A dystopian steampunk fantasy with a flavour of feudal Japan.
Stormdancer (Lotus War 1)
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'What s that? You say you ve got a Japanese Steampunk novel with mythic creatures, civil unrest, and a strong female protagonist? I'm afraid I missed everything you said after Japanese Steampunk . That's all I really needed to hear' --Patrick Rothfuss
'With airships, demons, and lashings of revolutionary swordplay, this chi-fuelled vision of a steampunk feudal Japan will blow your split-toed socks off' --Scott Westerfeld
'With airships, demons, and lashings of revolutionary swordplay, this chi-fuelled vision of a steampunk feudal Japan will blow your split-toed socks off' --Scott Westerfeld
Book Description
Griffins are supposed to be extinct. So when Yukiko and her warrior father are sent to capture one for the Shōgun, they fear that their lives are over. Everyone knows what happens to those who fail him. But the mission proves less impossible and more deadly than anyone expects. Soon Yukiko finds herself stranded: a young woman alone in her country’s last wilderness, with only a furious, crippled griffin for company. Alhough she can hear his thoughts, and saved his life, all she knows for certain is he’d rather see her dead than help her. Yet trapped together in the forest, Yukiko and Buruu form a surprising and powerful bond. Meanwhile, the country verges on collapse. A toxic fuel is choking the land, the machine-powered Lotus Guild is publicly burning those they deem Impure, and the Shōgun cares for nothing but his own dominion. Authority has always made Yukiko uneasy, but her world changes when she meets Kin, a young man with secrets, and the rebel Kagé cabal. She learns the horrifying extent of the Shōgun’s crimes, both against her country and her family. Returning to the city, Yukiko and Buruu are determined to make the Shōgun pay – but what can one girl and a flightless griffin do against the might of an empire?
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By Chantal Lyons
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review
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It is hard to find fault with this novel. All the elegance of 'Across The Nightingale Floor' with the epic spirit of something like 'Princess Mononoke'.
The story is set in an alternate Japan, where a toxic industrial revolution has produced huge technological leaps but dire environmental costs. The 'arashitora', the griffin, is the mouthpiece of the story's environmental theme - even paraphrasing a famous Native American saying at one point - but the theme is never overly-polemical nor didactic.
Kristoff's prose is clever and evocative, if occasionally a little too-over describing. His steampunk Japan is highly imaginative, with samurai warriors armoured in robotic suits and wielding chainsaw katanas, and airships filling the sky. Most menacing of all are the Guildsmen, the brains behind the technology, permanently encased in their suits and described as insectoid beings. There are obvious links with Japanese mecha here, but Kristoff has produced a story that transcends such roots.
With all this fascinating invention, one of the main characters - the arashitora - is almost eclipsed. But his character is quite delightful, all his animal mannerisms captured. He reminded me of Toothless from 'How To Train Your Dragon' in more ways than one.
A truly accomplished debut novel, and one that I think and hope will go far. My only problem with it in fact is the front cover - so bland! The blurb gives away the griffin, so why not display it in all its glory on the cover?
The story is set in an alternate Japan, where a toxic industrial revolution has produced huge technological leaps but dire environmental costs. The 'arashitora', the griffin, is the mouthpiece of the story's environmental theme - even paraphrasing a famous Native American saying at one point - but the theme is never overly-polemical nor didactic.
Kristoff's prose is clever and evocative, if occasionally a little too-over describing. His steampunk Japan is highly imaginative, with samurai warriors armoured in robotic suits and wielding chainsaw katanas, and airships filling the sky. Most menacing of all are the Guildsmen, the brains behind the technology, permanently encased in their suits and described as insectoid beings. There are obvious links with Japanese mecha here, but Kristoff has produced a story that transcends such roots.
With all this fascinating invention, one of the main characters - the arashitora - is almost eclipsed. But his character is quite delightful, all his animal mannerisms captured. He reminded me of Toothless from 'How To Train Your Dragon' in more ways than one.
A truly accomplished debut novel, and one that I think and hope will go far. My only problem with it in fact is the front cover - so bland! The blurb gives away the griffin, so why not display it in all its glory on the cover?
