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Toru: Wayfarer Returns

(Sakura Steam #1)

Stephanie R. Sorensen (Goodreads Author)

3.88 · Rating details · 143 ratings · 90 reviews

Revolutionary young samurai take on the West in this alternate history steampunk techno-fantasy set in 1850's samurai-era Japan.

In Japan of 1852, the peace imposed by the Tokugawa Shoguns has lasted 250 years. Peace has turned to stagnation, however, as the commoners grow impoverished and their lords restless. Swords rust. Martial values decay. Foreign barbarians circle Revolutionary young samurai take on the West in this alternate history steampunk techno-fantasy set in 1850's samurai-era Japan.

In Japan of 1852, the peace imposed by the Tokugawa Shoguns has lasted 250 years. Peace has turned to stagnation, however, as the commoners grow impoverished and their lords restless. Swords rust. Martial values decay. Foreign barbarians circle the island nation's closed borders like vultures, growing ever more demanding.

Toru, a shipwrecked young fisherman rescued by American traders and taken to America, defies the Shogun's ban on returning to Japan, determined to save his homeland from foreign invasion. Can he rouse his countrymen in time? Or will the cruel Shogun carry out his vow to execute all who set foot in Japan after traveling abroad? Armed only with his will, a few books, dirigible plans and dangerous ideas, Toru must transform the Emperor's realm before the Black Ships come.

Toru: Wayfarer Returns is the first book in the Sakura Steam Series, an alternate history of the tumultuous period from the opening of Japan in 1853 to the Meiji Restoration in 1868. This volume covers the year prior to the American Commodore Perry's arrival in Japan and follows the hero and his young allies as they lead Japan through a massively compressed industrial revolution, dramatically altering that pivotal moment in history.

While Toru and his dirigibles are fictional, the story unfolds against the backdrop of the 'real' Japan of that period, with historical figures and their political environment woven into the tale, staying true to their motivations and agendas even as the alternate history warps their actions, history and a few laws of physics. Underpinning the adventure plot is a young man's yearning for his father's approval and an honorable place in his world.

Readers who enjoy steampunk alternate histories more typically set in Victorian England or the American Wild West may enjoy this steampunk story made fresh by the Japanese samurai setting, as well as readers who enjoy historical fiction set in Japan.

Awards and Recognition for "Toru: Wayfarer Returns" :
-- Finalist, Fantasy category, 2016 Next Generation Indie Book Awards
-- Bronze Medal Award, Multicultural Fiction category, 2016 eLit Book Awards
-- Awesome Indies Approved
-- Indie B.R.A.G Medallion Award
-- Shortlisted (winners TBD), Science Fiction and Speculative Fiction, 2016 Cygnus Awards ...more

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Paperback, 274 pages

Published February 16th 2016 by Palantir Press LLC

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Jun 16, 2016 Sophia rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: steampunk-steampunk-pnr, net-galley-reads

What a splendid experience I got reading this blend of Japanese historical and steampunk set in the latter years of the Shogun era. This slow developing story added the surprise of a mysterious hero who is much more than he seems and a sweet and lightly hinted at romance. I enjoyed delving into the history and culture of historical Japan even as the clock is ticking on this medieval land working through a fast industrial revolution all to keep the foreigners from invading their peaceful shores What a splendid experience I got reading this blend of Japanese historical and steampunk set in the latter years of the Shogun era. This slow developing story added the surprise of a mysterious hero who is much more than he seems and a sweet and lightly hinted at romance. I enjoyed delving into the history and culture of historical Japan even as the clock is ticking on this medieval land working through a fast industrial revolution all to keep the foreigners from invading their peaceful shores with their forceful desires to dominate trade in the orient.

The story opens with lone Toru returning to his homeland after spending two eventful and educational years in America. Toru knows he is risking his very life to return because under Shogun law, no one who has left Japan's shores may ever return. The Shogun is the military leader under Japan's emperor and he fears that anyone who leaves and returns will bring in dangerous new ideas and change.

Toru does indeed return with dangerous new ideas- the Americans and British are circling and growing impatient with Japan's severe isolationism when trade and wealth is to be had. He loves his homeland and doesn't want to see it fall before the capitalism of the west like what happened with China. Toru risks all to bring back plans and ideas to bring Japan forward into the modern age of steam trains, telegraphs, submersibles, air ships, guns, and more.

Toru is taken into custody by a minor nobleman who has the intention of following the law and taking Toru's head, but his hand is stayed by his curious daughter and his own secret desire to see the young fisherman live. Lady Masuyo finds the fisherman, his journal and gadgets, and his secrets fascinating because simple, poor fisherman Toru is not. Lord Aya hears out Toru and then takes him to another nobleman to discuss the situation.

Toru's quest becomes the quest of others and even he is amazed as his dream takes flight. Masuyo shows herself a master inventor and innovator, his childhood friend goes from blacksmith to builder to leader as great steam locomotives, dirigibles, and war machines are produced, and the lords supporting Toru do the work of engaging more to the cause.

Meanwhile, the mighty lord of the south showers approval and support on Toru causing the others to look at him askance with wonder and suspicion even as the ominous silence from the east where the Shogun watches does not reassure him in the least. For Japan to survive the threat of invasion, he must find a way to unite the rebel lords and the Shogun even if it means his very life.

