Wang - The Sword of Kaigen [Feb 1, 2020]

[Jenna, I'd be free if not for Temper & Edgewalker]

The Sword of Kaigen - M.L. Wang

February 1, 2020.
Requested by Tammie.

[Navi]

This was a buddy read last year but I had overbooked myself so did not participate. I hope to give it another go!!

[Anni]

Navi wrote: "This was a buddy read last year but I had overbooked myself so did not participate. I hope to give it another go!!"

Haha same :) I'll try to join as well!

[Hailee]

Since this was so many peoples favourite book of 2019 I definitely want to read this in 2020. Whether I can find time in February remains to be seen :-)

[Tammie]

Thanks Jenna!

[Jenna, I'd be free if not for Temper & Edgewalker]

Tammie wrote: "Thanks Jenna!"

You're welcome. Enjoy the book! It was my favourite of 2019. :)

[Chris]

First buddy read, pumped for this! Seen nothing but great reviews about this one, should be fun.

[Brian]

Im in

[Petrik]

You guys are in one heck of a ride. My favorite book of 2019. Enjoy! :)

[Lily]

This should be great!

[Soo]

Gonna try! It's hard for me to make time to read print but I may be able to do it in bits. =)

[Lily]

Have gotten in about ten percent and am realizing just how big this is XD

[Sha]

I'm doing this one I've heard a lot of good things about it. Will only stsrt on Feb 2 though

[Beena]

Can't wait for this!!!

[Mayim]

I am very interested. Do I understand well that this is a standalone?

[Petrik]

Mayim wrote: "I am very interested. Do I understand well that this is a standalone?"

It's a standalone. But at the end it there's a section where the story tells you what's to come in the YA series; a completely different storyline from this one. That's probably a 2 stars deduction for you... :p

[Mayim]

Hahaha it might be. But I sincerely hope I’ll like this one. ;)))

[Beena]

Only a few chapters in but loving the oriental influence in this. It's very different from anything else I've read. Immediately liked Setsuko.

[Tammie]

I'm in chapter 4. I like it so far, but it was a little slow in the beginning. The TV and video games talk was unexpected. I was not expecting it to be a modern setting.

[Beena]

@Tammie, yeah I agree, I found the TV and tech references strange in the midst of a fantasy novel.

Also agree it's slow-starting- I know the author needs to give us some context but the history lessons were really making me switch off, she could've delivered that better.

Part way through Chapter 6 now, now it's got a bit more interesting... (view spoiler)[Glad we're getting a bit of action! I really don't understand why or how Misaki traded in this life as a strong, agile fighter to be a traditional housewife whose only purpose is to provide her husband with sons... what the hell happened there?!! (hide spoiler)]

[Lily]

15 percent so far. This is going very slowly but the plot so far isn’t bad. Need to work on it until I get more into this.

[Navi]

I started yesterday. Not too far in (maybe a chapter or two) - enjoying it so far!

I agree with you, Tammie! I always have a pre-conceived notion that worlds in fantasy books are set during historical times. The video games threw me for a loop lol

[Tammie]

Beena wrote: "@Tammie, yeah I agree, I found the TV and tech references strange in the midst of a fantasy novel.

Also agree it's slow-starting- I know the author needs to give us some context but the history le..."

It's picks up a lot in chapter 6. I was thinking in chapter 5 that it needed to pick up soon. (view spoiler)[ While I was reading chapter 5 I was kind of wishing the book was about Misaki. I really want to know her story. I suppose most people get to a point in their lives where they want to settle down and have a family. That could have been the motivation, but she went from one extreme to the other by marrying into the culture she married into. I don't know why she would have done that either, unless she was blinded by love and thought her husband was different. (hide spoiler)]

[Tammie]

Lily wrote: "15 percent so far. This is going very slowly but the plot so far isn’t bad. Need to work on it until I get more into this."

You are almost through the slow part.

[Mayim]

I’ll start tonight. I have 73 people among my friends who want to read this!

[Bea]

Mayim wrote: "I’ll start tonight. I have 73 people among my friends who want to read this!"

I really hope you'll like it! I did and I disliked a few of Petrik's faves that you also weren't a fan of, so maybe that's a good sign?? xD

[Mayim]

Yessss, very promising indeed. :)

[Mayim]

Tammie wrote: "I'm in chapter 4. I like it so far, but it was a little slow in the beginning. The TV and video games talk was unexpected. I was not expecting it to be a modern setting."

I finished chapter 3. Peppering English with all these words I don’t understand somewhat lessens my reading experience. Overall, I like the exposition although I had a distinct feeling that the city boy doesn’t sound like a boy but like an adult when he was explaining the truths of this world to Mamoru.

