Book Review: The Sword of Kaigen by M. L. Wang
Genres: Fantasy, High Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, War Story, Asian-Inspired
Pages: 651
Format: Ebook | Kindle Unlimited
Rating: 
THIS REVIEW HAS SPOILERS! BEWARE!
Overview
If I had to describe this book in one sentence, I would say that The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang is an emotional, epic, high-fantasy, Asian-inspired story following a mother and son as they navigate war, family, destiny, and life-changing truths that forever alter their world. I rated it five deer-stars and highly recommend it.
That’s it. Short and sweet. But if you’d like to read the additional 1,700+ words I’ve written about this unforgettable story, then please, continue on.
Pacing and Worldbuilding
Following my regular review format will not give this book the justice it deserves, so let’s just get right into it.
I had no idea what I was getting into when I picked up The Sword of Kaigen. All I knew was that it was a high/epic fantasy and a war story. It’s very well-loved on social media, so I did have medium-to-high expectations. I was also very bold and went into this book half-blind. Let me tell you right now, it beyond exceeded my expectations. I was worried about not being “smart enough” to read a book like this, but Wang’s detailed yet clear writing and engaging storytelling allowed me to understand everything that was going on and held my attention the entire time. There were parts where I was literally on the edge of my seat, jaw dropped, in disbelief, and had to take a break.
I don’t know if the beginning can be classified as slow, but it’s kind of an unspoken rule that the first 100 or so pages of a fantasy book will have slower pacing due to worldbuilding, describing the magic system, and setting the scene. And this was an epic fantasy, so I knew it would be even more intense than my typical romantasy or fantasy romance reads. Combining that with the fact that this book is Japanese-inspired, with many traditional words I didn’t know, I had to keep going back to look things up, so the beginning was a little hard to digest. But that’s no fault of Wang’s. But after those first 100ish pages? Baybeeeeeeee, it was unputdownable.
Themes and Magic System
I know this book had a lot of themes and messaging, and I may not have caught them all, but here’s what this story was about as I understood it.
Part of the magic system has been described as similar to Avatar: The Last Airbender, and I have to agree — that’s the perfect comparison. Sometimes when I was confused or lost, I’d just tell myself, “pretend this is Avatar,” and that helped a lot.
So, you know how in Avatar there are four elements you can bend: Air, Water, Fire, and Earth? In the Kaigenese Empire, where this book takes place, everyone there are “water benders.” But the Matsudas, one of the oldest and most powerful families, can be described as epic water benders.
Going back hundreds of years, the men of the Matsuda line are known as the strongest fighters, and they are the only ones who can use a technique called the Whispering Blade. Only the most technically sound warriors can master this. You can be an excellent fighter and still never master the technique, despite spending your whole life trying, which is what every Matsuda does. Takeru’s father never mastered the Whispering Blade, but his two sons, Takeru and Takashi, did.
The Whispering Blade is a weapon, as the title suggests, a blade created out of water, with the ability to cut through steel, any material, or any person with ease.
Plot Summary and Key Characters
The Matsudas, like everyone in the Kaigenese Empire, are loyal to their government. Taught to never question and only obey — that’s all they know.
Fourteen-year-old Mamoru, son of Takeru, lives by these rules and is passionate about being a fighter and the Sword of Kaigen — its protector against anyone who dares challenge it. The Ranganese tried years ago and failed. And if they or anyone else thought they could try again, he and the other warriors would be ready.
A new student from outside the Empire, Kwang, begins attending Mamoru’s school. Kwang brings outside ideas and perspectives, and Mamoru is shocked and offended that Kwang would speak such blasphemy. But when Mamoru gets over his initial anger and begins to listen, and even see visual evidence of what Kwang is saying, he becomes conflicted. Was everything he knew a lie? Is it treason to even think like that?
Distraught, Mamoru confides in his mother, Misaki, about what’s been troubling him. Now conflicted herself, Misaki doesn’t know whether to tell Mamoru the truth or let him believe all is well in the Empire. Misaki has is well-traveled, and know’s a lot more than she lets on. But Mamoru is pleading, and Misaki doesn’t want to lie, so she changes Mamoru’s life as he knows it.
There have been reports of destructive storms all over Kaigen, but Mamoru notices something strange on the TV one day. The images being shown of a decimated city are the exact same ones he’s seen in coverage of other cities. But that can’t be… right?
