Review Take Two & Giveaway: Kinslayer by Jay Kristoff

Title: Kinslayer
Author: Jay Kristoff
Genre: steampunk, fantasy
Series: The Lotus War #2
Pages: 448 (ARC edition)
Published: September 17, 2013
Source: Forwarded to me from Jessie
Rating: 4.5/5

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.

Reviewed by Danielle. 
Remember how I struggled with Stormdancer? How I was tortured between my love of Yukiko and Buruu and my very real concerns with racist and sexist content? Well I’m happy to say that the only struggle with Kinslayer is putting into words what a forward leap I find it.

There are still a lot of -sans and -samas and at least one saraimen, but I didn’t see a single aiya or closed fist bow. I think Kristoff really listened to the criticism of the first book. The time period still seems to be an interesting mash-up of Europe’s industrial revolution, Edo Period Japan, (which did overlap, but the gaijin technology seems more early 1800s, while the Shima culture is more 1600s,) and early 1900s Yakuza. (Again, they existed in the Edo Period, but the torture was more reminiscent of the Russian Mafia from the 1920s.) I can see how, especially in a long term war environment, a culture could stagnate a bit while weapon technology advanced, but I found most of the mob scenes incongruous because they invoke a time so far in the future.

Split between four locations with alternating points of view, Kinslayer introduces and reintroduces a bevy of interesting characters, beyond Yukiko and Buruu. They’re still here, of course, but their journey is almost secondary to the intrigue going on in Kigen.

This time around, Yukiko and Buruu fly off to find a way to deal with Yukiko’s growing psychic powers. There’s one hell of a scene at an abbey and an unlikely meet-up on an island of black glass, but their chapters will be remembered for the bombshell dropped. It’s not a twist I saw coming, or even particularly like, (OK, I hate it,) but it’s sure to have fans talking. Strangely, despite the book being seemingly named for Buruu’s mysterious past, we never learn more than is given in the blurb. Together he and Yukiko only get about a half dozen chapters and they remain disconnected from the main story.

Speaking of, Kigen is in turmoil from the death of the emperor and there are a lot of people capitalizing on that. The four clans are coming just shy of war, as no heir to Yoritomo is available. This allows the Lotus Guild to really take control through a figurehead, which is kind of the opposite of what Yukiko was going for.

Michi has remained in the palace and manages to continue being the most compelling character for me, while being completely under guard. The glimpses into her past give a very good, realistic direction to where her character has ended up. She remains fiercely strong and unrepentantly ass-kicking. When you’re done with “that scene”, message me so we can flail together.

Michi is also connected to our main new character, No One, a new Kagé spy inspired by the Stormdancer’s speech. She risks everything, especially if the Lotus Guild finds her, to help Michi and the other rebels. She’s a bit one note at times and her big reveal left me scratching my head, but her backstory was super compelling and she gets one big, kick ass moment that left me cheering.

Exploring themes of family and love, along with anger and revenge, all of the characters are struggling to find their footing in this new empire. Some regress and some push forward, but no one’s making easy choices. As the stage is set for an explosive series finale, I don’t expect we’ll ever see easy again.

Kinslayer is an impactful story that wrung the emotions out of me. It’s a rare sequel that surpasses the first book and really tries to course correct. Kristoff still hasn’t met a noun that he doesn’t want to attach an adjective, (or two,) to, but it’s no longer repetitive. The world building is cleaner, battles are bigger, and its heart, more breaking. I truly recommend.

And since Jessie was kind enough to pass her ARC copy on to me, we’re paying it forward and sending it to one of you.

• US Addresses only.
• Contest closes October 11, 2013.

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