Customer Reviews

The Guin Saga: Book One: The Leopard Mask (Bk. 1)

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I have just finished reading The Guin Saga: Book Five: The Marches King (Bk. 5), and I have to say that this series is not uninspiring at all. Then again, I'm a fan of heroic fiction, so my perspective may be considered skewed. I picked up the books on a whim, and, although I can say that the first couple of books are mostly setting scenes as well as introducing characters and the world in general, books 3-5 were more about developing the characters.

Admittedly, Guin not having a memory and being able to do things inexplicably is a big plot device, but even Kurimoto recognized that, and has reminded us in book 5 that Guin is basically a hand of the gods.

I think the twins develop well as the story progresses, and are recognizable as separate beings with their own personalities and ways of thinking. If there was no or little character development, I think this wouldn't be true. Rinda is definitely spunky and too proud, and Remus is too cautious, but watchful.

Also, one may not start out liking Istavan, but by book 5, he too has developed in ways. He's mischievous and cheeky, with a foul mouth, but he's interesting because of all the characters he shows the most flaws.

I should lastly like to say, for the most part, all of the characters in this series are very young. The twins are only 14; Istavan is merely 19; Suni is just a child; and even Amnelis is just 17-18. They are guided and protected by the older and wiser people in this story, but they are STILL children. They are developing even as the story develops. Kurimoto tends to reinforce that they are just young teenagers trying to deal with the turmoil around them, all the while trying to achieve their destiny.

The writing improves as the characters become more rounded, and it's a shame to play this off so simply. The first book may not be ground breaking, but it does lead to a much more interesting world.

I would say give this a try through book three and see if it grabs you then. There must be a reason that this series has captured so many people in so many places for so long. I mean, there are 126 novels that are translated in a few languages. There must be something more than just the first two books can give us.

I'm not much of a traditional heroic fantasy fan and The Leopard Mask, the first installment of The Guin Saga (now at 124 novels), won't be changing my habits. This is a rather uninspiring tale of two twins (Remus and Rinda) whose kingdom has fallen to an evil army and who are now trying to stay alive among all of the ghouls, demons, and other nasties who live in the marches. They are saved by an intriguing amnesic warrior (Guin) who, for some unknown reason, has an irremovable leopard mask fused to his face.

The writing is only serviceable. I don't know if this is due to the original Japanese text or to the English translation but it just doesn't grab me. The perspectives change abruptly, the dialogue is stilted, and the omniscient narrator tells too much -- sometimes in a tone that would be used to teach children.

The plot of The Leopard Mask is quick as it moves from action sequence to action sequence. But for all of the fighting, being captured, escaping, and yelling ("Guin, look out!" "Rinda, Rinda!" "Remus!" "Ahh!" "The door! They're breaking down the door!" "Run!" "Guin, it's coming this way!" "Run, quickly!" "Guin! Quickly! Are you okay?" "Arragh!"), my heart rate didn't rise once.

There is little character development in The Leopard Mask. With their platinum hair and violet eyes, the twins seem more like a couple of manga characters than real humans, but I'm sure readers will get to know them better in future books. The masked warrior is somewhat intriguing (or perhaps it's the rippling muscles that have deluded me) and I would like to know what's up with the leopard head, but I'm not about to read 123 more installments to find out. I have a feeling that The Guin Saga might be more enjoyable in its manga format.

The royal twins and their strange friend were interesting in the first chapters. Towards the end and after endless battle scenes with swarms of little monkey people, you've learned little more. The finale is so obvious you just don't care enough to see what happens in the next episode. It's too bad because the English translation is masterful.