Risuko: A Kunoichi Tale (Seasons of the Sword)

I ordered this for my son and he just loved the book. He is asking me to order more. Highly recommend it.

My opinion is this is good for 11 year olds through 40 year olds.Has all the espionage and intrigue of a classic ninja novel, yet a new Feel. Characters feel like real & likable people, who are dynamic and relatable. Yet true to cultural norms of the historical setting. Good at setting the atmosphere and scenery of the training compound. Almost makes you feel like you are in the place of the main character, experiencing new surroundings and situations and adapting to them. Finally, has action and Nin- Jitsu skills Like those of us who enjoy shinobi stories Want, but the warm instead of cold feel a normal person would experience in the process of acquiring them, especially as a Kuno Ichi Being trained to be charming as well. The social dynamics of making new enemies and friends and the feel of joining a new school is mixed in too. I am anxiously awaiting the next novel in the series.

This book reminded me so much of Tamora Pierce's Tortall books, specifically the first Alanna or the first Kel book. Many of the plot-points are the same: a girl enters a new institution and spends all her time learning new skills, training, and passing tests. Only instead of a fictional fantasy world, Kudler's tale takes place during feudal Japan, during a time of civil war when different clans fought for political domination. Risuko's story takes place during the sixteenth century reign of Oda Nobunga.Risuko, along with Emi and Toumi, are picked up by Lady Chiyome and taken to Mochizuki where the girls become novices and begin training to be kunoichi. The characterization is simplistic, with the author falling back on generalizations in character rather than creating fully fleshed-out people. Toumi (along with junior initiates Mai and Shino) are mean girls. Emi is the quiet one. And Risuko is the headstrong willful one who is too curious and smart for her own good. Even the more dominant background characters seem bit one-dimensional in characterization. Kee Sun, for example, is one who gets a lot of space in the book, but other than being Korean, dedicated to food, and jolly with a bit of a temper, there's not much to glean from him. Hopefully, this is something that is rectified in the second book.There's also a whiff of "chosen one" to this story. Of course Risuko is a skilled climber, which becomes plot relevant many times. Of course Risuko is smart and clever.That all said, I did really enjoy this book. The plot moves a bit slowly, and other readers may get bored with the day-to-day life of Mochizuki (it does devolve at times with this happened, and then this, and the this). Others may enjoy it as it is nice worldbuilding and lets the reader learn what it was like in one of the centers that trained elite warriors. There is also enough hints of Risuko's larger purpose that I'm extremely intrigued where Kudler takes the character.Readers who already enjoy Tamora Pierce and similar authors would enjoy this. I'm looking forward to the second book.I received a free review copy from the publisher.

It is truly a rare & pleasant reward when I am able to locate andread an excellent Historic Novel about Japan. Risuko is very wellwritten novel that has deep character profiles that complimentits historic place in ancient Japan. And, it explores an area ofJapanese lore that stimulates peoples' imaginations to this day.Thank you, David Kudler & please continue to open the shelteredworld of Kunoichi through your attractive & dynamic heroine, KanoMurasaki !

Have to wait and seeWas Christmas gift for granddaughter

So okay, I know that having more girl protagonists in YA books is a *good* thing, and that the whole culture of kunoichi is definitely more interesting than the average ninja, and that Liam Hearn already did the whole ninja-training thing in Across the Nightingale Floor, so I feel a little guilty that my main issue with this book was the voice of the protagonist, Kano Murasaki (or Risuko).But...I think this book would have gotten 4 stars if it was a boy in a ninja camp, because Risuko the amazing climber, who remembers some of her samurai father's sword moves from childhood, and has a mentee/mentor relationship with a samurai in the employ of the noble who 'buys' her from her family might have run just a little more...true. Risuko has an immediacy of action voice, a practical attitude, and a slightly strange ignorance of female bodily functions (there's depiction of a fellow trainee who's stomach hurts suddenly and Risuko seems ignorant of why) that just didn't set well with me. I felt a sense that Risuko didn't quite develop relationships or immerse herself into the relationships emotionally with her fellow trainees or the cook. Those relationships or developing how Risuko saw herself in relation to the others would have made her more real to me.On the other hand, the historical context and culture of this book impressed me. From the straw winter coats to the cleaning of the bathhouse to the emphasis on the Korean cook's herbs and cooking-- that stuff totally flowed with the story and felt embedded in Japanese culture of that era. The historical stuff was quite fun, too, since Risuko and her Lady are in the era when Japan was being formed as a country under Oda Nobunaga.Riskuo's training also didn't push my Mary Sue buttons. She and the others are relegated to menial tasks-- tasks that will help them later on but Risuko isn't suddenly amazing (other than her climbing) in these tasks and the older initiates rightfully have a greater role to play in the plot of the book (until the very end) and the politics and show greater skills. (I am a little tired of books about hero/heroines who suddenly outshine their elders etc)The book begins with Risuko being sold to a mysterious Lady and joining her journey to a secluded place where she is immediately put to work in the kitchens. There are many girls/women there who vaguely come and go and have mysterious lessons in the closed off hall. There is alot for Risuko to figure out in terms of why they are all being trained, and what her Lady's ultimate purpose is, as well as a mystery about someone searching through rooms. The story ends with the answer to that mystery, but with the ultimate goal of the Lady unclear and with Risuko still in training.It felt like the first book in a series. Engaging, definitely YA sensibilities (Risuko doesn't speculate about why a girl and a warrior spend time alone nor seems aware of menstruation) historically researched, fun tale with a action-oriented rather than inner emotionally oriented heroine.

This book is a YA, but don't take any notice of that, read it whatever your age, it's great. Here is old Japan, full of warring Lords and armies. And in the middle is poor, fatherless, tree-climbing Risuko (squirrel), sold to a sharp-eyed, ruthless older woman, and taken with two other girls into the mountains to serve as novices. And over this book and the next in the series, Brighteyes, the three girls - Risuko, Toumi and Emi - find out the secret of why they were taken, and what their purpose in life is to be. Thrills, villains, mysteries. Can't wait for Kano, the final in the series.

Impossible not to like this book, especially for someone like me who lives in Japan. David Kudler slips in so many moments, words and sentiments that remind me why I love this country, and I feel sure will endear others to Japan.Kudler brings a small corner of the world of feudal Japan to life with what feels like effortless ease. The descriptions are never overwhelming nor tiresome, but swift to paint a scene and quick to capture the imagination. The book is short but you never feel like you haven't been introduced properly to the world. I definitely wanted more of the world and the story, and I assume this will happen in following books.The book is marketed as young adult but I think it has broad appeal. I'm definitely not a young adult! I tend to read a lot of dark fantasy so this was a refreshing change of pace. There are moments of violence and dark undertones, but the general mood is one of hope. It feels good to be with Risuko on her journey.Also, I have to compliment the presentation of the book. The cover is wonderfully Japanese, beautiful but simple.

Very enjoyable story set in historical Japan. The story flows well and the characters are interesting. I shall definitely read the author's other work.

good beginning, slack middle, with interminable school stories, about the fellow classmates, lessons, and politics...reads like any (boring) boarding school activity...i started skimming, at 54%, and dipped in now and then, to see if the plot started moving along...well, it did..pleasant setting, informative, interesting, fun historical insights, but rather slow pacing in the parts from 30% to 65%...my 11-year old niece liked it very much...i will wait, to see how expensive the next one is, before i purchase it...pleasant, but rather predictable...it did make me Google miko, and find out about the shinto shamans, so that was a bonus...ok read...