Book Review: The Samurai’s Soul by Walt Mussell

About the Book:

Osaka 1590. 

Aki, the youngest daughter of an Osaka cloth merchant, knows her father will marry her off one day. She isn't prepared for her callous and greedy uncle to announce plans to adopt her to arrange a marriage advantageous to him.

Samurai Nishioji Tomi works for the Osaka Police as a cover for finding a clandestine anti-Christian conspiracy group. His biggest challenges, though, are hiding his Christian faith, which is under suspicion, and his mother’s illness, which could get her banished.

When Tomi arrests Aki’s father for tax evasion, the samurai finds himself impressed by Aki’s devotion in proving her father’s innocence. He extends her a temporary position as his mother’s caregiver, and Aki accepts to forestall her uncle’s plans. But when efforts to find silk smugglers implicate Aki’s family and an old enemy arises to seek Tomi’s death, will the family secrets each holds be the weapons that destroy them?

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My Thoughts:

Having read the prior two books to The Samurai’s Soul by Walt Mussell, I entered this book expecting lots of sixteenth century Japanese culture (a unique setting in Christian Fiction) and an entertaining story. I was not disappointed. The culture and practices of this time influenced the decisions and actions of Aki and Tomi while also displaying the author’s extensive research. I liked that Mussell included author notes and a bibliography of his sources.

As for the story in The Samurai’s Soul, I found a gentle romance built on admiration and honor. Though the characters make mistakes and face tough circumstances, quiet Christian (Catholic) faith paves the way for restoration. More prominent to me, was the mystery of silk smuggling connected to an anti-Christian group. Tomi’s work for the Osaka Police takes up a lot of page time. Deception abounded and the plot had at least three surprises that I didn’t see coming. I think I would have liked to see more character development for Aki and Tomi, as I gravitate toward character-driven fiction, but that is a personal preference.

The Samurai’s Soul stands as book two in The Heart of the Samurai series by Walt Mussell. Though it could be a standalone, I recommend reading the series in order for a fuller experience. I look forward to book three.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.

Book Review: The Samurai's Heart by Walt Mussell

About the Book:

With the death of her older sister and sole sibling, Sen must return home to Himeji and find a husband to marry into the family swordsmith business. Failure ensures her family's craft, honed through generations, will die. Her father's handsome apprentice, Nobuhiro, would seem the ideal choice for a husband and her parents press the issue. Sen rejects this offer as she wants a Christian husband, difficult as the religion is banned. Eschewing her parents' advice, Sen decides to seek out local Christians to find a suitable match.

The prodigal third son of a high-level samurai, Nobuhiro seeks to prove his worth to his harsh father by becoming a great swordsmith. But when his master's daughter begins seeking local Christians, he finds he must protect her from the group of anti-Christians that killed her sister. Despite his growing attraction to her, he believes her devotion to her faith reckless. Yet failure to protect her dooms the family he serves. And falling for a Christian dooms reconciliation with his own father, who must enforce the ban.

Will faith forge love or will it forge death?

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My Thoughts:

The Samurai’s Heart by Walt Mussell offers a coming-of-age story for Sen, whose backstory is detailed in The Samurai’s Honor. Sen possesses the same character traits, including a penchant for mishaps, but must now face life as a young woman outside of the protection of a Christian samurai.  I enjoyed reading more of her story as she fell in love, attempted to solve the mystery surrounding her sister’s death, and developed into an honorable, mature woman. The novel’s first third had a bit of awkwardness that evened out as the story progressed. With the combination of romance, suspense, and character development, it became harder to pause each time I needed to stop reading!

The Samurai’s Heart brims with beautiful depictions of sixteenth century Japanese culture. This uncommon setting (for a Christian fiction novel) displayed the author’s extensive research and offered fascinating details. I felt immersed in the culture and characters’ lives. Reading occasionally about seppuku (suicide as an honorable act) was saddening but the ritual appears as a practice of that time.

The Samurai’s Heart builds on its prequel, The Samurai’s Honor, and I recommend reading the books in order. Walt Mussell’s writing improves with each story and he’s a talented author to watch. I look forward to his next book.

 

eHea

 

 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.

Book Review: The Samurai's Honor by Walt Mussell

About the Book:

Duty can come at any age.

Japan, 1577.

Younger daughter of the area's most prominent swordsmith, Sen's life is marked with jealousy, curiosity, and love. Jealousy that her older sister, Haru, gets to marry her father's handsome apprentice. Curiosity about her father's important customers. Love from a family that is planning her next step to adulthood. 

But when a high-ranking samurai visits her father to order a sword, Sen's curiosity gets the best of her. She and her sister find themselves eyewitnesses to a murder and on the cusp of a plot that seeks the samurai's demise. Will Sen's curiosity lead to her own death?

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My Thoughts:

I read The Samurai’s Honor by Walt Mussell from beginning to end in a single afternoon. This short story introduces Goami Sen, a character that captivates with her curiosity and youthful zest. Her relatable mishaps and internal narrative brought me deeply into her experiences and mindset. Though events progressed quickly and I wanted to draw the story out longer (because my natural inclination is toward longer novels), the story read well and thoroughly entertained.

I enjoyed The Samurai’s Honor by Walt Mussell. This short story of Sen’s childhood piqued my interest and I’m looking forward to more of Sen’s story in The Samurai’s Heart. 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.

Book Review: A Second Chance by Walt Mussell

About the Book:

Kira Sakamichi is a career-driven woman, trying to achieve success before her mother’s constant interference sentences her to a relationship. But when a grudging drive to meet her mother’s latest “selection” ends in a lake accident, Kira wakes up lost in the past, the concubine of a sixteenth-century samurai and mother to his six-year-old son. When actions in battle lead to the samurai’s condemnation, Kira learns that she and her son will share the same fate. Only by understanding the importance of duty and family in both time periods can they survive.

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My Thoughts:

At around 100 pages, A Second Chance by Walt Mussell offers a short, time travel story filled with unique family dynamics and life-and-death danger. The author’s talent shines as he offers a complete, unhurried tale in so few pages. With perfectly balanced character dialogue and setting descriptions, the narrative seamlessly transitions from modern day to 16^th century Japan.

I found A Second Chance highly entertaining. The historical setting felt fresh and interesting. I learned a bit about Japanese history, the samurai, and 16^th century Buddhist monks. Although Kira holds to the American Christianity of her upbringing, some of the historical characters subscribe to Buddhism. Both religions are treated respectfully, without dogmatism or conflict.

I loved the ending of A Second Chance by Walt Mussell, and I was pleased to read in the author’s acknowledgements that Kira will appear in future stories. A Second Chance is suitable for readers of Christian fiction or general market fiction. Although the “d-word” is used twice, it didn’t hamper my reading enjoyment. I must also give a trigger warning as the historical storyline includes suicide as an honorable act and Kira as a concubine (nothing sexual/erotic on page). Neither are pleasant to read about, but appear as practices of that time.

 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.