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4.0 out of 5 stars
Well researched and well written, April 1 2003
This book seems to fall somewhere in between Feist & Wurts' Empire trilogy and James Clavell's Shogun. It has similar thematic elements to the Empire trilogy and the tone and atmosphere of Clavell's seminal work. Miller seems to have done her homework in researching for this book in that the samurai mentality of medieval Japan is ever present. The attitudes and beliefs of the characters add a note of authenticity (not that I'm an expert, but judging from Clavell's book) to the book.Yes, the plot is almost exactly the same as Feist and Wurts' series: a young woman must fight for her right to assume her father's throne in a medieval Asian setting dominated by men. However, the story elements differ quite a bit. Miller places more focus on the samurai mentality and code of honor than Feist and Wurts did. She also adds elements such as geishas and their behind the throne movements that only enhances the atmosphere of the book. Miller's strong point is her characters. While many authors attempts at writing in a medival Japanese world result in many characters becoming interchangeable, this is most definitely not the case here. From Javere, the main character, to her court wizard and military leaders, each has their own personality and quirks. The desert people she mixes in also adds to the diversity of the world that is only hinted at in other places. Her dialogue adds to the mixture. Not only is it realistic and authentic in tone, but it also adds to the strong characterization. Unlike Clavell's book, however, this is definitely a fantastical story. From the court mage to the dragon warriors, this book is firmly rooted in the genre of fantasy fiction. Miller does not overpower the reader with this, though, which makes these elements much more mysterious and engaging. Not only that, but the characters react to them as if they were not unexpected. By making them seem, not common, but rather expected, they seem that much more believable to the reader. If you enjoyed Feist and Wurts' Empire trilogy, you will most likely enjoy this standalone book. As it is out of print, however, you may have a bit of a time tracking down a copy. I do wish there was a sequel to it as I would enjoy seeing what has happened to the characters and the ending seemed a bit abrupt.
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