Last Samurai

The Last Samurai: The Life and Battles of Saigo Takamori by Mark Ravina, 214 pages

In 1877, Saigo Takamori died in battle against the army of the Emperor of Japan, an army he had once commanded and an emperor to whom he had pledged his life in service.  Even before his end, he was already popularly portrayed as a semi-divine figure transcending mere politics, and after his death he would continue to be celebrated by generations of Japanese romantics and reactionaries dissatisfied with the march of modernity.

Yet in Mark Ravina's telling Saigo had a crucial role in that march.  Not only was Saigo a key player in the overthrow of the shogunate after Progress was brought to Japan in the mouths of American cannons, he was central in the subsequent disempowerment of the daimyo, including his own liege lord, who had backed the ousting of the shogun.  Although it is impossible, at least from the material Ravina provides, to know exactly what Saigo believed would follow, it is difficult in hindsight to imagine anything other than a bourgeois democracy filling the resulting vacuum.  This is consistent with a view of Saigo's character that sees him as addicted to the grand gesture, the type of man who could sway the fortunes of a nation with a dramatic action at a pivotal moment, but who is uninterested in the minutiae of actually governing a modern state.  It is possible to judge this as foolishness or even indiscipline, or imagine it to be the disinterested pursuit of virtue and the selfless leadership of a true hero.  Whether deliberately or by accident, Ravina leaves that decision to the reader.

Samurai

The Samurai by Shusaku Endo, translated by Van C Gessel, 272 pages

When a samurai is ordered by his lord to undertake a mission, he has no choice but to accept.  So although Hasekura would like nothing more than to remain with his family in their marshland home, he is compelled by his master to travel to the ends of the earth as an emissary to Spain and Rome.  His guide is Fr Velasco, a Franciscan friar determined to bring about the conversion of Japan, a desire equally the product of ambition and faith.  Hasekura will discover many odd new things in his travels, but he will find nothing as strange and repulsive as the wretched figure the foreigners worship.  Whatever the lords they choose to serve, the priest and the samurai must each, in the end, face a reckoning, though not necessarily those they expect.

Endo's novel is "based on a true story" in that he has taken actual historical events about which little certain is known and given them an imaginary context.  In the process, he crafts a compelling and remarkably subtle tale of faith and suffering, hope and power, salvation and sacrifice.

Ring of Sky

Ring of Sky Chris Bradford, 363 pages

The Shogun has declared that any Christian or foreigner found outside the bounds of an official trading port will be put to death. Jack is close to Nagasaki, where he hopes to find a ship bound for England, but the Shogun's samurai are closing in led by an old enemy. 
 
The final book in Chris Bradford's young samurai series is filled with action and twists, and is probably the one of the best of the second part of the series. I enjoyed reading this series as a quick adventure story and was overall happy with the amount of detail and knowledge that the author put into a young adult series, and especially enjoyed the end.

Ring of Fire

Ring of Fire Chris Bradford, 318 pages.

Seeking shelter from a snowstorm Jack is recruited by a village in need of protection a gang of bandits. Persuaded to stay and fight Jack must find some way to enlist other warriors to the villagers' aid before the bandits return which proves to be no easy task when the villagers have little to offer for help, and Jack the price on Jack's head grows higher. 

I felt like this book didn't have as much to offer the series as some of the others, there was no major strides towards Jack making it to Nagasaki, and the plot was essentially the same as The Seven Samurai. Other than that though it was just as well written as the previous books, and I did enjoy certain characters making reappearances.

Ring of Water

Ring of Water Chris Bradford, 304 pages

Jack Fletcher wakes up bruised and beaten in a roadside inn. He has lost everything, including his memory of what happened. Determined to figure out what happened to him he sets off to retrieve his belongings. With only his training and a washed up Ronin for help, Jack must piece together what happened while evading the Shogun's samurai who are still searching for him.

So far I feel this is one of the better books in this series, Bradford does a good job of describing his characters as well as their situations and actions. The story itself is fast enough paced, while not becoming jumbled or incoherent and provides plenty of action and adventure that make this series worth reading.

Ring of Earth

Ring of Earth Chris Bradford, 319 pages

Masamoto has banished by the new Shogun and Jack is now on the run with a price on his head. All foreigners have been banished to remain is death and many have failed to make it to the ships in Nagasaki.While attempting to avoid capture by samurai Jack is captures and taken to village of ninjas, whom Jack blames for the death of his father. After much inner turmoil Jack decides to undergo ninja training, believing it will help him get to Nagasaki.

This book picks up nicely where the previous book left off with Jack leaving his friends, and continues to be a fun quick read for anyone who enjoys action and adventure, and want a break from all the supernatural young adult fiction.

Way of the Dragon

Way of the Dragon Chris Bradford, 503 pages

Japan is threatened with the war, samurai are taking sides, and soon Jacks training will be put to the test. With his father's book in the hands of Dragon Eye Jack's only hope for survival and returning home depends on mastering the Two Heavens, the sword technique of his mentor Masamoto Takeshi.

I enjoyed this book, I felt that Bradford took his time with this third book and while it lacks in some areas such as character development, it makes up for it with well written scenes and and plot twists. Overall I thought it was about average compared to the rest of the series, and definitely aimed more towards young adult.