This book gets off to a slow start and delves deep rather than skimming along at a rapid pace. Tradition, culture, characters, setting, and plot are richly developed. Relationships are made and deepened though the focus is always the survival of their country. I enjoyed the authors varied and colorful cast of characters from the fiery, fierce lady who will not be shunted to the side when she has the skills needed and the drive to fight alongside the men, to the humble blacksmith who proclaims himself the captain of the fleet, to the traditional, but open-minded lords who place their trusts, their wealth, and their own lives in Toru. Toru, himself, is an engaging character and it was neat to see him go from enigma to something much more as his secrets are revealed.

I was not familiar with the Shogun era, but I do love what I know of the Japanese culture so it was a pleasure to read a story that felt authentic even with the deviation from regular history. The inclusion of the steampunk aspect fit very well with this historical time period. There wasn't much in the form of small gadgetry so much as the large tools, transportation, and weapons. I look forward to more from this series both the history, culture, and steampunk inventions.

There is a light romance playing out in the background between Lady Masuyo and Toru. It's rather understated because of the furious need to prepare for invasion and because of the class differences of that culture. Toru has no hope of a lady of her noble lines and she doesn't think it is possible for her to be with a commoner no matter how uncommon he is. They also bump heads over her need to be in on the action and his desire to keep her safe. I thought they were a great pair.

All in all, this was a nice start to a new series by a new to me author. I would recommend it for those who love to immerse themselves in Asian history, but like an engaging adventure to go with it.

I received this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. ...more

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Aug 05, 2016 Dave rated it did not like it

Shelves: steampunk

An alternate-history steampunk story set in 19th Century Japan? What could possibly go wrong?

(cue the music)

Toru: Wayfarer Returns is the story of a young (although unspecified) fisherman who comes to shore in Japan, after returning from a great trip to America, where he has apparently been able to absorb LITERALLY ALL THE KNOWLEDGE EVER. He brings some revolutionary ideas, which will threaten the power of the Shogun, so of course he has to be executed. Over the course of the novel, he manages ...more

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Mar 23, 2016 Tony Breeden rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Toru Wayfarer Returns (Sakura Steam Series Book 1) by Stephanie R. Sorensen

One of the things I really enjoy about steampunk fiction is how it explores alternate history. In the first novel of the Sakura Steam series, Sorensen gives us a look at how different things might've been for Japan if the American Commodore Perry had met with a Japan with the technological might to resist him.

This is a character-driven story. Toru is the story's protagonist, a visionary who has returned to Japan after two years in the US. With the help of some minor nobles, a foreword-thinking young woman named Masuyo, and a jovial blacksmith named Jiro, Toru begins convincing a nation to adopt new ways and technologies in order to defend itself against the impending arrival of Perry. This is a book about transformation. Interestingly, the characters change because the changes are necessary for the survival of Japan not because they do not respect Japan's present culture.

Not that the path is entirely lined with peach blossoms, mind you. The Tokugawa Shogunate has condemned Toru to death for violating the strict laws that enforce Japan's isolation. You find yourself holding your breath as Toru and his comrades race to build enough zeppelins, guns and steam engines to defend Japan from the Americans before the Shogun puts a stop to it. The build-up of the novel is well worth it. I found myself very much reminded of the spirit and bravery of the American Revolution, especially when it was juxtaposed against the grace and quiet dignity of Japan. While this is certainly steampunk alternative history, you definitely get a grasp of and respect for Japanese culture at the time.

The book is well-edited and flows well. Though I'm used to books with a lot more action, at no point did I feel the need to skim - which is to say that Sorensen kept me intrigued throughout. She violates the whole "show, don't tell" periodically, but I think this is excusable given that her story is fairly ambitious in terms of the span of history it covers.

I happily recommend Toru: The Wayfarer and will anxiously await the next installment.

You can find out more about Stephanie Sorensen and the Sakura Steam series at: http://stephaniersorensen.com/

-Tony Breeden
From the Bookwyrm's Lair

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” ...more

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May 15, 2016 Amie's Book Reviews rated it it was amazing

Firstly, I feel compelled to talk about the absolutely stunning cover of this book. It is gorgeous, and obviously I am not the only one who thinks so. The cover won a gold star award from the Book Designer website.

There will probably be some debate as to exactly what genre this book belongs. Is it Alternate Historical Fiction? Is it Steampunk? Is it somehow both? Or neither? My answer to those questions is that it is all of the above. With the addition of dirigibles, it clearly enters the realm ...more

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Jul 11, 2016 Koeur rated it liked it

https://koeur.wordpress.com/2016/07/1...

Publisher: Palantir Press

Publishing Date: February 2016

ISBN: 9780996932325

Genre: Steampunk

Rating: 2.6/5

Publishers Description: While Sorensen’s heroes and their steampunk dirigibles are fictional, she builds her rollicking adventure and culturally rich tale against the backdrop of the “real” historical Japan of that period, weaving historical figures into her story, staying true to their motivations and agendas even while warping their actions, history and https://koeur.wordpress.com/2016/07/1...

Publisher: Palantir Press

Publishing Date: February 2016

ISBN: 9780996932325

Genre: Steampunk

Rating: 2.6/5

Publishers Description: While Sorensen’s heroes and their steampunk dirigibles are fictional, she builds her rollicking adventure and culturally rich tale against the backdrop of the “real” historical Japan of that period, weaving historical figures into her story, staying true to their motivations and agendas even while warping their actions, history and a few laws of physics. Underpinning the adventure plot is a young man’s yearning for his father’s approval and an honorable place in the world. A tender love story, a rowdy collection of allies and emerging steampunk technology complete the mix as Tōru fights to transform Japan’s conservative society at the end of the Tokugawa sakoku isolation period.

Review: Amazeballs cover art!