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition
Before I really begin my review, I know that I'm going to come back to this book one day. I honestly saw tonnes of potential and at times I absolutely fell in love with it, but something just stopped me from finishing it. I delayed writing my review, I deferred reading because I thought I'll finish it, I'll read it, but I never have. This lead me to call this book a "did-not-finish" an "abandoned" which I truly abhor to do on every level, but I really couldn't connect enough. I think the problem I had were the long, lengthy flowery prose and descriptions that made up every section of Stormdancer. Everything was described in detail and laid down for me, leaving me to feel like my imagination was being cut off from being allowed to expand.
"The silken sokutai robe he wore was abominably heavy, layer upon layer of gold and scarlet, and he cursed again at having to wear the confounded thing in this heat."
I know tonnes of people have rated this book four and five stars and it rocketed to being one of the most anticipated novels of the year, but for me I just couldn't connect and I'm left feeling a little bit of an outsider to all the joy people found.
The one true element that I absolutely adored from the first moment and would undoubtedly just read about all day was Buruu. Admittedly, he was probably the sole reason I continued to read. If his presence hadn't been so entertaining, enlightening and simply adorable I would have abandoned this book much sooner. He brought an edge of humour and cynicism to the novel that had me laughing and giggling in delight. I genuinely adore the idea of Griffins as magical creatures and I think this only served to enamour me more and more with Burruu as I imagined him in my head.... Read more ›
"The silken sokutai robe he wore was abominably heavy, layer upon layer of gold and scarlet, and he cursed again at having to wear the confounded thing in this heat."
I know tonnes of people have rated this book four and five stars and it rocketed to being one of the most anticipated novels of the year, but for me I just couldn't connect and I'm left feeling a little bit of an outsider to all the joy people found.
The one true element that I absolutely adored from the first moment and would undoubtedly just read about all day was Buruu. Admittedly, he was probably the sole reason I continued to read. If his presence hadn't been so entertaining, enlightening and simply adorable I would have abandoned this book much sooner. He brought an edge of humour and cynicism to the novel that had me laughing and giggling in delight. I genuinely adore the idea of Griffins as magical creatures and I think this only served to enamour me more and more with Burruu as I imagined him in my head.... Read more ›
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By Fnord
Format:Hardcover
There has been a lot of hype about this book online, and to be honest I wasnt sure if I was going to enjoy it.
I wasnt sure how I would go with the epic fuedal Japanese steampunk-esque setting. Traditionally I'm a fan of gritty fantasy, but in a more traditionally 'medieval' setting (Joe Abercrombie, Scott lynch, Patrick Rothfuss). When I saw that Patrick Rothfuss had given the book the thumbs up, I thought I'd check it out. And I tell you what, it blew my mind.
With strong characters, well crafted storylines, and an epic (though down to earth) storytelling style... Mr Kristoff has totally won me over. I devoured the book in a few sittings, and now crave more. MORE!
I've read a few of the other reviews about this book, so there's enough of a synopsis for you to glean the basic story. All I can say is, give a it a read. An amazing debut novel, from a talented (and somewhat lanky) author.
I love you Jay Kristoff.
In the pants.
I wasnt sure how I would go with the epic fuedal Japanese steampunk-esque setting. Traditionally I'm a fan of gritty fantasy, but in a more traditionally 'medieval' setting (Joe Abercrombie, Scott lynch, Patrick Rothfuss). When I saw that Patrick Rothfuss had given the book the thumbs up, I thought I'd check it out. And I tell you what, it blew my mind.
With strong characters, well crafted storylines, and an epic (though down to earth) storytelling style... Mr Kristoff has totally won me over. I devoured the book in a few sittings, and now crave more. MORE!
I've read a few of the other reviews about this book, so there's enough of a synopsis for you to glean the basic story. All I can say is, give a it a read. An amazing debut novel, from a talented (and somewhat lanky) author.
I love you Jay Kristoff.
In the pants.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By I. English
Format:Hardcover
The book starts off by throwing you into the action, Yukiko is fighting for her life against the Oni, but you have no clue how she got there or why a winged beast is attempting to save her and before you find anything out you are taken back to a few weeks before the fight starts.
