Here's what I wrote in 2008 about this read: "Sequel to Cloud of Sparrows; similar opinion." ( )

wonderful book ( )

I listened to the audio (abridged) version first. Then I bought the first book (Cloud of Sparrows) read it, then re-read this book (unabridged). I thought both books were wonderful. At this point, I would buy this author's next book without knowing anything about it. He is an amazing author. ( )

To start off, I loved Cloud of Sparrows. Matsuoka is a gifted writer, and it's a shame that he hasn't written more.

When I first started reading this, I was concerned that it wouldn't live up to Cloud of Sparrows, and had a difficult time understanding the book's structure (frequent jumps back and forth between time periods). However, it all began to make sense after about 25% through, and I found myself racing to the finish.

The sheer depth of emotion and description of the flaws of each and every character made the story real. All of the plot holes in Cloud of Sparrows are woven together and answered in ways that were impossible to predict. The reader gets a sense of the rise and fall of the Tokugawa regime, with particular focus on the decline and fall of the samurai class.

The complexity and incredible plot development makes this even better than Cloud of Sparrows. Not as much violence as with the first book, but the ending is masterfully crafted. ( )

I adore this one. If you liked the first one (Cloud of Sparrows), you'll love this one too. ( )