Customer Reviews

Blood Ninja

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I got this book through the Amazon Vine program. I like vampires and ninjas so I thought it would be an interesting read. I was a little worried (based on the title and the cover) that this book would be too corny for me or a bit over the top. It was neither of those. It was very well-done and, if anything, a bit too devoid of any humor. It is also not a stand-alone book, which I didn't know.


Taro is a fisherman's son. At least that is what he is raised to believe. He is in for a rude surprise when a group of ninjas descend on his house and murder his father. One of the ninjas, Shusaku, is different though and tries to save Taro. Shusaku fails as Taro is run-through with a sword. Suddenly Taro must make a choice as his life ebbs from the wound in his stomach. Will he let Shusaku turn him into a vampire and "live" or will he die? He chooses to "live" and suddenly Taro, his best friend Hiro, and Shusaku are off on a journey that will make Taro question everything he knows about the world and himself.


There was a lot I liked about this book. The amount of Japanese history dwelling within the pages of this story is amazing. Lake really did his research and gives great detail on various aspects of Japanese history. It was fascinating to read about ninjas in the context of actual Japanese history. I am not sure how accurate all the historical details are (it would have been nice for the author to include an afterward addressing this) but they are well thought-out and seem to be well researched. The other thing I really liked about this book was the moral struggles Taro was forced to face and question. Taro comes from a world where Lord Oda is god and samurai are the noblest men he knows, ninjas are to be despised as sneaks. As he journeys with Shusaku he sees Oda's true personality and, as he meets other ninjas and other samurai, he comes to realize that the world is not as black and white as he thought. Taro's struggle with his perceptions and own morality were really well done in this book.


Another thing I liked about the book was how ninjas and vampires were melded into one race. Lake did an excellent job of making this believable and not preposterous or over-the-top at all. It is all well done and very tasteful. I also enjoyed all the cool ninja tricks and action scenes. This is definitely a book for the older young adult. As is often the case with ninjas, the violence in this book is pretty extreme.


There were a couple things I didn't like about this book. The plot is very predictable. After the first couple chapters I was able to predict how the storyline would go. The characters themselves were also very predictable. Lake's strong point is not characterization, the character's are a bit 2D and pretty dry. In fact there is no humor in this book whatsoever and that is another thing I didn't like about this book. Taro and his friends never have any fun. The book in general takes itself a bit too seriously. So if you are looking for something witty or humorous this is not the book for you.


Lastly this is not a stand-alone book. It pretty much stops right in the middle of the story with a number of things unresolved. Those who have read my reviews before know that this always irritates me; I think writers should be able to have some sort of ending in between books. The other thing that irked me is that this is not advertised as a series, yet it is clearly the start of one. If I had known it was the start of another series I probably wouldn't have read it. I spent a bit of time looking online and could not find any information about the rest of this series (how many books, next release date, etc.).


In summary I liked this book. The story is steeped in Japanese history that is interesting. The ninja vampires are well-done and believable. I thought the characterization was a bit weak and the story predictable. I was also disappointed it was so devoid of any humor. Readers looking for humor and romance should look elsewhere. Readers interested in Japanese history, ninjas, and politics will find a lot here to like. Will I read the next book in the series? I am undecided right now, I really didn't want to get involved in reading yet another series. We will see.

I got this book for my 9th grade son, who enjoys YA Fantasy. He loved it! He read it in 2 days and asked for a sequel. He especially enjoyed the Japanese heritage stuff: Feudal Japan, ninjas, samurai, martial arts, etc. He was so interested in it that I gave him my copy of Shogun - which he is reading now. He likes (most) vampire stories and mythology, but he isn't obsessed with it and the conceit that all ninjas are vampires was interesting to him (and added to the gore - always a plus for teenage boys), but it wasn't the main draw. The ninja warrior stuff as well as the classic YA Adventure framework of 'regular' boy with a secret identity becoming 'special' are what captured and held my son's interest. He rates it 5 stars.

