Customer Reviews

The Dragon King's Palace: A Novel (Sano Ichiro Mysteries)

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

 

 

This book has the usual political intrigue and sensual moments readers have come to expect from Laura Joh Rowland's novels. However, I came away feeling less than satisfied with this tale and eager to read the next novel in her series. It seemed as if maybe this book is a "bridge" - it wasn't so much a story in itself but was there to set up for future events. I won't spoil it for anyone who hasn't read the book, but for anyone who is following the series, there should be a MAJOR shake-up of political power in the next book. That interests me more than what happened in this book.

Another exciting and fast paced Sano Ichiro mystery novel! And truthfully speaking, if you're looking for a good historical mystery novel that will keep you at the edge of your seat, you need not look any further than this latest Sano Ichiro installment, "The Dragon King's Palace."

It's June of 1694, and the city of Edo seems to be suffering from the effects of a particularly bad heat wave. In order to escape this stiflingly bad weather, Lady Keisho-in, shogun Tokugawa Tsunayoshi (Japan's supreme military leader)'s mother has decided to mount a 'small' trip to Mount Fuji. And she's decided that Reiko (the wife of Sano Ichiro who also happens to be the shogun's Most Honourable Investigator of Events, Situations and People), Reiko's heavily pregnant good friend, Midori (who is also the wife of Sano's most trusted aide, Hirata), and Lady Yanagisawa (the wife of Chamberlain Yanagiswa, the shogun's second-in-command and Sano's arch enemy) should accompany her on this trip. But en route to Mount Fuji, the party is attacked; the ladies are kidnapped and Lady Keisho-in's entire entourage of servants and guards slaughtered. Who could have mounted such an outrageous attack, and why? Was it some power hungry daimyo trying to show just how weak and powerless the shogun actually is? Or could it be some enemy of the Chamberlain's retaliating for some past wrong? Or could it be as Sano fears, that the Black Lotus sect trying to seek revenge on Sano for having caused the downfall of their once powerful and wealthy sect? Thrown together because of circumstances, Sano and the Chamberlain must put their past distrust and dislike of each other behind them so that they can discover who actually is responsible for the kidnapping as well as mount a rescue of the ladies before it's too late. But even as the two men face the danger and treachery around them, neither is quite ready for the strange and amazing twists that this case will take, or the personal cost that each will suffer...

I finished "The Dragon King's Palace" in one sitting. Fortunately, I had the day off -- a day I had planned to do a lot of weeding! Instead of which I found that I had spent the entire afternoon breathlessly turning the pages, reading along as Sano tried to discover who was behind this outrageous kidnapping and hoping that Reiko did not come up a cropper! What an exciting and suspenseful read this was. Laura Joh Rowland has written a cleverly plotted book that is full of wonderful and rich detail, and that fits in (comfortably) with the past books in this series. I particularly liked that this book really focused on the courage, intelligence and resourcefulness of Reiko. The novel unfolded smoothly, seamlessly and at an incredibly swift pace. All in all, a really good installment in the Sano Ichiro mystery series, and one not to be missed.

I appear to be a contrarian when it comes to the Sano Ichiro series. To now, I've enjoyed the Tokugawa milieu and have been captured by the culture and the actions of the characters within the culture. I have been disappointed by what I perceive as amateurish, illogical, and impulsive decisions by the characters to push an often plodding plot ahead and by the need for an ocasional lucky circumstance to resolve awkward plot logjams.

However, with DGP, I finally have seen Rowland let the plot horses run and the result has been a quickly moving, exciting plot structure with the characters in accord with events -- swept along perhaps -- rather than shuffling along behind a stiff story line.

So, I finally read a Ichiro novel that had me keep turning the pages and one where I did not keep asking myself, "Why in the world whould he or she do something that stupid?" It was a good read and I hope the next story maintains the pace.

Dragon King's Palace marks something of a break from formula in Rowland's Sano Ichiro novels, in that it's a faster-paced kidnapping drama rather than the typical Ichiro murder mystery. As such it's a more cinematic story - along the lines of an action-adventure film - and a more vigorous page-turner. This makes for an entertaining read, but with something of a downside: It lacks the complexity of some of Rowland's previous Ichiro books, particularly the immediately preceding volume, "Pillow Book of Lady Wisteria" which represents perhaps Rowland's most in-depth plotting. You're essentially trading some depth and richness in storytelling for a more compelling pace.

Three particular details stand out in this volume, one positive and two negative: Dragon King marks the first time that Shogun Tokugawa Tsunayoshi takes some decisive (albeit minor,) independent action. It's such a departure that it's out of character, but any sign of rationality from that character is a definite plus.

His otherwise senile indecisiveness and malleability, however, borders on lunacy - and that element, also developing in a more malevolent way here in the character of Lady Yanagasawa, is the literary equivalent of a short-circuit. Anyone who's suffered through any given French art film - where at least one protagonist must either already be or become insane as a matter of course - knows the groan-inducing betrayal created by the "insane character" cop-out. It's too convenient for the writer and too arbitrary for the intellect of the reader, therefore must be used carefully or not at all. It doesn't get too bad in Dragon King, but the emergence of the phenomenon in the Lady Yanagasawa character and to a degree within the Shogun's mother Keisho-in, is worrisome for those who plan on reading future Ichiro novels.

