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earthgirl207's review against another edition
4.0
The Tokaido Road is a vividly written slice of life in feudal Japan, with a heaping dose of suspense and action mixed in, topped with a sprinkling of romance. Although the book is long and the writing can be dense, the story was never predictable and was packed with enough action to keep me wanting to know what would happen next. Plus I left the book feeling like I'd been treated to a master class on 18th century Japanese culture and society.
After the treachery of Lord Kira causes the execution/suicide of her father, Lady Asano and her family are ruined and she is forced to become a courtesan to support her mother. She gives herself the new identity of Cat, but before long an attempt on her life forces her to flee, making her way along the Tokaido Road to Kyoto to find an ally to help her take revenge on Lord Kira. But this journey won't be easy, because trailing her is a ronin hired to bring her back, as well as Lord Kira's lackeys, who are bent on stopping her at all costs. Cat will need all of her cunning and samurai training to stay alive.
If you enjoy a good quest story, you will love this book.
After the treachery of Lord Kira causes the execution/suicide of her father, Lady Asano and her family are ruined and she is forced to become a courtesan to support her mother. She gives herself the new identity of Cat, but before long an attempt on her life forces her to flee, making her way along the Tokaido Road to Kyoto to find an ally to help her take revenge on Lord Kira. But this journey won't be easy, because trailing her is a ronin hired to bring her back, as well as Lord Kira's lackeys, who are bent on stopping her at all costs. Cat will need all of her cunning and samurai training to stay alive.
If you enjoy a good quest story, you will love this book.
emredfeather91's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Very dry descriptive book. Was harder to physically read than to listen to the audio book. The author did an excellent job describing the Edo era
ashkitty93's review against another edition
2.0
The audiobook narration was godawful. I may reread my physical copy eventually but after awhile it just seemed like a lot of nothing. "Travel" books tend to have this repetitive quality about them that authors really have to fight against in order to make things interesting, and I wasn't super-invested in any of it.
kandicez's review against another edition
5.0
I like everything she writes. It always feels so "authentic".
lucaswordcraft's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
parleek's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
megmro's review against another edition
4.0
So many random things to say. In no particular order...
I was a little intimidated when I saw how long this book was (I listened to it, and the audiobook was 20 hours and change), and I went in wondering if it would drag. That was not the case. There are many suspenseful and interesting adventures going on, and one or another of these kept bringing me back. There was one place, about 70% through, where I got a little bored with their extended adventures on the road, but I also think I was a little afraid to keep reading bc I didn't want one of the main characters to die, and it seemed like the plot was heading that direction. I get a little wound up when I'm reading!
The author's research and attention to detail was amazing, particularly her use of ancient text and poetry. The nuances of meaning that she understands and is able to communicate through the characters' extended poetry conversations -- that was nothing short of incredible. How does an author research enough to recreate that -- did she time travel and study the culture a as guest??
I liked that Kat is a strong character -- arguably the most powerful in the novel. I like that she mentors the girl she rescues and helps her become independent, capable and confident.
One thing that was a little hard to swallow at first was Honjiro's budding love for Kat. Maybe because the [female] narrator voiced him in a mock-low kind of a grumbling voice. I admired and respected him, but I personally didn't fall in love with him because he was voiced like that.
Readers should be aware of a few explicit scenes. Let's just say....descriptive.
I'd recommend it, but with the warning that it is long, and maybe don't get the audiobook -- just for the sake of Honjiro's voice. :)
I was a little intimidated when I saw how long this book was (I listened to it, and the audiobook was 20 hours and change), and I went in wondering if it would drag. That was not the case. There are many suspenseful and interesting adventures going on, and one or another of these kept bringing me back. There was one place, about 70% through, where I got a little bored with their extended adventures on the road, but I also think I was a little afraid to keep reading bc I didn't want one of the main characters to die, and it seemed like the plot was heading that direction. I get a little wound up when I'm reading!
The author's research and attention to detail was amazing, particularly her use of ancient text and poetry. The nuances of meaning that she understands and is able to communicate through the characters' extended poetry conversations -- that was nothing short of incredible. How does an author research enough to recreate that -- did she time travel and study the culture a as guest??
I liked that Kat is a strong character -- arguably the most powerful in the novel. I like that she mentors the girl she rescues and helps her become independent, capable and confident.
One thing that was a little hard to swallow at first was Honjiro's budding love for Kat. Maybe because the [female] narrator voiced him in a mock-low kind of a grumbling voice. I admired and respected him, but I personally didn't fall in love with him because he was voiced like that.
Readers should be aware of a few explicit scenes. Let's just say....descriptive.
I'd recommend it, but with the warning that it is long, and maybe don't get the audiobook -- just for the sake of Honjiro's voice. :)
littlebookjockey's review against another edition
4.0
I could have walked the Tokaido Road many times over myself in the time it took me to read this book lol. Despite that, it really is good. I loved that we get to see the story of the 47 ronin through the perspective of a woman. And I'm always impressed when someone can craft a novel after real people and events and do them justice. Read my full review here.
mezzythedragon's review against another edition
3.0
Like what a lot of people have mentioned, this book starts off pretty slowly. It does, however, pick up in the middle. My one main gripe, though, is the main character. Personally, I found Cat too arrogant for my liking. I know she's the daughter of the samurai and all, but it's hard to root for someone who thinks she's better than everyone. The fact that she's so accomplished in everything, as someone had previously noted, makes her unbelievable as well. Only when she warms up to Kasane does Cat begin to have some semblance of a soft side, but even then she was initially mean to her because she was a peasant.
ellenjoannecampbell's review against another edition
4.0
A great tale about the daughter of a samurai, on a quest to avenge her late father's betrayal. The story covers a lot of aspects of Japanese culture during that time period. There is a romance, but it's not the central aspect of the novel.