"Child of Vengeance" - a review...

...it does seem, that with the rediscovery of what the weather gods call "summer" I am more than a little occupied with other activities [clicky] in this fine weather...

I make no apologies for this, it is part of the rich and varied tapestry that is Steve the Wargamer's life, but having taken the decision a few years ago now to hive off the 'other stuff' into it's own, bespoke, blog it can make things a little quiet here from time to time....  😏

In the absence of any painting table action - too hot and stuffy in the loft - or even wargaming table action (ditto - though I want a second game via Skype with DG at some time as I'm itching to retry "Rank and File"), then reading, correspondence chess, and regular games of "Blue Max" and "Wooden Ships and Iron Men" at the truly excellent youplay.it [clicky] site are scratching my militaristic/wargaming itch for the time being....

So how about "Child of Vengeance"?

I would say that I stumbled on an absolute cracker with this one...

Based on the real-life exploits of the legendary samurai Musashi Miyamoto the book is set in 16th Century Japan at the time of the Shogun wars... we have political bickering, double and triple dealing, back stabbing all set against the struggle for leadership following the death of Hideoyoshi (he was the one who triggered the invasions of Korea) but described through the life of a young son of a samurai, Bennosuke.

His mother had died when he was a young boy (and you find out why), but  his father Munisai has abandoned him and serves his Lord, Shinmen - a powerful but I'd say fairly minor player in the power struggles.

Bennosuke is raised by his uncle Dorinbo who is a Buddhist monk but despite the upbringing, he wishes to be a samurai as he promised is father. When his father returns, badly wounded, he discovers the secret of his past, and why he has been bought up alone. Training with his father he gains his respect, but following an argument with another powerful Lord his father is ordered to commit sepukku and Bennosuke is launched on a path of vengeance that culminates in a brilliant account of the battle of Sekigahara.

I won't spoil the end, & happily David Kirk is working on a follow up book, but as I said above - if you have any, or even no, interest in samurai era Japan you really should try this...  Steve the Wargamer gives this one 9 out of 10....