Torako has done many things to protect the valley she calls home, but she’s never looted a corpse before. So when the katana she steals off the still-cooling body of a bandit turns out to be possessed by a grumpy wolf kami, she can only assume it’s because she’s somehow angered the spirits. An impression that’s only reinforced when she returns home to find her wife abducted and her daughter in hiding. But angry spirits or no, Torako isn’t about to let bandits run off with the love of her life, even if it means taking their 3-year-old on a rescue mission.
In all Kaiyo’s years as Captain of the Wind Serpent she has never once questioned her admiral’s orders. So when she receives the command to abduct a civilian scribe with the help of fifteen felons, she registers her objections, but does as she is bid. Yet, as the mission unfolds, Kaiyo finds herself questioning everything from her loyalties to her convictions.
As Torako and Kaiyo’s fates cross like dueling blades, their persistence is matched only by their fury, until they uncover a series of truths they may never be ready to accept.
Sairo’s Claw can be read as part three of the Gensokai series, or as a standalone. While it takes place quite some time after the first two books, and includes a few familiar faces, it has its own distinct story arc that stands well on its own.
What really stood out to me was the presence of strong, capable women in every corner of the story, whether wielding a katana, commanding a ship, unraveling mysteries through scrollwork, or wielding kiso (magic). Each was portrayed with competence and agency, and it made for a refreshing and empowering read.
I especially appreciated the inclusivity baked into the worldbuilding. This is a society where someone might plot your demise, but they’ll still respect your pronouns while doing it! People are judged by their actions, values, and skills, not their gender, sexuality, or who they love. It’s not often I come across a fantasy setting that presents this kind of cultural openness without making it a heavy-handed point, and I genuinely enjoyed how naturally it was woven into the world.
The pacing is fast, at times a little too fast for my taste. I occasionally wished for a bit more time to breathe between major events, and more depth in the emotional reactions of the characters. Some developments felt like they were taken too much in stride, especially given the gravity of the situations they were facing.
That said, I was hooked from the very start. The mystery, action, and dynamic character interactions kept me glued to the pages, and I found myself resenting every interruption that pulled me away from reading. The cast was memorable, and I genuinely cared about what would happen to them, which is the mark of a good book to me.
While not a flawless read, this was a thoroughly addictive story set in a vibrant and inclusive world.
