Shadow of the Ninja

With a dramatic cover which will attract boys, this is the sequel to The Way of the Warrior, but stands well on its own. The events of the previous story are presented to the reader and the unfamiliar background of Japan in 1575 is painlessly drawn in a fast-moving narrative. Jimmu has been studying at a monastery for a year to improve his fighting skills as a samurai and has also studied meditation and prayer. He leaves to return to his lord’s castle where he discovers that the lord’s daughter, the Lady Takeko with whom Jimmu is in love, has been kidnapped by Lord Sabura. Jimmu takes it upon himself to rescue the Lady, but on meeting Ryu, a Ninja, realises that he needs help. Riyu’s Ninja group agree to help him. The moral and ethical background to sixteenth-century Japan is clearly depicted which gives this somewhat violent story some depth. The violent killing of opponents, with heads, arms and legs being sliced off, is somewhat glossed over. It is dealt with in a rather matter of fact way which does make it unimportant and such violent incidents may attract reluctant boy readers. This is a well written story with a good feel for the period and society in which Jimmu lives, and where his realisation that his love for the Lady Takeko can never be seems the right thing to happen.