The Sword of Kaigen: A Theonite War Story

By: M. L. Wang

Narrated by: Andrew Tell

On a mountainside at the edge of the Kaigenese Empire live the most powerful warriors in the world, superhumans capable of raising the sea and wielding blades of ice. For hundreds of years, the fighters of the Kusanagi Peninsula have held the Empire's enemies at bay, earning their frozen spit of land the name "The Sword of Kaigen".

Born into Kusanagi's legendary Matsuda family, f14-year-old Mamoru has always known his purpose: To master his family's fighting techniques and defend his homeland. But when an outsider arrives and pulls back the curtain on Kaigen's alleged age of peace, Mamoru realizes that he might not have much time to become the fighter he was bred to be. Worse, the empire he was bred to defend may stand on a foundation of lies.

Misaki told herself that she left the passions of her youth behind when she married into the Matsuda house. Determined to be a good housewife and mother, she hid away her sword, along with everything from her days as a fighter in a faraway country. But with her growing son asking questions about the outside world, the threat of an impending invasion looming across the sea, and her frigid husband grating on her nerves, Misaki finds the fighter in her clawing its way back to the surface.

When the winds of war reach their peninsula, will the Matsuda family have the strength to defend their empire? Or will they tear each other apart before the true enemies even reach their shores?

©2019 Miracle Wang (P)2020 Miracle Wang

Critic reviews

"The Poppy War's darkness meets The Last Airbender's Elemental Magic...I haven't been so emotionally moved by a book in a long while." (JC Kang, USA Today best-selling author of The Dragon Songs Saga)

Started off slow, then blew me away.

For the first half of the book, I thought it was a typical teen novel. Then I realized why the author set it up the way they did. It gets real, I haven't teared up from a book in quite some time. I think some of the dialog could have been better written (especially in the flashbacks), but overall the experience was well worth it.

Fascinating!

This is a new author for me.. Gripping from Start to finish. I will probably re-read soon! loved it!

stick with it

started slow but oh my goodness was it amazing when it took off. all the back story and world building is for a reason. also prepare yourself to be emotionally wrecked.

Excellent story!

I’m surprised by how much I liked this book. As other reviewers have stated, it does start a bit slow but I found it worth the wait. I got a lot of “feels” and found it hard to put down at time.

great

was very surprised. my son recommended this book to me. I wish her other books in this series were on audible books. oh well, kindle here I come.