This garnered quite a few high reviews from the private sector as well as the paid kind (Kirkus etc.). While billed as epic in scope I found this a bit contrived in terms of believability and read more like an alternative history novel rather than Steampunk.

The main character, Toru, is just too good to be true and never really develops into a character that you can either loathe or root for. He just…is. I liked the idea of the female character, Masuyo, as being strong coupled with intellectual prowess. Yet she read as one-dimensional and always carried around her mien like a paragon of virtue. Of course they are drawn to each other but can never be as she is highborn (Princess) and he is a fisherman with a secret, which usually translates to him being a Prince or some shjt.

The idea that feudal Japan can become industrialized within the span of a year to meet the Western threat is just fooking ridiculous. Dirigibles, submarines and trains are created with a herculean effort yet the details were lacking in this sudden creation of a new Japan. While Masuyo and Toru grind on your nerves for their extra speshulness, you are forced to swallow an alternative history that derives its existence from implausible and impossible acts.
...more

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Feb 20, 2017 Valerie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Fascinating

Very interesting book with characters who suck you into the story and keep you there. I did not want to put the book down but had to. Hopefully the next book will be as good as this one with its fascinating world & characters.

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Aug 27, 2017 Acanthea Grimscythe | The Ghastly Grimoire rated it did not like it

Shelves: dnf

In Toru: Wayfarer Returns, we as readers are once again exposed to way too much exposition and a nearly suffocating amount of passive voice. Normally, use of passive voice doesn’t really bother me. In most books, I am unable to identify said voice because it doesn’t disrupt the flow. Unfortunately the passive voice saturates this book so thoroughly that I am unable to make it past 15%. In fact, I can barely remember which parts of what I read were relevant to the current action of the book.

I ...more

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Jan 20, 2017 Awesome Indies Book Awards rated it it was amazing

Shelves: ai-or-aiba-approved

Awesome Indies Book Awards is pleased to include TORU: WAYFARER RETURNS (Sakura Steam Series #1) by STEPHANIE SORENSEN in the library of Awesome Indies' Badge of Approval recipients at http://j.mp/AwesIndBK282

Original Awesome Indies' Assessment (5 stars):

Assessment 1 - 5/5 Stars

In Ecclesiastes 1:9 it is written that there is nothing new under the sun. That is a mostly true statement, and the meaning is evident to anyone who has noticed that most mediums of artistic expression (notably Awesome Indies Book Awards is pleased to include TORU: WAYFARER RETURNS (Sakura Steam Series #1) by STEPHANIE SORENSEN in the library of Awesome Indies' Badge of Approval recipients at http://j.mp/AwesIndBK282

Original Awesome Indies' Assessment (5 stars):

Assessment 1 - 5/5 Stars

In Ecclesiastes 1:9 it is written that there is nothing new under the sun. That is a mostly true statement, and the meaning is evident to anyone who has noticed that most mediums of artistic expression (notably cinema) have struggled to come up with fresh ideas in the modern era. For every new or semi-new concept, there are a hundred carbon copies of existing work. For every A New Hope there is a Star Wars: Episode VII. For every debut album there are a hundred reunion tours. For every successful film franchise, there is a television adaptation. There really is nothing new under the sun.

Now that I have truly brought the mood down, let me try to bring it back up again by saying that Toru is one of those novel, original stories set in a fantastic land that for once doesn't seem like a charcoal etching of another realm. Toru is a steampunk story set in the far east. Disciplined samurai ride into battle aboard bustling locomotives and the paths of sword and steam cross brilliantly. About halfway through this novel, I had to stop and look to see if this kind've thing had been done before. To my surprise, it has, and if you're interested in samurai steampunk stories, there are one or two others out there, though I would be very surprised (and pleasantly) if they carried the depth and attention to detail of this one.

If there is anything to nitpick about the story, it might be the capabilities of the main character of Toru. In many ways, this book is a coming of age tale, or a bildingsroman if you squint, but there is little room for growth for this character. Toru can do it all, knows just about all there is to know, displays few (if any) character flaws and is basically an infallible force in the world. It would be interesting to see Toru grow and change more than what we're given, but much like Star Wars or the bible, we are dealing with very powerful, legendary characters and there is clearly more story to tell beyond this first entry so this is forgivable. Also, as I mentioned, this a nitpicky thing and one that doesn't distract from an otherwise remarkably well-written and well-edited read, nor does it warrant the subtraction of even half of a star. This is easily a 5 star novel that I think most readers will find approachable and satisfying.

Assessment 2 - 4.5/5 Stars (Rounded up to 5 Stars for posting purposes)

Toru: Wayfarer Volume I is an ambitious tale of a steampunk feudal-era Japan with interesting, well-developed characters. The cover of the book is a masterpiece, and while the content of the novel isn't exactly structurally perfect, anyone who picks up this title because of the amazing cover art won't be disappointed. Action, love, loss, industry and growth - both personal and societal - are captured brilliantly in the first volume of this story.

Before I gush too much, I'm obligated to say that this book isn't without some small pacing issues. This is a story where beautifully crafted sentences cascade over one another in pages and pages of description and exposition. This is fine for the most part, until you get to the parts where the author seems to "summarize" major events in order to advance the story. One of the only few letdowns of this book come while patiently enjoying pages of description, really getting the universe into your head, only to have a character suddenly be done with a task you were waiting to learn about. Want to hear with the same great detail with which you read the realm described the building of a fantastically-conceived prototypical technology or its maiden run? That's unfortunate, because those moments might be a bit too short for some readers after such vivid exposition.

