What do you think?
Rate this book
Initiate Brother #1-2
The Initiate Brother Duology
Sean Russell’s acclaimed duology, The Initiate Brother and Gatherer of Clouds, together in one omnibus edition for the first time!
Plague and warfare have swept across 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 wrest 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 hold positions as Spiritual Advisors to the Imperial court for nearly ten centuries. But Emperor Akantsu fears none so greatly as he does Lord Shonto, the brilliant leader of the most important of the old families, whose influence could rally the Great Houses against the throne, and whose adopted daughter, the beautiful and talented Lady Nishima, is the last surviving member of the old royal family.
Sent to be military governor of a northern border province long threatened by barbarian invaders, Lord Shonto knows he is being lured to his death. But Akantsu has underestimated his foe, for not only is Lord Shonto the greatest military genius of the age, but he has with him a Spiritual Advisor from the Botahist Order—a young man gifted with extraordinary martial arts skills and magical abilities, Initiate Brother Shuyun. And even Lord Shonto does not realize the true potential of this young monk. Only time will reveal that Shuyun’s magical powers have not seen their equal in nearly a thousand years—not since the Perfect Master himself walked the paths of the Empire…
Plague and warfare have swept across 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 wrest 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 hold positions as Spiritual Advisors to the Imperial court for nearly ten centuries. But Emperor Akantsu fears none so greatly as he does Lord Shonto, the brilliant leader of the most important of the old families, whose influence could rally the Great Houses against the throne, and whose adopted daughter, the beautiful and talented Lady Nishima, is the last surviving member of the old royal family.
Sent to be military governor of a northern border province long threatened by barbarian invaders, Lord Shonto knows he is being lured to his death. But Akantsu has underestimated his foe, for not only is Lord Shonto the greatest military genius of the age, but he has with him a Spiritual Advisor from the Botahist Order—a young man gifted with extraordinary martial arts skills and magical abilities, Initiate Brother Shuyun. And even Lord Shonto does not realize the true potential of this young monk. Only time will reveal that Shuyun’s magical powers have not seen their equal in nearly a thousand years—not since the Perfect Master himself walked the paths of the Empire…
784 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1991
75 people are currently reading
373 people want to read
About the author
Sean Russell
42 books143 followersAka 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 ten he decided to become an author, and the fantasy genre caught him years later, while reading J. R. R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. After university, he moved to Vancouver, and two years later to Vancouver Island, where he still lives with his family. He published his first novel in 1991.His first historical naval novel Under Enemy Colours, published in 2007, introduced a new Royal Navy hero, Charles Hayden, and HMS Themis, a fictitious frigate.
Mr. Russell cites history as one of his passions, collects old yachting and sailing books, skis, sails and travels. Past interests include caving, rock climbing, hiking, and racing sailboats.
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 ten he decided to become an author, and the fantasy genre caught him years later, while reading J. R. R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. After university, he moved to Vancouver, and two years later to Vancouver Island, where he still lives with his family. He published his first novel in 1991.His first historical naval novel Under Enemy Colours, published in 2007, introduced a new Royal Navy hero, Charles Hayden, and HMS Themis, a fictitious frigate.
Mr. Russell cites history as one of his passions, collects old yachting and sailing books, skis, sails and travels. Past interests include caving, rock climbing, hiking, and racing sailboats.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
February 9, 2016
The melding of both Chines and Japanese cultures, languages and mythos was a bit hard to swallow at first--but after giving it a second try and coming at it as if this book was written in a completely fantasy world with eerie similarities to two earth cultures...It was far easier to handle and became a very enjoyable read. I found myself swept away by the beautiful places described, the ceremonies and the traditions as well as the story line itself. Very nice book and very well written.
December 2, 2015
These books are epic in scale and beautifully written. The scope of the book, the excellent character development and intricate stories lines, exquisite descriptions of the landscape and culture. These books are a must read.
March 16, 2016
Currently up to page 172 (yawn). Sparks of interest, really like the consistency of the world of a Japanese/Chinese culture and the mysteries being unfolded, but the constant cha and bowing along with the endless cryptic dialogue (yawn). It's going to take me awhile to get through this.
May 4, 2019
Abandoned. Too many characters introduced too quickly, couldn’t keep track of them or even know what they were. It was like the whole culture should be presupposed by the reader, none of it was explained.
