The Sword of Kaigen: A Theonite War Story

By: M. L. Wang

Narrated by: Andrew Tell

On a mountainside at the edge of the Kaigenese Empire live the most powerful warriors in the world, superhumans capable of raising the sea and wielding blades of ice. For hundreds of years, the fighters of the Kusanagi Peninsula have held the Empire's enemies at bay, earning their frozen spit of land the name "The Sword of Kaigen".

Born into Kusanagi's legendary Matsuda family, f14-year-old Mamoru has always known his purpose: To master his family's fighting techniques and defend his homeland. But when an outsider arrives and pulls back the curtain on Kaigen's alleged age of peace, Mamoru realizes that he might not have much time to become the fighter he was bred to be. Worse, the empire he was bred to defend may stand on a foundation of lies.

Misaki told herself that she left the passions of her youth behind when she married into the Matsuda house. Determined to be a good housewife and mother, she hid away her sword, along with everything from her days as a fighter in a faraway country. But with her growing son asking questions about the outside world, the threat of an impending invasion looming across the sea, and her frigid husband grating on her nerves, Misaki finds the fighter in her clawing its way back to the surface.

When the winds of war reach their peninsula, will the Matsuda family have the strength to defend their empire? Or will they tear each other apart before the true enemies even reach their shores?

©2019 Miracle Wang (P)2020 Miracle Wang

Critic reviews

"The Poppy War's darkness meets The Last Airbender's Elemental Magic...I haven't been so emotionally moved by a book in a long while." (JC Kang, USA Today best-selling author of The Dragon Songs Saga)

A heart breaking story of war and love

We'll start this review proper with a little comparison. The Sword of Kaigen is Avatar the Last Airbender meets Robin Hobb. Sounds a bit strange on the surface, but it really does fit. The world ML Wang has created is a place where there are nations around the world each with their own affinity for an element, and their own powers to control those elements. Delving a bit deeper, certain families within each nation have specific and powerful bloodline powers. As an example, the Matsuda family are water theonites and their bloodline ability is the power to create a whispering blade; a blade of ice that can cut through anything. For those of you who like a bit of anime, you can likely already see a few similarities to a certain ninja story.

Talking about the world... it's large and well-realised. This is a dense book, full of lore and world building, but it never sticks out even when you're being bombarded by words you don't know. Some of it is Japanese (I think...) and some of it is made up terms for the world. It never feels out of place or left me wandering what was going on. You get a real sense that the story we're following is only a small part of the world, and fairly minor in the grand schemes of things. There's a lot happening, a lot of important world changing events, but the story is character focused.

As for the characters. They are varied and so well presented. For the most part we follow Misaki. She's a middle aged woman with an exciting past, who has forced herself into a very traditional housewife role. And if your heart doesn't break for her, it may just be made of whispering blade ice (sorry, had to be done). We also follow Mamoru, Misaki's son, and a powerful theonite who is thrust into understanding of the wider world, and struggles to come to terms with it. The supporting cast are just as strong and there's not a one that doesn't feel like a fully realised character with their own story to tell.

ML Wang manages to inject so much emotion into the pages and the character's plights. Just like with Robin Hobb's works, I found my heart strings thoroughly pulled, and I was really rooting for the characters. I felt their highs, their lows, and their turmoil.

So that's a lot of gushing. I should probably think of something negative to say, right? ... ... I got nothing. Honestly, I loved reading this book cover to cover.

5 stars and it painstakingly earned every single one of them.

Great action, passion, heartache, and healing

I think it's important knowing that this book will not have a sequel despite the seeming build up for one. I wish I knew that before I got through the book. I was excited and started searching. I found the author's interview saying she will never write a sequel.

this book is The Last Airbender for adults. It's part government conspiracy and corruption, part old traditions and the sexism, part all out out action, part sadness and healing. The book changes pace constantly

Phenomenal

Boring and predictable.

Not the book, though, but my review. I join The Sword of Kaigen fan club and I plan to force anyone listening to try it. I won’t lie, I hoped I would identify its unforgivable flaws and enumerate them to show how insightful I am. I did find some, but they didn’t stop me from loving the book.

The Sword of Kaigen introduces memorable and relatable characters and throws them into disastrous conflict with a powerful enemy. Kusanagi Peninsula, renowned for its unstoppable warriors who bend elements to their will, stands between the Empire and invaders. Fourteen-year-old Mamoru represents the Matsuda clan proudly and with full conviction. A new student, Kwang Chul-hee, who transfers from outside of the province challenges his beliefs. What if everything their academy teaches is just propaganda? And what if the Empire treats legendary Kaiganese warriors as cannon fodder?

