Princess of the Kagami Empire and The Healer of the world. Life as an Imperial Princess is rife with danger, betrayal and intrigue as Mikomi joins forces with a rebel group of samurai warriors in order to usurp the throne from her tyrannical father. To win this seemingly hopeless war, she must train with Musubi, a warrior in the rebel army, and learn the art of the sword without revealing her … identity as The Healer.
Unbeknownst to her, Musubi harbors his own secret identity and personal agenda, both of which hold dark consequences for Mikomi’s future. Neither one can afford to share their secrets, nor can they ignore the powerful chemistry building between them.
Further complications arise at the arrival of her betrothed, Katsu, who must aid her in mastering control of her own gift before she ascends as a full kami on her eighteenth birthday. Katsu is not the cold-hearted warrior god she expected, but how can she spend eternity with a deity she may never love?
Determined to avoid her destiny, she spies on her father and his generals, collecting intelligence for the rebel army in the hope that one day the empire of Kagami will be liberated and her own future will be hers to control.
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I received a complimentary copy of the entire healer series for free to give a voluntary honest review. This is the review of the second book in the series and contains only my own thoughts and opinions of The black blossom.
Sometimes expectations ruin books and sometimes they make it so so much better than what you first pictured in your head. In this case it’s certainly, absolutely one hundred percent the latter. I did not expect this outcome after reading the first book, perhaps because my expectations were somewhat lowered, and I am as thrilled as much as I am surprised over how much I loved it! Very well done C.J Anaya!
I think one of the reasons as to why I am so happily surprised of this story is because of the setting, time, culture and environment created in this world of the The Black Blossom. It’s completely different from The Healer. While I found the first book interesting and a good read, I couldn’t really get into the story and invest myself as much in the characters thoughts, feelings and struggles. It was difficult mainly because everything and every event felt so convenient and ways to progress the story forward. The characters were not as relatable with barely no pronounced personal conflicts or flaws, and some (Angie) was just too sillIy, always cracking jokes, to be realistic. In this book it was the exact opposite. There was struggle for control and freedom, for independence and for forbidden feelings. In all, it was everything I adore in a romance story, and the setting only added to the mood and depth of the book. Plus, thank god Angie was barely in it!
I liked the historical Japanese culture aspect with the Japanese garden, palace, furnishings, clothes and even the social rankings and living conditions as a woman. It really gave it a dramatic flare since Mikomi had to deflect and stand up to the treatment of women of that time. She had to learn to take place in a man’s world after being raised to always behave submissively towards men. It also made me really enjoy the playfulness and equality between Mikomi and Musubi as well as the injustice and growing feelings to sometimes resentment between her and Katsu. One thing I did hope for however, that I found missing in The Healer as well, is some more backbone in Mikomi. That’s not to say she did not have any, but I had wished that she had stood up more against Katsu when she disliked how he behaved or treated her.
One thing the author did bring over from the other book is it’s originality. In fact, I felt it even more unique now considering how she is building the entire series. Usually a series timeline is the beginning til the end. The healer series seems to be near ending, then beginning jumping in different times. Since I’ve only read two of the books I can’t say for sure of the series entire timeline, but I really find it imaginative and special the way it is built up so far. Just the way I like it, and I can’t wait to read The grass cutter next!
This book was captivating! I didn’t even want to stop reading knowing I needed to eat or take care of other necessities. Mikomi, a princess and the prophesied Hpealer, has an inner strength that most others could only hope for. Abused and used by her father the Emperor, and God of Health and Longevity, was anything but. And her mother just turned a blind eye to her daughter’s pain. Mikomi only wanted to be loved by her parents but her mother’s indifference and her father’s thirst for power made that impossible. I had to admire Mikomi’s inner strength and determination to do what was right. Her confusion regarding her feelings for Musubi and her appreciation for Katsu’s devotion made my heart go out to her. I appreciated the Japanese history that wound its way throughout this story. Ms Anaya did a wonderful job incorporating it into this tale whether it be actual history didn’t really with matter to me since this is a story of fiction. It made me appreciate all the more Ms Anaya’s creativity and ability to write well. I am very anxious to read on to the next book in this series.
The time travel themes and Japanese mythology was fun and interesting to read about. I haven’t read many stories that had Asian culture inbedded into the story. I love these kind of storylines, and you can learn from YA novels as much as documentary fiction ones! Thank you C. J. Anaya;P C.J. Anaya
This series is so worth reading. I initially started it because I received a copy of the first novel of the series in exchange for an honest review, but I loved it so much I grabbed the whole series thanks to Kindle Unlimited. Anyway, this book immediately sucked me in and blew my mind. It is a great twist on the usual style that authors use in relating a characters back story with infrequent flashbacks. I love how the whole novel is devoted to Hope’s previous life. It just makes you connect with the characters that much more.
The characters are flawlessly and lovingly created. The world that was created is so full of life and energy that you are seriously just sucked right in from page one. While there were some predicable elements to the story, they in no way detracted from the story itself and rather came off as a natural progression of events.
Of course, the author had to such a fantastic job with this book that I immediately moved on to the third one!
That cover art, though!! Love it! I also like how the author preceded the novel by giving a rundown of who’s who and what the Japanese words mean that she incorporates. I really enjoy this series and can’t wait to get the next installment. This second book opened up right where the last ended with Musubi making a deal with the devil in 700 AD that will affect them all more than a thousand years later. We follow him, Mikoma, and Katsu through the beginning and the events that will eventually lead up to why Mikoma was reborn into our present day Hope. We get into the hearts and minds of Musubi and Mikoma as they fall in something like love as they Mikoma learns how to protect herself while keeping her identity as The Healer a secret. There are many twists and turns and we watch in horror as Mikoma deals with the need to be loved and not even receiving anything close to it from her parents, who use her for her gifts to gain power for themselves. The difference in the culture during that day and Mikoma’s struggle to be the obedient quiet meek woman she is expected to be. We are left hanging onto Tie’s fears for their future and hope for what will come after Hope wakes up. The fun part of reading these is trying to decide who has been reincarnated into whom between the past and the future. Overall, Great job and a definite recommendation to anyone that enjoys a mythological YA read with a hint of history worked in!
abg
@AmberG
That cover art, though!! Love it! I also like how the author preceded the novel by giving a rundown of who’s who and what the Japanese words mean that she incorporates.
I really enjoy this series and can’t wait to get the next installment. This second book opened up right where the last ended with Musubi making a deal with the devil in 700 AD that will affect them all more than a thousand years later. We follow him, Mikoma, and Katsu through the beginning and the events that will eventually lead up to why Mikoma was reborn into our present day Hope. We get into the hearts and minds of Musubi and Mikoma as they fall in something like love as they Mikoma learns how to protect herself while keeping her identity as The Healer a secret. There are many twists and turns and we watch in horror as Mikoma deals with the need to be loved and not even receiving anything close to it from her parents, who use her for her gifts to gain power for themselves. The difference in the culture during that day and Mikoma’s struggle to be the obedient quiet meek woman she is expected to be. We are left hanging onto Tie’s fears for their future and hope for what will come after Hope wakes up.
The fun part of reading these is trying to decide who has been reincarnated into whom between the past and the future.
Overall, Great job and a definite recommendation to anyone that enjoys a mythological YA read with a hint of history worked in!