Review: Kinslayer by Jay Kristoff

Kinslayer
(The Lotus War 2)
Author: Jay Kristoff
Publisher: Macmillan, 2013
Genre: YA Asian Mythology
Buy: Amazon ♥ B&N ♥ TBD

Overview 

A SHATTERED EMPIRE

The mad Shōgun Yoritomo has been assassinated by the Stormdancer Yukiko, and the threat of civil war looms over the Shima Imperium. The Lotus Guild conspires to renew the nation’s broken dynasty and crush the growing rebellion simultaneously – by endorsing a new Shōgun who desires nothing more than to see Yukiko dead.

A DARK LEGACY

Yukiko and the mighty thunder tiger Buruu have been cast in the role of heroes by the Kagé rebellion. But Yukiko herself is blinded by rage over her father’s death, and her ability to hear the thoughts of beasts is swelling beyond her power to control. Along with Buruu, Yukiko’s anchor is Kin, the rebel Guildsman who helped her escape from Yoritomo’s clutches. But Kin has his own secrets, and is haunted by visions of a future he’d rather die than see realized.

A GATHERING STORM

Kagé assassins lurk within the Shōgun’s palace, plotting to end the new dynasty before it begins. A waif from Kigen’s gutters begins a friendship that could undo the entire empire. A new enemy gathers its strength, readying to push the fracturing Shima imperium into a war it cannot hope to survive. And across raging oceans, amongst islands of black glass, Yukiko and Buruu will face foes no katana or talon can defeat.

The ghosts of a blood-stained past.

The Shima Imperium has been left without a Shogun. In the verge of civil war, The Lotus Guild joins forces with Hiro, the boy with the sea-green eyes, now a disgraced and crippled Samurai who should’ve committed seppuku upon his lord’s death. They’ve selected him to mary Aisha, the late Shogun’s sister, to preserve the Kazumitsu bloodline upon the throne. Hiro agrees with the only request the Stormdancer, Yukiko, be destroyed.

Meanwhile, Yukiko has become a hero to the people and many follow the call of the Stormdancer to fill the ranks of the rebellion. But dealing with her father’s death, the memories of that fateful night, hasn’t been easy and Yukiko has become a bit heartless. It’s up to Kin and Buruu to open her eyes and remind her that there is still life to fight for. But the rage inside her is an untamable beast. Yukiko’s control over the Kenning is slipping and she spends the days fighting overloaded senses.

Beautiful poetic prose tempered by sharp descriptions and an eye for detail, Jay Kristoff returns with the continuation of Yukiko’s tale in Kinslayer, an immersing read that leaves you believe you can smell red lotus and hear the rumble of the arashitora in the distance.

With a wide cast of well rounded characters, brutal action scenes, and a prose that comes alive, I didn’t just read Kinslayer. I lived it. I felt Hiro’s poisonous rage for Yukiko, Michi’s desperation as a prisoner, Hana’s bravery, Buruu’s love for Yukiko. Interesting new characters appear in this second book, people who have risen to the call of the Stormdancer, people with their own secrets and complicated lives. Kristoff did a great job of making them fully three-dimensional in no time, making me emphasize and care for them, which is why the ending hurt a heck of a lot more! (Jurou…so brave…)

Like the deadly lotus fumes covering most of Shima, this sequel story is covered in a layer of warning. Things are escalating, no one is safe, and as we delve closer to the political and corrupt insides of Kigen City, we know something is about to go down.

The third part of this book should’ve been titled “Everyone and Everything Goes to Hell. Literally.” It took me a while to get through the last few chapters because oh my gods…so much destruction and death and betrayal and horrible surprises and good surprises. So much everything! It was beautiful, but it kept making me so angry I had to take breaks in between deaths, which meant after every freaking chapter. (Death in every chapter. I am not kidding.)

The end wasn’t pretty or happy. The Lotus War begins now. Yukiko and her allies—new and old—must prepare to face threats from all sides now that the clans of Shima are divided. Will they find common ground and unite under a same banner, or destroy themselves in the race to win the throne? I cannot wait to find out!

Give Stormdancer and Kinslayer a read and enjoy Buruu the sassy arashitora, Yukiko the badass girl with a chainkatana, the Kage rebels, No One the shit-girl, Yoshi and his Princess Jurou, The Painted Brethren and their nipple scrolls, deadly Michi and her lovesick puppy Ichizo, the real identity of the Kinslayer, people catching the sky, and much more.

PS: Can we have a movie of this? Like seriously. Movie-making people hear me! This is the kind of book-to-movie I want to see!

*Arc copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley*

Favorite Quotes:

~Burru’s vow~

THEN KNOW THIS. BETWEEN AND BENEATH AND BEYOND ANYTHING ELSE I MAY BE, I AM YOURS. I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU. NEVER FORSAKE YPU. YOU MAY RELY UPON ME AS YOU RELY UPON SUN TO RISE AND MOON TO FALL. FOR YOU ARE THE HEART OF ME.

~Modest Arashitora~

The council looked out through the open doorway at the thunder tiger upon the deck. Buruu was stretched out in the rain, idly tearing up talonfuls of planking. His yawn sent tremors thought the floor.
TELL THEM IT IS RUDE TO STARE. EVEN AT MAGNIFICENCE.

~Bad Ideas~

IT STINKS OF DEATH. THIS IS AN ASTONISHINGLY BAD IDEA.
This place has been deserted for decades.
I WISH I HAD EYEBROWS, SO I COULD SCOWL AT YOU.
I can’t see anything. There’s nobody here.
I WISH I HAD HANDS, SO I COULD WRITE A HISTORY OF YOUR EXPLOITS AND NAME THIS CHAPTER “THE WORST IDEA SHE EVER HAD.”
Gods, so just blast the wall with Raijin Song and come with me, then.
THE WALL IS SOLID GRANITE. WE COULD HAVE BETTER LUCK KNOCKING HOLES IN IT WITH YOUR THICK HEAD.
Maybe you could just sarcasm it to death?