May 6, 2014
A solid read. Reminded me a lot of Guy Gavriel Kay's 'Under Heaven' and 'River of Stars'. Not the 'Neo from Matrix' I was anticipating, but something completely different and special.
July 11, 2018
His writing is gentle, and with some depth, but he needs an editor. It's a build up to a build up to a build up to a small surprise and build down. It goes nowhere slowly.
July 2, 2023
Taken together as a whole, this duology is a winner. It is a long, slow burn in a created world of very accessible people and politics.
Readers in search of plentiful action and Star Wars-scale intrigue will be disappointed, however; focus is constrained mostly to small stages within the greater conflict to tell the story with much weight put upon conversations, asides, and the trappings of civilization themselves. In many ways, this is similar to Arkady Martine's 2019 masterpiece, A Memory Called Empire. The complex denouement here went in unexpected directions as well, making the steps that follow the military climax as significant and dicey as the war itself.
The character developments of the many central cast are a fractal dance, as they affect one another's orbits and deflect into new patterns. The female characters are constrained to behave in ways available to them in their culture but still play dynamic roles with their own agendas: nice. Best of all for me was that individual choice, decisions made and followed, supersedes notions of fate and destiny throughout. It was easy to become invested in several of the characters (i.e., Komawara, for the win!) and therefore engaged through all the little stops and starts of the overall flow.
Readers in search of plentiful action and Star Wars-scale intrigue will be disappointed, however; focus is constrained mostly to small stages within the greater conflict to tell the story with much weight put upon conversations, asides, and the trappings of civilization themselves. In many ways, this is similar to Arkady Martine's 2019 masterpiece, A Memory Called Empire. The complex denouement here went in unexpected directions as well, making the steps that follow the military climax as significant and dicey as the war itself.
The character developments of the many central cast are a fractal dance, as they affect one another's orbits and deflect into new patterns. The female characters are constrained to behave in ways available to them in their culture but still play dynamic roles with their own agendas: nice. Best of all for me was that individual choice, decisions made and followed, supersedes notions of fate and destiny throughout. It was easy to become invested in several of the characters (i.e., Komawara, for the win!) and therefore engaged through all the little stops and starts of the overall flow.
March 8, 2024
Overall, the novels in this duology are excellent. I like the descriptions, most of the characters, the dialogue, the pace, the poems in the first novel, the author’s writing style, and most of the plot in the first novel in this duology. I don’t like that two of the sentences in the first novel in the Initiate Brother Duology aren’t grammatically correct. Gatherer of Clouds is the title of the second book in The Initiate Brother Duology. I like the realistic characters, the descriptions, the dialogue, the pace, the poems in this novel, the plot, and the author’s writing style. I don’t like that three of the sentences in the second novel in The Initiate Brother Duology aren’t grammatically correct. Four stars.
August 21, 2018
I enjoyed this a lot... Initiate Brother (1991) and Gatherer of Clouds (1992)... by Sean Russell... released in this one volume (2013)... I think this was the first historical fantasy set in an Asian milieu... I'm a big fan of Guy Gavriel Kay and Sean Russell captivated me in much the same way... I couldn't put it down
September 15, 2018
Excellent read
R-reading this for the second time, I was reminded of how much I wish that Sean Russell would write a continuation of this storyline. The characters and Imagery make for a great read.
R-reading this for the second time, I was reminded of how much I wish that Sean Russell would write a continuation of this storyline. The characters and Imagery make for a great read.
April 9, 2025
Just finished a reread. Its fine. I would recommend if you are really interested in fantasy, but if you are not, the book sort of drags on and on. You would expect the pace to pick up as more things happen, but it just… doesn’t
May 4, 2017
Absolutely loved it, both the concept and the execution were brilliant. Made me really think at certain points about what would happen.
December 17, 2023
First book interesting keeped my attention, characters names hard to follow, second book used to read little to put me to sleep.
July 20, 2025
This was an excellent story, with both psychological and physical strategy. The characters evolve.
May 6, 2018
I liked this one a lot.