Another criticism lies in a missed opportunity. At one point Ichiro is faced with a genuine moral choice, that rarity of rarities that was once the backbone of great romantic fiction. We've all heard the phrase "show, don't tell" in context of character development. A moral dilemma is the only means by which the true underlying character of a protagonist (or antagonist) can be demonstrated in a lasting way - a point of spectacular confusion in writer Orson Scott Card's recent (May 03, 2005) unintentionally-comedic editorial diatribe against the Star Trek series. (Despite its cheap television production values, Star Trek turned the classic morality play into a weekly art form, and its writers did it by demonstrating timeless issues - like honesty, integrity, volition, reason, liberty and human rights, in the actions of the principle characters.)

Sano is called to honor a pre-existing promise to enemies with whom he has a tenuous truce - but rather than demonstrating his integrity without hesitation, thereby enriching the strength of the character and presenting an opportunity for a dramatic new direction in the series, Sano instead dithers in moral indecision, balks, then only begrudgingly agrees to stick to his word. The opportunity is blown, the scene falls flat, and Sano is left as a pedestrian everyman clouded in an ethical fog. Aaargh.

If you can overlook those negatives, Dragon King is a rousing adventure story with castle strongholds, damsels in distress, races against time, backstabbing treachery, and admirable strength in its convincing exposition of the villain's motives. What it lacks in richness of atmosphere and plot detail that was so effective in the previous "Pillow Book of Lady Wisteria," is compensated for by its addictive foray into thriller territory

I love the Sano Ichiro series. If you read the books in chronological order (which I highly recommend), you see Laura Joh Rowland increasingly make Reiko her primary character and reduce in role of Sano. Is this a good or bad thing? I guess that depends on your love of the Sano character. I do adore Sano and I've missed the concentration on him in the last couple of novels. By writing Reiko to be a co-primary character, Rowland allows herself a potentially broader range of plot lines. I'm enjoying the mix of male and female threads in the books. I also enjoy the exploration of Reiko and Sano's unusual relationship and a look at how the male and female worlds in medieval Japan interacted.

In this book, Reiko plays a central role and draws heavily on the martial arts training her father provided her. If you don't care for this aspect of the series, you may not like this novel. If you enjoy the spotlight on the Reiko character, you'll love this book.

Welcome to the later days of the Tokugawa Shogunate. The Portuguese had come and gone, samurai now used guns in battle, and gradually the strength and vitality of the times was ebbing away. Sano Ichiro, the Shogun's Most Honorable Investigator spends as much time dealing with the devious political maneuvering of opponents like Chamberlain Yanagisawa and Police Commissioner Hoshina - all trying to influence the decisions of a weak and effeminate Shogun whose main virtue is his love for his mother.

Their attendance commanded, Sano's wife Reiko, her friend Midori, and Lady Yanagisawa must accompany the Shogun's mother on a pilgrimage to Mount Fuji. Almost at the mountain their entourage is attacked, the ladies kidnapped, and the rest left dead. A little while later a note is posted on the gates of Edo - if the Shogun fails to execute Hoshina, the Honorable Lady Keisho-in will be killed. Sano and Yanagisawa become unwilling allies, one trying to save his wife, and the other his lover.

Sano's detective skills are severely tried as he races to save the lives of the women, hampered as much by a frantic Shogun as he is by the lack of facts. Far away from Edo, Reiko's wits and bravery are tested to their maximum as she and her friends face a man driven mad by his own grief and guilt. No matter how this drama ends, it will have far reaching consequences for the survivors.

Laura Joh Rowland combines her natural storytelling ability with a fine eye for the details of medieval Japan. The city of Edo, the hallways of the palace, and the homes of the players all seem to leap to life and the reader learns Japanese sociology and history while being entertained by a story that has as many twists and turns as Japanese bureaucracy does. All of the Sano Ichiro stories have a serious side, but the Dragon King's Palace touches on the pivotal issues that drove Japan into crisis. We see the samurai world changing before our eyes, and Rowland pulls very few punches.

I recommend the entire series, but The Dragon King's Palace is one of the best, a tightly woven story of suspense and mystery.

I have to say the same thing I say with all the books in this series: Fantastic! Well-written, great plots, love the characters, page turners. I can't stop reading them, but am so bummed when I'm done that the stories' over and I have to wait for her next book.

Sano Ichiro and his wife and friends are wonderful characters created by Ms. Rowland. I now have all of the books (in paperback--can't afford hardbacks) in the series, and am looking forward to more books.

Not too far into the story, there is a certain sameness to the book like her others. This feeling might change as I read more.
Marsha Luzzi

Admittedly this book begins in a rather slow manner, but it serves a purpose. If you are tenacious enough to make it past the first 50 pages, it gets VERY GOOD ! Linda Joh's style takes some getting used to, but once into it you will be glad you made it there. She weaves a very rich tapestry of visuals, characters, and history. I only gave it 4 stars because I always felt myself wanting more during the intimate scenes.