Customer Reviews

The Initiate Brother: Book 1

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Asian readers and those familiar with the cultures and histories of China and Japan might think this book is patronizing, even insulting, as it does not seem to get either culture right. The names of the characters sound either Japanese or Chinese; the elements adopted from both cultures seem random and clumsy, and the name of the imperial dynasty has a Japanese pronunciation despite the obviously Chinese historical setting. However, somewhere around page 100 I turned off the "I live here, and that's not right" attitude of criticism and started reading the story as pure fantasy. After that, it was easy to enjoy the intricate plot, characters that I found to be fascinating and a setting that is more original than many in fantasy today exactly because it ignores the European influences that pervade the genre. "The Initiate Brother" is a great read. Now that Russel has created his unique and intricate world, I hope he stays with it, producing stories in different ages and locations. He does not need to borrow from Asian history anymore, but can let Wa take on a life of its own.

I have to admit reading Sean Russell's first novel because of the cover art. Michael Whelan, the illustrator, sure earns his fees. But once I got into the book, I could barely stop. Set in a country that is a smooth blend of Japan and China, Russell invites us into the lives of several extremely interesting characters.

Probably the most central character is the Lord Shonto. Most people we meet along the way, are either his confederates or his enemies. The title character however, is the one who draws us more deeply into the story. Brother Shuyun is fresh out of the temple and has been selected to serve the Lord Shonto in place of his previous Botahist Monk. This humble, quite and mysterious monk is not only adept at the arts taught in the temple but is deemed by his teachers to have a special purpose. The suspense is delightful as Shuyun slowly comes into his own under the moral guidance of the great lord and his talented and beautiful daughter.

This is a book of details and yet it doesn't get bogged down by them. I love reading about the intricacies of a board game called "Gii", obviously styled on "Go." The court politics, philosophy of gardens, strategies of war and teachings of the Botohara are all captivating. Even the bad guys are fleshed out sympathetically. This book, along with its sequel "Gatherer of Clouds," is a masterwork and is bound to stand up over time as a fantasy classic.

This two volume story is elegant, moving, and fun. The monk, Shuyun, comes to be spiritual advisor to the Shonto family. From there, we have intrigue with the emperor, a barbarian invasion, complex politics, wild battles, and an elegant fictionalized China, complete with lovely poetry. Buy both volumes at once, and throw away the remote control.

This book and the one that follows (Gatherer of Clouds) are some of the most original fantasies in the last 10 years. While most fantasies have magicians and all kinds of magical creatures, Mr. Russell decided to concentrate on people, and not only that, he decided to concentrate on INTERESTING people. This, I wish to impress, is a rare occurance in fantasy novels where the spells or the dragon or the magic sword are usually the bread and butter.

The last fantasy that was this original was probably "Seventh Son" in the Tales of Alvin Maker series by Orson Scott Card.

I was pleasantly surprised when I read this book and its sequel, Gatherer of Clouds. Both are novels full of intrigue, politics, war, and religion, a mix reminiscent of Frank Herbert's Dune saga. In fact, at first I thought they might be a clone of the Dune books set in an Oriental fantasy realm, but they soon took on a life of their own. A fascinating read from cover to cover, with vital characters who you'll grow to love. I hope Russell will write another duology set in Wa, especially now that he's reached success with his other novels.

"The Initiate Brother" is not for the casual reader. It took me a few tries to get into this book as it was so different than my expectations. However, once I was able to absorb into the story it became clear to me that this book was definitely a keeper. As in the classic story of Dune by Frank Herbert, this book as all about "plans within plans".

The setting is the nation of Wa, which is an amalgam of Asian societies (particularly China and Japan). Although the story appears on first glance to be about a gifted young Botahist (Buddhist) Monk, the story is really about power; the wielding and aquisition of it. The Empire of Wa has recently been overthrown by a new family and the new Emperor is fearful of the same. A new religion (essentially Christianity) has become in vogue and the Botahist order, in an attempt to keep their faith as the primary belief system of Wa, sends out a young monk named Shuyun; idealistic, and amazingly gifted in martial arts, meditation and the ability to slow time. He is to be the new spiritual adviser to Lord Shonto a powerful Lord and brilliant strategist and also an avowed Botahist believer. Shuyun is meant to be a pawn and spy for his order which is fearful of dissolution, but the young monk's eyes are opened to a new world and he learns quickly that all is not as it appears. This faithful, simple young man comes to doubt the very doctrine that he has been schooled in since he was a toddler. He suspects that the ancient texts have been changed in order that the Botahists can gain power. All of this along with court intrigue, assassinations and the threat of a new invasion of Wa by an unstoppable hoard of Barbarians from the outer regions.

