The world-building and character development in ‘The Sword of Kaigen’ are well done and highly memorable, and the mix of genres is massive yet effective, thanks to the author’s talent. I found the first 25% of the book a bit slow, and I wasn’t a fan of the ending, but overall, this is an outstanding novel. I felt immersed in the fantasy world, full of Asian references, politics, culture, and magic, and I fell in love with the female character of Misaki, a surprisingly kickass mom and heroine. This novel evoked a range of emotions, and I felt deeply connected to the family and the villagers, cheering their successes and sharing in their sadness over the losses. If you like fantasy novels that also contain socio-political plots, well-developed characters, fighting like samurai and ninja with magical powers, you’ll enjoy ‘The Sword of Kaigen’ as much as I did.