With that said, those moments were the only hiccups I could detect in an otherwise truly fantastic story. This is a tale I could entertain seeing at the cinema, and the author provides intense, yet relatable imagery to guide your conception of the world. I can safely admit that I would likely recommend this book to nearly anyone. The author's attention to detail, the environs she paints and the story she tells are all magnificent, and a lot of emerging indie authors, particularly ones who write fantasy and science fiction, could likely learn a lot from reading this book. While it isn't perfect, this is one of the few indie books I've read in a long time that I can say is truly worth the read, even if it seemingly might fall outside your general scope of taste. 4.5/5 stars. ...more

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Mar 20, 2017 John Milton rated it it was amazing

One of the best alternative history novels I have read in a long time.

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Nov 23, 2016 Yzabel Ginsberg rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: japan, steampunk, romance, arc-netgalley, alternate-history, good-ideas-but, action

[I received a copy of this book through NetGalley.]

More an alternate history novel than a truly steampunk one, "Tôru: Wayfarer Returns" deals with late feudal Japan faced with the potential intruding of American civilisation—more specifically, the last years of the Tokugawa bakumatsu, and the arrival of Commander Perry and his "black ships". The idea: what if, instead of feeling inferior to this technology, Japan at the time had had an industrial revolution of its own, and had been able to [I received a copy of this book through NetGalley.]

More an alternate history novel than a truly steampunk one, "Tôru: Wayfarer Returns" deals with late feudal Japan faced with the potential intruding of American civilisation—more specifically, the last years of the Tokugawa bakumatsu, and the arrival of Commander Perry and his "black ships". The idea: what if, instead of feeling inferior to this technology, Japan at the time had had an industrial revolution of its own, and had been able to withstand such demonstration of power?

Enters Tôru, a young fisherman who, after being shipwrecked, was saved by Americans, and spent two years in their country before coming back to Japan with books, blueprints, and lots, lots of ideas about how to revolutionise his country for the day Westerners come to impose their trade and culture on it. Things aren't meant to be easy for him, first and foremost because bringing western books and machinery to these lands, and sneaking in at night, are deemed traitorous acts, punishable by death. When Lord Aya catches wind of this, his first reaction is to get the traitor executed. Except that ideas are contagious, and Tôru's more than others.

This first volume in the "Sakura Steam" series shows how a handful of daimyôs and commoners manage to find common ground to dig the foundations of Japan's industrialisation: first in secrecy, then by ensuring the support of some of the most powerful coastal lords, to make sure that when the Shôgun hears about this (and he will), they'll have grounds to argue their case, machines to show off, and engineers to explain how said machines will allow their country to stand strong and proud. These rebels definitely go against the stream in many ways, by also allowing commoners and women to take part in engineering trains and dirigibles. And even though some characters are (understandably, considering their upbringing) against this, they do try and see how this could change the world, and acknowledge that such "unexpected people" will do good and have a place in this new order. Not to mention that Jiro the blacksmith, or Masuyo the noble lady, are pleasant characters to see evolve, and I liked when they had parts to play; even some of the more unpleasant characters, like Lady Tômatsu, had their redeeming features.

However, while this is all very exciting, I could never really shake my suspension of disbelief, because everything happened both much too fast and sometimes too slowly as well:
- The "rebels" should logically have been discovered sooner.
- And, more importantly, building railroad tracks, engines, a fleet of dirigibles, a telegraph network, etc, in secrecy, with the (limited) means of a handful of daimyôs, in less than one year, seemed too far-fetched to be believable. Granted, they had blueprints and all; on the other hand, all those engineers had to learn from scratch, only from those blueprints not even in Japanese, translated and explained only by Tôru who isn't even an engineer, and... Well. Really, really hard to believe. Had it been done in a few years rather than a few months, I probably would have been, paradoxically, more excited about it.
- At times the narrative devolves into explanations about the political views during the Bakumatsu, the fixed place of samurai vs. commoners—which is interesting, but was dumped in between scenes. It would have been more welcome if better intertwined with the dialogue and action, which in turn would also have left more room to the characters to fully interact, giving us a better feel for them.
- It would've been more interesting IMHO to see a different "industrialisation", and not a mere "westernisation" of Japan. Something that would've mixed traditional/feudal ways with modern weaponry, instead of having basically one or the other.
- Minor pet peeve: Tôru's secret, which he takes great pains to hide, but is much too obvious to the reader, almost from the beginning.

Conclusion: I wish it had been more "believable" in terms of alternate history, and had provided a different path than the expected one. ...more

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Jun 28, 2017 Benjamin Kirkegaard rated it liked it

What to say about Toru?

Toru is a young man who was born illegitimately, lost at sea, rescued by americans, and then finds himself back in Japan (the country of his birth).

We start our journey into the life of Toru as he is coming home to Japan, and what a journey it is. Toru finds himself in the midst of conflict, with the constant companion of his imminent death. His overriding concern is the protection of his country, and he has come back to Japan to share his discoveries about the American ...more

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Feb 27, 2016 Marie-Jo Fortis rated it really liked it

Set in Japan in the 1850's and announcing the opening of the country to the world, this is a novel with a “futuristic” edge, that is a steampunk novel. For the ones not familiar with the genre, steampunk is a branch of sci-fi, a historical cyberpunk. Technology is important, but in its 19th century context. Hence the “steam” prefix, which evokes the machinery of the Victorian era. If inventions get slightly anachronistic here, it’s not in their historical context but in their geographical Set in Japan in the 1850's and announcing the opening of the country to the world, this is a novel with a “futuristic” edge, that is a steampunk novel. For the ones not familiar with the genre, steampunk is a branch of sci-fi, a historical cyberpunk. Technology is important, but in its 19th century context. Hence the “steam” prefix, which evokes the machinery of the Victorian era. If inventions get slightly anachronistic here, it’s not in their historical context but in their geographical context. While the U.S. and Europe are going full bloom in their industrial revolution, Japan is still set in its medieval ways.

