Samurai Game

Game - Ghostwalker, Book 10

By: Christine Feehan

Narrated by: Tom Stechschulte

Length: 14 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's summary

In a world so dark and seductive, expect nothing less than a triple-cross in the explosive all-new Ghostwalker novel by number one New York Times best-selling author Christine Feehan....

In an underground club, a high-ranking public official spends his secret nights indulging in fantasies as exciting as they are depraved. For a seductive employee of the Dungeon, it's her job to fulfill them. But she's playing a far more dangerous game - one of blackmail, politics, and murder that reaches into the shadow world of the Ghostwalkers, and the creation of a spectacular, one-of-a-kind new weapon of defense.

But when a dictator makes his own catastrophic moves, the Ghostwalkers have no choice but to bring in two major players - a man and woman both driven by passion and revenge. Both expendable. Both with nothing left to lose.

©2012 Christine Feehan (P)2012 Penguin Audio

Someone should smack the publisher's staff ....

...probably one of the worst lead-ins for a book I've read. The main character, Thorn, spends ~15 minutes in the mentioned club.)

What she does do in this book is go from a vengence-driven woman w/a poor self image to a woman who's no longer letting others define her role. Yes, she's still after the senior Whitney and there's certainly a lot of fairly explicit sex -- but it's good to have consistency in your life.

Some of the reviewers have dismissively commented on Thorn's submissive behavior. Would that be her submissive behavior as she kills various bad people and/or helps defend the other women & children while the men are off on a mission? Tradiitonal Japanese culture has a demonstrated history of the women acting submissive. The reality is that those same women controlled the purse strings, took major roles in politics, and yes, were recognized samurai warriors. While she often portrays herself as a bodyguard to one of her brothers, she's actually the senior person running a major corporation.

The book does not settle a few pesky issues like how she's going to handle a partner who's on active duty with the US government while her corporation is based in Japan. Or how she's going to juggle work and the possiblity of children. Having her partner wave his hands and say it can all be worked out sounds like a guy.

I thought it was interesting to have the Thorn character survive her abuse by the senior Whitney due to the assimilation into the samurai culture; the structure and training gave her the skills she needed to survive a horrific childhood. I also thought it was interesting for her to finally understand that she didn't have to accept her beloved adopted father's image of her life but accept that she could have a loving relationship with a physical side. And even lots of a physical side.

Actually, there were several areas in the book that were either badly written or edited. I would have thought the part where Thorn and Flame save the women & children while the men are offsite should have been greatly expanded. Thorn was pleased to reconnect with other girls from her childhood; that could have been covered more. I also would have liked to had an inkling of what the senior Whitney's reaction was to finding out that so many of his current efforts towards world domination were thwarted by a young girl he had literally thrown away. So we come back to my complaint about whomever wrote the blurb that Audible's listing with the book.

Feehan's books are a bit formularic -- but they still work. This was not the best of her books -- but it certainly wasn't the worst. I'd recommend going back and listening to the whole series again for those of you who've been away from it for awhile.

Well worth the wait!!

It's been a long wait for the next book in this series, but it was worth the wait. The only draw back to this book, was that I had to go back and listen again to all the others to remember everyone who was talked about or in this book. But that was okay, it was worth listening again to all the other as well. But I'm still waiting for books on Team 4 and more on Team 3. I hope you enjoy the whole series!

great listen

What was one of the most memorable moments of Samurai Game?

It goes on with the story line and gets closer to finding out about the bad guy.

Another Winner

What made the experience of listening to Samurai Game the most enjoyable?

I have come to love the narration style of Tom Stechschulte, and when combined with a story by Christine Feehan you have a sure winner. I was expecting the book following Ruthless Game to be about Javier, and so I was a bit surprised to jump back into Team One and the original characters. It was a nice to see how the group had remained a unit, with the wives added into the mix.

What did you like best about this story?

I remember Thorn being mentioned in some of the other GhostWalker books, so it was nice to find out what had become of her;however, the things that Peter Whitney had done to her were truely horrific. The thought of him essentially disecting her, without any pain killers, time and time again made me wonder how he could have hidden his psychotic tendency's so well. It takes a very disturbed mind to be able to do such things to a toddler (or to anyone for that matter), and yet he was supposedly able to function very well in other aspects of his life. I am having a little trouble with that part of the continuing saga. It seems to me that a man so obsessed would have given himself away before he faked his own death.
The more that is uncovered about his madness and cruelty, the more I root for the Teams to find and destroy him.
Although I did enjoy this story, I personnally like both Street and Ruthless Game more.

Have you listened to any of Tom Stechschulte’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have added Tom Stechschulte to my list of favorite narrator's; I find his style to be rich in emotional texture. He takes me right into the heart of the story and I can lose myself in the tale being told.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I did not laugh as much listening to this story as I did in both of the previous books I mentioned, but there were a few places that made me chuckle.

Any additional comments?

Overall, I would definitely recommend this book. I enjoyed it and I'm sure other GhostWalker fans will too.

Feehan Delivers Yet Again

I love the stories that Christine Feehan creates and her Ghostwalker series is one of my favorites. In Samurai Game she tells us the story of Sam and Thorn. Feehan took her time in exploring how one gains trust and accepts aid in healing after being so thoroughly traumatized as children. The love that is built slowly between these two characters is at times heart-breaking but ultimately one of the strongest in the series. And let us never forget how the incredibility talented Tom Stechschulte brings to live this world of Ghostwalkers.

Good Book!

The ghostwalker books are the very best!!! I could listen to them all day everyday!

The Best In The Series

Wow This book is incredibly good! Thank you! It was a pleasure. MO (moving on) to the next!

Loved it!

Loved listening to Samurai Game! I’ve read all of Christine Feehans series several times. Now I’ve enjoyed listening to the series too. Sam and Thorn’s story kept me captivated, had me laughing out loud. I could listen to their story over and over. Love listening to the narrator Tom Stechschulte. His voice brings the story to life.

Love the series the ghost walkers.

I enjoyed all of the ghost walker books I have read so far. And the narrator is awesome. I wish however there was more romance in the books and not so much action. I still enjoyed the book.

DANGEROUS MEETING

Would you try another book from Christine Feehan and/or Tom Stechschulte?

YES

What did you like best about this story?

BOTH WAS VERY DANGEROUS GOOD IN COMB AT

What does Tom Stechschulte bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I DID READ THE BOOK HE BRINS EXCITMENT AND A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF THE PLOT OF YHE STORY;

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

I LOVED THE BOOK AND I ENJOYED STORY PART

Any additional comments?

I HAVE READ ALL THE BOOKS I AM WAITING FOR THE NEXT ONE TO BE ISSEUSED