Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Publication
Baen (1988), Mass Market Paperback
Description
Now betrayed by the Emperor he once protected, master swordsman Saukendar leaves the way of the sword behind him forever-so he thinks. When a headstrong peasant girl burning to avenge her murdered family demands that he train her, Saukendar is faced with a momentous choice. Send Taizu away, never see her again-or join her and destroy the tyrant who has nearly destroyed them both.
User reviews
LibraryThing member jjmcgaffey
Wow. We certainly get down in the mud and blood with this. No training montage here - 2/3rds of the book is Taizu's training, and Shoka/Saukendar's dealing with the whole matter. It takes him a long time to move from limited, cut-down training to pushing her to her limits and beyond - that's where
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a lot of the mud and blood come in, as she realizes he's coddling her and pushes him to the next level. It's a single POV - we never get Taizu's take on things, it's all Shoka. It's also a detailed description of long-term sexual harassment - Shoka never quite pushes, but he never lets up either. I don't think Taizu was forced into anything, but she was certainly never allowed to forget what Shoka wanted. Then the last third or so of the book is Taizu going out to deal with the man who destroyed her home and family, and Shoka insisting on coming along - and then things snowball. I found the dragon rumor the most amusing part. And a happy ending, of sorts - I don't think they'll get their peaceful mountain home anymore, but it'll be a good bit better than trying to fit in at court, for both of them. Show Less
LibraryThing member reading_fox
Very much a traditional classic rags to riches fantasy tale, well crafted, but not Cherryh's finest work.
Shoka, master swordsman and bodyguard has retreated into exile following the death of the old emperor and rise of the Regent. He is beset by petitioners for nine years he turns them all away and
Told from Shoka's point of view instead of the more traditional student's, it is a good tale of determination, love and courage in a world disintegrating into war.
Shoka, master swordsman and bodyguard has retreated into exile following the death of the old emperor and rise of the Regent. He is beset by petitioners for nine years he turns them all away and
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lives his simple life on a mountain. Until Tzieu, a peasent girl, has the stubbeness to insist that he teaches her his skills, so that she can revenge her family. Initially unwilling, and knowing that a girl can never match the physical strength of a master swordsman, he cannot overcome her innate patience and teaches her as much as she can master. The relationship with his feisty student progresses until he finds the prospect of returning to solitary exile uncomfortable, and joins her in the quest for vengence, hoping some of his old demons from the Regent can be laid to rest as well.Told from Shoka's point of view instead of the more traditional student's, it is a good tale of determination, love and courage in a world disintegrating into war.
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LibraryThing member neontapir
It flags in the second half, but is still an enjoyable read.
LibraryThing member TadAD
Though this story takes place in another world, there's nothing in it that is fantasy by nature...it could have taken place in Japan.
LibraryThing member salimbol
A solid effort from Cherryh. It was both gripping and pleasingly character-focused, and I felt that the obvious Asian influences on the setting were handled with respect. The first half was, I think, stronger than the second half, which felt rushed in comparison, but it was a satisfying read none
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the less. Show Less
LibraryThing member sonofcarc
An interesting departure and hard to classify: The setting combines elements from the cultures and histories of China and Japan, but cannot, AFAIK, be matched up to any time or place in our world. Which would make it fantasy -- but that label usually comprises some departures from the ordinary
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physical laws of our world, and there is none of that here. Show Less
LibraryThing member JenneB
Okay. For the first two thirds or so, this was a full-on five-star book. It was a completely awesome story of a reclusive master swordsman who lives on a mountain in the middle of nowhere, and this girl who comes and insists he train her.
Totally great. I love an apprentice story, which is
AND THEN, just when things are getting good, they go off and get caught up in an EXTREMELY BORING WAR that lasts for the entire rest of the book. Seriously, I read the first part in one day and the rest took me almost a week to finish. sigh.
Totally great. I love an apprentice story, which is
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basically a makeover story (and I have probably said before that I LOVE makeover stories), and the characters were interesting and behaved like normal, stupid people.AND THEN, just when things are getting good, they go off and get caught up in an EXTREMELY BORING WAR that lasts for the entire rest of the book. Seriously, I read the first part in one day and the rest took me almost a week to finish. sigh.
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LibraryThing member DCavin
I loved the first half, but felt the second half dragged a bit.
LibraryThing member kevn57
I read this after I voted for it in the SciFi and Fantasy Book Club poll for December, it looks like it doesn't have much chance of being picked and I a huge fan of CJ Cherryh, Asian culture and ancient warfare. This book didn't disappoint, it really could have been split into two books the first a
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master/apprentice tale and the second an action packed war story. I'd recommend this book highly to fans of The Tales of the Otori series by Lian Hearn. Show Less
Language
Original publication date
1988-07
Physical description
383 p.; 6.6 inches
ISBN
0671654179 / 9780671654177
DDC/MDS
| Fic SF Cherryh |