With her steampunk approach, Sorenson will remedy to that and change the course of history. At least in this book.

Just as in a cyberpunk novel, machinery, far for being left in the background, is quite the character. Consisting mostly of trains and dirigibles (“dirijibis”) here, it could have taken over the entire novel. But Sorensen shows her ability and sense of balance by placing vibrant and youthful characters to enliven this epopee of the machine.

Tōru, a young man of mysterious origin for everyone in the novel—but not for the reader, is responsible for this modernization. Rescued from waters by Americans, he spends several years in their country and learns their way. Like Moses, he returns to the promised land, Japan, only to meet adversity when he proposes changes through technological progress.

But changes are inevitable. This clash between modernity and tradition, between the machine and the samouraï, comes here in a clear, charming prose, and not without humor. Of course, given this historical context, this relentless enthusiasm in technology, symbolized here by not only Tōru, but free-spirited femme-de-tête Masuyo, as well as blacksmith-engineer-scientist Jiro; this enthusiasm makes sense. The bulk of the enthusiasm, however, comes from the author herself, from the love she obviously has for Japanese culture; and the way she communicates it is, frankly, intoxicating.

Problems are few but need mentioning. The language at times deviates into too familiar American expressions, something that may make the reader jump a bit and feel she’s not in Japan anymore. The pace, while pleasant in its evocation of the full development of modern machinery, could have used a bit more tension now and then in order to hold more drama. The villains are never complete villains. They’re either incapacitated, dying, of feeble disposition for opposition, or somehow forgiven for some justifiable treason. Why?

Well, perhaps to make room for Commodore Perry, a historical figure like many characters in this novel, and quite a bastard. His politics and invasion tactics are quite evocative of what preceded Hiroshima. I suppose, after reading her note, that the author set it up that way on purpose. Perry is a total, smart, successful villain, but I would have liked more time with him and his opposing forces.

There is something fresh and honest about Tōru. The good American, i.e. the rescuer of the beginning, can also be the American brute. In the end, that’s what Sorensen does best: suggest the duality of the American nature and well as the duality of the Japanese culture.

All in all, an entertaining and vivacious tale.
...more

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Apr 07, 2016 Melinda Brasher rated it really liked it

I loved the 19th-century Japanese setting of this book. I also liked the general premise and the characters.

My problem came with the believability of it all. In order to protect isolationist Japan from more technologically advanced powers like America, Toru and his allies basically conduct an industrial revolution. This is cool. But they do it all within a year, starting with limited resources. I just couldn't swallow it. Masuyo, Toru, and Jiro have clever minds, but little scientific or I loved the 19th-century Japanese setting of this book. I also liked the general premise and the characters.

My problem came with the believability of it all. In order to protect isolationist Japan from more technologically advanced powers like America, Toru and his allies basically conduct an industrial revolution. This is cool. But they do it all within a year, starting with limited resources. I just couldn't swallow it. Masuyo, Toru, and Jiro have clever minds, but little scientific or mechanical education. The speed at which they figure out—from books written in other languages—how to design all this technology is unrealistic. As is the rate of success with the actual creation and production of things like country-wide railroad lines, steam engines, telegraph systems, machines that sound like the precursors to computers, mini submarines, and airships. Maybe, maybe, with unlimited resources, this could be possible (though my own experience with the current building of railroad lines and the making of road repairs suggests otherwise). However, the lords who start the revolution are minor lords without great wealth. They call workers from all over (which they have to pay) and need plenty of raw materials (which they have to buy). So where's all the money coming from? As part of the revolution, they also build factories to produce goods to sell abroad, but just because you can produce goods doesn't mean you can sell them, and the profit margin would have to be astronomical to fund the sort of development in the book. I liked all the innovations, and seeing how it could all develop, but I wished it had taken longer so I could believe it and really immerse myself in the world.

I also had a hard time believing that they could hide all this work from the Shogun, who supposedly keeps such an iron rule that there is absolute peace. For many, many pages I wondered about this. Then the issue is addressed, but too late to prevent me from disconnecting with the reality of the story.

The occasional anachronistic words, phrases, and concepts also broke immediacy for me, as did the quotes at the beginning of each chapter. Quotes from people like George R. R. Martin and Bob Dylan. The story takes place in the 1800s. Perhaps this is normal for steampunk, a genre I'm not very familiar with.

Because of the unbelievability, I would give this novel more of a 3.5 rating, but steampunk fans might accept these issues more easily, thus the 4.

The sheer amount of narration gives the novel a sort of "told" feel, but for the most part I still enjoyed the writing. The minor typos and other errors don't detract much.

I liked the characters and wanted them to succeed. Their interactions were good. The complicated politics of Toru's relationship with his father proved powerful to the end. I loved the relationship between clever, headstrong Masuyo and her father. Lady Tomatsu surprised me.

I enjoyed learning things about the culture and politics of 1850s Japan, as well as the progression of an imagined (and fast-forwarded) industrial revolution. And I really liked the whole struggle with having to defy the country's leader in order to save the country. Lots of room for conflict and nobility.

