With a new opium dealer muscling his way into local territory, it's up to Jao to protect the current drug lord's sons. Naturally, things don't go so well for the down-and-out assassin. The tension grows with every interaction between Jao and ruthless boss assassin, Kazematsuri. Jao's attraction and eventual romancing of Masahiro, the elder son, is well handled, particularly Jao's slow wake from his long mourning.
The Mediocre Assassin's Handbook is 's first novel featuring Hyabusa Jao, and it is a treat for those who enjoy Japanese inspired fantasy. While the magic is admittedly light in this volume, mostly limited to Jao's face-changing hedge wizardry, the setting really captures Feudal Era Japan. While the minutia of Japanese culture hits the reader fast and furious, Sheehan keeps the dialogue contemporary and that serves as a good handle for a reader who may be unfamiliar with the samurai era.
| Categories: Reviews, SciFi & Fantasy, Mystery & Crime |
|
See:
| |
Hyabusa Jao's life is in a slump, and the quality of his work is slipping. It wouldn't be such a bad thing if Jao was in any other business, but he's an assassin, and quality kinda matter...
| |
Hyabusa Jao has it bad. He's out of work, and his old boss is using him as a pincushion to train the new recruits. His boyfriend has some mysterious problem that everyone but Jao seems to...
Loading...
