars to award here--I use a five-star scale not so much as an absolute range of value applicable across all books, but as a measure of the extent to which a book me...more A flawed but beloved old favorite from college, one I worry will pass from the collective memory sooner than it ought. That said, I must confess that I'm giving it stars based, I suppose, on a separate scale from that I might apply to Beowulf, say, or Dubliners. Perhaps--and I am realizing this as I consider the question of how many stars to award here--I use a five-star scale not so much as an absolute range of value applicable across all books, but as a measure of the extent to which a book met the expectations with which I came to it. Making it all doubly subjective, but I think that really is a more honest assessment of how I've been thinking of it. Nice to realize that.

And in that light, having approached Initiate Brother as a fantasy novel (I regard it and its nominal sequel, Gatherer of Clouds, as one novel broken into parts for publisher's purposes), it acquitted itself very well indeed. Russell seems to be finding his way as he writes the chapters in order, so that the first is the wobbliest. The plot, baroque enough to require real care in following it, has some points that don't quite add up. But there is also a subtlety there that is probably the book's greatest strength: you really do need to pay attention to the action as the pieces move around the broad board of imperial intrigue, or you won't notice when this or that agent reports to his superior with small lies and omissions that are our only warning of that agent's secret agenda, which may matter down the road. After one misstep in that first chapter, Russell has the authorial assurance necessary to lie to the reader--rather than try and tiptoe around a narrative lie, and thereby betray his plans for what will follow.

It's a large ensemble cast, with significant characters still being introduced well over halfway through the action, and the main characters are pretty good. Shonto, almost as much the main character as titular Brother Shuyun, is an interesting compromise--he is presented as a master strategist, but never in the book will he execute any masterful strategies. Mostly he shows himself to be resolute, coolheaded, principled, blessed with superlative staff, and skilled at divining the truth among rumors. Which will do for a hero, surely. But in battle the credit always goes to his retainers, or to his good fortune in having Shuyun at his service. Small matter. The nature of his repute going into the story isn't as important as his lordly mien, and his position as lightning rod for the wrath of a vindictive emperor.

And so on. Our Lady Nishima is compelling, if something of a feminist anachronism (if it makes any sense to cry anachronism in a backdrop that's a curious blend of Japanese language, dress and culture on a Chinese geographic and political map). Lord Komawara is fine as a spirited young romantic lead. The emperor brings a lively menace to everything. The brothers Jaku, his servants, are vivid, perhaps at the cost of watching the author enjoy himself too much in describing them. The many supporting characters are deftly and carefully drawn.

I'm rereading this just lately, in an intermittent way. We'll see if it stands up. I am noticing right away, though, the the book slows for a few chapters after the second, and before Shuyun reappears I am impatient for his arrival. He is the life of the story, his predicament as he ventures from his cloister into a world that seems like more than illusion. Half Zen master and half Shaolin monk, he is the only one on the trail of the big wheel that's turning, virtually forgotten behind all the machinations of warfare. And his character, despite being wrapped in something of a martial arts caricature, is probably the most nuanced of the lot.

Immensely enjoyable, warts and all. I'll update if reading through it again should change my view of it.(less)

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May 18, 2012 Scott rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

The Initiate Brother is the first of two books in Sean Russell's faux-occidental (heavy Chinese influence) duology regarding the fall of an era. I don't have the historical background to see if he is drawing inspiration from a specific incident in time; however, it doesn't really matter to me - I love the story for itself.

Why do I love this book? Probably because it does political intrigue right for the reader - there are very few twists, with a close third person view of the characters, you can...more

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Aug 04, 2011 AudioBookFans rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Originally posted at http://www.audiobookfans.com

Story: The Initiate Brother is an ambitious novel packed with intrigue and seasoned with plots and the promise of war. Sean Russell’s poetic approach at world building results in an environment with depth and texture that envelopes the reader until the very end.

Plots on plots inside of plots. There are a great deal of interesting machinations going on in the Kingdom of Wa. All of which build upon each other until the tension is thick. It seems tha...more Originally posted at http://www.audiobookfans.com

Story: The Initiate Brother is an ambitious novel packed with intrigue and seasoned with plots and the promise of war. Sean Russell’s poetic approach at world building results in an environment with depth and texture that envelopes the reader until the very end.

Plots on plots inside of plots. There are a great deal of interesting machinations going on in the Kingdom of Wa. All of which build upon each other until the tension is thick. It seems that at any time there could be an assassination attempt or an ambush waiting just around the corner.

Unfortunately there really isn’t a lot of sword fighting going on in The Initiate Brother. I am a sucker for a good sword fight and I was fully expecting this novel to be packed with them. Maybe throw in a few throwing stars and some nunchucks, etc. Those were my expectations. What the reader actually gets from The Initiate Brother is something much different. Sean Russell takes the reader on an eloquent and poetic journey through the landscapes of the Kingdom of Wa all the while building a story that enlightens and intrigues.