I would try more by Stephanie R. Sorensen.

*I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.*
...more

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Nov 08, 2017 Mike rated it liked it

Shelves: netgalley

I'm going to start with what I learned from the author's afterword, and work backwards.

The author has been a foreign-exchange student in Japan, where (it seems) she was welcomed, treated with great hospitality, and came to love the country and its people. This is great, but it also leads to the main problem of the book.

The problem is that the author has then written what's essentially a wish-fulfillment fantasy about how great it would be if Japan had become that peaceful, hospitable, amiable I'm going to start with what I learned from the author's afterword, and work backwards.

The author has been a foreign-exchange student in Japan, where (it seems) she was welcomed, treated with great hospitality, and came to love the country and its people. This is great, but it also leads to the main problem of the book.

The problem is that the author has then written what's essentially a wish-fulfillment fantasy about how great it would be if Japan had become that peaceful, hospitable, amiable country more or less directly from being a rigid, feudal despotism under the shoguns, without going through all the pain of the invasion by Commodore Perry's Black Fleet, the subsequent long and difficult process of modernization, and World War II.

Instead, she shows us - or, often, tells us about - a Japan in which a young man, sent clandestinely to America to spy and bring back its technology, is not executed on his return (as was the law) but convinces everyone - fearful peasants, harsh feudal lords, everyone - to modernize in an absurdly short space of time, leapfrogging American technology so that they can confront Perry on his arrival with a superior force.

I didn't believe it. I didn't believe (having worked on projects for 20 years) that such a major program could be completed so quickly; I didn't believe that an illiterate peasant blacksmith could become, first an engineer (maybe sort of believable), then a pilot, then captain of an airship, then admiral of the fleet; I didn't believe that someone we're told was a conservative old feudal lord would let his daughter dress and behave like a man just because she wanted to; I didn't believe that everyone would listen to a commoner; I didn't believe that the feudal lords would do away with their own power because of love for country; and I certainly didn't believe, though we were repeatedly told, that the heroes would be executed (almost nobody died at all, in fact, nobody in warfare and almost nobody from industrial accidents, which, again, I didn't believe).

That was the problem: there was a lot of telling, and what we were told contradicted, as often as not, what we were shown, and I didn't believe any of it. And then what we'd been told, over and over again, just ended up not being true, because it had to not be true or else the story would be tragic. And there was no believable reason why it wasn't true.

As a result, it barely squeaks three stars, and that's only because there's a good heart behind this unbelievable story, and I don't want to be any harsher to it than I already have been.

I received a copy from Netgalley for review. ...more

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Feb 23, 2016 Gloria Piper rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction-historical, drama, fantasy, survival, steampunk, alternate-history

What if Commodore Perry upon his arrival at Japan had met, not a backward nation, but one of overwhelming military power?

From her years in Japan, Sorensen is uniquely qualified to allow us the Japanese perspective. Rather than a rehash of the past, she offers an alternative history where real Japan meets steampunk.

The story begins when Toru returns to his beloved nation after two years in America. He is met, not with welcoming arms, but with arrest for treason. His crime? He has broken the ...more

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Jun 19, 2016 A.J. Culey rated it it was amazing

Toru: Wayfarer Returns by Stephanie R. Sorensen is in some ways hard to categorize. It’s this amazing reimagining of 19th century Japan and the events leading up to the end of its 250 years of isolationism. It’s also an industrial steampunk revolution on crack, occurring at an unimaginable rate (over the course of perhaps a year), but is so richly detailed and slowly evolved over the course of the novel that the reader sometimes forgets to be skeptical at the breakneck pace of the Toru: Wayfarer Returns by Stephanie R. Sorensen is in some ways hard to categorize. It’s this amazing reimagining of 19th century Japan and the events leading up to the end of its 250 years of isolationism. It’s also an industrial steampunk revolution on crack, occurring at an unimaginable rate (over the course of perhaps a year), but is so richly detailed and slowly evolved over the course of the novel that the reader sometimes forgets to be skeptical at the breakneck pace of the industrialization of an entire nation. Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of this work, however, are the cultural references as it provides a delightful look into 19th century Japan. The setting is so superbly detailed, the reader is exposed to a fully realized world and ultimately gains intricate knowledge of Japan’s history and culture through the reading.

As a bonus, we are treated to the slow build of a sweet, though extremely subtle, romance. It’s a minor thread, almost subdued in its presentation, very much in keeping with the ambience of the novel itself, but ultimately adds to the richness of the story being told.

The only jarring note for me came from the quotes at the beginning of each chapter as they often pulled me from the reading. Though they certainly fit well in terms of theme, the majority of the quotes were from western, 20th and 21st century sources (Bob Dylan, Cormac McCarthy, George R.R. Martin and JFK, to name a few). Given the setting of the novel, it was jarring to occasionally read quotes from sources who certainly would not have existed in either that time frame or location. For me, I would have preferred quotes from 19th century and earlier Japanese sources, as I think they would not have pulled me so dramatically from the reading.

Overall, though at times a bit long-winded in exposition, Toru: Wayfarer Returns was a fascinating, even compelling, read. It was a slow, absorbing build, one that ultimately led to a very satisfying end.

