Risuko: A Kunoichi Tale

I received this book through netgalley in exchange for an honest review

This book was very interesting.

I usually stay away from novels about Japan and specifically ones written by non-Japanese. As a Japanese major, I can see the irony in this but, at the same time, as a Japanese major it annoys me when authors use words of the native language here and there when everyone in the book is speaking the language.
And this is probably my biggest complaint. The main character, Risuko, refers to her mother as Oka-san (Okaa-san is the way I've been taught to write it). So, I don't know why he did this. Why not just say mother? For English speakers it is easily to differentiate levels of respect with Mother & Mom than throwing in a Japanese word. Also, this wasn't done often with father and never done with little sister so.... I don't get it.

I think for a final edition it would be helpful to explain the differences with -san, -sama, -senpai, -sensei, which the characters use but, the reasoning is not always explained.

My second complaint is how slow it was going... until I realized this was a series! Then, it made sense and I liked the pace.

Honestly, the flow was done really well and I flew through this book.

The characters were great and really pulled out. I really loved Risuko and Emi.
I really fell into this book and the characters.

I think in the next book, since this is taking place during the era Oda Nobunaga was shogun (OMG!! What an era!! If you don't know Japanese History, go look this guy up!!), I'm hoping for more history background and information.

So, all in all I really liked this book.
Totally going to recommend it to some of my friends.