Child of Vengeance
Ratings4
Average rating3.8
15
Ratings4
Average rating3.8
A bold and vivid historical epic of feudal Japan, based on the real-life exploits of the legendary samurai Musashi Miyamoto.
Japan in the late 16th century was a land in turmoil. Lords of the great clans schemed against each other, served by aristocratic samurai bound to them by a rigid code of honor. Bennosuke is a high-born but lonely teenager living in his ancestral village. His mother died when he was a young boy, and his powerful warrior father Munisai has abandoned him for a life of service to his Lord, Shinmei. Bennosuke has been raised by his uncle Dorinbo, a monk who urges the boy to forgo the violence of the samurai and embrace the contemplative life. But Bennosuke worships his absent father, and when Munisai returns, gravely injured, Bennosuke is forced to confront truths about his family's history and his own place in it. These revelations soon guide him down the samurai's path—awash with blood, bravery, and vengeance. His journey will culminate in the epochal battle of Sekigahara—in which Bennosuke will first proclaim his name as Mushashi Miyamoto. This rich and absorbing epic explores the complexities of one young man's quest while capturing a crucial turning point in Japanese history with visceral mastery, sharp psychological insight and tremendous narrative momentum.
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“The sky is blue, water is wet, and samurai serve.”
As a child, Bennosuke finds himself caught between his uncle who raised him and his father who left him at a young age. One, a monk, urges Bennosuke to give up the violence and bloodshed of his birthright as a samurai, the other, a great warrior, who returns to Bennosuke's life and is disappointed by what he finds. Bennosuke chooses the path of the warrior, and dedicates his life to becoming a great samurai in order to right the injustice brought to his father. His journey teaches him a lot about what it means to be samurai, and what it takes to really earn the name he gives himself – Musashi Miyamoto.
This series was recommended to me by Goodreads hot on the heels of finishing Conn Iggulden's historical fiction series covering Genghis Khan. I thought there was some really good thoughtful discourse on what it means to be samurai and to serve a lord, and whether at the end of the day revenge and vengeance is worth it. Bennosuke's character somewhat annoyed me in the middle of the book as he's finding himself, but I thought who he grew into made up for it. Was this the most accurate portrayal of Musashi Miyamoto? Probably not, but I gather not a whole lot is conclusively known about the finer details anyway, and I thought the author did a good job of painting a compelling story between the lines of what we know. The audiobook narrator (Mark Bramhall) was also really good, for what that's worth to anyone reading this review.
In short, a fun read, maybe light on the historical and heavy on the fiction, but I still enjoyed reading it.
Featured Series
2 primary booksMusashi Miyamoto is a 2-book series with 2 primary works first released in 2013 with contributions by David Kirk.
Featured Prompt
2,122 booksWhen you think back on every book you've ever read, what are some of your favorites? These can be from any time of your life – books that resonated with you as a kid, ones that shaped your personal...