Since I got this book from Vine, I felt I needed to read it myself, to be able to give a fair review. So I read it after my son. It is a classic YA tale: Humble fisherboy stumbles into a previously unknown world and his own secret past, and becomes a ninja warrior. Even within that (to me) trite context though, I enjoyed the story. It's well paced and well written, and (as a lover of Shogun and similar) I really loved the feudal Japan references and details. It was pretty bloody, and a little predictable, so if it were an adult book I would give it probably 4 stars from my own perspective. But it's not marketed to me, so I give it what the target audience felt it merited - 5 stars.

BOTTOM LINE: Very appealing to teenaged boys, lots of interesting Japanese historical details, and not a bad read even for a middle-aged mom like me.

Blood Ninja brings the Japanese myths to life by combining them with Vampire lore. The book follows the story of young Taro, a poor boy from a fishing village, who doesn't quite seem to fit in...until the worst happens and he becomes a vampire ninja samurai. The author has fun by questioning the goals and ideals of the samurai culture and the Shogun period of history. For me as an adult, the focus of the book was not as appealing as a more historical and non-vampire examination of the period would have been. From the perspective of the young adults who this book is intended for...it's hard to say. Some will no doubt be pleased by the abilities and limitations that being a vampire brings to our young hero, others will perhaps be disgusted by the need for the hero ninja to drink blood on a regular basis. I do think that young adults will be interested in the examination of morality the author provides, ie. where should a ninja's loyalties really lie...and how do you go about examining the motives and methods of your boss? I think for the book to be truly effective with young adults it should have a bit more humor and describe the violence in a slightly more comic book style. I give it four stars for it's plot, and its examination of complicated political realities. I cannot give it five because I feel it slightly misses it's best audience due to a lack of humor.

My son is more of a history buff than a vampire aficionado, but I requested this book hoping that he'd find a fun read that plays off a fascinating period of history. He is an avid reader who devours books that interest him. In this case, he read about half the book and just couldn't bring himself to finish it. He explained that there's not a ton of history in it...the setting seemed to him more of a loose backdrop than a rich tapestry. The vampires did not strike him as particularly sympathetic characters....we're not talking about Twilight here. So, in a nutshell, the setting, characters, and plot all failed to grab him after about half the book, and he gave up. He suggests it might be a good choice for kids who like monster books, but not particularly for those who are more into historical fiction.

By glancing at the cover, I'm sure you immediately thought the unthinkable had happened. I mean, there's already a book out about vampire pirates ("Vampirates"), so why not?

This is different.

If you like Japanese history - if you like accurate descriptions of feudal Japanese warriors - if you like a story that has twists...then this is the book for you.

The book starts out with Taro, a boy who dreams of one day breaking free of his peasant life and becoming a noble samurai under Lord Oda Nobunaga. Early in life, Taro's courageous nature and his uncanny archery skills are noticed by his fellow villagers. Rumors are whispered that Taro might be part spirit - rumors that Taro and his best friend Hiro laugh off. The idea that Taro is part-spirit seems as ridiculous and unfounded as the rumors of the local kyuuketsuki - a mythical, deadly demon who hunts humans for prey.

In one terrible night, Taro's beliefs are all swept away and he is forced into a new life of shadows and stealth. Becoming a ninja was the last thing Taro had wanted - but it is ultimately the only thing that will save himself and his friends.

Pros:

This book really brought Japan to life. It was as if I was stepping into the scenes and walking through the ornate gardens, smelling the salty sea air, feeling the rough rocky road beneath my feet. The descriptions alone would make the book a worthy purchase.

Taro, Hiro and Shusaku are really well-developed characters - in fact, all the characters are very deep. Nick Lake is brilliant in this respect: every character feels real and has real passions and fears. The evil Kira is the perfect bad guy: a man who seems unstoppable, but allows his neurotic fears to draw attention to weak points. Heiko and her little sister are feisty, but sensitive young women.

The plot itself is unstoppable. Surprises lurk around every corner, despite the traditional flow of the tale. I loved reading it - I couldn't put it down! It's good enough that I'm going to re-read it tonight, just to drink in the atmosphere.

Cons: The book seems a little predictable at times - I admit, I kept waiting for it to become cliche - but that apprehension was pretty much destroyed in the last few chapters.
Another con is something I won't mention yet - a spoiler - but let's just say it surprised me and did not seem necessary for this book to be a success.

