Wind of War [Mass Market Paperback]

 

 

Create your own review

Although I was engaged throughout the book it seemed like I knew what was going to happen next. Then I realized it was because I had seen Kurosawa's Yojimbo. Read it beacause it's part of the series, but don't expect too much to happen to further the story line throughout the saga. Nothing of any importance happens to Kaneka. The story of Shahai and the 8 Oni is nowhere to be found. Nothing happens to the empire or the other winds. It almost seems like this was a side road not a real book in the series. Like I said, under impressed.

I think that the autor completely missed the complex background and tradition that guide the Rokugani world. Characters in this book go around dressed in leather like some ... bikers, touch dead without any hint of repulsion, take gift at the first giving without the customary two refusal. Lion samurai are bold ... and not the honorable and stalwart warrior who are depicted on the whole Rokugan fictions.Finally the title is all the way very fitting because there are hardly two chapter without a fighting, this would have been not so bad if the combat have had some mean but the main character go around ... breaking bones only to make a show of himself.
Not to mention the main opponent, a Bayushi lord worth of the lesser of the Crane jester, a plain unimaginative man who throw wave after wave of thugs hoping that someone casually [destroy]his enemy, personally i think very differently of a Scorpion samurai, even one not very cunning. Last but not least this book bring me a very strong sense of RPG flavour, in a scene some paesants bring Kaneka a pot with a mixture that can heal his wounds. "Please honored master take this Potion of cure serious wounds" that is what i have thinked when i read this passage...

Wind of War was a huge disappointment. The author seems to have a very weak grasp of Rokugani society and custom. In fact, take out all of the bowing and references to katana and yari and this story could have taken place anywhere. There is no sign of the complex system of etiquette that governs all social interactions in Rokugan. The Scorpion Clan provides the story's villains but the characters behave nothing like the Scorpions of previous novels. Their leader is a buffoon, easily intimidated, short of temper and extremely heavy-handed - the complete opposite of what one would expect from a Bayushi lord. It is absurd to think that a political mastermind like Hantei Naseru would have anything to do with such a man. The Scorpion clan mandate to protect the empire at all costs, even if it means the sacrifice of their honor is disregarded and these samurai are reduced to nothing more than a band of thugs and extortionists. The plot revolves around Akodo Kaneka but does nothing to advance the story of the conflict between the Four Winds. In fact, the late emperor's other children do not even appear in the novel and only Naseru is even mentioned by name. Kaneka spends the entire novel defending a village of poor farmers from their Scorpion oppressors. The book is full of combat scenes that go on for pages but do nothing to advance the plot (in one scene, seven pages are devoted to a fight between Kaneka and a gang of thugs). The author frequently repeats himself (Lord Zuto is constantly narrowing his eyes and Kaneka is always rolling his shoulders and stretching his neck). Perhaps the most upsetting thing about this book is that the author clearly did not do his homework. Besides failing to capture the feel of Rokugan's complex society, there are events in this book that contradict events that have already taken place in previous novels of the series. For example, in The Steel Throne the Water Dragon dumps Hatsuko at the feet of a cowering Akodo samurai and commands him to care for her. For some reason, the author feels compelled to retell this part of the story, but in his version, Hatsuko shows up at the Akodo stronghold with a hand-written note explaining her circumstances. Did the author not read the previous novels? And how did this get by the folks at Wizards of the Coast? Are they not concerned with the quality of these stories? The Four Winds are potentially interesting characters and their struggle for Toturi's throne could make for an excellent series of novels. This potential is wasted however, if each character is handled in a vacuum as in this novel. What a shame!

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review

› See all 7 customer reviews on Amazon.ca

 

1.0 out of 5 stars Almost as crappy as the Crab book
I've read all the L5R books, being a big fan of the setting, and the worst is by far the Crab book. This book, however, comes awfully close. Read more

Published on Feb 2 2003 by Dustin M. Riccio

5.0 out of 5 stars Risk taking at it's best!
I'm not going to address this other review, as I completely disagree with this other readers assessment of "Wind of War". Read more

Published on Jan 2 2003

5.0 out of 5 stars Riveting!!
A stunning book. I couldn't put it down! I loved the way the author moved between time segments and his characterization is soooo real!!!

Published on Dec 30 2002 by Julian Mueller

2.0 out of 5 stars Wish the author read the previous books...
I was looking forward to a new L5R novel, especially after Wind of Honor, which I thought was a great book. Wind of War managed to disappoint me on soooo many levels. Read more

Published on Dec 17 2002

Search Customer Reviews
Only search this product's reviews

› See all 7 customer reviews on Amazon.ca

Search Listmania!