Take history from the middle-east (Mongolia, China, Japan and Nepal) and mix in a bit of Buddhist mysticism and perhaps a smidgeon of John the Baptist, add in some characters with complex motivations and you're left with a wonderful book that captures some of the same epic feeling as Three Kingdoms or Dandelion Dynasty.
Take history from the middle-east (Mongolia, China, Japan and Nepal) and mix in a bit of Buddhist mysticism and perhaps a smidgeon of John the Baptist, add in some characters with complex motivations and you're left with a wonderful book that captures some of the same epic feeling as Three Kingdoms or Dandelion Dynasty.
December 30, 2014
Warning: there are some minor spoilers, but with no real detail, so you should be good to read this even if you haven't read the book unless hints are taboo to you.
This book was recommended to me in passing on a forum as a good counterpoint to the awful Stormdancer, one that builds a viable, believable, and intricate fantasy society based on Asian cultures about as much as most western fantasy is based on generic feudal European or Hellenistic cultures.
The prose is rich and indulgent, full of little details; easy to read while avoiding any sense of condescension or compromise. The world-building is satisfying and believable in a way that most novels of any stripe are not. It handles titles and honorifics well. It builds and manages intrigue, politics, and social maneuvering deftly.
It is a book that - by all rights - I should have loved. But I didn't. And honestly, I've been wracking my brain to figure out why. Here's the best I can guess:
Most of the personalities are fairly flat. That isn't to say they aren't interesting in their flatness, but they are typically defined by a single trait, perhaps two. I am hyperbolic to be sure, but we only see one true 'bad guy' in the books but those intended to be morally ambiguous are often betrayed by a certain behavioral blandness.
The action sequences are unsatisfying when presented but are most often simply glossed over, shoved off the page to make room for more tea drinking and poetry, things that add as little to the narrative as one could arguably say a detailed fight scene adds. Yet there is buildup, tension and then...we're on to the next scene and all that juvenile violence is tucked away in inference and reference. Where some books are just an excuse to go from one action scene to another, ignoring character moments, this is the inverse. Where one can accuse the others of being action-porn, I would have to call this one poet-porn.
A lot of Asian-themed fiction has more poetry than it needs, but this one was particularly egregious.
Further, many plot threads are left unrealized or unexplored. Nishima is shown as having access to knowledge and training she should not in at least two scenes and we are led to believe that something is going to happen that will either get her in trouble or that she will need that knowledge at some point. Neither thing happens and Chekov's gun remains un-fired.
Worse is what happens with Shimeko. While describing what happened to her could be horrifying, it could also have been transcendental and serene. Her ultimate fate is unknown, regardless. But the worst part is that it is revealed in supposition from another character and left me very unsatisfied. That was a character arc that deserved more closure and better handling.
The final reveal comes in the last few pages, having been hinted at in the first few, and then largely ignored for around nine-hundred pages in between. It is abrupt and unearned and were it not for the unnecessarily long journey to get there, could almost be seen as a rushed finish to the story. But wandering the mountains first takes 3 times as long as the final revelations.
It is the longest denouement I can remember reading.
But I did like it - though I would generally recommend the book only to die-hard fans of Asian-themed fiction. With a mountain of poetry and well-executed world building, those looking for a slow-paced, character-focused low-fantasy with only a little violence, this is an outstanding entry and it may appeal to far more than just those looking for something wearing an Asian robe.
The build up to war was expertly handled as was much of the politicking involved before, during and after it. The motives of each character were handled with skill and there was no small amount of sophistication in them. The changing of loyalties was organic and believable.
Most impressively, the book did not shy from the repercussions of war in a feudal society. How the defenders probably killed as many citizens as the rampaging horde is touched on, though never fully explored. That it went there at all is a big point in favor of the narrative, particularly when so many stories want to paint their heroes as pure and so many want to make their anti-heroes weird and more villainous than not. Instead, Motoru is simply what he is. He is a good man with different ethics and different requirements, some that make him seem monstrous in some lights.
This is a book (two) with tremendous untapped potential. Worse, those that read them separately may never get to the second given that the fist ends without any sort of climax or really, without anything happening at all. Beautifully written and realized, it just needed a bit of energy and to stop forgetting all the plot threads it laid out.
This book was recommended to me in passing on a forum as a good counterpoint to the awful Stormdancer, one that builds a viable, believable, and intricate fantasy society based on Asian cultures about as much as most western fantasy is based on generic feudal European or Hellenistic cultures.
