Stormdancer, The Lotus War Book One, by Jay Kristoff
Book Review by Brandy Tucker
Have you read this book?
I simply loved this book! What an imagination! Kristoff has set mine in
motion. As you read this book, you can see the action in your mind's
eye. The imagery is fascinating. The story has everything you could want
in a story -- drama, romance, betrayal, political uprising, and at the
root of it all is a beautiful heroine ready to fight for what she knows
is right. The cultural setting for this steampunk novel couldn't be
better. A mix of feudal Japan with a futuristic steampunk twist; and
let's not forget the Gods. It's complete with maps and a glossary of
Japanese words.
The Shima Isles were poisoned with the Lotus Flower. They used if for everything. It was farmed at the demand of the Shogun and his counterpart the Guildsmen, who wear steam driven metal suits that keep them from being slowing poisoned like the rest of the world. The weed was also smoked as a drug. The air was a red haze and unbreathable, thick with the smoke and toxic. You had to use a steam driven air purifier, or as most a simple rag over the mouth. The water was black and undrinkable, dead fish floated in it and were eaten by the poor. The people were slowing dying -- poisoned by the lotus.
Beautiful Yukiko, and her father, the Shogun's Master Hunter, with his two best hunters and lifelong friends, set out to hunt the impossible -- a thunder tiger -- a mythical tiger griffin. That's right not a half eagle - half lion, but a half eagle - half white tiger. In this world they had existed but were thought to be extinct. They hunted at the demand of the Shogun. An uncaring murderous leader with impossible wishes. They must get results or die.
At night, as they fly too high through a severe thunderstorm in their steam-driven ship, they miraculously find and capture one. Which angers the thunder god, Raijin -- the father of the griffin, and he intensifies the storm. Yukiko has a sixth sense; a kenning. The ability to speak to animals telepathically. She feels this is so wrong - to capture this beautiful creature. She reaches out to its mind, and tries to calm it and apologize for this great wrong. But with great fury, he flaps his powerful wings, and creates electrical lightening which endangers the ship and crew. So the Master Hunter maims it by clipping its feathers, and cages the griffin. But the damage is done; the ship is severely damaged in this great storm, is on fire and is going to crash into the mountains. Most of the crew and the hunters escape.
Yukiko just can't leave the, Arashitora (the griffin). She jumps out of the escape ship at the last minute and frees the beast. As the ship crashes, she jumps on his back and tries to use kenning to speak to him, but as he glides to safety, he throws her off. Her fall is broken by trees and she's hurt, but okay. She trails after the crippled Arashitora. It's rough and treacherous. She stumbles upon a temple to Lady Izanami -- the Dark Mother.
The Oni, minions of the Dark Mother, almost kill her as the Arashitora appears out of nowhere and saves her. Now she is at his bidding.
I have left so much out; like:
What is a Stormdancer?
Who is the Shogun? Why is he so evil?
Are there any other gods?
What about the political uprising? The romance? The betrayal?
There is so much left to say so you simply MUST READ THIS BOOK!
The Shima Isles were poisoned with the Lotus Flower. They used if for everything. It was farmed at the demand of the Shogun and his counterpart the Guildsmen, who wear steam driven metal suits that keep them from being slowing poisoned like the rest of the world. The weed was also smoked as a drug. The air was a red haze and unbreathable, thick with the smoke and toxic. You had to use a steam driven air purifier, or as most a simple rag over the mouth. The water was black and undrinkable, dead fish floated in it and were eaten by the poor. The people were slowing dying -- poisoned by the lotus.
Beautiful Yukiko, and her father, the Shogun's Master Hunter, with his two best hunters and lifelong friends, set out to hunt the impossible -- a thunder tiger -- a mythical tiger griffin. That's right not a half eagle - half lion, but a half eagle - half white tiger. In this world they had existed but were thought to be extinct. They hunted at the demand of the Shogun. An uncaring murderous leader with impossible wishes. They must get results or die.
At night, as they fly too high through a severe thunderstorm in their steam-driven ship, they miraculously find and capture one. Which angers the thunder god, Raijin -- the father of the griffin, and he intensifies the storm. Yukiko has a sixth sense; a kenning. The ability to speak to animals telepathically. She feels this is so wrong - to capture this beautiful creature. She reaches out to its mind, and tries to calm it and apologize for this great wrong. But with great fury, he flaps his powerful wings, and creates electrical lightening which endangers the ship and crew. So the Master Hunter maims it by clipping its feathers, and cages the griffin. But the damage is done; the ship is severely damaged in this great storm, is on fire and is going to crash into the mountains. Most of the crew and the hunters escape.
Yukiko just can't leave the, Arashitora (the griffin). She jumps out of the escape ship at the last minute and frees the beast. As the ship crashes, she jumps on his back and tries to use kenning to speak to him, but as he glides to safety, he throws her off. Her fall is broken by trees and she's hurt, but okay. She trails after the crippled Arashitora. It's rough and treacherous. She stumbles upon a temple to Lady Izanami -- the Dark Mother.
The Oni, minions of the Dark Mother, almost kill her as the Arashitora appears out of nowhere and saves her. Now she is at his bidding.
I have left so much out; like:
What is a Stormdancer?
Who is the Shogun? Why is he so evil?
Are there any other gods?
What about the political uprising? The romance? The betrayal?
There is so much left to say so you simply MUST READ THIS BOOK!
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Stormdancer, The Lotus War Book One, by Jay Kristoff on Amazon
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