1) Warriors can come in all shapes and sizes, but I love the way that this first-person narration is so crisp and simple. Risuko thinks clearly and is very direct: qualities that will serve her well as an assassin.
2) The author is a Joseph Campbell scholar, so we shouldn’t be surprised that Risuko is a young woman who lacks a needed parent and who has great powers and skills, but is not in a position to make use of them. Sound familiar? (Luke Skywalker, Harry Potter, a million other characters…) These stories work because the themes strike us so deeply.
3) I love that one of Risuko’s skills is the ability to climb trees. Not only will the skill help her when she becomes an assassin, but I love that she is consistently on a high wire. She could fall at any time! This is drama!
Visit the author’s web site and buy his book!