The prose is rich and indulgent, full of little details; easy to read while avoiding any sense of condescension or compromise. The world-building is satisfying and believable in a way that most novels of any stripe are not. It handles titles and honorifics well. It builds and manages intrigue, politics, and social maneuvering deftly.
It is a book that - by all rights - I should have loved. But I didn't. And honestly, I've been wracking my brain to figure out why. Here's the best I can guess:
Most of the personalities are fairly flat. That isn't to say they aren't interesting in their flatness, but they are typically defined by a single trait, perhaps two. I am hyperbolic to be sure, but we only see one true 'bad guy' in the books but those intended to be morally ambiguous are often betrayed by a certain behavioral blandness.
The action sequences are unsatisfying when presented but are most often simply glossed over, shoved off the page to make room for more tea drinking and poetry, things that add as little to the narrative as one could arguably say a detailed fight scene adds. Yet there is buildup, tension and then...we're on to the next scene and all that juvenile violence is tucked away in inference and reference. Where some books are just an excuse to go from one action scene to another, ignoring character moments, this is the inverse. Where one can accuse the others of being action-porn, I would have to call this one poet-porn.
A lot of Asian-themed fiction has more poetry than it needs, but this one was particularly egregious.
Further, many plot threads are left unrealized or unexplored. Nishima is shown as having access to knowledge and training she should not in at least two scenes and we are led to believe that something is going to happen that will either get her in trouble or that she will need that knowledge at some point. Neither thing happens and Chekov's gun remains un-fired.
Worse is what happens with Shimeko. While describing what happened to her could be horrifying, it could also have been transcendental and serene. Her ultimate fate is unknown, regardless. But the worst part is that it is revealed in supposition from another character and left me very unsatisfied. That was a character arc that deserved more closure and better handling.
The final reveal comes in the last few pages, having been hinted at in the first few, and then largely ignored for around nine-hundred pages in between. It is abrupt and unearned and were it not for the unnecessarily long journey to get there, could almost be seen as a rushed finish to the story. But wandering the mountains first takes 3 times as long as the final revelations.
It is the longest denouement I can remember reading.
But I did like it - though I would generally recommend the book only to die-hard fans of Asian-themed fiction. With a mountain of poetry and well-executed world building, those looking for a slow-paced, character-focused low-fantasy with only a little violence, this is an outstanding entry and it may appeal to far more than just those looking for something wearing an Asian robe.
The build up to war was expertly handled as was much of the politicking involved before, during and after it. The motives of each character were handled with skill and there was no small amount of sophistication in them. The changing of loyalties was organic and believable.
Most impressively, the book did not shy from the repercussions of war in a feudal society. How the defenders probably killed as many citizens as the rampaging horde is touched on, though never fully explored. That it went there at all is a big point in favor of the narrative, particularly when so many stories want to paint their heroes as pure and so many want to make their anti-heroes weird and more villainous than not. Instead, Motoru is simply what he is. He is a good man with different ethics and different requirements, some that make him seem monstrous in some lights.
This is a book (two) with tremendous untapped potential. Worse, those that read them separately may never get to the second given that the fist ends without any sort of climax or really, without anything happening at all. Beautifully written and realized, it just needed a bit of energy and to stop forgetting all the plot threads it laid out.
June 12, 2023
DNF at 62% complete. I remember reading this and enjoying it back around the time it was first published, but this time it just didn't do much for me. It's extremely verbose, explaining minute details that don't really have much bearing on anything. I had the impression that Russell was trying to evoke the sense of Japanese films, but after a while this just came across as needlessly detailed. The characters were pretty flat, too, and I never felt like we got a lot of insight into any of them, or had much reason to have any feelings for any of them. Not many female characters, either; of the few there were, three of the four major female characters were almost solely defined by their relationships to the male characters. The fourth, an artist, seems to be there to act as a plot point for two of the other women. There were two main plots/threats -- one internal, one external -- and neither of them felt particularly menacing. The external threat in particular seemed pretty nebulous; the reader was mainly only told about the threat rather than being shown it.
