The Masacado Scrolls: Volume 1

~ Four amazing stories of Japanese legend and fantasy in one volume by award-winning author, Charles T. Whipple ~

The Fall of Awa
The evil Toh, in a pact with Lord Yami, rampage into the Kantoh kingdoms of the east. One by one, the kingdoms fall until only the tiny country of Awa remains. Ryo, the child of Tsubomi, has the gift of reikan, which allows her to sense and see dark forces. She sees evil attacking Nokogiriyama castle and rushes to warn Lord Masaharu. Still, the castle falls, Masaharu commits hara-kiri, and Tsubomi and Ryo become slaves of the Funin outcasts. Yet all is not lost.

The Shadow Shield
Earning a place among the Kage costs Kaku the little finger on his left hand. He is there as Kage warriors capture Nokogiriyama castle, where he first sees Ryo. Now he knows she's the Seeker and sadame calls him to be her Shielder. He must go to her side, even though oni demons, hannama beings, and giant squid bar the way. Picking up two trusted companions, Gulan the Tengu and Nanashi the nameless woman, he battles his way to Awa Omote and Ryo.

Road to Kio
As is the custom, Masacado has a different youth nameSoma-no-Koziro. When he is five years old, the prophetess sends him on a journey to Kio, the city of the Emperor. Ryo the Seeker, Kaku the Shielder, Gulan the Tengu, and Nanashi the nameless woman accompany him, together with Kage warriors. They enter a cavern in search of the secret shrine of Amaterasu, Yami caves it in. All are trapped except Koziro and Moribei the wolf.

The Horse Soldiers
Yotsu horse-soldier mercenaries traditionally hire out to the Toh. Noritsugu, captain of the Yotsu contingent guarding Michizane, a Toh noble, becomes ever more disgusted with his evil ways. When he captures a young girl, strips her, and prepares a ritual rape with Yami's black priests, Noritsugu snaps. He rescues the girl and rides with his men to the shrine of Amaterasu. There, he is anointed the Bearer and called to deliver the girl, a princess, to the Seeker in Awa Omote.

Reviews
"I'm not a big fan of stories set in the Orient, but Whipple does a great job with this one and has me looking forward to the rest of the series. It's a nice blend of historical and heroic fantasy, and if you're a fan of those genres, you should check it out. I enjoyed it a lot." -Bestselling author, James Reasoner

"Even though English is my second language, I enjoyed reading "The Fall of Awa". I could not put it down until the last. The story is so real to me because it has Japanese history and myth in it. And about the heroine, Ryo Chan is not only adorable but also so brave and she knows what she has to do. She has a special talent called reikan. I'm deeply fascinated with her. So I must say as one of the Japanese readers, this story is AMAZING and I can't wait to read the next one!" -Japanese reader, Kumi Osumi

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