Katana

Katana
Author(s)
Publisher
Genre(s)
Age Range
12+
Release Date
March 08, 2012
ISBN
0738730408
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Rileigh Martin would love to believe that adrenaline had given her the uncanny courage and strength to fend off three muggers. But it doesn't explain her dreams of 15th-century Japan, the incredible fighting skills she suddenly possesses, or the strange voice giving her battle tips and danger warnings.

While worrying that she's going crazy (always a reputation ruiner), Rileigh gets a visit from Kim, a handsome martial arts instructor, who tells Rileigh she's harboring the spirit of a five-hundred-year-old samurai warrior.

Relentlessly attacked by ninjas, Rileigh has no choice but to master the katana--a deadly Japanese sword that's also the key to her past. As the spirit grows stronger and her feelings for Kim intensify, Rileigh is torn between continuing as the girl she's always been and embracing the warrior inside her.

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Fun but Unoriginal
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I love books about people with powers. This is probably obvious based on what I read; this is why I continue to be interested in every paranormal book, even though they are ten a penny these days. Honestly, I still fantasize about attending Hogwarts or humanity devoloping X-Men like powers. That would be the best.

I also happen to be fascinated with Japanese culture. Even more so, I love me some hot Asian boys. All of these things equaled me being totally excited about this book. Actually, it turns out that I wasn't a huge fan of Kim, the hot Asian guy; he's too mysterious, protective and melodramatic for my tastes. Still, I want there to be a movie version of this, and I suggest Harry Shum Jr. to play Kim. Just think about it.

Okay...focus. Although there were some awesome things, like my mental movie starring Harry Shum Jr., there were some things did really get my goat about this book, though. Mostly, they had to do with Rileigh making the worst possible decision at all times, like when she'll think someone's trying to trap her into coming to them, so she'll go there to give them a message about how she's not going to have anything do with him/her.

Or, more frustratingly, when she decides to test her fighting powers by going to a biker bar and starting a fight. It works and she successfully injures one person in a big crowd. Then, she decides to jump in the car and run away, only she hasn't incapacitated anyone in this crowd. So, of course, they begin to destroy her car with her inside it, because she can't turn it on. Even if she did manage to turn the car on, her best case would be running some people over and probably getting in trouble for it, since she went to the bar spoiling for a fight. She should have either a) not decided to test her powers this way or b) kept fighting, because her samurai mojo totally could take care of her out of the car.

My favorite character was probably Quentin; I only wish there could have been more done with him. Whatever. If anyone needs a sassy gay friend to ask "what, what, what are you doing?" it's Rileigh. Actually, why didn't he ask her that? If Gibsen had included that, I would have laughed forever.

So yeah, this book was not particularly well-constructed plot-wise. I pretty much knew everything that was going to happen within the first couple of chapters. There weren't any surprises, because it was all standard plot devices. However, I did really enjoy reading this, because, well, it was super fun.
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