Customer Reviews

The Crab (Legend of the Five Rings: Clan War, Fifth Scroll)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Hida Kisada is a man who has spent fifty years fighting evil. Not some distant, vague concept of evil, but the actual thing: undead, demons, goblins, and the like. Every day, for fifty years, he has fought them or planned to fight them.

So why is it that he hooks up with them so willingly?

Granted, the initial offer takes two years for Kisada to mull over, but after that, it's easy - he sacrifices his clan's purpose, his desire for peace, and his son's soul all in one day.

Let me say that again: he effectively sells out everything he believes in, in a single day.

To be certain, this book isn't absolutely terrible. It's just that, as written, Kisada's not half the man Bayushi Shoju was (see the first novel in this series, there to find a similar character in a similar, but better-written, situation).

Worse, Kisada's not a tragic hero - he's a blundering idiot. He makes the kind of flagrant mistakes that should get people questioning his sanity and competence.

Finally, stay far, far away from this novel if you don't like the word "ropy" being used more often than the word "the."

What makes this novel worse than the Unicorn novel is that the Unicorn author at least had the excuse that the Unicorn never did anything. The Crab were arguably the biggest players in the Clan War, but you couldn't tell that from this.

I really love this series, and while this is one of the better books of the series it most certainly isn't the best. I think there is very good character development, however you can way too easily see what is going to happen by the end of the book - while there are some twists and turns you from the middle of the book onward know what is going to happen. It does help make sense as to why the Crab would align with their age old enemy, and it does help the rest of the story unfold nicely. I think Kisada is a very well written interesting character who is torn between his own ambitions, his clan, the magic placed upon him, and his ever increasing age. I wish the author had delved more into the character of Sukune, and I also did not like how he spoke of the hidden love between Sukune and Yamako but never ever showed it. Yamako seemed to only have a deep hatred towards his brother by the middle of the book. It is too drastic of a change, and while I can see the attempted show of Yamako's change as a man it was too sudden. Also the author pulls the Hida sister out of NOWHERE, and that is a little surprising considering she didn't come into play until towards the very end of the book. The book can also be a little repetitious at times, such as how many zillion times he explains the murderous rage that Amarao goes into when he fights in battle, and some of the descriptions he uses over and over again. However, the great character development and the interesting storyline make it one of the better books of the series.

The Crab Clan have guarded Rokugan for centuries, fighting from the wall. Life begins at the wall, Life ends at the wall, the book reflects this admirably.

The Crab depend on their strength and their Iron Will, they serve by protecting the empire, not through politics. However, as in life, Politics impacts their service. A strong empire provides what the Crab needs to do their duty, a weak one does not. When does the duty to the Crab outweigh the Duty to the empire. When is the Strength of the Crab enough to stand alone against the taint? That is delved into in this book.

As the other books in the Clan War Scrolls, the central dilemma is a struggle between duty and perception of duty, and a struggle of personal desire against duty. In the Crab, this struggle is very visible.

What this book does do is continue the progress of the series. The story covers the longest time of any of the books thus far, and although it doesn't agree completely with the other books as far as events, but then I assume that every book is written from a specific clan-oriented point of view.

I would reccomend the book if you have been reading the Clan War Scrolls, or if you are interested Fantasy with a Shogun style flair.

I believe Stan! was able to properly capture the essence of what it means to be a Crab while not portraying that clan as a bunch of war-driven simps. The book has its share of high and low points, but considering this is the first novel-length work from Mr. Brown, I can hardly see how he could have done better. The novel more than met my expectations and I look forward to future works from Stan!

This is a wonderful book. Stan! Brown writes an amazing tale of swordplay and evil. When I got this book it didnt seem as though it would be as good as the previous 4 books, but it definitely was. The storyline is from a much different perspective than that of the other books. All of the other clans think the Crab are uncivilized slobs. This book really shows the true Crab, and how much they would give up for the Emerald Empire. This book has the longest span, streching from before "The Scorpion" by Stephen D. Sullivan to the middle of the next book, "The Dragon" by Ree Soesbee. It is a masterful tale, and if you have read the first four books or even if you havent, this is a wonderful addition to the Legend of the Five Rings storyline.

This is a wonderful book. Stan! Brown writes an amazing tale of swordplay and evil. When I got this book it didnt seem as though it would be as good as the previous 4 books, but it definitely was. The storyline is from a much different perspective than that of the other books. All of the other clans think the Crab are uncivilized slobs. This book really shows the true Crab, and how much they would give up for the Emerald Empire. This book has the longest span, streching from before "The Scorpion" by Stephen D. Sullivan to the middle of the next book, "The Dragon" by Ree Soesbee. It is a masterful tale, and if you have read the first four books or even if you havent, this is a wonderful addition to the Legend of the Five Rings storyline.