* I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review * ...more

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Aug 08, 2016 Robby Charters rated it really liked it · review of another edition

He appears on the scene as a humble Japanese fisherman who had been shipwrecked and rescued by an American sea-going vessel. He has spent two years learning about America, where steam power has been transforming technology, telegraph has revolutionised communications, and there's even talk about flying air-ships that the French are developing. Toru has become fluent in English, and learned as much as he can about all the technology he comes in contact with. Now, he's arrived on his native shores He appears on the scene as a humble Japanese fisherman who had been shipwrecked and rescued by an American sea-going vessel. He has spent two years learning about America, where steam power has been transforming technology, telegraph has revolutionised communications, and there's even talk about flying air-ships that the French are developing. Toru has become fluent in English, and learned as much as he can about all the technology he comes in contact with. Now, he's arrived on his native shores with a large chest of books and technical drawings.

There's only one problem. The Shogun has a policy of executing anyone who would return to these shores after having spent time away. Japan is to remain completely isolated. However, Toru is aware that there are plans to force Japan open. Not many months hence, Commodore Perry would arrive on his black ships, and force Japan to open her doors, which in our time-line, was a rather humiliating event for the Japanese. We know that through hind-sight, but Toru is a man of foresight. He is determined that Japan be prepared, and not be bullied into submission to the Western powers, as China was.

So, how does a humble fisherman go about starting a technica revolution? Though he is nicknamed "the Fisherman" throughout the narrative, there's much more to him than meets the eye. He meets the right people, ones who are also concerned about the future of Japan, and things begin, slowly, to role forward.

The story is quite captivating. The action and the charactisation is well organised. Mind you, believing that an expansive rail network could be laid in a matter of months, complete with locomotives built by re-trained local blacksmiths, along with a network of telegraph lines and a fleet of dirigibles, I found a bit of a tall order. I would have given it a few years, at least -- maybe ten. However, the story is entertaining enough to keep us going, and the reward of seeing the bullys humiliated, and the right people getting married in the end, does make it worth the read. ...more

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Feb 29, 2016 T.S. O'Neil rated it really liked it

First, I have to compliment the author on the stunning artwork on the cover. It's truly a testament to smart marketing that draws in potential readers right away. So many authors treat cover art as an afterthought, and that's a mistake.

The prose is lyrical in places and worthy of quoting. Toru, the hero of the story, is returning home to Feudal Japan after two years spent in the U.S. a local warlord seized him and threatened with death, only to be saved by the lord's daughter. I guess some of ...more

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Aug 05, 2017 Alyssia Cooke rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy, historical, steampunk, japanese, nineteenth-century

I didn't expect to enjoy this novel anywhere near as much as I actually did. It dives into historical Japanese culture with gusto, and considering this is not a culture I am at all familiar with, I was expecting to be left well out of my depth at best and bored at worst. After all, reading an alternative history - even Steampunk - where you do not know the actual history, is always going to be dangerous ground.

And yet I fell head into heels into this world, it's culture and it's characters. Some ...more

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Mar 02, 2016 Ibiloye Christian added it · review of another edition

It is alternate history and techno-fantasy story set in 1850s Japan, on the eve of Japan's collision with the West. Toru, a young fisherman rescued by American traders was taken to America where he worked, was educated and made friends.
Toru defies the Shogun's ban on returning to Japan through the help of Captain McHargue, determined to save his homeland from foreign invasion.
Indeed, Charles Dickens was right that "every traveler has a home of his own," and he [they] do come to appreciate it ...more

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Feb 25, 2016 Douglas Wallis rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

To follow the progress of Toru, a returned wander into the rigid kingdom of Samurai Japan, where a rigid regime of isolation has successfully maintained peace and stability in a previously dangerous land of inter tribal warring over a long period of its history is fascinating. We gradually begin to realise the restrictions of their rule and the approaching menace of the rapidly modernising world that surround it's borders against which its inward facing isolation is ill equipped to resist. The ...more

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Feb 08, 2016 Loralee rated it it was amazing

Recommends it for: Everyone who likes a well-written book!

Subarashii monogatari desu! This story was superb, and I am so very glad I read it. Toru, a young man, is dropped off by his American friends on the shores of Japan, his homeland, only to turn around to face several armed Samurai. And from there, the action doesn’t let up. Having lived in Japan before, (Sapporo and Asahikawa on Hokkaido) I especially appreciated this story. I am also a fan of steampunk, so that was an extra plus for me. I loved the airships added to the story! I also thought the ...more

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Feb 25, 2016 Loralee rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

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Feb 22, 2016 Lana Axe rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I am honored to have been given a free copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Despite the danger it could cause him, Toru has decided to return to Japan to defend his homeland from an impending invasion. I'll admit I've never read steampunk set in Japan, and I found it refreshing. I loved the cultural references from bits of language to clothing to food. It was a fascinating look at an alternate history with plenty of industrial revolution goodness.

My favorite character had to be ...more

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Feb 19, 2016 Jeanine Lipp rated it really liked it

If you're looking for something out of the ordinary, something that is gripping, intelligent, and utterly unique, read Toru: The Wayfarer Returns. The author expertly crafts a tale that weaves history and fantasy, American steam punk and ancient Japanese traditions, and the high stakes of love and honor into a beautiful tapestry as colorful and brash as the young, rebellious protagonists who set out to change the course of history. Each detail is written to be savoured; from the engineering of ...more

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Dec 21, 2016 Jean-Philippe rated it it was ok

Shelves: abandoned, giveaways-won

I wanted to like this book, the setting is very nice but I could not get past the first 50 pages and I feel guilty since I won the book in a giveaway. The paste is too fast and there is no dept to the story or the character. But mostly I did not like the way everything is explained to you, how Toru felt and how the others felt in response etc nothing is left for us to interpret or imagine. And it's all pretty generic.

