Cold Sake: Yamabuki vs. the Undead Kindle Edition

The Japanese tradition is long and complicated, with subtleties that are truly hard to capture in a work of extant fiction. However, Katherine M. Lawrence does a wonderful job of it. Peppered throughout "Cold Sake" and "Haru" are little details like using the old calendar (Year of the Monkey, for example), and translating the tongue-twister names of people in the pre-modern era so that their inherent meanings can be gleaned even by readers unfamiliar with the language.Doubly impressive is the character Yamabuki herself, deftly crafted and executed on the page and throughout the story. Skillful, confident; full of Japanese "warrior spirit", Yamabuki embodies much of what the original tales of samurai and the feudal era would have given her, making Lawrence's work feel authentic. It is also reminiscent of Lafcadio Hearn's gothic tales of Japan, as well as "The Tale of Heike", but again, with the pleasant and refreshing twist of a female protagonist.I was thoroughly pleased with the portrayal and use of Yamabuki's gender as well––the story avoids the usual traps of the 'female warrior trope' by keeping Yamabuki human, indeed sometimes gloriously androgynous, yet the fact she is a woman is essential to the story."Cold Sake" takes up roughly half of the Kindle file, with the other half being dedicated to an excerpt from a novel Yamabuki will be featured in as well. Lawrence certainly gave a great teaser––I am eager to pick up the next installment in the series.The only problem I had was that, while the beginning and the end of the stories were quite strong, the middle parts seemed to drag at times, focusing too much on establishing more setting or explaining terms and culture for the reader. As a student of Japanese and a long-term resident of Japan, I realize that not everyone going in will have an understanding of the language, and even with the help of the well-organized appendix in the back, might stumble through a few parts of the text. Still, if you are looking for a unique window into the world of medieval Japan, "Cold Sake" is a great place to start.

There are two selections here, both starring the same character, Yamabuki, a female samurai in Japan at the end of the turbulent Heian era (around 1175 CE). One is a stand-alone short story - Cold Sake - while the other, Haru (Spring), is the first chapter in a longer book about Yamabuki. I loved them both, and eagerly await the next publication.Katherine Lawrence writes with a very strong sense of place, of time, and of character. Yamabuki rides alone in both of the selections, apparently depending on her own wit and ability to survive. Japan seems to be fragmented at this time - there may or may not be a recognized emperor; and the common people, local law enforcement and aristocrats she meets may or may not recognize and honor her status as an Imperial messenger. She's more than up to the task, though what it may have already cost her is not yet known, or what it may cost her. It's clear she has a back story, and the author has given us some information and some hints - an early life in the Imperial Court, perhaps a map-making patron, a high-ranking birth family. I want to know more.At the end of the first chapter, it's clear that Yamabuki is out very far from the Imperial Court, both geographically and emotionally, on a mission to find and perhaps kill a new unknown sword maker. This gives the narrative an added impetus - why is she out here alone? What are her allegiances? Why was she sent? Did she come on her own?Interestingly, even though Yamabuki doesn't believe in them, it's clear that there are real gods and real supernatural beings in her world; and it seems likely that she will be thrown in with them whether she believes or not. In Cold Sake, she survives the attack of a vengeful female spirit, but does she believe, or does she think it was all a dream?The Pillow Book of Lady Sei Shonagon is well known. Lawrence has named the Yamabuki saga, the Pillow Book of a Samurai, and includes a pawky little story explaining why Lady Sei Shonagon called her book the Pillow Book. I can't wait for the next installment!

I enjoyed this standalone short story (it's outside the story line of the Yamabuki books). It conveys the feeling of the setting well, a nice supernatural story.Be aware that it's very short, however, just 67 pages for the story itself on the Kindle version (excluding the author's note, glossary, and excerpt from another book at the end). I was surprised and a bit disappointed that it concluded so quickly, especially since the extra pages at the end gave the appearance that there was still more. That said, the story had accomplished what it intended, and if brief, it was still complete.

I purchased this book on the recommendation of a friend and while it is not a genre which would normally interest me, I ended up loving the book almost immediately. The combination of a strong female protagonist in the somewhat unusual role as a Samurai warrior seemed unlikely at first first, but was the story developed, I was completely engaged, so much so that I was surprised and unhappy when I reached the book's end, unhappy that I'd run out of story.I will definitely buy the book when it is published and look forward to the further adventures of Yamabuki and her horse Mochizuki.Very good, very exciting.

From the words of the author, Katherine Lawrence: "I can just picture Yamabuki in her old age gathering a group of youngsters together, and with a sly smile on her face saying, 'Let me tell you a story that happened to me when I was young. And I swear it's all true...'" So can I. Wonderful ghost story to introduce us to Yamabuki, who I predict will become one of the best-known heroines in historical fiction.

This taste of Lawrence's work was a pleasure to read. I'm very much looking forward to more - really, the last time I remember anticipating a next novel in this way was way back when, awaiting delivery of the next in Robert Van Gulik's Judge Dee series. Brava, a fine start.

A haunting short story about a lady samurai. Really enjoyed this little book but wish it could have been more of a novel.