Sean Russell has a deep understanding of politics. In this book there really are no "good" guys and everyone is out for themselves, even (and especially) "spiritual", religious orders.

Take the time to read this one and it's follow up "Gatherer of Clouds" you won't be dissappointed. This is an important lesson for our times and it will give the reader a deeper understanding of the motivations of government and religions.

The world is rich and well-designed, the characters are strongly portrayed, and the plot is intricate and satisfying. What more can you ask? If you order this book, order the sequel at the same time, because it's all really one long story.

The only drawback: the book may be considered slow-paced by some, because of the detail of the portrayals and the intricate interweaving of several seperate plot lines. There are many characters to follow. All plot lines DO make sense and come together in the end, so it's a worthwhile effort.

War and plague have recently swept across the kingdom of Wa, leaving a new emperor feeling insecure on his throne. He feels threatened by the ancient houses of Wa, and most especially by the revered Lord Shonto, an intelligent and highly competent man. When the emperor appoints Shonto as governor of the northern province of Seh, Shonto isn't sure if this is an honor, or a trap.

Both men have some excellent allies. Shonto has adopted the lovely and gifted Lady Nishima, the last heir of the former empire, and has recently secured as his spiritual advisor the Botahist monk Shuyun who is recognized by his brothers as the most promising monk in ages. He has also befriended a minor lord from the North who has little influence in that region, but seems to see things more clearly than his elders do. The emperor's staff includes handsome and clever General Jaku Katta, the famous kickboxer, and Jaku's clever young brother.

Of course, all of these allies -- Lady Nishima, Shuyun, Jaku Katta -- have their own human desires and concerns. For example, Shuyun is worried about the Botahist order -- the ancient scrolls are missing, and some of his brother monks have disappeared. When he leaves his monastery, he sees things which make him question some of the teachings of his faith.

As you can tell by the names, Sean Russell's The Initiate Brother, first published in 1991, is an Eastern-flavored fantasy similar to Lian Hearn's Tales of the Otori and Guy Gavriel Kay's Under Heaven. The Initiate Brother also reminds me of GGK's work because it's full of fascinating twisty political intrigue and there's a large cast of realistic and appealing characters who we get to know well when we're privy to their internal thoughts. If you're a fan of GGK, you're almost certain to enjoy The Initiate Brother (and you probably won't mind the frequent POV shifts).

The occasional use of short Japanese poems and a strategy game similar to the ancient Chinese boardgame Go, add to the world-building and inspire the story. The plot, which is layered with conflict and intrigue, gradually and inexhaustibly rises to a tense climax at the end of the novel. Then it stops. I was sorry that I didn't have the sequel, Gatherer of Clouds, on hand to begin immediately, but I will be picking it up soon -- it promises plenty of excitement and I look forward to finding out what happens to these interesting people.

I listened to Blackstone Audio's production of The Initiate Brother, read by Elijah Alexander. Mostly I enjoyed Mr. Alexander's narration -- he has a superb reading voice. However, because the cast of characters was so large, he used a couple of annoying techniques to distinguish minor characters. For example, in this ancient Oriental culture, the merchant Tanaka has a Boston accent and a female nun sounds like a Chicago mobster. More distracting, though, was what happened when Mr. Alexander ran out of voices. Instead of recycling, he gave each new character a peculiar speech tempo which often makes the character seem like he has a speech impediment or, worse, like he is mentally disabled. I doubt that this is what Sean Russell intended for his emperor. Realizing that such a large cast must be problematic for an audiobook reader, I'm willing to overlook this little quirk -- and I'll be happily reading the sequel on audio.

Easily one of the best culturally based fantasy novels that has ever been written. The "Shogun" of modern fantasy. Superb.

I thought the book was great!! The only beef I had with this book was that the author did not spend enough time in this book concentrated on Shuyun, the young Bohatist monk. He calls the book "The Initiate Brother" and you would think that he would have the main character be the monk. Instead he makes Lord Shonto, a powerful and charismatic war leader, the main character. Don't get me wrong, Lord Shonto is a very good character, but in my opinion the whole plot and story of this book would have been better if Mr. Russell concentrated more on the development of Shuyun. All in all, I would recommend this book to Russell fans and anybody who likes fantasy.