Audio Production: This was my first exposure to Elijah Alexander. When I began this audiobook I felt like the pacing was a little too fast. However when I went back to refresh my memory I really couldn’t detect anything unusual. It is very possible that this feeling was simply caused by sensory overload. As I mentioned before, the world of The Initiate Brother is elaborate and it may have taken a while to get my bearings.

After the initial adjustment to the environment I became used to Mr. Alexander’s narration. Most of the characters were performed very well however several characters were given the annoying habit of drawing out the first word of a sentence. As you listen you get the impression that the characters are “slow”. Since most of these characters were very intelligent men responsible for the well being of the empire I am sure this was not intended.

Overall the narration and audio production work very well and keep the listener wrapped up in the story.

Overall: A great journey that leaves you wanting more. The Initiate Brother was extremely interesting and unique. Russell leaves you on the edge with an excellent cliffhanger that makes you want to jump right into the sequel Gatherer of Clouds(less)

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Apr 27, 2011 Colleen rated it 3 of 5 stars

The Initiate Brother is a hefty novel written in 1990 or so. It has plenty of interesting Eastern mysticism, but what caught my literary attention was the careful building up of each separate person's house of cards.

The plot is... ordinary. A powerful, intelligent man is set up by an animous emperor to go "save" the northern lands while everyone around him plots self-aggrandizement or others' ruin. What makes this book fascinating is the pagentry of the characters. We are almost all-knowing in...more

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Dec 03, 2009 Finalefantasy rated it 3 of 5 stars

When I first heard of The Initiate Brother, I had high expectations. First published novel or no, it's a Sean Russel novel. Although I was let down on a few counts, it was definitely a good read.

Cons: After a great first chapter, things seem to lose focus for a while. Some of the initial politicking seems overblown, and the book's emphasis on etiquette gets old quickly. Also, the characters can be hard to keep track of, perhaps because they are just thrown into scene, not really introduced. It's...more

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Jun 14, 2008 Bill Mead rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book is a guilty pleasure for me. I don't think it is an amazing piece of writing, but Russell has a way of creating thoughful, artistic characters that just pull my chain. His plots have a meandering quality that allows you to see his characters interact and behave in accordance to their principles. And then we get to see what comes of them.

Maybe not for everyone, but I think he has a loyal following of readers.

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Apr 22, 2012 Mars rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is half a book - it just sort of ends in the middle.

It's still not bad, but the exciting conclusion that is the Gatherer of Clouds is just the second half, and not a separate book at all.

The story is of an ultra-idealized very-Japan-like empire of Wa, and the whole thing wobbles between surprisingly-entertaining and mind-numbingly dull, but the overall impression is rather positive (the first book has much more SE than MN, the second book is about evenly split)

Here is a somewhat decent exam...more

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Oct 13, 2011 Tim rated it 2 of 5 stars

I first read this when I was in college, so about 20 years ago. I remember really enjoying it then, and recommended it to several friends.

If I hadn't re-read this recently I would have given it 3 or 4 stars.

However ... I did re-read this last month, and to be honest it really didn't grab me. It was much slower than I remembered, painfully so, and there just doesn't seem to be much going on. I gave up half way through book 2. Possibly just before it gets interesting, since our 'hero' has done vir...more

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Aug 30, 2012 Thomas Allogenese rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction

Excellent narrative structure and characters with realistic personalities and motivations fill-out this fantasy novel. Intrigue is the order of the day, with action quite sparse; I have not yet read the second book in the series (which is strangely out-of-print, while the first one is readily available), but it looks as if much of the action has been saved for later. It is also refreshing to read a fantasy novel set in an Oriental-inspired (mostly Chinese, with a lot of Japanese-sounding names)...more

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Oct 17, 2011 Jennifer added it

Shelves: pure-fantasy

I read this a long time ago so I hesitate to provide a very lengthy or detailed review, or a star rating. I remember enjoying it, and it is one of the books from my teenage years that I still have on my shelves, so perhaps it's time for a re-read. I remember it being intricately plotted epic fantasy but with a strong Asian flavor. At the time I read it, I did not know much about Asian culture or religion and I suspect it was my desire to know about those things that caused me to enjoy this book....more

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May 19, 2008 Chris rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, in-the-library, unfantasy

A fun, complex world and story written well. High literature? No. Worth reading? Yes.

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Jun 03, 2008 Ronando rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy_scifi

I'm on page 160 and am loving this book. Excellent character development, rich in in Asian-esk history, tons of players, wonderfully written with a focus on a monk who has some exceptional qualities, even among monks. ... to win the emperor's kickboxing competition as a youth, and to stop a crippling blow using chi alone.