It still entertains. The Crab is a much better book then I originally thought it would be. This novel shows the side of the Crab Clan and their actions during the Clan Wars. The Crabs were the main antagonistic group during the Clan War, but as you read this novel you will find the actions, thoughts, feelings, sacrifices, and reasons why they left the wall of Roukugan and joined with the Shadowland creatures.

There are some events in this novel that might be of interest to fans.

1.) The novel touches and tells the story of the rivalry between Yakamo and Hitomi. Their two battles, and even the initial fight between Yakamo and Hitomi's brother which started their feud.

2.) The day Kisada lost his Tetsubo to the great oni, and entered the Shadowlands with his army to retrieve it back.

3.) The battle of Beiden Pass.

--Along with the Great Bear (Kisada) his sons Yakamo and Sukune are main characters in the novel as well as Kuni Yori. Hido O-ushi makes a few appearances in this book, but is mostly a minor character.

--For those who are fans of the world of legend of the five rings, the Crab is a novel which you will enjoy.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, but the condition it arrived in was a little worse than I had expected. It did ship quickly, and I am happy with the transaction overall.

Good book which presents a strong character. Though I did not like the very ending.

As good as THE SCORPION.

Must read to understand THE DRAGON.

If u want to develop a plot to a L5R rpg it's very good book to read.

This was a great continuation to the "Legend Of The Five Rings" saga. It explains something that has been a mystery in the previous books... why have the Crab Clan joined forces with the Shadowland forces (the bad guys)?
There is a good ending that seems to be setting up a good climax to the story in the next two books. I can't wait to read them.

I thought this previous review was incorrect:
--------------------
"Granted, the initial offer takes two years for Kisada to mull over, but after that, it's easy - he sacrifices his clan's purpose, his desire for peace, and his son's soul all in one day.

Let me say that again: he effectively sells out everything he believes in, in a single day."
-------------------

I read this review before reading the book and remembered this statement. I disagree with this review now having read the book.

1) Kisada didn't change in one day. He was manipulated over a very long period of time by many different people (and events) and his bad decisions were a result of all the external forces slowly changing his mind. I don't remember him making all these decisions in one day, but if he did, it is still plausable. It's like when someone has had enough and snaps. It can happen.
2) He didn't sacrifice his clan's purpose. He twisted it, but it was still the same... protect the empire.
3) He did what he did FOR peace... not to sacrifice it. It's very much like "The Scorpion".
4) He didn't realize that he had sacrificed his son's soul at first. He may even have let himself be blinded to it.

What's more, his decisions make sense based on the Crab ideology. The 'claw arm' is a good symbol as to the rational behind why the Crab are in kahootz with the Shadow army. There are many reasons why Kisada 'allied' with the Shadowland forces and attacked the rest of the Empire. I must have found dozens of them. I could list them all, but I'd give away too much.

If you really want to know what influences Kisada's change, You have to watch the other characters more carefully. Through them, most specifically his two sons, Kisada's thoughts and influences are better explained. One son represents Kisada's honor and the correct path, the other son represents his corruption and the wrong path. The writer put their arguments and views there to expose what the father is thinking and how he is changing. Kisada's unconsious betrayal of his good son represents how he unconciously betrayed his own good side, or the correct path.

So, it's mostly through other characters that you get your insight to Kisada. That may be why the previous reviewer thought Kisada's change was too abrupt. Kisada's motivation is not always apparent through his own thoughts, words, or deeds.

Another clue as to why Kidasa becomes corrupted is in the first chapter. Kisada's "Soul" is stolen by an Oni (Demon). This has to be why he became more open to corruption in the first place.

On another note, I love the goblins. They crack me up. They are very comical. This is also the first time in the series they are really described. Before this book, they were just goblins. They are foul-mouthed and somewhat cowardly. The only thing that keeps them fighting is the fact that their Oni commanders will kill them if they don't. They taunt humans endlessly and wave their privates at them before battles.

There is one point that confused me. I could have sworn that in "The Unicorn" the warriors that confront Kisada's good son in the tent were described as being merely shadows inside armor. In this book, they are undead zombies. Maybe I read it wrong in "The Unicorn". I'll have to check. If not, it's a weird inconsistency.

Another thing that bothered me was when the Zombies suddenly stopped acting like zombies. This was a way bigger stretch than Kisada changing. Especially because the Zombies have no personalities or free will to change. They have been acting a certain way through all of these 5 books and suddenly they act differently. I don't get it. It shouldn't have happened.

All in all a very good read. But read the other books first.

ON TO BOOK 6!! "The Dragon"