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Last month I started the ride through Yamato with the review of James Calbraith’s The Shadow of Black Wings. This week I’ll treat you to the sequel, The Warrior’s Soul. There will be spoilers to the first book and minor spoilers for this one. You’ll still be able to enjoy reading The Warrior’s Soul after reading this review.
At the start of the second book in the Year of the Dragon series, our protagonists Bran and Sato are fugitives. They have to leave Kiyo, Sato’s home town, as soon as possible, but how do you disguise an obvious foreigner? The High Priestess of the Suwa Shrine performs an ancient ritual to give Bran the appearance of a local by inviting the spirit of a two hundred year old warrior, Shigemasa, to inhabit him. Then the two outlaws leave Kiyo with Nagomi, Sato’s friend and the samurai Tokojiro, who serves as the interpreter between Bran and his comrades.
The story continues for the three young adults. All of them have lost the people closest to them and only have each other. This book gives us a closer look at what that does to these individuals. Bran is desperate to find his dragon Emrys before he goes feral. Sato knows her kidnapped father is still alive and wants to find him. While Nagomi doesn’t have a personal quest aside from accompanying her friend, she’s also the first to feel the loneliness of being away from her family.
Bran has a different struggle. He experiences the opposite of loneliness, since he now shares his body with another spirit. Slowly he feels the memories of the spirit seep into his daily life. Bran is confused by the sudden memories and knowledge, weird dreams, and mannerisms he adopted from the spirit. He hopes that, in the end, he won’t lose himself entirely to the spirit’s influence.
I think the interaction between Bran and Shigemasa is interesting. There is an obvious power struggle, but they are both aware that in this situation both need each other. One is young and inexperienced, and the other is a renowned samurai who has seen more death than Bran ever will. The spirit still has the values he had when he was alive and grows to respect Bran after he wins a tough battle. Shigemasa hasn’t turned into a vengeful spirit that wants to use the boy for his own purposes. However, that doesn’t mean there is no hostility between the two as there are definitely moments when one would rather be without the other.
Sato, even if she’s disguised as a servant, has taken up the role of leader, even if it’s not mentioned explicitly. She knows the way and where she wants to go to save her father from the Crimson Robe, a samurai with red, glowing eyes who uses forbidden magic. She uses her father’s contacts to gather information on his whereabouts and the current situation of their enemy closing in.
On their journey south they find out exactly who their allies are. They will experience betrayal, friendly facades with hidden agendas, and curious creatures. With two who are trained to use sword and magic, the group can hold its own in a fight despite their lack of experience with actual combat. It’s good to see that they don’t miraculously become strong enough to beat more powerful foes. You still have a feeling they’re kids who are in way over their heads and that fleeing might be the only option that allows them to live.
The interaction between them feels real, none of it out of character, ultimately that’s what I like most about the book. Each character has its own motivation and values and acts accordingly. The three youngsters also each have their own spiritual journey they have to follow, and through it you’ll be shown pieces of ancient Japan with the magic of Yamato. You’ll be introduced to the magic, tradition, and faith recognisable from the old Japanese fairy tales. Everyone interested in the history of Japan would enjoy these elements coming to life in a thrilling story.
The Warrior’s Soul is an excellent sequel to The Shadow of Black Wings that focuses on the development of the characters. James Calbraith has an excellent set of tools in his writer’s kit and he knows how to use them.
At the start of the second book in the Year of the Dragon series, our protagonists Bran and Sato are fugitives. They have to leave Kiyo, Sato’s home town, as soon as possible, but how do you disguise an obvious foreigner? The High Priestess of the Suwa Shrine performs an ancient ritual to give Bran the appearance of a local by inviting the spirit of a two hundred year old warrior, Shigemasa, to inhabit him. Then the two outlaws leave Kiyo with Nagomi, Sato’s friend and the samurai Tokojiro, who serves as the interpreter between Bran and his comrades.
The story continues for the three young adults. All of them have lost the people closest to them and only have each other. This book gives us a closer look at what that does to these individuals. Bran is desperate to find his dragon Emrys before he goes feral. Sato knows her kidnapped father is still alive and wants to find him. While Nagomi doesn’t have a personal quest aside from accompanying her friend, she’s also the first to feel the loneliness of being away from her family.
Bran has a different struggle. He experiences the opposite of loneliness, since he now shares his body with another spirit. Slowly he feels the memories of the spirit seep into his daily life. Bran is confused by the sudden memories and knowledge, weird dreams, and mannerisms he adopted from the spirit. He hopes that, in the end, he won’t lose himself entirely to the spirit’s influence.
