Michael Barnes
M.L Wang's novels are well deservedly popular this one initially self-published went on to enjoy commercial and critical success. It’s a fantasy novel drawing on Japanese culture and martial arts. Set in a mountain village which is clearly on a decline, holding fast to traditional warrior culture of the Kaigenese Empire. It feels like something straight out of the Shogunate. A transfer student Kwang Chul-hee leads us to discover that there is significant technology in this world, with screens and telecommunications but it's just not embraced by this austere community whose leaders/ noble houses wield incredible magical abilities.
From Kwang Chul-hee Mamoru the son of one of the most traditional and powerful houses the Matsudas learns the history he has been taught is largely built on propaganda that is designed to keep the Shirojima warrior houses—known collectively as the Sword of Kaigen—under control so that they will remain willing to sacrifice their lives for the Empire, Something his mother Misaki also a powerful magical fighter has known ever since her time outside the village in one of the cities.
This provides one of the major themes of the novel, about what is owed when that duty is not reciprocated by those in power. It seems a very pointed critique of those who would suppress change that makes things better for all by the claim of 'tradition'. I found the characters engaging and well developed with the development of Misaki as she realised her dark, 'monstrous' nature was nothing to be ashamed of. Other characters provided reflections on the role one plays in such societies.
My only regret is that at the end as more of the mystery behind the story begins to be revealed it was clearly going to part of a larger story but the author updated in 2023 " I am no longer writing in the Theonite universe. Every time I consider returning to it, I hit a wall of deep fundamental issues with the world-building—an understandable consequence of writing in a world I conceived when I was twelve but not a problem with an easy fix. This doesn’t mean I’ll never return to that universe. It just means that, if I do, it will require a major overhaul of the world-building and collaboration with authors who have expertise I don’t (specifically authors from cultural backgrounds I don’t share and can’t write competently."
Which is a pity as I would have liked to read more but I have to respect an author who recognises this and doesn't just get pressured into writing more.
M.L Wang's novels are well deservedly popular this one initially self-published went on to enjoy commercial and critical success. It’s a fantasy novel drawing on Japanese culture and martial arts. Set in a mountain village which is clearly on a decline, holding fast to traditional warrior culture of the Kaigenese Empire. It feels like something straight out of the Shogunate. A transfer student Kwang Chul-hee leads us to discover that there is significant technology in this world, with screens and telecommunications but it's just not embraced by this austere community whose leaders/ noble houses wield incredible magical abilities.
From Kwang Chul-hee Mamoru the son of one of the most traditional and powerful houses the Matsudas learns the history he has been taught is largely built on propaganda that is designed to keep the Shirojima warrior houses—known collectively as the Sword of Kaigen—under control so that they will remain willing to sacrifice their lives for the Empire, Something his mother Misaki also a powerful magical fighter has known ever since her time outside the village in one of the cities.
This provides one of the major themes of the novel, about what is owed when that duty is not reciprocated by those in power. It seems a very pointed critique of those who would suppress change that makes things better for all by the claim of 'tradition'. I found the characters engaging and well developed with the development of Misaki as she realised her dark, 'monstrous' nature was nothing to be ashamed of. Other characters provided reflections on the role one plays in such societies.
My only regret is that at the end as more of the mystery behind the story begins to be revealed it was clearly going to part of a larger story but the author updated in 2023 " I am no longer writing in the Theonite universe. Every time I consider returning to it, I hit a wall of deep fundamental issues with the world-building—an understandable consequence of writing in a world I conceived when I was twelve but not a problem with an easy fix. This doesn’t mean I’ll never return to that universe. It just means that, if I do, it will require a major overhaul of the world-building and collaboration with authors who have expertise I don’t (specifically authors from cultural backgrounds I don’t share and can’t write competently."
Which is a pity as I would have liked to read more but I have to respect an author who recognises this and doesn't just get pressured into writing more.