Skip to main content

Nightblade by Ryan Kirk

By
Brief synopsis (no spoilers):
Ryuu's family and traveling party are slaughtered by bandits. He is saved by a warrior named Shigeru, who comes across the bandits just before they kill Ryuu. Shigeru is trained to use a sixth sense to connect with the world around him, and fight "bad guys". He trains Ryuu, who becomes one of the strongest nightblades Shigeru has ever seen. Ryuu's sense of justice drives him to defend those who are unable to fight for themselves. But the kingdom will not tolerate nightblades, and the military is sent to destroy him and Shigeru.

 Category:
Fiction

 Why I chose this book:
Description on Amazon

 My personal opinion:
This is not a happy story. It is actually pretty dark. I enjoyed the martial arts, the Eastern influence, the special powers, and the master-apprentice setup. But this is not appropriate for YA readers. I probably shouldn't have finished it, myself, but I got lost in the story. The author is a skilled storyteller. I'm not sure if I will continue the series or not.

 Warnings
Language: None
Violence: Frequent, and some parts somewhat graphic. Note: the violence includes references to torture and rape, and fairly graphic detail of physical abuse and sword fighting
"Adult" situations: Sexual attraction, mention of prostitution, and rape
Death: Yes, including major character(s)

 Movie rating equivalent:
R, for violence

 Protagonist description:
Ryuu starts as a curious young boy and grows into a stunning fighter by age 17.

 Point of view of story:
Third, focused on several characters, changing with roughly each chapter

 Book length:
Medium-long

 Story flow:
Excellent

 Grammar and spelling issues:
Yes, and some of the errors are distracting. The editor should take a second swing at it.

 Character connection (no spoilers):
I'd like to learn more about the island of Shigeru and Orochi
For series:
Independent or integral:
Assuming integral

 Series review as a whole:
I will give the second book a try, but this series might be a little too violent for me. Especially the rape, abuse, and torture.

 If you only have time for one, read:
Start at the beginning: Nightblade

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Tap the Magic Tree by Christie Matheson

By
Summary: Every book needs you to turn the pages. But not every book needs you to tap it, shake it, jiggle it, or even blow it a kiss. Innovative and timeless, Tap the Magic Tree asks you to help one lonely tree change with the seasons. It begins with a bare brown tree. But tap that tree, turn the page, and one bright green leaf has sprouted! Tap again—one, two, three, four—and four more leaves have grown on the next page. Pat, clap, wiggle, jiggle, and see blossoms bloom, apples grow, and the leaves swirl away with the autumn breeze. (Amazon) Attention Span/reading level: Perfect for my three year old. I would say that ages 2-10 would really enjoy something like this. It really keeps kids engaged and makes them feel like part of the story. There is one word to one sentence per page. Good uses for book in teaching: Interaction, that the reader takes part in making the story, what a tree can do (leaves, blossoms, fruit) Favorite part:      Child: The fact that ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Balancing Act by Ellen Stoll Walsh

By
Summary: Two mice make a teeter totter. Soon a frog comes along and wants to join. Can the mice balance all the friends who want to play with them? Attention Span/reading level: 3-6 years old, usually 5 or less words on a page Good uses for book in teaching: Balance, science Favorite part:      Child: When the frog joins in     Mine: That the mice keep playing at the end  Least favorite part: None:   W arnings/negative feedback: None.  Review: This is a really simple but fun way to introduce the idea of balancing and weight to kids. It's fun to show them how it must be equal on each side to balance. Showing that size can affect weight is shown on the page where all the animals are on one side with the big bird on the other. This could be a fun activity to replicate with toys if doing a science lesson at home. 
Post a Comment
Read more

The Mystwick School of Musicraft by Jessica Khoury

By
Brief synopsis (no spoilers):  " Amelia Jones has always dreamed of attending the Mystwick School of Musicraft, where the world’s most promising musicians learn to create magic. But then she botches her audition and her dream comes to an abrupt and humiliating end—until the school agrees to give her a trial period. Amelia is determined to prove herself, vowing to do whatever it takes to become the perfect musician. Even if it means pretending to be someone she isn't. ​ Between a teacher who really dislikes her and a roommate who wants to see her expelled, life at Mystwick is harder than Amelia thought it would be. And that’s not even counting the mysterious something that’s starting to make the teachers worry. When supernatural powers threaten the school, can Amelia find the courage to be true to her herself, save Mystwick, and prove once and for all where she belongs?" Author's webpage Category: Middle Grades/J Fic. Why I chose this book: Free on Audible My personal ...
Post a Comment
Read more