"Forgiveness is not a thing granted. It is a thing earned."
― Okami ―

Welcome back to another chapter of Duology Enough where i will review a duology and rate it whether it is enough just end as a series consist of two books, or does it need another books instead, or maybe too long that it should be ended as just a standalone.

Today i'm bringing you the continuation of the book that i've read back in 2017. I read it now because i was waiting to the matching cover that i got for the first book from fairyloot box, which is the pheonix one, but up until now there are none except the woman in the cover. You know already i don't really fancy real person in the cover, it's not part of my "aesthetic" mood for my shelf. So years past, no news for the matching cover, so i decided to read the e-book of it instead. Anyway, without further ado, let's dive in!

 

First Book Quick Flashback

To be honest since i read it almost 5 years ago, i can't really tell if i know a lot about what happened with the first book, and since i really too lazy to reread books (please note that i got tons of TBR books in myshelf so it's more fair to not reread the book i've read and more into trying to finish my endless TBR). It's a retelling for Mulan in Japanese Feudal, with a touch of Robin Hood for me. But here's a recap for you anyway.

The story start by the attempt of assassination of Mariko (our lead female character) who is accepting her fate as a woman in family to betrothed to Prince Raiden for her family's sake. She survived, and learned that this assassinations is by a Black Clan, a group by traitors. Decided to take a revenge, she dressed like a man and joining the Clan. There she met the leader, who is the son of the traitor that the King killed. But of course along the way she understand that they are not the bad group that do bad things but also like robin hood kind of group, stealing from rich people who did bad things and give it to people. 

The story in the first book end with Mariko discover that Okami, the guy that she fell in love with, is not the man he knows, but the Boy of that so called Traitor Takeda Shigen, who is the real Ranmaru Takeda that has been the name that the black clan believe that's the name of their Leader, who is Okami's best friend and also the son of the one that help to kill okami's dad, Asano Tsuneoki. 

Okay a bit confusing? Maybe i should rephrase it. Black clan is lead by Takeda Ranmaru, that turns out his true name is Asano Tsuneoki, who has using Okami's real name for decades because of he is trying to amend his father's act for supporting the king's decision to kill Okami's dad. 

In the end of the book one, Mariko's twin brother, Kenshin discoveren the Black Clan and take Okami to meet the King in return of the rest of Black Clan safety, and Mariko coming along with him in, claiming she's just a prisoner there and will marry Prince Raiden if he still wants her.

 

Synopsis

Okami is being held and tortured every night by the new Emperor, who also Prince Raiden's little brother, Minamoto Roku. Mariko in other hand in the edge of deadline of marrying the man that she didn't love, Prince Raiden but also want to save the man that she loves, Okami who is getting close to his death each passing time. Her brother in other hand, become the right hand of the palace, after the lost of the woman that he loves drowning himself in sake every night dealing with the hatred he felt for his twin sister for working along with the traitors, the Black Clan. His drinking habit just made him encounter for Yumi, Tsuneoki little sister who decided that she's not going to stay as a mere geiko but also gives contributions for Black Clan.

The mystery of the death of the last emperor, and the injustice that happened in the palace revealed, with also the sudden war that happening in the city outside the palace. Rescuing Okami become the priority for Mariko that she decided to give everything that she can to accomplish that.

 

My Review

I honestly found this book with a little bit slow pace in my opinion, probably because i've read fast paced plot in books, this one felt slower. It takes days even weeks for Mariko to figure out how to release Okami from his cell, that also happened to the Black Clan in trying to help Okami. 

 

What's Added 

We met new characters in here, but the most stunning one is the new emperror, Roku. He's younger than Raiden yet he becomes the emperor because he's the son of the empress, unlike Raiden who's a son of the king's consort. He's vicious, i still try to understand him, of why keeping Okami and torturing him for days instead of just kill him. I mean yes of course the main character can't be killed easily, but the reason behind it? He got the leader of black clan already, why fancy talking to Okami every night and torturing him while know that Okami is in no mood in talking with him?

“I find it easier to control something when it is in pieces. The Black Clan, the son of Takeda Shingen, any enemy who would see our family fail ...”
― Roku ―

 He just said he simply like to break things into pieces to figure things out. He's kind of maniac for me. And yes he is kind of mad, blinded by fury and mourn, but his actions just a prove that he is simply just a boy playing king. His brother in other hand, tho he's older, but he's too scared to do things right. He knows that Roku is in not fit to rule, but he serve him anyway. Of course he tried to help everyone if he can, and IF he brave enough.

“Do you know why that silly piece of pottery managed to survive?”
“Because you did not throw it hard enough.”
“No. In order for it to be hard enough to survive, it had to become strong. It had to be stepped on as clay. Shaped beneath the dutiful hand of a potter. And after all that, it had to live through a fire. You have lived through fire, Minamoto Raiden. You are stronger than you know. Everyone sees it but you.”
“I have no desire to rule this empire.”
“Which is exactly why you should.”
― Mariko to Raiden ―

 Another things added in this book is how romantic Okami could be, where in the first book we discover he's just a man with no ability (not want) to care, super swift in fighting and yes of course he sees Mariko as a person for she capable of not just a mere woman, but well... in this second book he become so romantic, and sexy. A spoiler cuz they did have this kind of make out scene, well... not that "make out" make out, but still sexy, just read it to find out.

“Sleep well, Lady Mariko. You are loved. It isn’t enough, but it’s all I have.”
― Okami ―

 

What should have added

I wish, as i talked about it before, that this book include more, not just Mariko trying to release Okami (and failed several times), i need more of the action time instead of just "Roku fell and died". I mean, he's strong right? he has the ability, the "magic" that Raiden didn't have. His death is just too plain for me. 

Raiden's mom, who being the one behind the assassin attempt for Mariko just doesn't make sense to me, why? and yet later she helped Mariko. I wonder how she got her magic. Which also lead to another unsolved story behind the death of Okami's mom. Who turns out that she sold her soul to big fishy creature in the sea, not just lost in the sea as Okami believed. Why sold her soul? Even if she sold her soul, why not helping Okami after that? where is she all this time?

Kenshin's POV become just so bleak, he just jumping around from being emperor's right hand, to helping the black clan, his encounter with Yumi sounds promising (well at least the part of them both in the story is the most interesting part of his POV here) but by the end, i think Ayama is back after that magic from Raiden's mom breaks. 

My Verdict

In is it enough wise? it's enough to be end just as a duology, but the book is just so-so for me (read my rating system here if you don't get what it means). I need more kick that i felt at the first time i read the first book which i didn't find it in this book. It was a good read, i love her writing style, but not good enough to took me into roller coaster ride. 

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