For the first quarter of the book you are introduced to the muti-dimensional and flawed characters on-board the Thunder Child, as well as the world that Yukiko lives in. Jay Kristoff has this amazing way of describing things. One of the most memorable scenes to me is when Yukiko is walking through the market to the docks. The description is exquisite. No detail is missed by Kristoff, he uses all of the senses to make you feel like you are actually walking along with Yukiko experiencing the terrible and grand things that she does.
Occasionally the description gets a little repetitive but I think that aspect is needed as you are so fully submerged in this other culture and without the slight repetition you would not know what was going on because there are so many different elements to remember.
This story is more than I was ever expecting, I was expecting a reluctant hunter's daughter to find a thunder tiger and become a Stormdancer, pulling her family from poverty to riches, or something along those lines. But this is so much more. There is love, betrayal, an insane leader and a corrupt, fanatical guild vying for power but neither able to truly control on their own. There is civil unrest, substance abuse, friendships, loss, sex, murder as well as twists and turns all the way through that weave a tail of morality above all.
This book does not pussy foot around important issues as many YA's do.... Read more ›
For the first quarter of the book you are introduced to the muti-dimensional and flawed characters on-board the Thunder Child, as well as the world that Yukiko lives in. Jay Kristoff has this amazing way of describing things. One of the most memorable scenes to me is when Yukiko is walking through the market to the docks. The description is exquisite. No detail is missed by Kristoff, he uses all of the senses to make you feel like you are actually walking along with Yukiko experiencing the terrible and grand things that she does.
Occasionally the description gets a little repetitive but I think that aspect is needed as you are so fully submerged in this other culture and without the slight repetition you would not know what was going on because there are so many different elements to remember.
This story is more than I was ever expecting, I was expecting a reluctant hunter's daughter to find a thunder tiger and become a Stormdancer, pulling her family from poverty to riches, or something along those lines. But this is so much more. There is love, betrayal, an insane leader and a corrupt, fanatical guild vying for power but neither able to truly control on their own. There is civil unrest, substance abuse, friendships, loss, sex, murder as well as twists and turns all the way through that weave a tail of morality above all.
This book does not pussy foot around important issues as many YA's do.... Read more ›
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Lightweight fun
As a fan of weird & wonderful Japanese films & the occasional Anime, you'd think there was no way I couldn't enjoy a fantasy novel set in a steampunk Japan. Read more
Published 17 hours ago by Sam Woodward
3.0 out of 5 stars
Tiny Stormdancer
Trying something new in the fantasy genre should be encouraged, but it is a tricky thing to do, as Jay Kristoff discovered with `Stormdancer'; a novel that combines Steampunk with... Read more
Published 7 days ago by Sam
1.0 out of 5 stars
A prime example of the utterly predictable 'good versus evil' plot...
Sometimes, I think there must be something wrong with me. When I sit looking over the myriad - well, 36! Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mr. J. Gardner
4.0 out of 5 stars
An epic quest in steampunk feudal Japan - what's not to like?
While the writing is nothing particularly special, this book is none the less enthralling, largely due to the unique crossover of Feudal Japan and Steampunk of the world in which... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Dinah93
3.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting
The story is set in an alternate Japan - hence the cyberpunk tag, where a toxic industrial revolution has produced huge technological leaps but dire environmental costs. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Mrs
4.0 out of 5 stars
Steampunk - Japanese style
I love all things steampunk and I enjoy modern Japanese writers, but I've never been that keen on Samurai, bushido etc. I enjoyed this book, but was not overwhelmed by it. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Penny Waugh
2.0 out of 5 stars
Overhyped and not exactly well-researched, but an interesting read.
Well, if there's one book that has had a hype machine going for it this year, it's Jay Kristoff's Stormdancer. No, not a hype machine. More like a hype combine harvester. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Vanessa F
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastical, and rewarding read
I loved this from the outset. I loved the twisted version of a still feudal 'Japan.'That unfamiliarity is one of its strengths and merits it adds to the sense of 'oddness',... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Mr. M. L. Cawood-campbell
5.0 out of 5 stars
Power
I found this book difficult to get into at first, we all have off days, but as it went further I was reminded of the Lean Hearn series "Across the Nighting-gale Floor" Smooth,... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Moonwolf
4.0 out of 5 stars
Well-written Japanese-style fantasy tale
In this fantasy world Stormdancers are warriors of old who according to legend rode into battle on thunder-tigers, or griffons. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Tim Roast
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