So, what are you waiting for? Read it. And let me know what YOU think.

It's just another beautiful day at a seaside village in 16th-century Japan, and you're just a teenager -- the peasant son of a fisherman (father) and a diver (mother). Then, within a dozen pages of this new book be written about you, dark-robed ninjas appear out of nowhere and behead your father, attacking you with the same intent. Out of somewhere more hidden than nowhere, another ninja surfaces, only he begins to kill the ninjas attacking YOU. Your mother escapes. The guardian ninja -- a singular creation named Shusaku -- spirits you out of the house, and your life is never again the same.

Thus begins the fasten-your-seatbelts plot of Nick Lake's BLOOD NINJA, an arresting romp of martial arts, court intrigue, ninja derring-do, plot twists, odd friendships, unexpected betrayals, and oh, yeah, vampires. You see, all ninjas are vampires (who knew?), even though all vampires are not ninjas -- and while it may seem like a reach to market a historical fiction thriller by hitching its star to the hottest trend in YA lit of late, it's not. After all, the ninjas are fast and agile and harder to kill than mere humans. Plus it makes the plot more interesting when only a few of them are able to fight vast numbers of samurai (feudal Japanese soldiers allied to one of two rival lords, Lord Oda ad Lord Tokugawa). Hiding from the sun complicates matters, too. Especially when your enemies know your weaknesses as well as your strengths.

For guys especially, this adventure tale of a "nothing" boy with a secret past will prove hard to put down. The only thing that bars me from giving it 5 stars is a few technicalities. It is so rich in Japanese terms that I wish Lake had provided an index as reference for all of their definitions. Also, as you hurtle at breakneck pace toward the end awaiting a resolution to all the madness, you discover on the last page that you're reading the first in a series. This might please readers anxious for more, but others might not be so patient to wait the year it often takes for sequels to surface.

In any event, this will be small change for teen readers who love adventure stories. As Lake has done his homework on feudal Japan, adults should enjoy it as well. Don't expect any deep description or characterization, just sit back and enjoy the ride. As advertised, it's a lot of bloody fun.

Blood Ninja completely blew me away with its creativity. I mean ninjas and vampires... in the same novel. How awesome is that? But I quickly realized that Blood Ninja was also different for another reason.

As a reader and a lover of the Japanese culture, I almost instantly appreciated Lake's eye for detail. He infuses so much of the Japanese culture into Blood Ninja. From the lush setting to the epic tales, I was completely in heaven. However, for readers not familiar with Japanese culture, it is possible that much of the information will go over your head. Lake tended to use authentic wording and references to tales that some readers may not be all familiar with. Even with the knowledge that I brought into the novel, I will admit that I was lost a few times.

Blood Ninja is a novel that is to be savored. Quite honestly, this book took me weeks to finish. At times, it did run a little on the slower side. But I was okay with that do to all the details that Lake provides. Personally, I believe that this is a novel that you actually want to take your time with. I feel like if I had read this in a few hours or possibly even a few days, then I would not have gotten the full effect. Blood Ninja absolutely everything that I was hoping it would be and more. And I cannot wait to see what happens next.

This book is great, and so is its sequel. It is easy to read, historically accurate, and the author gives the story a perfect punctuation of action, folklore, and plot development.I highly recommend it.

I gave this book the benefit of the doubt but try as I might it just didn't grab my attention. The year is 1565, the place is Japan. Taro's father is murdered in front of him, setting Taro on a strange journey to become a ninja.

The story has action, fights, blood, and ninjas. It's sure to be a winning read for boys or anyone looking for some high action adventure. However, if in your heart you know, as I do, that the correct answer to "Pirates vs. Ninjas?" is always pirates this might not be the book for you.

I purchased Blood Ninja not expecting much (a ninja vampire story-how silly)but hoping to get some seventh graders interested in our Japan unit. I enjoyed the story so much that I purchased Blood Ninja II right away! The characters are very human and the story includes information about Japan, the feudal society, the code of the samurai, and ninja lengends that I can refer to in class. Four students have already read it and recommended it to friends. Any book that can get 7th grade boys to read is a hit-but the fact that I could refer to this during class was even better!