There was also a weird sub-plot with the all-male monastic order and an all-female monastic order. Both worship the same deity (Buddha by another name), but there was this antagonism between them that was never clearly explained, at least not in the part of the book I read. Perhaps it's a reflection of some enmity between historical Buddhist orders? If so, I couldn't find anything about it -- it was odd enough that I did try to search out an answer. Eventually I got to wondering if the nuns were supposed to be like the Bene Gesserit in Dune. Maybe? Maybe that gets explained in the last third of the book.
Anyway, it all just left me bored. And I've got too many other things on my TBR pile to want to struggle through finishing this.
There was also a weird sub-plot with the all-male monastic order and an all-female monastic order. Both worship the same deity (Buddha by another name), but there was this antagonism between them that was never clearly explained, at least not in the part of the book I read. Perhaps it's a reflection of some enmity between historical Buddhist orders? If so, I couldn't find anything about it -- it was odd enough that I did try to search out an answer. Eventually I got to wondering if the nuns were supposed to be like the Bene Gesserit in Dune. Maybe? Maybe that gets explained in the last third of the book.
Anyway, it all just left me bored. And I've got too many other things on my TBR pile to want to struggle through finishing this.
June 29, 2016
Sean Russell's The Initiate Brother is a stunning work of fantasy, where we travel to a world rich in detail and full of both action and political intrigue. In this duology, we travel to the Empire of Wa, which is slowly but surely beginning to crumble. The old dynasty has been toppled and the new Emperor, Akanstu, is constantly looking for a dagger in the back. Tremors of the plague epidemic still rock the outer provinces, and corruption spreads like an ink stain on paper. The monks of the Botahist Order are not favored by the Emperor, but this doesn't stop Lord Shonto Motoru from taking a young initiate named Shuyun into his service. Fearing betrayal, the Emperor sends Shonto and his entourage to the distant province of Seh, leaving his adopted daughter, Nishima, behind in the capital, her distant imperial bloodline making her a pawn in the schemes of others. As if this wasn't enough, word comes that the barbarian tribes to the north are beginning to stir, and that the drums of war may soon be heard in the Empire. As spiritual advisor to Lord Shonto, Shuyun may soon find himself in desperate times, especially when he begins to exhibit strange abilities, no seen since the founder of their order died a thousand years ago.
The Initiate Brother Duology is a deeply involved story, full of plot twists and a wide cast of characters to push the story along. While the first book, The Initiate Brother, is very slow to start, things take off in Gatherer of Clouds, as our heroes finally set foot on the path they seemed destined for since birth. Fans of Guy Gavriel Kay will certainly enjoy this tale of what is obviously influenced by feudal China and Japan.
The Initiate Brother Duology is a deeply involved story, full of plot twists and a wide cast of characters to push the story along. While the first book, The Initiate Brother, is very slow to start, things take off in Gatherer of Clouds, as our heroes finally set foot on the path they seemed destined for since birth. Fans of Guy Gavriel Kay will certainly enjoy this tale of what is obviously influenced by feudal China and Japan.
March 5, 2016
I have been asking myself what is "good writing" anyway? I'm not yet sure I know the answer to that question, but here's what I've come up with so far. I think a bad writer's writing often gets in the way of the story being told while a good writer's writing has a way of creating moods and auras of experience that can very much enhance the story. If this definition works for you, then I am sure you will agree that the two books of The Initiate Brother are quite "good writing". This "Douology" (interesting word for a two-book series) by Sean Russell is a fantasy-fiction type story inspired by Asian culture which captures feelings of peacefulness and tradition, honor and duty, spirituality and even just a touch of romance. Unlike my recent binge of Brandon Sanderson books, which I really do enjoy, these books were so fulfilling and pleasant to read that I never found myself on the edge of my seat, frantically speeding through the pages, devouring the story like a starving person given a hunk of bread. Instead I read patiently, savoring each word and feeling very satisfied and even enriched by each passage I read. I believe this book was actually good for me to read, like a cup of healing tea. The tempo of the story was so calm and mellow, yet ripe with intriguing possibility, that it has inspired me to seek out other books that may be more like this in tone and texture.
