Kinslayer

The Lotus War, Book Two

By: Jay Kristoff

Narrated by: Jennifer Ikeda

Kinslayer is Book Two in Jay Kristoff's critically acclaimed Lotus War series that began with Stormdancer, featuring an unforgettable heroine and a stunningly original Japanese dystopian steampunk world.

A shattered empire.... The mad Shogun Yoritomo has been assassinated by the Stormdancer Yukiko, and the threat of civil war looms over the Shima Imperium. The toxic blood lotus flower continues to ravage the land, the deadlands splitting wider by the day. The machine-worshippers of the Lotus Guild conspire to renew the nation's broken dynasty and crush the growing rebellion simultaneously - by endorsing a new Shogun who desires nothing more than to see Yukiko dead.

A dark legacy.... Yukiko and the mighty thunder tiger Buruu have been cast in the role of heroes by the Kag rebellion. But Yukiko herself is blinded by rage over her father's death, and her ability to hear the thoughts of beasts is swelling beyond her power to control.

Along with Buruu, Yukiko's anchor is Kin, the rebel Guildsman who helped her escape from Yoritomo's clutches. But Kin has his own secrets, and is haunted by visions of a future he'd rather die than see realized.

A gathering storm.... Kag assassins lurk within the Shogun's palace, plotting to end the new dynasty before it begins. A waif from Kigen's gutters begins a friendship that could undo the entire empire. A new enemy gathers its strength, readying to push the fracturing Shima imperium into a war it cannot hope to survive. And across raging oceans, amongst islands of black glass, Yukiko and Buruu will face foes no katana or talon can defeat.

©2013 Jay Kristoff (P)2013 Audible Inc.

better than most second books

This book to me seemed to go in twenty different direction at once. However by the end of the book those different directions come back to having to stop the Guild and protecting friends and love ones. Well mostly that. It does seem to cover a lot of ground and get a lot of balls in the air for the last book in series.

I can see why some readers would find this book somewhat distracting or maybe thinking the author need some time off and get a grip on reality. I agree at times it is a bit confusing who is where doing what and who is or is not betraying whom and who and why is this ne character introduced. Does make your brain hurt sometimes if you thing on it too much. But in a good way.

The voice acting was good, except sometimes I think Buruu voice seems off, like parts where done a different day in a chapter and the voice just was slightly different from he beginning of chapter to the end of chapter. I'm sure that voice was hard to do.

Was an enjoyable story and presentation.

Massive change from the first book

Would you try another book from Jay Kristoff and/or Jennifer Ikeda?

I have read other books from Jay Krisoff that I enjoy and I would try another one. Jennifer Ikeda has great voice and narrates the book with passion.

What was most disappointing about Jay Kristoff’s story?

The story was very choppy and hard to follow. The characters in half the story are dull and ultimately unimportant.

Which character – as performed by Jennifer Ikeda – was your favorite?

The Thunder Tiger, Buruu

Could you see Kinslayer being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

I couldn't see Kinslayer as a TV series because it is a violent book. Not sure on who would play them. Ken Watanabe would make an interesting Emperor.

Any additional comments?

The first book was good but this book seemed like a waste of time mostly. It didn't add much to the story and dragged on to way too long.

Very Worthy Sequel

Where does Kinslayer rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It's ranks among the high, at least for this year.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Kinslayer?

The ending, Yukiko's discovery of why her powers have gotten so strong

What does Jennifer Ikeda bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Her voices. I like her animals voices the most. So unique and fitting to the animal, gender and personality

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Anything with Yukiko and Buruu is my favorite

Any additional comments?

I really liked Kinslayer. It's great and I love Jennifer Ikeda

Terribly beautiful

Sorrowful, graceful, colorful, beautifully written and narrated. This fantasy adventure is a story of huge brave hearts against a terrifying machine.

excellent sequel

I really like reading listening to this but I was amazing the yeah very soon fantastic I really rick 4 your heart and they were so much more to this whole book I can't wait for the next month

How to tell if a book is a good read?

When you're so disgusted that you throw your phone into a corner because of certain turns, only to pick it back up seconds later to continue the story. Kristoff has done it again in this second installment of The Lotus War. It might sound contrite but.....I laughed, I screamed, I cried and at the end scrambled for the next installment. You will too.

I love it.

this is a story that will make you fall in love with character and feel their struggles.

Skin was strong; flesh was weak

Now that’s how to write a great Empire Strikes Back middle. Buckle up buttercup; this is a tangled, mechanical spider’s web of a tale that isn’t going to end well…or end at all in this book.
Immerse yourself in the multiple POVs that barely connect (Yukiko is literally on her own path in all but the first and final chapters). Feel the menace build to a taught final act that leaves everyone with unfinished business that will have you plunging straight into book 3 where, if you’re you’re willing to put in the work to follow these characters GoT style, the trilogy ends beautifully and viciously.

The imagery in the writing is sublime and Ikeda’s narration is phenomenal. This is feudal Asian steampunk like The Avatar, but more: more complex, more steampunk, more backstabbing, more horror. There are several torture and abuse scenes that could be triggering at a Kill Bill level.
And, never forget, this author doesn’t do happy endings.

Huh?

Loved stormdancer but this one. I don’t know, felt like I got 5 pages of Yukiko and spiraled off into a bunch of side characters that I couldn’t care less about. To the point I was questioning if Yukiko was even the mc.

Enter the tale of betrayel and vengence! Nice.

Where does Kinslayer rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

it is also at my top 5 as was the first installment.

What other book might you compare Kinslayer to and why?

Crown of Glass

What does Jennifer Ikeda bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

It was an experience like the others when listening to Jennifer Ikeda.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I tried to do just that.

Any additional comments?

This series was one of my best buys. Everyone who would listen to a Great story with a Great delivery.