I think the interaction between Bran and Shigemasa is interesting. There is an obvious power struggle, but they are both aware that in this situation both need each other. One is young and inexperienced, and the other is a renowned samurai who has seen more death than Bran ever will. The spirit still has the values he had when he was alive and grows to respect Bran after he wins a tough battle. Shigemasa hasn’t turned into a vengeful spirit that wants to use the boy for his own purposes. However, that doesn’t mean there is no hostility between the two as there are definitely moments when one would rather be without the other.
Sato, even if she’s disguised as a servant, has taken up the role of leader, even if it’s not mentioned explicitly. She knows the way and where she wants to go to save her father from the Crimson Robe, a samurai with red, glowing eyes who uses forbidden magic. She uses her father’s contacts to gather information on his whereabouts and the current situation of their enemy closing in.
On their journey south they find out exactly who their allies are. They will experience betrayal, friendly facades with hidden agendas, and curious creatures. With two who are trained to use sword and magic, the group can hold its own in a fight despite their lack of experience with actual combat. It’s good to see that they don’t miraculously become strong enough to beat more powerful foes. You still have a feeling they’re kids who are in way over their heads and that fleeing might be the only option that allows them to live.
The interaction between them feels real, none of it out of character, ultimately that’s what I like most about the book. Each character has its own motivation and values and acts accordingly. The three youngsters also each have their own spiritual journey they have to follow, and through it you’ll be shown pieces of ancient Japan with the magic of Yamato. You’ll be introduced to the magic, tradition, and faith recognisable from the old Japanese fairy tales. Everyone interested in the history of Japan would enjoy these elements coming to life in a thrilling story.
The Warrior’s Soul is an excellent sequel to The Shadow of Black Wings that focuses on the development of the characters. James Calbraith has an excellent set of tools in his writer’s kit and he knows how to use them.
We’re continuing our journey through Yamato, James Calbraith’s alternate version of Japan. The Islands In The Mists is the third book in the series The Year Of The Dragon. This is the first book where the story in Yamato splits into multiple points of view, as well as expanding on the burgeoning storyline in Qin only teased in earlier books. Hold on to your obis, because you’re in for a bumpy ride.
The prophecy as seen by Nagomi, the young priestess, is set in motion. The pawns are moving across the board and more are joining in. The story still focuses on what’s happening in Yamato, but Qin is also becoming more unstable with the civil war and foreign naval forces are entering the waters of Yamato. The whole world feels the unrest and Yamato is the heart of the storm.
Bran, Sato, and Nagomi are still on their way south to Kirishima to rescue Bran’s dragon. However, they soon find out that they are not the only ones going after it. The rare specimen is desired by the daimyo as a secret weapon in a rebellion.
In this third book, we get to see the other side of Yamato. Where the common people are depicted mostly as traditionalists, conservative, and loyal, we now see the shadow side. High ranking nobles are plotting against the taikun and even the mikado, the rulers of Yamato, assassins working together with demons, daimyos are trying to deceive each other. Manipulation is shown to also be part of the otherwise respectful Yamato culture.
With the addition of the new storylines, the book becomes more complex than the two previous ones. It adds a new layer of depth since the new characters show us the part of the story far away from the three protagonists, such as the going-ons in the capital of Yamato, Edo. The court in Edo was part of Nagomi’s vision, as it was prophesied to fall. We slowly get to know the court and the dire possibilities of its downfall, either from within or without.
James Calbraith has shown that his story is well thought out and carefully planned. He gives us parts of the different storylines in bite size to keep things interesting and maintain a good pace and the introductions of new perspectives are a great way to tell the overarching story. The Islands in The Mist has truly evolved in a more epic story than I had anticipated when I started the first book.
The prophecy as seen by Nagomi, the young priestess, is set in motion. The pawns are moving across the board and more are joining in. The story still focuses on what’s happening in Yamato, but Qin is also becoming more unstable with the civil war and foreign naval forces are entering the waters of Yamato. The whole world feels the unrest and Yamato is the heart of the storm.
Bran, Sato, and Nagomi are still on their way south to Kirishima to rescue Bran’s dragon. However, they soon find out that they are not the only ones going after it. The rare specimen is desired by the daimyo as a secret weapon in a rebellion.
In this third book, we get to see the other side of Yamato. Where the common people are depicted mostly as traditionalists, conservative, and loyal, we now see the shadow side. High ranking nobles are plotting against the taikun and even the mikado, the rulers of Yamato, assassins working together with demons, daimyos are trying to deceive each other. Manipulation is shown to also be part of the otherwise respectful Yamato culture.
