eyes.2c Reviews

White Feathers, Crimson Leaves : A Legend of the Five Rings Novel   by Josh Reynolds       ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I must admit to loving Josh Reynolds’ writing. Once again we’re in the lands of the Emerald Empire This time with two wardmasters, Yogo Shuko an older woman of the Scorpion Clan, disciplined, dour even; and her younger apprentice, Kuni Tansho, who is more impulsive. They have been hired by the wife of the local lord, Lady Chimeg, rulers of the castle and surrounding lands, to rid the spirits or curses  that haunts the area of the Red Grove Keep, which has lain empty for a century or so. A thrilling, macabre story that pulls blood magic and an ancient curse into the mix, weaving them into a tale of terror and madness. The two women face a task fraught with death and magics that could ensnare them. Excellent read, anticipation is everything. An Aconyte Books ARC via NetGalley.                         ...

The Chrysanthemum Tiger  (Gabriel Tavener Mystery #3) by Alys Clare      ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Having discovered that he’s no longer ill when stepping onto a boat Gabe wastes no time putting his affairs in order and grabbing with two eager hands the chance to voyage across the oceans once more. Gabe joins the Luipaard as the ship’s physician which will travel to the Eastern Seas. The merchant Walter Haverleigh is sending his fastest ship on this trade mission which he believes will make them all very wealthy. Gabe did not expect to be away for three years. He did he expect their trading goal to be Japan. Nor did he expect to be leaving with treasures that would incur the wrath of a wealthy Japanese warlord  One so angry that he had ships and men pursuing Gabe back to England. Exotic and exciting, added to by Gabe’s coming up against the mystical that illuminates the universe. Gabe explores the world, friendship, family and home as he comes to realize where his heart truly...

Sisters Under the Rising Sun  by Heather Morris    ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A fitting tribute to the women interred by the Japanese in Indonesia and Malaya during 1942 until liberation in 1945. Amongst the internees are a group of Australian Army nurses who were not given recognition by the Japanese as members of the armed forces and therefore not prisoners of war according to the Conventions of war.  Sister Vivian Bullwinkle is the only survivor of the massacre of a group of soldiers and nurses on Radji Beach, Bangka Island near Sumatra  in 1942, after the sinking of  HMS Vyner Brooke. There are a number of civilian prisoners in the camps like Norah Chambers and her sister Ena.  Combined, the story of these women interred under terrible conditions, their struggles and achievements are monumental.  Their gifts to their fellows beyond speech. Music plays an important part in uplifting the prisoners’ spirits. It’s truly a privilege to read about their plight, the...

Ikebana Unbound: A Modern Approach to the Ancient Japanese Art of Flower Arranging by Amanda Luu; Ivanka Matsuba     Ikebana, the ancient Japanese art of flower arranging, with Zen Buddhist roots. The thing is it's such a contemplative form of doing that it brings the concept of rest into our focus, the mindfulness of the doing and constructing. As the authors declare in their vey thoughtful opening, in today's trends towards minimalism , "ikebana feels undeniably fresh and incredibly resonant." Ikebana finds "inspiration in the natural world," and looks to combining tenets of movement, balance and simplicity. However Luu and Matsuba have taken ikebana's traditional edicts and broken away, reforming  this art form in a pleasing and modern light. The coherence of the book is centered around "four of Ikebana's most salient themes: naturalness, balance, movement and simplicity" incorporating seasonal flowerings and fruitings. The var...

Soul of the Sword (Shadow of the Fox #2) by Julie Kagawa              Taking up from where Shadow of the Fox left off, the quest continues with Yumeko our heroine Kitsune shapeshifter having to take part of the ancient and mysterious scroll to a temple of the Thousand Prayers to the Steel Feather. Being chased by the released demon Hakaimono, and looking for protection from a compromised companion, Kage Tatsumi of the Shadow Clan, leaves a lot to be desired and the way is full of pitfalls. Another wonderful tale from Kagawa in this unusual and exciting series. A Harlequin TEEN ARC via NetGalley ****

Top 10 Tokyo (DK Eyewitness Travel Guide, 2019)         What can one say. Of course we all have our fav travel guides. The big ones that gave us places to stay, what to buy, what to see, maps etc. No self respecting backpacker leaves home without one or two. And yes I know the Internet knows all, but during my more mature years I've always bought the DK swag. Why? Because I love the color productions, the organization, the mini maps that you can carry unobtrusively and the lushness of them. I use them way long after any trip as reminders, travelogues of where I've been and occasionally as dreaming tools of where I might be next heading. This updated 2019 version of top 10 places to visit in Tokyo is informative and a pleasure to look through. Its organizational themes are helpful enabling you to approach your sightseeing by interests e.g. temples, galleries etc., or by areas. Once again a great DK production. A NetGalley ARC *****

Sherlock Holmes, The Missing Years: Japa n by Vasudev Murthy  What is it about Sherlock Holmes--the pull of Sherlockian or Holmesian interpretations? We can't seem to get enough of him. And he appears everywhere, in print, in film, in television, all with differing perceptions of the man, the myth--and now we have the 'Missing Years' It's 1893, approximately two years since Reichenbach Falls and Sherlock's death. Watson receives a note ostensibly from Sherlock asking him to go to Japan. Does he think twice? No, he goes! On Board ship he meets a number of interesting people including the quiet and gentle Mr. Kazushi Hashimoto with whom he shares a cabin. The morning the ship docks in Alexandria, Watson awakes to find the small cabin window open and Mr. Hoshimoto dead. With another passenger, Mr. Shamsher Singh, Watson investigates how access might have been gained to the cabin. Watson himself appears to have slept through the incident, a restless sleep accompa...