Can one girl stop a killer?
The future of Japan hangs in the balance, and it's up to a girl who likes to climb to save the day
Two armies have descended on the Full Moon, and the war that has torn Japan apart for over a century threatens to destroy Lady Chiyome's school for young shrine maidens (and assassins).
In this thrilling sequel to Risuko: A Kunoichi Tale, Risuko must face warlords, samurai, angry cooks, a monster in the hills, the truth about her father, a spy among the kunoichi... And a murderer. Someone kills a Takeda lieutenant, staging it to look like suicide.
Can Risuko figure out who would do such thing?
And can she keep it from happening again?
Assessment:
Plot/Idea: The author has built an impressive imaginative world, yet strikes a balance by including elements of Japanese culture so it feels realistic. While readers will benefit from having read the first book in the series, Risuko: A Kunoichi Tale, the story is clear and compelling enough to stand alone.
Prose: This well-written novel immerses the reader in the Japanese culture through vocabulary and tradition. The plot is easy to follow, with a balance between detail and conversation to convey the story. The use of the Japanese vocabulary throughout helps establish a grounded setting, and the glossary will prove helpful to the reader.
Originality: The author crafts a highly unique and captivating world in the pages of Bright Eyes.
Character Development/Execution: The main character experiences much growth from the first book in the series to the second. There are many characters to tackle, and several of them share a similar backstory; this commonality can result in some confusion. Nevertheless, both protagonists and villains are finely developed.
Date Submitted: May 09, 2022
Once again David Kudler has fully succeeded as a novelist with a genuine flair for historical fiction populated by memorably crafted characters and decidedly entertaining plot twists and turns. Like the first novel in the author's 'Seasons of the Sword' series, Bright Eyes is imaginative, original, exceptionally well written, and highly recommended
David Kudler crafts an enthralling. unputdownable tale due in no small part to his outstanding world building. He ties enough aspects of real-life feudal Japanese culture to give the perfect balance of reality in this fictional world. [...] The well-crafted mystery, well-honed history and world-building, and Risuko's adventurousness leave the reader wanting more.