Mamoru brings this question up, shocking Misaki and angering Takeru. He won’t let it go, and then he drops one of the most iconic lines in the book:
“I’m feeling fine, Tou-sama,” he said without hesitation. “Respectfully, I just want to know how you feel about your government lying to you.”
One of my favorite scenes occurs after that moment — Misaki secretly trains Mamoru after Takeru challenges him to a sparring match for speaking against the government.
Shortly after that, war begins, and Mamoru, Takeru, and Takashi head off to battle. Let me tell you something: that was some of the most epic writing I’ve ever read in my life.
THE MATSUDA DRAGONNNNNNNNNN.
Bruh.
Justice for Mamoru
But let me tell you something that will always bother me. First of all — Mamoru was killed off. Second, he mastered the Whispering Blade right before his death, making him the youngest to ever do it. HOWEVER, no one knows this, so his younger brother Hiroshi gets the credit for being the youngest to master the Whispering Blade.
BUT IT WAS MAMORU!!!
JUSTICE FOR MAMORU.
You know what’s crazy, though? At the beginning of the year, I was begging for books with higher stakes and for people to actually get killed off. But damn — I didn’t mean Mamoru.
Misaki
Misaki is just a badass, there’s no denying that. She was cutting the Ranganese up like it was nothing. My girl had been out of practice for 15 years, and she was still slicing and dicing. Just look:
“Misaki ripped her hand free. His windpipe shredded in her fingers.”
“Siradenyaa was out of her sheath. A single stroke severed his spinal cord.”
And not only can she fight with a sword — she knows how to use her wits in dire situations:
“She evaded and drove her hairpin into the side of his neck, burying the hair ornament all the way up to the flowery bauble at the end. He choked, blood spattering from his mouth, and clawed at his throat.”
And these are only a couple of examples.
So not only is Misaki a fierce fighter, she’s also an intelligent woman who has lived outside the Kaigenese Empire. Spending time in other regions allowed her to learn new languages, see the world from more than one perspective, and learn how to fight.
When she became Takeru’s wife, she lost some of her personality, becoming the traditional, docile, obedient wife that was expected of her. No one knew of her past — and Takeru especially didn’t want to hear about it. Mamoru’s questioning of the government, and ultimately Mamoru’s death, led her to rediscover her voice and demand to be heard.
Misaki vs. Takeru (The Duel)
Another jaw-dropping moment for me was when she challenged Takeru to a duel. The letter she wrote read him down for filth — calling him out for his lack of leadership and protection of their people — and I just couldn’t believe it.
“You lost your right to my obedience when you stopped being a man!” Misaki cut him off. “If you want me to go back to the house, you’ll have to fight me. I’ve stood by too long while you disgraced yourself, but this—this is the last time you will be weak in front of me. One of us is going to rest here with our son. Draw!”
And she was really about that life! She battled him and held her own — and Takeru was ready to lose his life!
Takeru’s Redemption and the Robin Subplot
In an unserious way, I did not appreciate the Takeru redemption arc.
This isn’t a romance, but there’s a smalllllllllllll subplot involving Misaki and someone named Robin — the man who was supposed to be her husband. But, her father wanted her to marry Takeru, and she wasn’t going to disobey him.
As a husband, Takeru is cold, distant, and emotionless. Misaki suffers through multiple miscarriages, and he never comforts her. He doesn’t care to know about her past or who she is as a person. He’s just going through the motions, doing only what he thinks is required of a husband — keeping her safe. He comes from the mentality that women are to be seen and not heard.
But after Misaki and Takeru’s duel on the mountain, where she calls him out for everything, he finally breaks down. He explains why he is the way he is, apologizes, and promises to be better. After that, things between them improve.
While Takeru did have his reasons and it is a good redemption arc, I’m a lover girly, and I just wanted Misaki to be with Robin. I also felt bamboozled because the last chapter was named Robin, and I was so excited. But it was just wrapping up his story and showing Misaki’s growth, that she’s accepted and even enjoys her life rebuilding with Takeru. She and Robin will remain close friends.
Final Thoughts
Wowza, what a book. This was indeed epic.
I obviously recommend it, even if you don’t typically read these types of books. I’m so glad I took the leap and branched out, and I hope you will too.
M.L. Wang, your books will be seeing me in the future.
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