January 16, 2017
So far this fictional world that Sean Russell has built is very detailed. The story consist of something of an anthology told in omniscient third person following the empire of Wa a very powerful family known as the Shonto family as well as a group of monks called the Botahist monks who study Botahura's teaching of magical abilities known as chi-ten. These characters get more and more developed as the story goes the chapters have poems at the beginning of them to help describe the mood. by the end of the first part the Shonto and the Empire are locked in battle. the first part was mainly just introducing the cast of characters and all there personality. And the second part is seeming to utilize the characters with more physically and mentally difficult tasks.
Finalized review
There is a change of pace in the last half instead of it focusing on the politics of this world of which it still does it also focuses on the war and also the monk finding his way. now this may not make any sense to someone who hasn't read the first half but the first half seemed like a slow setup for the second half which was a quiker pace still including the poems of each chapter and the ending was very good not too open ended yet just enough to get the reader thinking
Finalized review
There is a change of pace in the last half instead of it focusing on the politics of this world of which it still does it also focuses on the war and also the monk finding his way. now this may not make any sense to someone who hasn't read the first half but the first half seemed like a slow setup for the second half which was a quiker pace still including the poems of each chapter and the ending was very good not too open ended yet just enough to get the reader thinking
October 12, 2021
The author’s introduction accurately describes the problem I had shelving this by describing it as a “ strange hybrid” between historical novel and fantasy that was not clearly borrowing from the Norse mythos, Tolkien, or the D&D gaming system.
Instead he takes us into a fantastical world of a pseudo Asian empire based on his fascination with “ T’ang dynasty poetry..tenth century Japan..and Chinese wars of succession.”
Almost couldn’t put this in fantasy due to very little “ magic” as strictly defined on my shelves. But in the end there is a bit of theomancy mixed in with the kind of fantastical feats exhibited in martial arts movies.
Divorced from the magical fantasy elements, this is a long political and romance drama set upon a backdrop of a sprawling Empire on the brink of war.
The only thing keeping this from 5 stars is the romance plot…no spoilers, but I feel the author wrote himself into a corner where I wouldn’t have been satisfied with any ending.
Instead he takes us into a fantastical world of a pseudo Asian empire based on his fascination with “ T’ang dynasty poetry..tenth century Japan..and Chinese wars of succession.”
Almost couldn’t put this in fantasy due to very little “ magic” as strictly defined on my shelves. But in the end there is a bit of theomancy mixed in with the kind of fantastical feats exhibited in martial arts movies.
Divorced from the magical fantasy elements, this is a long political and romance drama set upon a backdrop of a sprawling Empire on the brink of war.
The only thing keeping this from 5 stars is the romance plot…no spoilers, but I feel the author wrote himself into a corner where I wouldn’t have been satisfied with any ending.
March 10, 2019
Sean Russell's The Initiate Brother duology is on the top of my list of favorite books. The heavy inspiration from Lord of the Rings and Chinese Dynasties is a fantastic combination with humble and devious machinations from the Shonto house. A refreshing romance with the gender roles switched in terms of innocence. The brotherly feud between the Katta brothers. All flows in and through this book in a wonderful story.
November 4, 2019
A great pair of books rich in backstory, character development, and conflict. There is a wide cast of characters, and at times can be a little difficult to keep track if your mind wanders while reading. Also contains political intrigue and strategy, which is fun to see play out.
As a martial artist, I was drawn to the Botahist Brotherhood, and I wish a little more time was spent describing their history and martial arts.
I highly recommend giving this a try.
As a martial artist, I was drawn to the Botahist Brotherhood, and I wish a little more time was spent describing their history and martial arts.
I highly recommend giving this a try.
May 4, 2014
I'm not sure if it was the story or narrator, but this book just didn't hold my interest. But the last 2 chapters finally got interesting, making me want to read more. However given that I really didn't care about the rest of it, I'm not sure if I want too.
May 29, 2016
What a fantastic pair of books.
January 9, 2016
Outstanding! A wonderfully created world. Heroism and Tragedy. War and Peace. Love and Betrayal. Duty and Honor. Art, Culture, and Barbarism.
June 8, 2016
One of the best books I've read in quite awhile. Nice and long too!
August 25, 2016
Well written, engaging characters. Tricky last names with similarities caused some confusion but overall, great plot and story line. Swell ending.
December 31, 2016
Took a bit to get into, but enjoyed it. Story told well - nothing new - but well told
February 6, 2020
Very satisfying.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews