The Shackles Of A Name by Martin Adil-Smith

The main character is a little too close to Anakin (although bearing in mind that is based on recorded history, maybe it is Anakin who is too close to Jion), and the dithering of the Council did slow things down somewhat.īut the arc of The Oni more than made up for it, and I found the character of Celus/Kwon to be absolutely fascinating. This is not just a story, this is world-creating on such a vast scale that I am in no doubt that Wizards of The Coast and Games Workshop are weeping. Legends are made flesh, and the battles are immense as they are gut wrenching. Mythologies that span centuries are brought to life and are woven into the historical narrative. Yes, this is a story about a boy coming of age, and seeking revenge for his father’s death, all set during the Japanese civil war.īut it is more than that there are whole world’s painted in rich detail.

This is a unique fantasy, unlike any other I have read, and I am a big of the like of Magic The Gathering, World of Warcraft, and The Forgotten Realms. I give up with the catageorization - it can be filed under 'great'. This book is many things dark fantasy, historical fiction, coming-of-age. For those who have read and enjoyed the little known Across the Nightingale Floor, there will be much here to wet you appetite and, dare I say it, there are even shades of Lovecraft's The Lurker at the Threshold with appearance of the Goddess Marishiten. Masako and Gozen provide the softer aspects to the story, whereas Kwon and Nikko provide the intrigue and tension.Īs with all of the Spirals of Danu series, this is a difficult book to categorise in terms of genre there are the obvious comparison to The Talisman, albeit in a Far East setting, and one of my favourite books, Shōgun. Jion is thoroughly credible character, although hard of head and heart. With respect, I disagree this is a story about relationships - not only those that we have with other people (mentors, friends, foes, potential allies and certain villains), but also those that we have with ourselves.īeing honest, I guess the ending around about page two hundred (and it's three hundred pages long), but that did not stop me wanting read all the way through.

Others have said it is a revenge story as young Jion seeks those responsible for the assassination of his brother and father.

Several people have suggested that this is a war story, as it is set during the civil war. The Shackles Of A Name is easily the best book in the series (so far) for all sorts of reasons the unique setting of Oyashima the way that historical characters are brought to life and the mix of myth and fact. Some of it I have loved (A Gathering of Twine and The Beggar of Beliefs), and some of it not so much (The Call of The Black River). I have followed The Spirals of Danu series for sometime.

The Shackles Of A Name by Martin Adil-Smith