"The machinations of a faithless emperor expose his subjects to a massive barbarian invasion which must be stopped by the lord Shonto and his household. The monk Shuyun, spirit...more

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Apr 14, 2012 Femmy rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, available-for-swap-mooch

I really wanted to like this book as it has a Japanese/Chinese setting that I rarely find in the fantasy novels I've read. But unfortunately the story just didn’t work for me.

First of all, the story progresses so slowly that I have to wait halfway into the book for something interesting to happen. The first half presents no conflicts and instead talks about conflicts that may or may not arise in the future. For example, Shonto is a great, respected general whom the Emperor considers a threat to...more

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Jul 13, 2011 Mark rated it 3 of 5 stars

It was an OK book that kept me awake during a long drive in the middle of the night. I had a hard time deciding between 3 or 4 stars and went with 3 since I'm a little stingy with my stars. It was a little slow with the excitement only reaching mediocre levels. I didn't get too bored but I wasn't drawn into the story either. The story blends a mix of Japanese, Chinese and Hindu culture.

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Sep 22, 2007 Dan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

A spell-binding journey through a time of spiritual awakening and political upheaval. Russell's characters are wholly believable, in an unbelievable context.

What initially hooked me were the feats of the young Shuyun. What kept me involved to the end were the intrigues and maneuvering of the court, the insights into history, the culture of honor and barbarism, and the supremely "present" feel of everything from the terrain to the dust- and sweat-covered leather tack on the horses.

While the envir...more

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Feb 01, 2012 Bluescop rated it 4 of 5 stars

I love this book! I read this book day and night, along with the bext book in the series. I couldn't put it down. There were a few parts that seemed unnecessary to me, but they didn't keep me from really enjoying this book. I highly recommend it to anyone.

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Jan 07, 2012 Elizabeth rated it 5 of 5 stars

I have always been confused as to why the second book in this series, really the second half of one long book, was not published and the first one still was. Dumb.

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Mar 26, 2013 Laura rated it 5 of 5 stars

Since I like to read fantasy, oriental, L.O.T.R.-type of books or for that matter any combo of the afore mentioned genres, including some that are very alike, I have to say that this book nailed it!

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Jun 07, 2008 Tracy rated it 5 of 5 stars

It took a very long time for me to read the Innitiate Brother after I read Russell's World Without End, and Sea Without Shore. Part of this was it's unfamiliar setting. Some of it from the about the books. Finally, I dove in, and realized that no other works he had written so firmly call to mind the other early Russell works I loved. The pacing is similar, nothing else is.
It is the story of a treacherous time and place, where allies are rare, and where even truth is never known for certain. I...more

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May 04, 2009 Kevin Radthorne rated it 5 of 5 stars

One of the inspirations for my own series.

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Jan 25, 2013 Boris Tsipenyuk rated it 4 of 5 stars

Good pulpy stuff, re-read it every few years

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Jun 02, 2010 Brian R. Mcdonald marked it as books-with-go-references

I've been told that this has a go reference???

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Nov 15, 2008 Silver rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

I really like Sean Russles writing. And the thing that is really interesting about this story so far, is that it is fantasy with an Eastren setting to it. It is also very subtle with a lot of intrigue and complex plot and caracters.

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Nov 11, 2011 Amblingbooks.com marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: available-on-audio, fiction, fantasy, audiobook

"Fantasy at its best." � Quantum

Listen to The Initiate Brother on your iPhone, desktop, or smartphone.

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Sep 19, 2012 Melissa marked it as to-read

Shelves: audio-book, on-hold

I started this as an audiobook, and it's probably just my failing, but I'm having a hard time keeping characters straight. I think I'll have to read it first, then I'll be able to listen.

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Jun 18, 2008 Tom rated it 5 of 5 stars

Along with "Gatherer of Clouds", The Initiate Brother was a fantastic read. Machiavellian poliitics in a pseudo-asian world with corrupt religion thrown into the mix.

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Mar 24, 2008 Marc Cunningham rated it 3 of 5 stars

A fantasy book with an apparently Eastern perspective on magic

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Oct 12, 2007 Beltane rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was a bit slow in places, but well worth it.

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Aug 15, 2008 Ildanoch added it

Shelves: speculative-fantasy

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About Sean Russell

Aka Sean Thomas Russell

Sean Russel has co-written, with Ian Dennis, a mystery series called "Memoirs of a Bow Street Runner". The first volume of the series was published by Bantam under their joint pen name, T.F. Banks.

Sean Russell was born 1952 in Toronto. At the age of three his family moved to the outskirts of the city, where they lived in a cottage at the beach of Lake Ontario. At the age of...more

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Gatherer of Clouds (Initiate Brother, #2)

World Without End (Moontide and Magic Rise, #1)

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