Wang - Sword of Kaigen [Feb 1, 2021]

[Katie]

Thoughts up until the end~
(view spoiler)[A spy in the mist using light magic?! The gall he had to use the face of their son!!

Takeru is the sum of his past. I mean isn’t that all of us? But still. To learn of his abusive father. And how his mother suffered in carrying two strong children. His fears no doubt carried onto his wife and children. Though he didn’t know how to express it. Or deal with such worries. So he let them slide away. Not wishing to break his wife as his father broke his >_<

Silence was his way of showing respect. To avoid the fighting he had grown up with. He didn’t want to be his father 😢

These attacks were a test? Prodding points of power? With elite clans and military bases? Hmmmmm

Takeru is so amazing in that meeting. Husband and wife team up here! And him stating he refuses help from the Empire. Perfect!

Oh Hyori. I hoped it wasn’t so 😢
Her poor child. She’s going to have a tough life in Kaigen. I hope she finds more allies along the way.

"But if I learned one thing from Firebird, it’s that a persons tragedy doesn’t define them or cancel all the good in their life. I’ve had four wonderful children, who am I love. I still have three of them, and now after all of these years, it turns out, I have a good husband." pg581<3

Oh no more child soldiers >_< What is this evil orphan thief up to in raising that kind of army??? What are his goals?!

Also Daniel is sooo cute. Yes please. More adorable kid scenes <3 (hide spoiler)]

What an ending. My gosh. (view spoiler)[Kaigen is now going to stand on its own two feet. Providing for itself and its people. Standing strong and rebuilding their home for the better. Misaki and Takeru have overcome their misunderstandings and are stronger for it. Their family to be raised in a much healthier and worldly environment (with her sons going to her own school even!).

It was so so nice to see Robin come back in there. It was kind of jarring, I admit. But it all ties together. Potentially to the other books in the series or more in the future...with this mysterious group abducting powerful children. But to have Misaki see him...and how they both changed...and how they still understand one another. Even to have Takeru to be the one to invite him <3

This was quite a journey through Kaigen. It wasn't all sunshines and rainbows...but it's people and their journey will stick with me for a long while~ (hide spoiler)]

[Katie]

Paula wrote: "I finished!"

The chapter is famous? lol (view spoiler)[I can understand the dislike for Takeru...but man. I really appreciated how we get what he was going through. He's not your typical person, you know? Dealing with situations entirely different ways. I found it fascinating. It's just a shame it took 15 years for all of the misunderstandings to be cleared up. But I'm glad they have a fresh start after such a hard loss

Agree with you about the last chapter entirely, lol. Still a joy to read.

Sesuko is highly one of my favorites along with Misaki :D (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Katie wrote: "Thoughts up until the end..."

From what I read about the Theonite series, (view spoiler)[it follows Daniel and a girl from an Earth-like world, and Daniel and his dad are still fighting this orphan thief across the multiverse... Daniel's in high school in the series, I think... Wang also has a ton of ideas for spinoff series on the other continents of the Kaigen-world (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Katie wrote: "Paula wrote: "I finished!"..."

The last chapter seemed like fan-service... if that's even the right word for it... it seemed less for readers of the book than to either connect to the Theonite series OR get people interested in trying that series...

[Paula]

Katie
(view spoiler)[yeah, I feel for hyoris daughter. I hope some children will befriend her in the future to make it easier

takeru was a very well realized character, not a moustache twirling villain, which I appreciate. and yeah, such a shame they had to wait 15 years to understand each other (hide spoiler)]

definitely. Misaki and setsuko and their friendship was amazing

[Narilka]

I'm at 91% and will be finishing tonight. Somewhere in the last chapter. (view spoiler)[I was right about Robin showing up. Very surprising that Takeru invited him.

Takeru was pretty one dimensional until the very end. Too bad more of his POV wasn't worked in earlier, though this book is plenty long already.

This last chapter does feel like a hook for the rest of the series like Iain mentioned. (hide spoiler)]

[Narilka]

Katie wrote: "Thoughts up to Chapter 27..."

(view spoiler)[Yeah, the empire is despicable. And it's all to save face?? Ugh. I keep hoping the town will put up a shrine anyway.

To be able to become the mountain is pretty awesome. Too bad he does it to take the cowards way out. Takeru and Misaki are well paired. Both cowards in their own way and both needing to face that part of themselves down. I'm glad they worked it out in a rather spectacular duel :) (hide spoiler)]

[Katie]

@Narilka & Chapter 27
I very much agree with you in that they are so so alike (view spoiler)[in being a coward. And how they needed each other to see that and work through it. Gotta duel out your problems, right? lol (hide spoiler)]

@91%
(view spoiler)[I would have so so liked more of Takeru's POV. But maybe it was to be a surprise for the readers that he wasn't really a complete Dick? lol. (hide spoiler)]

[Narilka]

Katie wrote: "@Narilka & Chapter 27
I very much agree with you in that they are so so alike [spoilers removed]

@91%
[spoilers removed]"

You might be right regarding Takeru. Of course there's always the potential for future books too :)

[Katie]

I hope so!! I'm really intrigued in reading her other books now. Even if they're earlier works ^^

[Heather]

I missed the buddy read with everyone but I decided to still read the book. Only on chapter 2 and I’m loving the writing style! Feels like a book I might read very quickly haha