Daughter of the Sword (Fated Blades, #1) in Action/Adventure Aficionados

Sep 13, 2012 Danielle The Book Huntress rated it it was amazing

Shelves: swordplay, favorites, hero-to-die-for, yearly-reading-challenge-2013, heroine-i-adore, police-federal-agent-law-enforcemen, historical-fiction, 2013-200s-club-challenge, urban-fantasy, lethal-women

I don't use the term brilliant much when I'm writing reviews. But this is the term that just keeps coming to mind about this book. I knew I'd appreciate it, because I have an appreciation for Asian culture and people, and swordsmanship; and honestly, something about a book with a woman holding a sword on the cover just pulls me in.

This book speaks to me of a writer who loves Japan, both modern and ancient. Someone who has taken the time to investigate and learn the culture, even to the deepest l I don't use the term brilliant much when I'm writing reviews. But this is the term that just keeps coming to mind about this book. I knew I'd appreciate it, because I have an appreciation for Asian culture and people, and swordsmanship; and honestly, something about a book with a woman holding a sword on the cover just pulls me in.

This book speaks to me of a writer who loves Japan, both modern and ancient. Someone who has taken the time to investigate and learn the culture, even to the deepest levels. You can't gain that kind of authenticity any other way.

Bein has taken an idea about three swords crafted by a legendary swordsmith and created a beautifully rich novel around them. While this is labeled as fantasy, the fantasy element is that the swords have animus and their very natures affect the destiny of those around them. Bein cleverly unfolds his story with a combination of past and present narrative. I was a bit worried I would find the historical parts dry, but I didn't. It was fascinating. I realized how little I know about samurai and how bushido affects everything about their lives. The insight into this period was crucial in this novel, because the swords are over nine hundred years old. Since I haven't even lived in cities that old, I can't even conceive of owning something that old! But for a Japanese person, not such a stretch. Now add in the fact that these swords have shaped history in major ways!

It takes some skill to make an inanimate object sinister. But that's exactly what Beautiful Singer is. It's a sword that takes over the owner's mind and leads him hand and headfirst down the path of doom. This is why I don't go in for antiques! The other two swords have their own distinctive natures as well. What was interesting is that the swords can’t make you into something you’re not. They seem to work on the inherent nature of the person. This destiny attached to these swords brings Mariko Oshiro to the front door of elderly Professor Yasuo Yamada, who is the owner of a sword that a violent Yakuza criminal tried to steal. This twisted path could only be destiny, as all the forces send her in the direction of a deep bond with the nearly blind expert swordsman, who takes her on as a student. Because she is the only one who can stop Fuchida, a man who has been seduced by the voice of his own sword, Beautiful Singer.

This book is just so good. It’s amazing how the story just drew me deeper and deeper. I wanted to find out about how these three swords could draw people into relationship with each other from historical to modern times, and not always in a good way. But ultimately, the right people end up in the right places, until we end up in the present with Mariko and Yamada’s story.

If you’re looking for an over-the-top fantasy story with all kinds of out there scenes, this isn’t the book. If you want a book with an excellent narrative building on a concept that seems magical, if you don’t believe in swords that are blessed and cursed, then you’d enjoy this book.

The cultural aspects had major appeal. As I mentioned earlier, the look at bushido and historical samurai was a good learning experience. But equally important was the view into modern Japan. I especially appreciated that the main character was a Japanese woman, who dealt with a society which is profoundly sexist, and she was driven enough to fight for what she wanted and needed in life, even as she ran into stumbling blocks of prejudice within her own agency, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. I admired her drive and determination. I also liked seeing the walls come down between her and Yamada, as she realized that this old man was what she was missing from her life, the companionship and the belief in her that he offered. Yamada, I adored him! No words! I can easily see why Mariko came to love him so much. Relationships can be pigeon-holed because it is the natural way of humans to classify what is hard to define. But they are so complex. They provide what we need in this life in a way that goes way beyond labels. That’s how Yamada and Muriko’s relationship impacted me. And also Keiji and Hayano’s back in the 40s. Heck, all the stories added so much texture to this book.

My feelings for this book are so intricate, that I’m having trouble putting them into words. So I’ll just end by saying I just loved this book so much. It may not hit you the same way, but I hope that others find something to offer them in Daughter of the Sword.
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Sep 16, 2013 Jeffrey rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, mystery, crime-and-murder, cops-and-detectives, read-in-2014, mafia, samurai, japan

Steve Bein's "Daughter of the Sword" is an excellent read. A book that defies easy description because it combines a present day cop story with various historical vignettes that revolve around the ill fortunes of the bearers of a legendary magical sword nicknamed the “Beautiful Singer” made by the renowned samurai swordsmith Inazuma. The sword hungers for death and is said to be cursed. Not all who wield it end up dead, but most end up appeasing the sword's hunger in foul ways.

Mariko Oshiro is a Steve Bein's "Daughter of the Sword" is an excellent read. A book that defies easy description because it combines a present day cop story with various historical vignettes that revolve around the ill fortunes of the bearers of a legendary magical sword nicknamed the “Beautiful Singer” made by the renowned samurai swordsmith Inazuma. The sword hungers for death and is said to be cursed. Not all who wield it end up dead, but most end up appeasing the sword's hunger in foul ways.

Mariko Oshiro is a female detective in Japan. Her new boss wants her out. So instead of investigating real crimes, she is sent to investigate the attempted theft of Yasuo Yamada’s samurai sword. Professor Yamada is no ordinary scholar but a very accomplished swordsman. Soon he is teaching Oshiro how to fight with his samuarai sword, which was also made by Inazuma. His sword, however, is not evil.

It seems that Fuchida Shuzo, a diabolical criminal has not been content with his position in the Yakusa serving the Kamaguchi. He now wields Beautiful Singer and is hunting for the Inazuma sword owned by Yamada. He wants to sell it to a collector in return for a shipment of drugs.

But before we can even get further into Oshiro’s meeting with Yamada, Bein’s novel travels back in time to tell the story of a honorable samurai, who happens to capture the Beautiful Singer, and shortly thereafter in a bloodthirsty rage kills a loved one with nary a thought.

The novel then skips back and forth between the present era, Oshiro’s lessons with Yamuda and Shuzo’s pursuit of the sword and the past, most of which detail stories of the previous bearers of Beautiful Singer and the ills that befall them when they fall under its spell. But there are also stories about Yamada’s honorable past.

The historical vignettes of an earlier Japan are as well conceived, plotted and told as the present day murder mystery and the fateful collision between Oshiro and Shuzo.

Bein‘s novel is a great read mixing a smattering of magic (the sword's power) and mystery, a cop story, murder, samurai and world war historical fiction – all set in Japan – that seems to be very real.

Although not easy to describe, it is easy to catagorize. It is a winner.
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