The Sword of Kaigen: A Theonite War Story

This book messed with me—in ways both beautiful and frustrating. The magic system is intricate and original, and the fight scenes were so cinematic I felt like I was watching them unfold rather than reading them—sharp, cinematic, and emotionally charged. M.L. Wang’s writing shines bright in these moments, pulling you into the heart of every clash and confrontation. But here’s the truth…I struggled a bit. For a book this long, I found myself wishing for a deeper connection to more of the characters. Somewhere around the halfway point this book just vexed me. I hit a wall of emotional detachment. making what followed feel more like a descent into senseless trauma than a purposeful journey, with pain arriving abruptly, almost without buildup. Like catharsis and more like being dragged through it without warning. That being said, certain characters still rooted me. Setsuko and Mamoru made me feel a strong sense of happiness and strength. Even when Misaki and Takeru frustrated me, I couldn’t help but see so much within their characters. Chapter 27, though? Broke through my vexation. That chapter alone made the suffering feel worth it. The emotional payoff was so powerful and lingered throughout. This book broke me, rebuilt me to just brake me again but the second break left something new and satisfying. Though this is a standalone, I couldn’t help but feel the ending only gave closure to a small handful of characters. The rest is left to us—to imagine, rebuild, and grieve in our own ways. This book took me on a full emotional journey: curiosity, joy, detachment, rage, grief, hope, and a lingering bittersweet ache. I highlighted so much, not just because of the world Wang built, but because of how beautifully she captured the emotion of it all. I may not have loved every moment, but I’ll be thinking about this story and its possible futures—I know I’ll be coming up with my own mini continuations from time to time.

5

Extremely enjoyable. Excellent fighting and story. The vigilante plotline was a bit unneccessary.

It's Shogun meets Avatar the last Airbender in a sense. Wang attaches you to these characters and leaves you wanting more.

7.5 - really liked it but it left me with a bit of a disappointment. An interesting world with elemental powers in a samurai type culture. Not a fan of the ending, feels like part of it should have been edited out, but still a good read.