In some ways I’m sorry that I read this book now when I was so distracted because it was a good book and a solid ending to an entertaining series. It took me a month to get read it not because I wasn’t enjoying it but that I just had trouble concentrating long enough to get what I was reading. I’ve talked about my struggle to read while self isolating. I’ve been doing some thinking and realized that maybe it’s not just that I’ve had hard time concentrating during this time but I also have a hard time concentrating on reading on home. In the before time, I did most of my reading during my commutes to and from work. I would read at home but usually no more than a chapter or two right before bed. For me to read as many books as I did before, I have to change my reading habits on a whole to do it. This kind of makes me feel better. Also I have to remind myself that I need to stop holding myself to the standards of life before the pandemic because we are not living in the world anymore and may never again. So enough about that. Let’s talk about this book.
We we last ended our heroes, they have to race across the country to get to wish point before Genno, who has all the pieces of the scroll summons the Dragon and gets his wish. Unknown to Yumeko, Tatsumi and gang there is another person out there that has been pulling the strings and the task ahead of them is much tougher than they thought. Yumeko continues to shine with her brave spirit and kind heart. Despite the risk she always did what she could to protect her friends and complete strangers. This strength is ultimately what gets her and her friends through all the trials along the way. The ending was admittingly heartbreaking but powerful and maybe the most realistic way to end. Which is kind of funny when you think about because Yumeko is a kitsune, Tatsumi is sharing his body with a Demon and they are trying to stop the bad guy from summoning a Dragon to get a wish. If you are looking for a good fantasy novel based on mythology but want something not based on western stories, this is a good series to check out. The rich Japanese folktales that fill this series really gives it a lush setting that works so well with the fantasy it created.
I was first introduced to Kitsunes thanks to the TV show Teen Wolf (I miss that show) A japanese story of someone who can turn into a fox. Yumeko is only half-kitsune and has been raised by monks in a temple. Like foxes, she’s mischievious and curious. She plays tricks on the monks to some of their chagrins but the Monks also teach her how to control her kitsune powers, which will come in handy when it is revealed that the temple guards a piece of the dragon scroll. The dragon scroll when put together raises a dragon every 1000 years. The person with the scroll is granted one wish and depending on who making the wish it can be good or bad. It’s almost time to summon the dragon and many people are after the scroll. One of them is the master to the Demonslayer, Tatsumi from the Shadow Clan. Tatsumi has a very powerful sword that contains a dangerous demon. He has to control his emotions or the demon in his sword will take over him. Tatsumi and Yumeko team up to find the missing scroll. Well, Yumeko has one piece but needs Tatsumi to help her get it to another temple and keep it safe. Through their journey they meet other people along the way, including the delightful ronin, Okame and noble Daisuke. They are challenged by spirits and other supernatural beings who try to get the scroll away from them but they grow a bond that is unmistakable. For all the fear of the some of the monks that Yumeko’s fox side will take over her humanity, they shouldn’t have worried because it’s her compassion and quick thinking that often saves them. Her first time outside of the temple, she is often filled with wonder of her surroundings. Some of the most amusing bits is when Okame introduces her sarcasm for the first time. At first she is confused by it but soon begins to understand it. It’s wonderful. I really liked this book and can’t wait for the sequel. It’s full of lush descriptions of samarai’s and court life and nature that you can’t be helped to be sucked in. I highly recommend it.
The final book in the Talon Saga was kinda of a disappointment in the sense that I didn’t really love it only liked it. It took a really long time to get going and for the final book the lack of urgency was a strange. The characters kept telling each other about how the end is coming soon but really didn’t seem to be in much of a hurry to prepare for it until they had no choice to and then things Finally got going. But damn, we had to go through a lot of things to get there. There was the unnecessary trip to Brazil to meet an ancient dragon that was never mentioned before and there was another trip to Asia for the that we all knew how it would end up. There were past mentioned characters showing up and taking up time for no reason but fit in one more heroic arc? I don’t know. The finale however was worth it though. The final battle between the Rogues, St. George and Talon made up the lackluster beginning. It had drama, suspense and melodrama all wrapped into one. I appreciate the theme of the series being that even though we may be different, what we all want out of life is the same. We want to live in peace and have freedom of choice. And authoritative governments are bad. The best way to bring down an oppressive regime is to overcome our differences and work together and learn from each other. I very important message for today. That’s what you should take away from this series in the end. I just wished the last book wasn’t so bogged down in so many side trips.
2 Women, So Many Books 