Fantasy writer Travis Heermann (THE IVORY STAR) brings thirteenth-century Japan alive in HEART OF THE RONIN, the first installment of a trilogy. <...
read full description
reviews
Feb 24, 2011
Nikko
rated it: 
Why I listened to this audiobook?
In generally, I am fascinated by all things Japanese. I'd heard Heart of the Ronin by Travis Heermann promo'ed on Myr Lafferty's 'I Should Be Writing' podcast then again on Adventures in SciFi Publishing. These promos coincided with the December release of the Kindle version of the book, even though the print and audiobooks were released in 2009.
My one sentence summary:
Ken'ichi, a wandering Ronin raised by a Tengu, searches to find his place i More...
In generally, I am fascinated by all things Japanese. I'd heard Heart of the Ronin by Travis Heermann promo'ed on Myr Lafferty's 'I Should Be Writing' podcast then again on Adventures in SciFi Publishing. These promos coincided with the December release of the Kindle version of the book, even though the print and audiobooks were released in 2009.
My one sentence summary:
Ken'ichi, a wandering Ronin raised by a Tengu, searches to find his place i More...
Jul 23, 2009
Jeffrey
rated it: 
Ken-eshi is a masterless samurai called a Ronin in ancient feudal Japan. He possesses a legendary sword and is looking for a Lord to serve, but mostly he is hungry as he walks from village to village with his dog. It seems like any other feudal story except Ken-eshi is able to talk to his dog, he was raised by a tenga, and his sword seems to be able to warn him of danger.
Set in a could have been feudal Japan, this medieval Fantasy is a welcome change from the oftentimes feudal Engli More...
Set in a could have been feudal Japan, this medieval Fantasy is a welcome change from the oftentimes feudal Engli More...
0 comments
like
(3 people liked it)
Sep 10, 2011
Mark
rated it: 
This is a very well researched highly readable novel. It has a cracking storyline that hooks you from the first chapter and keeps you reading right through to the end because it is structured in such a way as to end each chapter on a cliffhanger.
Travis Heerman knows his Japanese history, culture, customs, and mythology inside out, and even when he stretches the facts to fit the story, he does it in such a way that it remains convincing whether or not the reader has an intimate knowledg More...
Travis Heerman knows his Japanese history, culture, customs, and mythology inside out, and even when he stretches the facts to fit the story, he does it in such a way that it remains convincing whether or not the reader has an intimate knowledg More...
Jan 13, 2010
Shomeret
rated it: 
This book has been compared toAcross the Nightingale Floorand its sequels. I think that there are more fantasy elements in Heart of the Ronin. Heermann makes good use of creatures from Japanese myth. There is also a prominent focus on martial arts. It's also important to point out that Heart of the Ronin takes place a great deal earlier in Japanese history than Lian Hearn's series does. It's well done so far as it goes, but I tend not to like the practice of creating trilogies by arbitrarily
More...
Mar 05, 2010
Liviu
rated it:
Heart of the Ronin is an interesting historical fantasy set in the Japan of the late 1200's when the country is officially unified under the Minamoto Shogunate after the victory of that clan in the civil war against the Taira clan and the utter destruction of the Taira lines. But the Minamoto proved themselves weak and a lesser line, the Hojo clan usurped the Shogun power though holding it in his name.
On the continent the great Mongol Empire established by Genghis is at its height More...
On the continent the great Mongol Empire established by Genghis is at its height More...
Dec 05, 2010
Anni
rated it:
Bagian I dari trilogi Ronin. Cerita yg menarik tentang seorang samurai tanpa tuan (Ken Ishi) yg dididik oleh jin. Kadang sangat telengas namun penuh rasa kemanuasiaan. Jatuh cinta dengan putri seorang Lord yang mahir bela diri namun terpaksa berpisah karena berbeda kasta. Cerita ini bercampur antara realitas dan khayalan. Namun tetap asyik dibaca sampai akhir dan tidak sabar menunggu Buku II dan III nya.
May 07, 2009
Lawrence
rated it:
I really enjoyed the historical context of this book. The action is well written and described. The character conflicts are rich and juicy. I look forward to the other books in the series.
Jun 18, 2009
Audrey
rated it:
I really enjoyed this, but I'm not going to be sure it's 5-star material until the next one comes out!
Apr 07, 2009
Lori
rated it:
A sort of Asian fairy tale. Engaging beginning and middle, but it kind of lost oomph toward the end.
Apr 08, 2009
Tom
rated it:
A decent fantasy/historical book. Reminds me of the Across the Nightingale Floor books.
Aug 17, 2009
Goran
rated it:
One of the best books I have read it was truly memorable and keeps you on the edge of your seat. The setting is what really makes this book stand out for me: feudal Japan with all the legends and myths coming to life. The characters are realistic, the setting is absolutely eye opening and the plot makes it all come together so wonderfully. An absolute must read.
Jan 29, 2010
Sarah
rated it:
Stopped on page 140+. Love the Japanese history but the fantasy elements seem forced into the narrative and aren't believable.
Jan 27, 2010
Beth
rated it: 
I hated this fantasy novel about a teen samuri. It might have worked better as a graphic novel.
Nov 06, 2011
Sep 14, 2011
Sep 12, 2011
Jul 28, 2011
Jul 28, 2011
Jul 23, 2011
Jul 16, 2011
Jun 22, 2011
Jun 15, 2011
May 17, 2011
May 11, 2011
