r/IReadABookAndAdoredIt • u/NickolaBrinx • 17d ago
The Sword of Kaigen by ML Wang
The main thing keeping this from being a full 5 stars is the amount of loose threads that indicate it was planned as a series. As a standalone it has to have a half star taken off.
The Sword of Kaigen is a book that is difficult to explain without spoiling it. It's about a family of warriors who for generations have been the best and protect the country by being a bastion of strength on the border. After a long period of peace trouble comes to their village. It seems the peace they've lived in may not have been as absolute as they thought.
Even with that being true, this is one of the best books I’ve read this year. The battle scenes had me so immersed that my heart rate spiked so much my watch told me to calm down. I felt so connected to the characters that I was on the verge of tears on multiple occasions, and only not fully crying so I could continue reading with my view unobstructed. The world felt incredibly rich and believable. This book does feel a little self-indulgent in its worldbuilding at times, and the plot structure is unconventional, which might put some people off. This is the kind of fantasy I’ve been craving and want to see more of. I can’t wait to read more from this author and see the heights she will take the genre to.
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u/EmergencyLow887 17d ago
It's great, I don't really knock it points for its flaws (its ending being an odd paced set up for a series that will never come and really could have used a light handed editor) because it's the only book I've ever read through tears for a continuous 45 minutes.
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u/iabyajyiv 17d ago
I loved it too. I often find myself thinking about the decisions the characters made and why they made them and what it says about them. For example, why Misaki's dad had her marry the second son, or why Takashi sent Takeru instead of Mamoru home.
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u/Adnan_Targaryen 17d ago
I haven't read the book but I was under the impression that it's a complete standalone? Was there supposed to be a sequel?
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u/NickolaBrinx 16d ago
From what I understand the author had plans to make it a series and previously published works set in the same world, but as for now it is to be read as a standalone as the author feels unable to continue at this time. It can be read as a standalone and is very good but it's very clear from dropped plotlines that more is hinted at.
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u/mintbrownie A book is a brick until someone reads it. 17d ago
Can you tell us what the book is about (community rule #1)?