M.L. Wang’s The Sword of Kaigen is set in the isolated Kusanagi Peninsula, where the Matsuda family has spent generations training to be the empire’s strongest warriors. Fourteen-year-old Mamoru has never questioned his duty—until an outsider exposes cracks in everything he’s been taught. His mother, Misaki, once a fighter herself, has spent years trying to forget the girl she used to be, playing the role of the perfect housewife in a society that expects women to stay in their place. Yet, when war creeps closer to their doorstep, and the empire’s lies start unraveling, mother and son are forced to face who they really are—and decide what’s worth fighting for.
This book tore my heart apart and stitched it back together. I’m incredibly impressed and in awe of M.L. Wang’s ability to write such an insightful, beautiful, and gut-wrenching standalone story in just about 600 pages (on the shorter side for epic fantasy). The world-building and magic system are beautifully done, the characters are complex, and Wang explores themes like war and its cost, family, duty, and grief in a raw, deeply thoughtful way.
I first discovered The Sword of Kaigen on my favorite BookTuber’s channel, @katieisreading. When it appeared on my book-focused TikTok FYP, I was convinced to give it a try. Verdict: It’s one of the best BookTok recommendations I’ve ever read.
There are few negative reviews of this book on BookTok. The primary concern I’ve come across is that the pacing is “odd” and sometimes slow. While I can see why some might think that, I think it isn’t a flaw in the book but simply the nature of it. It is a character-driven story that can feel slow to those whose enjoyment comes from action-packed scenes. Yet, I find that the slow start and chaotic middle, which echo through to the final page, make the story emotionally engaging. The time spent familiarizing yourself with Wang’s characters during the first couple hundred pages is invaluable to appreciating the impact of the later, action-heavy scenes.
The following paragraphs contain spoilers for The Sword of Kaigen
There are so many things that I love about this book, but the main reason this book has my heart in a chokehold is Wang’s beautiful yet gut-wrenching portrayal of grief. The book approaches the topic in an unembellished and devastating manner, forcing readers to step into the roles of a mother who has lost her son, a widowed wife, and a community devastated by war, death, and loss.
“The best Misaki could do was hold her baby, and love him, and love him, and hope it was enough that she could let him go.”
“But he’s still gone. She didn’t need to say it aloud. The thought hung in the air all around them. Misaki had learned to live with the weight of it, to go about her day, cook, clean, and play with her living children while it hung there, quiet but ever-present.”
I sobbed on my first read and still shed a tear every time I re-read them. While I believe that much of the enjoyment readers derive from this book stems from the personal experiences and baggage they bring, I wholeheartedly believe this is one of the best standalone fantasy novels ever written.
Since finishing the book, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about Misaki and Mamoru, and I doubt I’ll ever forget how it made me feel. I was afraid it wouldn’t live up to the BookTok hype, yet The Sword of Kaigen has become one of my all-time favorite books.