The Procrastinators Book Club discussion

This is the group thread for The Sword of Kaigen!

Content Warnings: murder, attempted murder, kidnapping, imprisonment.

This thread is open for discussion beginning June 1st! Please keep in mind that spoilers are allowed (mark as a spoiler) in this thread but only up to the group's current reading place. Do not spoil the book if you've read further than the group. Any extra days of the month can be used to catch up if needed! Page numbers are an approximation based on the hardcover or paperback that is the default on Goodreads.

The Group Read Discussion schedule is as follows:

Week of 06/01
June 01: Chapter 1 or 21 pages
June 02: Chapter 2 or 21 pages

Week of 06/03
June 03: Chapter 3 or 21 pages
June 04: Chapter 4 or 21 pages
June 05: Chapter 5 or 21 pages
June 06: Chapter 6 or 21 pages
June 07: Chapter 7 or 21 pages
June 08: Chapter 8 or 21 pages
June 09: Chapter 9 or 21 pages

Week of 06/10
June 10: Chapter 10 or 21 pages
June 11: Chapter 11 or 21 pages
June 12: Chapter 12 or 21 pages
June 13: Chapter 13 or 21 pages
June 14: Chapter 14 or 21 pages
June 15: Chapter 15 or 21 pages
June 16: Chapter 16 or 21 pages

Week of 06/17
June 17: Chapter 17 or 21 pages
June 18: Chapter 18 or 21 pages
June 19: Chapter 19 or 21 pages
June 20: Chapter 20 or 21 pages
June 21: Chapter 21 or 21 pages
June 22: Chapter 22 or 21 pages
June 23: Chapter 23 or 21 pages

Week of 06/24
June 24: Chapter 24 or 21 pages
June 25: Chapter 25 or 21 pages
June 26: Chapter 26 or 21 pages
June 27: Chapter 27 or 21 pages
June 28: Chapter 28 or 21 pages
June 29: Chapter 29 or 21 pages
June 30: Chapter 30-31 or 21 pages


You can read the group book at any time during the month and at your own pace. This is the pace the group will be using, but if you read ahead or will be giving spoilers, please mark them (click the "some html is ok button"). If you have any questions a mod or another member can help you.

through end of chapter 1: (view spoiler)[I am intrigued. The boy feels so much in the past but then the new kid is like super in the future? Curious to see how these two worlds merge - although considered a fantasy - maybe a dash of sci-fi?
I like the mom - she seems pretty cool and her sister in law is also cool - like screw the expectations - it all good to be yourself kind of vibe. (hide spoiler)]

I am enjoying this so far! (view spoiler)[I like how the new kid called out the propaganda that was being taught in the schools. I can only assume that, in addition to all the war history we learned (well, some people learned. My eyes kind of glazed over haha) will all come together to kick off the plot properly. I'm excited to learn about the mom's backstory (hide spoiler)]

I was previously reading Jade City and kind of struggling with it. I feel like Jade City and Sword of Kaigen have some similarities. Inspired by similar cultures, some political-heavy plot, warriors...but for some reason this book has been way easier for me to read than Jade City. That one might be on the backburner for now so I can focus on this.

end of Ch 3
I have to say it started out pretty confusing due to the introduction of so many characters and new names and terms. I'm looking forward to reading about how the magic works here.

@Katie I definitely glossed over the history! it was too much and I was so lost hahaha

@Brianna I was intrigued about the difference in clothes/tech too in Ch 1 and Ch 3 answers it for me. (view spoiler)[ I guess inhabitants of this island have been kept in the dark and they believe they're the most powerful warriors but having been to other places, Kwang and Mamoru's mum know better.

The rewriting of history reminds me slightly of how Japan teaches the history of WWII and since the names are pretty Japanese, it didn't escape my notice. (hide spoiler)]

through end of chapter 2: (view spoiler)[I am still struggling with the world building - there are a lot of words/terms that mean absolutely nothing to me. I think it's interesting that both the mom and the new kid have similar views on the history and government - they don't always speak the truth. (hide spoiler)]

I'm hoping I can find a glossary somewhere online to help me get through the world building part because I am STRUGGLING. I sort of get what most of these terms are, but when you get so many so fast I'm a little dizzy. Love that this is available on KU but that makes it hard to refer to any supplementary materials (if there even are any)

through ch 4: (view spoiler)[The ending of the last chapter was such a cliffhanger going into this one. That's the type of thing I would normally keep reading, but I am doing another readathon through youtube that has very different prompts, so I'm going through this book a bit more slowly so I can prioritize books that are more appropriate for the other thing. At this point I almost feel like Mamoru is going to team up with him mom and lead a revolution or something. I hope he gets more chill with Kwang and they end up being friends. I sort of missed having a Mom POV this chapter because I reeeeeally want to know what her whole deal is. She has a juicy, juicy backstory, and I'm thirsty. (hide spoiler)]

I was able to find this glossary on the author's website: https://mlwangbooks.com/glossary-main/

through end of chapter 5:
The world is still confusing to be but what I've been able to gather is this: The part of the world that Mamoru lives in is kind of stuck in the past and Kwang comes from a more progressive area. Somehow Kwang knows that the history that is being taught is actually just BS/propaganda. Mamoru's mom is a badass and her line can manipulate blood?

