Book Review: Risuko: A Kunoichi Tale (Seasons of the Sword #1) by David Kudler

Stillpoint Digital Press
To Be Published June 15, 2016
230 Pages

Japan has been going through a century long civil war; destroying most of the beautiful land in death. Kano Murasaki also known as Risuko (Squirrel) just wants to climb and forget all that is around her. But as a the oldest daughter in a fatherless family that isn’t a easy feat.

When her mother sells her to a high ranking lady, Risuko feels abandoned but quickly finds herself as a much needed asset in the war between armies.

The cover alone promised a badass girl, with not only the physical skills but also mental skills. No. No. This book did not even deliver based off the summary but that is not to say it wasn’t a decent book.

The book is more for middle schoolers than actual YA. I say that because Risuko is about 12 and for the most part she act as such.  The lack of confidence and self-knowledge is evident from the beginning and the end of the book. This is a coming of age novel, which I don’t have an issue with; I simply feel mislead.

I didn’t like how the book centralizes about how Risuko loves to climb and yet for most of the book she spend most of her time in the kitchen. When she did climb, she either got caught sneaking or was taunted into doing it.  How can someone love something so much and practically stop doing it?

The book was slow and drawn out. The “action” was full of yawns and the ending was i.e. the big twist was un-fufilling and more of ‘I can not believe I read this book for that.’ Despite all of this, I give the author credit for dragging me in against my will. There were things I didn’t understand that I wanted to know more of. There are still things I don’t understand and I am not sure if they are even going to be addressed in the next book.

I wanted more from the book. More passion, action, climbing something other than the promise of something exciting. I felt that the author played it too safe with this book. I also felt that the author did not allow Risuko to have an actual personality. I cannot describe her even if you paid me to.

Overall, it was a decent intro to possibly a better story. I still recommend this read for middle schoolers not young adults or adults reading YA.

 

2 Pickles

Book Review: Written in the Stars by Aisha Saeed

Nancy Paulsen Books
Published March 24, 2015
304 Pages

Naila’s parents are conservative immigrants that believe in keeping their culture alive even though they live in America. Naila is allowed to go to school and choose her career but she isn’t allowed to choose her husband . . . dating is forbidden.

When her parents catch Naila with her boyfriend, Saif, they whisk her away to Pakistan to explore her roots. But things quickly change when Naila’s parents state they have found her a husband and she is to be married immediately.

Desperate to get out of this situation but unsure how since she is cut off of everyone she loves, her only hope is Saif and if he could find her.

Sidenote: It is hard for me to read realistic books.  I read them because it shows me something different about the world I live in.  But man, it is hard. *Short Review*

Now to the book.

I like how the book gets right into it. There isn’t a lot of fluff in regards to Naila’s situation with her family and her romantic relationship. Saif isn’t just a new boy in school Naila falls in love with instantly; they have history and they have been together for at least a year at this point and Naila knows as well as Saif what could happen if her parent’s found out.

The book was written well with a nice even pace. Naila is betrayed by her parents and family not betrayed by her lack of strength or back bone. Naila is respectful and she has a very simple personality that just makes you want to hug her. It was so hard to read this and know that Naila’s story could be or is someone’s true story.

Naila was the reason I kept reading this book because I loved her. But that is not because it was a bad book. The author created such an amazing mental picture, so detailed and with a lot of care. When Naila hurt . . . you hurt.

Because of the nature of this book, it had a simple pace that didn’t leave you so hung up on something missing. For the most part everything was straight forward but it didn’t leave any predictability.

If you are into realistic and emotional fiction then this is for you.

3 Pickles