With the addition of the new storylines, the book becomes more complex than the two previous ones. It adds a new layer of depth since the new characters show us the part of the story far away from the three protagonists, such as the going-ons in the capital of Yamato, Edo. The court in Edo was part of Nagomi’s vision, as it was prophesied to fall. We slowly get to know the court and the dire possibilities of its downfall, either from within or without.
James Calbraith has shown that his story is well thought out and carefully planned. He gives us parts of the different storylines in bite size to keep things interesting and maintain a good pace and the introductions of new perspectives are a great way to tell the overarching story. The Islands in The Mist has truly evolved in a more epic story than I had anticipated when I started the first book.
What’s a good epic fantasy without some troubling diplomats who try to blackmail their way into higher ranks? And why not betray your own allies with secret weapons to get ahead? Yamato is filled with begrudged officials whose status is more important to them than anything else. Prepare for spoilers if you haven’t read the previous books in the series.
This week we’re visiting Yamato again - James Calbraith’s magically infused Japan. Politics take over the story from our three adventurers, Bran, Nagomi and Sato. Emrys, Bran’s dragon, has been found and lost again, but in this installment, the two will reunite, albeit with an unexpected twist.
From the beginning of the book, you already know there will be a huge climax as the main villain of the previous books, The Crimson Robe, is after the dragon (just like everyone else). The coming confrontation between our party of heroes and The Crimson Robe is the highlight of the book, but no less important than the other subplots.
Bran’s father, Dylan, is convinced that his son is in Yamato. The court in Edo has strangers to deal with and the councilors show their true faces. More foreign forces are moving towards Yamato. Everything points to an oncoming war and the darkness as prophesied by Nagomi.
The stage is set, the players introduced, the games can begin. On the road to the final battle, Bran, Nagomi and Sato learn more about themselves and what they want in the future. The events of the past weeks have allowed the three to grow into adulthood.
The only thing that wasn’t clear to me was Bran’s romantic interest. While he doesn’t need to have one, I’m curious as to whether his heart sways to one side or the other since we don’t see or hear him think about a girl (or woman) in his future. Sato does think of her future and she sees that she now has more possibilities than at the beginning of their journey. Nagomi, having seen her own death in a vision, prefers not to speak of the future, but I’m sure she’ll be a priestess after everything is over.
There’s an extensive appendix in the bundle of the four books with a detailed outline of the alternate history of Calbraith’s world. While some events are certainly inspired by real life history, the timeline diverges massively from our own, and Calbraith proves his eye for detail is precise.
The Rising Tide definitely the best of the first four books in The Year Of The Dragon series. These four are the first part (and bundle) of the complete series, with books five through eight as the second (which are also available as a bundle).
This week we’re visiting Yamato again - James Calbraith’s magically infused Japan. Politics take over the story from our three adventurers, Bran, Nagomi and Sato. Emrys, Bran’s dragon, has been found and lost again, but in this installment, the two will reunite, albeit with an unexpected twist.
From the beginning of the book, you already know there will be a huge climax as the main villain of the previous books, The Crimson Robe, is after the dragon (just like everyone else). The coming confrontation between our party of heroes and The Crimson Robe is the highlight of the book, but no less important than the other subplots.
Bran’s father, Dylan, is convinced that his son is in Yamato. The court in Edo has strangers to deal with and the councilors show their true faces. More foreign forces are moving towards Yamato. Everything points to an oncoming war and the darkness as prophesied by Nagomi.
The stage is set, the players introduced, the games can begin. On the road to the final battle, Bran, Nagomi and Sato learn more about themselves and what they want in the future. The events of the past weeks have allowed the three to grow into adulthood.
The only thing that wasn’t clear to me was Bran’s romantic interest. While he doesn’t need to have one, I’m curious as to whether his heart sways to one side or the other since we don’t see or hear him think about a girl (or woman) in his future. Sato does think of her future and she sees that she now has more possibilities than at the beginning of their journey. Nagomi, having seen her own death in a vision, prefers not to speak of the future, but I’m sure she’ll be a priestess after everything is over.
There’s an extensive appendix in the bundle of the four books with a detailed outline of the alternate history of Calbraith’s world. While some events are certainly inspired by real life history, the timeline diverges massively from our own, and Calbraith proves his eye for detail is precise.
The Rising Tide definitely the best of the first four books in The Year Of The Dragon series. These four are the first part (and bundle) of the complete series, with books five through eight as the second (which are also available as a bundle).
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