(view spoiler)[I'm sorry - his mom has one of the most rare glass blades?! Why?! How?! I cannot wait to learn more about her past. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 6: (view spoiler)[MISAKI WAS A FREAKING VIGILANTE JUSTICE SUPERHERO???? WHAT AN ICON

just from glancing, it looks like the next chapter is continuing to follow her backstory. I think this is where we will really get to understand the broader world and get some worldbuilding in addition to learning a lot about her character. I'm so excited. (hide spoiler)]

On an unrelated note, one of the author's other standalone fantasies was picked up by a traditional publisher and is coming out in October. The trad pubbed edition looks stunningggggg. If I like Sword of Kaigen, I will definitely preorder. The cover art is so gorgeous and the initial print run has sprayed edges

@Katie - re chapter 6: (view spoiler)[RIGHT?! I hope the book continues to focus primarily on her. She's my favorite so far. I like her son and the perspective he brings, but she is just such a bad ass. (hide spoiler)]

Which standalone was picked up?! I am curious!

Ch 4 - I wonder if this incident will make Mamoru and Kwang closer. It must have been earth-shattering for a boy told all his life that they defended the nation without anybody from the ally nation dying, but then to realise he's been lied to all his life.

Ch 5 - it feels like a shame that the art of swordsmithing is dying, but I guess if a sword can cost as much as a house, not many people can afford them. (view spoiler)[I wonder if Mamoru's mother was some kind of warrior? For her blade to have seen the most combat I that household, she must have been. (hide spoiler)]

Ch 6 - this chapter touches on many different races and people, it gets confusing. @Brianna thanks for the glossary, there's a lot of new terms and honestly some of them should be explained in the story like - "adyn" in this chapter - I had no idea what it meant until I looked at the glossary and I feel like that's lazy writing especially given that Sword of Kaigen is meant to be a standalone and not everyone would have read the trilogy.

(view spoiler)[ it's really interesting that three teenagers took it upon themselves to be vigilantes. i guess Misaki has always resigned herself to be married off, and I wonder what happened to Robin. (hide spoiler)]

Ch 7 - (view spoiler)[it is sad to read about the young Misaki, a determined warrior and swordswoman, reduced to just a wife and daughter-in-law. and to have a husband that acts like he couldn't care less. I really liked the scene where she was trying to teach young Mamoru to control his gift. I hope that we'll see more of than in the future, now that Mamoru has questions of his own.
I'm glad that Setsuko married into the family and was able to lift Misaki from her dark thoughts. (hide spoiler)]

Ch 8 (view spoiler)[ I really don't know why Takeru and Misaki wants to keep pretending that everything is alright, and that the emperor isn't lying to their people. It's one thing to choose and stay and be the first line of defence, but surely if you know what's true, you'd also try not to deny it? Are they such loyal subjects of the emperor? Feels like they let their blind faith in the heritage their family names dictate how they live (hide spoiler)]

I'm reading ahead because I'm doing The Amazing Readathon on youtube and this fits the current prompt. I just finished Ch. 20 so there's a lot that has happened that I will keep to myself for now!

@Brianna the other book that got picked up is called Blood Over Bright Haven. I don't know why I didn't say that in the first place! I'm now 60% in and still really enjoying this, so it's looking likely that I will pick up a copy of BOBH. If you follow the link I'm about to share, you can see what it looks like in the new trad pubbed hardback and the original self pubbed cover https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/bo...

Up to end Ch 12
Things certainly picked up and are getting more exciting. I still feel really sad for Misaki. Angry and sad. Angry that her husband refused to believe her until it was too late. Surely the kind of knowledge she possesses is useful for this situation.

I'm so glad Mamoru was not like his father. He didn't shy away from (view spoiler)[ letting his mother train him and he didn't belittle or disbelief her once he saw that she was capable (hide spoiler)]

@Katie - I have heard of Blood Over Bright Haven and some people I follow on YouTube said that it's even better than Sword of Kaigen - I'm not sure if I like the new cover but I definitely don't hate it - I dig the sprayed edges!

through end of chapter 12: (view spoiler)[So I must have gotten confused because I thought Misaki's husband was the head of the family but I guess it's actually her brother-in-law?
Oh snap! I'm glad she stood up to her husband but good lord - he needs to learn to listen cause now war (basically. potentially?)
Oh no. This is intense. lol Also - the guy who was mediating and killed the 3 in the tornado - that was impressive. (hide spoiler)]

@Brianna that guy was Misaki's husband hahha yes the names are confusing

through end of chapter 15: (view spoiler)[Things are getting intense! I typically will skim through battle scenes because they are hard for me to picture more often than not. Other than not understanding how the area is set up with the mountain passes, villages, and where things are in relation to each other, I did not skim these battle scenes. The Matsuda's have POWER. Also Misaki is bad ass. (hide spoiler)]

Binged through Chapter 20 yesterday and today thanks to jet lag but also really enjoying the story. My only complaint is the use of italics for speech, that is what quotations marks do!

