It is completely absorbing, showing Lesley Downer's deep knowledge of Japan and her mastery of its complex history during the nineteenth century. LIAN HEARN, author of Across the Nightingale Floor
The Shogun Quartet Series
This series transports readers to a meticulously researched feudal Japan, brimming with political intrigue and personal sacrifice. Follow the journeys of courageous women navigating treacherous landscapes, facing foreign invaders and hidden secrets. The narratives weave together threads of forbidden romance, unwavering loyalty, and the quest for survival. Prepare to be captivated by epic tales of honor, betrayal, and the fight for one's homeland.
Recommended Reading Order
The Last Concubine
- 624 pages
- 22 hours of reading
Epic history and romance combine in a sweeping novel featuring the beautiful mistress of the last shogun emperor.
The courtesan and the samurai
- 480 pages
- 17 hours of reading
Japan, 1868: the last shogun has been defeated, the age of the emperors is about to begin and in Japan's frozen north a diehard band of loyalists plans a desperate last stand.
The Samurai's Daughter
- 560 pages
- 20 hours of reading
In 1870s Japan, Taka and Nobu meet as children and fall in love, but their relationship challenges societal norms. Following a civil war, Japan is modernizing with rickshaws, railways, and educational reforms. Social mobility allows commoners to marry across classes, and the historical animosities seem to fade. Taka belongs to the influential southern Satsuma clan, led by her father, General Kitaoka, while Nobu hails from the northern Aizu clan, once decimated by the Satsuma forces. Their love must remain secret due to family enmity, but unforeseen events shift the balance of power. Discontent brews among southern samurai, stripped of their swords and honor by the new regime. Taka's father returns to Kyushu, where unrest is escalating. As he and his clan rebel, the government deploys its new army, which includes Nobu and his brothers seeking revenge against the Satsuma. Caught in a web of loyalty and love, Nobu faces the possibility of fighting Taka's father and brother, while Taka is forced to choose between her family and her heart.