Mamoru’s mother, Misaki, doesn’t deny the accusations. Once an accomplished warrior, she’s sacrificed everything to marry into the Matsuda family and provide it with sons. Her past haunts her and when she receives a letter warning her that the entire Kusanagi Peninsula is in danger, she acts. But will her husband, cold, distanced and powerful warrior, approve of a woman fighting for her own?

The Sword of Kaigen focuses on a mother and son. Their histories and arcs are inseparable and strongly connected. Misaki gives Mamoru the strength to challenge his beliefs about the world and his place in it. Mamoru’s conflict with his father gives Misaki the strength to challenge social norms and rediscover her inner warrior. As we watch them grow closer to each other, it’s hard not to admire Wang’s knack for characterization and conveying strong and believable emotions. It works against the reader - when the enemy strikes and mayhem begins no one is safe. The story takes wild and dark turns.

At 651 pages, the book rarely feels too long (once you get past a somewhat tepid beginning). It contains so much. The complexity of the Kaiganese traditions and genealogy. Martial arts, elemental magic, and epic battles. Small graceful details and moments of silence and reflection between powerful climaxes. The protagonists of The Sword of Kaigen are masters of theonite power known as jiya, the ability to control water and ice. They’ve honed their skills and mastered complex techniques that allow senior Matsuda clan’s members (Takeshi and Takeru) to display godlike powers. The epic battle that happens halfway through the book contains so much pure awesomeness (but also tragedy) that the book is worth reading for it alone.

As I mentioned I found some flaws. The beginning is slow and filled with heavy info-dumping. It requires patience and trust from the reader. Heavy use of honorifics and fictitious therms can feel confusing. The redemption arc of the character you loathe (unless you’re a misogynistic boor) felt rushed and unconvincing. I liked the result but not the path that has led to a sudden change in his relationship dynamics with his partner and others. The last chapters weren’t necessary for this story to work but I understand they had to be included to tie TSoK to Wang’s Theonite series. I’m ok with it.

On the other hand, Wang plays with tropes and makes a middle-aged mother a compelling and memorable character you root for. The other character starts as a young prodigy and just when you think you know what will happen, Wang will crush your expectations. Important characters die. Some deaths are brutal and gruesome, some tragic. One of them will tear you apart and is, for me, one of the most beautiful death scenes in all fantasy.

So, while the pacing could be tighter, the characters and action-scenes are fantastic. Wang's writing conveys raw emotions well and some twists will crush you. And that is a sign of greatness.

The reader needs to be more familiar with Japanese pronounciation

Story-wise, engaging enough but something I can't put my finger on seems lacking. Nice world building if a little excessive. Ciranu? Dinma? Unnecessary details that obscure things. Pacing leaves something to be desired. Style-wise, pretty well written.

And as my title suggests, the reader needs to be more familiar with Japanese pronounciation. He keeps saying older sister the same way as older brother, for example. Nii-san is not said the same way as ne/nae-san.

Great main story

This is an awesome character driven story that deserves all the accolades it has received. I felt connected to the characters, especially with the brutal turn the story takes. There are two one issues with the story. Apparently, this is part of some bigger narrative that was shoehorned in to the story, and the pacing in the beginning is a little slow. But, enjoy this master work work of a story.

Had me crying like a baby!

It is common for a good story to make me emotional. I've cried watching many films and listening to many books. This was different with The Sword of Kaigen. There were parts of this novel that had me sobing like a small child, and I loved every second of it. Andrew Tell did a fantastic job bringing the characters to life. Besides a few sections that seemed to drag on, I loved this novel and would recommend this to anyone that's wants to experience something truly visceral and unique.

Wonderfully splendid

Loved this book and everything it does. Great characters, great twists, emotionally thrilling. This fantasmical world of ice, wind and fire tells a story about a boy coming into his own and a mother finding herself and her voice again. Epic fight scene! Dope abilities!

Top 3 best written books

The characters and emotions. It’s just great. Well done. The narrator does a wonderful job too.

good character arcs!

One of the best fantasy books I have ever read, albeit it took a little bit to get invested in. The character development was the center of the story, and every character had a certain depth and growth that most fantasy/sci-fi books lack. The world building, magic system and prose kept me engaged throughout. I will definitely read more from this author.

omg

So Amazing!!!!!!!!!!!! I loved the slowly build up, the way the characters grew, and became better and more wholesome. It was such a vivid story.... It broke my heart, but it was so worth it.