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Jan 23, 2017 gj indieBRAG rated it it was amazing

Shelves: b-r-a-g-medallion-books

We are proud to announce that TORU by Stephanie R. Sorensen is a B.R.A.G.Medallion Honoree. This tells a reader that this book is well worth their time and money!

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May 05, 2016 Clay Davis rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Received a copy in exchange for a review. Would like to have seen photography and newspapers introduce to Japanese society.

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Dec 16, 2017 Milos Mojsilovic rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Sometimes you get the privilege of watching an artist hone his or hers trade. You see the dissorderly beginning, and then you see the work of art progress and develope as its artist progresses and ultimately completes the work. And you can't help but marvel at how it's complex pieces end up fitting together so nicely.

It is so with this book. I love (love being an understatement here) a book that grips me from the first page. That weaves a tale around me so marvelous I can't help but grin like Sometimes you get the privilege of watching an artist hone his or hers trade. You see the dissorderly beginning, and then you see the work of art progress and develope as its artist progresses and ultimately completes the work. And you can't help but marvel at how it's complex pieces end up fitting together so nicely.

It is so with this book. I love (love being an understatement here) a book that grips me from the first page. That weaves a tale around me so marvelous I can't help but grin like an idiot while I read it. This is such a book.

Taking place in 1853 at the end of japans isolation policy this book tells the story od Toru, a young man who at the behest of his father intentionally shipwrecks and gets picked up by an american trade ship and is brought to america where he spends 2 years learning their ways, customs and gleaning any information he can that will help Japan if or when Americans try to force Japan to open its borders. Upon his arrival back in Japan he is discovered by a minor lord who is law-bound to execute him, but the lord grants him a dying wish and escorts him to see his mother one last time. On their journey Toru tells the lord of his voyage and stay in America and the fact that the Americans are going to come to Japan even if force is necessary and Japan needs to be able to defend its shores. And so the lord decides to heed Toru's warning and they begin to industialize Japan, a crime punishable by death.

While the heroes in this tale are fictional, the story is built against a backdrop of the “real” cultural and historical Japan of that period, with historical figures being woven into the tale, staying true to their motivations and agendas even as the alternate history warped their actions, history and a few laws of physics.

In the authors own words, this is an "what if" tale.

Tōru: Wayfarer Returns is the first book in the Sakura Steam Series, an alternate history of the tumultuous period from the opening of Japan in 1853 to the Meiji Restoration in 1868. This volume covers the year prior to the American Commodore Perry’s arrival in Japan and follows the hero and his young allies as they lead Japan through a massively compressed industrial revolution, dramatically altering that pivotal moment in history in their favor. I have pondered the question of “what would Japan’s path— and the world’s— have been if the Japanese had possessed the military might and the will to drive Perry away instead of opening under duress as they did?” The Sakura Steam Series explores this “what if” question. Unlike traditional steampunk stories that unfold in a world already steampunk, the story of Tōru and his friends begins in the “real” world and together they create a steam-driven alternate universe, with a dramatic impact on the course of history.

What sticks out the most about this tale is the lenghts the author went through to set up the story. The painstaking details of the landscape, the characters, all the machinery that was constructed. You get a piece by piece description of every detail. Not just the looks, but the emotions, the customs, whole 9 yards. It is not something many authors do these days, especially not at these lengths. So it is refreshing to see. Makes you excited for the next book in the series. ...more

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Apr 18, 2017 Kate (Looking Glass Reads) rated it liked it

Shelves: historical-fiction, review-copy, alternate-history

Sometimes it’s a synopsis that catches your eye. Sometimes it’s the cover. Sometimes it’s the author’s name, or the genre. For me, it was the setting the setting and cover design. Toru: Wayfarer by Stephanie R. Sorensen is a book that’s been on my radar since it was first released back in February of 2016. When I finally got my hands on a copy, I was quite the excited bookworm.

Unfortunately, the excitement didn’t last.

Toru: Wayfarer is an alternate history novel set in Japan during in the 1850s. ...more

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topics	posts	views	last activity
Indie Book Connec...: August 2017 - Toru: Wayfarer Returns by Stephanie R. Sorenson	1	5	Aug 14, 2017 10:08PM
Reviews of Good I...: steampunk	1	4	Apr 08, 2016 09:57PM
Japanese Novel an...: Alternate history set in 1850s Japan	1	7	Feb 21, 2016 06:44AM
GOOD REVIEWS: Samurai with dirigibles! Looking for reviews	5	11	Feb 18, 2016 10:45AM
Alternate History: Alternate history set in 1850s Japan	1	8	Feb 18, 2016 10:42AM
Making Connections: TORU: WAYFARER RETURNS by Stephanie R. Sorensen--Samurai-era alternate history	1	2	Feb 17, 2016 01:04PM
Making Connections: TORU: WAYFARER RETURNS by Stephanie R. Sorensen--Samurai-era alternate history	1	4	Feb 17, 2016 12:58PM

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About Stephanie R. Sorensen

Stephanie R. Sorensen

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Recognition for Stephanie's debut novel "Toru: Wayfarer Returns"
-- Silver Medal, Science Fiction, 2018 CIPA Evvy Awards
-- Merit, Fantasy, 2018 CIPA Evvy Awards
-- Grand Prize Shortlist, Honorable Mention Commercial Fiction, 2017 Eric Hoffer Book Awards
-- Bronze Medal, Fiction, 2016 Wishing Shelf Book Awards
-- Finalist, Fantasy, 2016 Next Generation Indie Book Awards
-- Finalist, Multicultural Adult ...more

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