[Beena]

It's picks up a lot in chapter 6. I was thinking in chapter 5 that it needed to pick up soon. (view spoiler)

@Tammie (view spoiler)[ Oh, I've read it bit further and she explains why, it's her tradition; it's what she's expected to do and she's always expected that that's the way it's going to go for her. Still seems an absolute waste to me. Also, I got the distinct impression that she and her husband are in a loveless marriage. (hide spoiler)]

[Beena]

I agree with you, Tammie! I always have a pre-conceived notion that worlds in fantasy books are set during historical times.

@Navi, well the vast majority usually are!

[Beena]

It's getting better but still not entirely gripping me, I hope there's a part where it really takes off.

[Lily]

I do agree that Misaki is an interesting character the book could be more centered around. I enjoy how strong she seems while still making bad or questionable decisions.

[Petrik]

Lily wrote: "I do agree that Misaki is an interesting character the book could be more centered around. I enjoy how strong she seems while still making bad or questionable decisions."

You will get what you want! ;)

[Petrik]

I'm gonna turn off the notification here. For those who find it too slow, the story gets so much better at 30%. Enjoy, everyone. Hopefully you guys will still enjoy the book, somehow! :)

[Petrik]

Bea wrote: "Mayim wrote: "I’ll start tonight. I have 73 people among my friends who want to read this!"

I really hope you'll like it! I did and I disliked a few of Petrik's faves that you also weren't a fan o..."

Hey! xD

[Chris]

Planning on getting this started tonight or tomorrow at the latest. Glad to see everyone is overall liking it so far!

[Virginie]

Will start this tonight as well! :)

[Tammie]

In chapter 14 now. I've gotten really engrossed in this story! Petrik, you are right. It happened at about 30-35% in. I agree with you about the words Mayim. It took me a while to get used to.

[Anni]

I started as well, but only managed to read one and a half chapter, I hope I'll be able to read more in the next couple of days!

[Diana Stormblessed]

I'm going to try to join, although a little late. Finishing up some other books now.

[Petrik]

Tammie wrote: "In chapter 14 now. I've gotten really engrossed in this story! Petrik, you are right. It happened at about 30-35% in. I agree with you about the words Mayim. It took me a while to get used to."

Hopefully you'll enjoy the rest! This is where the book get so good and it never lets up! :)

@virgine: I AM SURE YOU are going to love it!

[Virginie]

Alright, I'm 4 chapters in and liking it so far. The only moment that annoyed me was the info-dump in shape of the history lesson. I understand the need for introducing the world and its military past but it put me off a bit... I was thinking "well, it's exposition time! I really feel that kid that wants to sleep through it" xD

[Virginie]

Mayim wrote: "Peppering English with all these words I don’t understand somewhat lessens my reading experience."

I've studied Japanese for two years so I understood some of the words/idioms used here, but I definitely see how this could be off-putting.

[Mayim]

Yes, I am remembering my high-school anime days and wishing I paid more attention to the language back then... *sigh*

[Chris]

Just started it so I've only finished chapter 1, but I really like Setsuko and Misaki's interactions. Just really sweet.

Curious to learn more about the Matsuda bloodline stuff, and hopefully about Misaki's past too.

I agree about the modern stuff being a bit.. jarring I guess? It's like Kwang came from 2020 and went back in time. Lol the regional differences are very distinct it seems.

[Eva]

Uhm, have you guys checked the list of houses and characters, as well as the extensive glossary of all the Japanese and fantasy terms used at the end of the book? ;-)

[Mayim]

I know it is there, but a) I hate when these things are at the end instead of a beginning b) writing a book in such a way that you essentially need to check every second word in a dictionary is not the greatest idea. I'm all OK for introducing specific terms and names (like in Inda for instance) but it must be done intuitively or gradually to give the reader a chance to internalise the meanings.

I'm totally fine, and by chapter 7 I memorised most of the terms, but I can see some readers being dissuaded and frustrated.

[Chris]

Eva wrote: "Uhm, have you guys checked the list of houses and characters, as well as the extensive glossary of all the Japanese and fantasy terms used at the end of the book? ;-)"

Thank you! I went and read through that a bit to learn some terms.

Just finished chapter 5 and I'm going to call it there for this morning. I'm liking this a lot so far! The way the magic is described and used is really interesting, especially when (view spoiler)[ the Tsusano blood magic was used to scab the wound. (hide spoiler)] Just a pretty wicked visual.

[Virginie]

Petrik wrote: "@virgine: I AM SURE YOU are going to love it!"

Haha, I think so too :)
I remember thinking, after reading your review, that it sounds exactly like my type of book. Pre-ordered it immediately since it was ridiculously cheap (like 1€?) AND I got cool goodies with it :p

[Lily]

Just finished chapter 6 and it really has picked up a lot. Her backstory is fascinating with plenty of moral questions. I love Robin’s character so far with his steadfast belief in preventing death. He reminds me of Martin Luther King with his nonviolent protests.