SISTERS OF THE SWORD

“Blows rained on innocent heads. And blood flowed, splashing walls with gory crimson.” This swashbuckling story of honor, betrayal and revenge begins violently, when, in 1216 Japan, the Jito (Lord Steward) of the Kai Province is stabbed by his own brother, a shocking murder witnessed by his teenage daughters, Kimi and Hana. The sisters escape the subsequent bloodshed, but just barely. When the two girls come upon a local dojo, or samurai training school, they disguise themselves as boys to take refuge within. This isn’t a stretch: Kimi in particular has long dreamed of being a samurai, and she and Hana, like their brothers, are skilled fighters. Once the girls are safe inside the dojo, gratefully working as servants despite their noble upbringing, readers can exhale...but not for long. Vivid characters, intriguing conflicts and cliffhanger chapter endings more than compensate for the occasionally labored plot reinforcement and make for a suspenseful, satisfying read. The fact that the girls’ mother and brother, would-be heir Moriyasu, remain at large lays the groundwork for a sequel. (Fiction. 12 & up)