(view spoiler)[ My heart is breaking for the loss of Mamoru and all the others but especially Mamoru. I'm not sure how to make it through another 300 pages without him! So much has happened to Misaki, family and community with all the devastation.

I really wonder what is next. I have so many questions. Does Misaki go after the emperor for putting the mountain in harm's way? Does she give extra mothering to her remaining boys? Will there be a reunion with the vigilantes? How will her husband manage? Will he acknowledge that Misaki has some skill? (hide spoiler)]

Had to pause after Chapter 22 to work on a book due back to the library but it was kind of a natural stopping point.

(view spoiler)[ Still reeling that the battle already happened and we lost Mamoru with a third still left of the book. I'm really happy that Misaki's brother arrived and hopefully he can improve her husband's treatment of her. I am a bit horrified by what the "empire" will do to the bodies. Do you think they are trying to source out their natural powers? Whatever it is, it can't be good or honorable to these poor traditional communities. I really hope that the husband wakes up and stands up for his people. (hide spoiler)]

Through the end of chapter 23 - I *cried* about Mamoru - it was so sad! It will be interesting to see where the story goes at this point with Misaki and everything happening at the village. I also hope that the dad pulls it together - He seems kind of checked out. Is that his personality or is he still processing losing most of his family and his son?

Also cried! I think it is his personality and also just so ingrained in him to honor the emperor that not doing so would require him to reevaluate his life choices and losses.

Finishing a BR and then back to this one.

Through Chapter 28

(view spoiler)[ FINALLY!! So glad that Misaki finally woke up her husband. His backstory was sad but he needs to be present and address the issues. Glad that the rest of community is also getting wise to the empire. They are going to need the husband/ wife co-leaders.

I really don't know what to make of the imitation Mamoru assassin. Maybe he was part of the group studying the bodies but why and to what purpose? And the missing girl? Will they train her/ experiment on her for that sliver of god's blood? (hide spoiler)]

through the end of chapter 29: (view spoiler)[Okay so imitation son was creepy and why did they take the little girl? I love that Misaki and her husband are finally on the same page and he is showing her more respect. I did like that he explained his perspective as to why he was so distant with her at first. Knowing this is essentially a standalone I am curious to see where this will go since there are only 2 chapters left. (hide spoiler)]

Completed (view spoiler)[ The ending was fine but also a bit mundane for how it started with domestic happiness though I am glad that there is a new understanding between the Misaki and husband.

The last chapter was really a big tease for spin offs but then the afterword said she changed her mind on additional books in the universe. I'm might be fine with that decision and would be interested in reading more from the author. (hide spoiler)]

@Brianna, agree on the creepy. Interested to see how you find the ending.

@Jen K: (view spoiler)[I agree about the ending - it was fine but also felt kind of boring compared to the rest of the novel. It did feel like a tease for spin offs and it looks like there are 2 other books set in this world and I think it was with Robin's son. I did enjoy the writing so I will definitely pick up Blood Over Bright Haven. (hide spoiler)]

@Brianna, I missed that others were already written. A story about Daniel might be interesting. He was a fascinating kid.

I thought the ending showed what this book really was--not an epic fantasy about inciting a rebellion, but rather a slice of life story that happens to occur during a tumultuous, violent event. I thought it was really interesting how the author subverted the expectations you would have due to the conventions of the fantasy genre.

@Katie - That is a perspective I had not considered in regards to the type of fantasy and how the ending supports that. With that view, that it is a slice of life story more so than some epic with rebellious intentions, the ending makes more sense.

I'm late again to the party but I finally finished it. I have such mixed feelings like (view spoiler)[ I almost dnf-ed after what happened to Mamoru but glad I didn't because I enjoyed Misaki's character arc and at the end it kinda went full circle for her but I still felt so sad, like I was tricked because we were getting the story from his pov. it felt like such huge potential was cut short. when Misaki watered the the pine at the end omg my heart

@Brianna & Jen I relly disliked Takeru but the duel was electrifying for me, for Misaki to finally get his respect and for him to honour her

I'm upset that we don't really get closure at the end though it feels like there's all this built up but then there wasn't much of a conflict resolution. it feels like the last third of the book was just on rebuilding and maybe that is meant to imitate life? idk
(hide spoiler)]