Category Archives: News

Help Kumamoto Earthquake Victims

A pair of strong earthquakes have rocked Kumamoto Prefecture in southwestern Japan on the island of Kyushu. At least 29 people have died, and over 1900 injured. The civil-war-era Kumamoto Castle was damaged and over 45,000 people evacuated from their homes.

As always in a disaster such as this, your help can make a huge difference for the victims. Consider donating to the Red Cross, and keep the people of Kumamoto in your thoughts.

 

Read Moon Time at Mochizuki, the next exciting chapter of Risuko!

17—Moon Time at Mochizuki

In which Risuko, Emi, and Toumi learn a lot about knives — and rocks. (Teen Historical Adventure)

The routine was almost reassuring: lessons, work, Toumi growling—all of it flowed from one day to the next like a line of ducks swimming up-river. Even the rock-carrying became routine. Occasionally, one or two figures in miko’s robes wandered in through the front gate; just as often, one or more of the women would leave after the morning meal. Yet the little community remained very much the same.

The odd sounds from the great hall were different every day, and always infuriatingly fascinating: sometimes grunts, sometime shouting, and once what sounded like breaking wood. But we weren’t allowed to look, and so this too became part of the pattern.

One day, when the great hall was unusually silent, we were sorting dried mushrooms by color. Kee Sun was very particular about the mix of colors and flavors in all of the food that we prepared. Once we were well into the boring work, he informed us that he had to “go visit the King,” a phrase we never understood, and never wanted to. However, we knew that he would be gone some time. When he had gone, Emi’s sharp elbow bounced against my ribs. Continue reading Read Moon Time at Mochizuki, the next exciting chapter of Risuko!

Risuko Review—BookTuber WhyMermaids: “Really enjoyed!”

BookTuber WhyMermaids gives a quick review of Risuko! 

Check out WhyMermaids’s YouTube channel for this and other great YA book reviews!

WRAP UP | march 2016

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InDTale Magazine Risuko Review: “★★★★½—Impossible to put it down!”

InDTale Magazine, a news and review journal for indie publishing, posted a glowing featured review of Risuko!

It is easy to invest in the characters, and once the reader starts this book, it’s almost impossible to put it down. Risuko goes through a lot of character growth throughout the book. An entertaining story with excellent writing and haunting descriptions, a relatable heroine, and fast-paced writing. 

Continue reading InDTale Magazine Risuko Review: “★★★★½—Impossible to put it down!”

Another Goodreads Giveaway!

We’re having another Goodreads giveaway for Risuko: A Kunoichi Tale! Entries are only open until Friday, April 1 (no fooling!), so head on over to the world’s largest social site for book lovers and sign up now!

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Risuko by David Kudler

Risuko

by David Kudler

Giveaway ends April 01, 2016.

See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter Giveaway

Read Blades — the next exciting chapter in Risuko!

16—Blades

In which Risuko, Emi, and Toumi learn a lot about knives — and rocks. (Teen Historical Adventure)

As I entered Kee Sun’s kitchen, I kept my face down so as not to catch Toumi’s eye, or Emi’s. I didn’t want either of them to see that I was upset. I took a stack of bowls and began to walk toward the dining hall to get ready for the mid-day meal, but Kee Sun stopped me. “No, girlie,” he chortled, his scar twisting, “Not to go in there this morning. Yeh don’t go in there while Lady Chiyome is running her ladies through their paces unless yeh want yehr head handed back to yeh in one of those bowls.”

I looked at him blankly.

“There’s classes yeh three aren’t welcome to join till yeh’re initiated,” he said with something like a smirk, “so we get ready in here and then run like wood demons to serve out the meal once they’re done. Now, set yehr little squirrel fingers to work.” Continue reading Read Blades — the next exciting chapter in Risuko!

Read Risuko Chapter 15 — The Music Lesson

15 — The Music Lesson

In which Risuko learns to play the flute, but all is not as it seems, and someone says farewell

When Fuyudori cheerfully woke us the next morning, none of us—Emi, Toumi, Mai, Shino, or myself—was very happy about it. My legs were sore from the combination of riding all day and then staying on my feet all evening. And that wasn’t even counting scurrying through the juniper and gripping that branch with my knees while arrows hissed overhead.

One of the older girls whined, “Why do we have to get up? They have kitchen duty.”

“You have duties outside the kitchen, just as I have had for the past three years,” Fuyudori said. She turned to me, Emi and Toumi. “Little ones, dress and get to the kitchen. You’ll have your music lesson later today.” Continue reading Read Risuko Chapter 15 — The Music Lesson

Flying Squirrel: Risuko Kickstarter zooms past 100%!

Flying Squirrel — Risuko Kickstarter fully fundedWell look at that! With 36 hours to spare, Risuko has crossed the dreaded Kickstarter 100% funding threshold. Risuko has truly become a flying squirrel!

Thank you so much to all of you who have pledged your support to the Kickstarter campaign — and especially to those of you who increased it, as well as those who’ve let their friends know! Every pledge counts, and I truly appreciate your help.

I’ve been thinking about stretch goals — incentives above and beyond the ones I’ve already offered — and I think I’ve come up with a good one: Continue reading Flying Squirrel: Risuko Kickstarter zooms past 100%!

Read Risuko: Chapter 14 — Squirrel on the Roof

14 —Squirrel on the Roof

Kee Sun celebrates Risuko, Emi, and Toumi’s first night at Mochizuki — though not without some unexpected flare-ups.

I was certain that Kee Sun wouldn’t let us eat until after all of the cleaning was done. But as we brought the last of the dishes in from the hall, we found the cook smiling and gesturing to the small feast that he had laid out for us on the low cutting table: grilled beef, kimchee, soybeans, rice—even sake—was set out just as it had been for the banquet.

“Magnificent!” crowed Kee Sun. “Perfect! Not a drop spilled, and everything served hot! The three of you girlies made the last two look like the clowns they are.” Continue reading Read Risuko: Chapter 14 — Squirrel on the Roof

Risuko MonsterLibrarian Review: “A fascinating tale”

I enjoyed Risuko very much. The prose is very vivid, the culture and Japanese language blended in as smoothly as supernatural elements in a well-written fantasy. Risuko is caught between trying to function in a war torn world, and daring to dream about making a difference. — Michele Lee, MonsterLibrarian.com

MonsterLibrarian Review: Risuko: A Kunoichi Tale by David Kudler

Kano Murasaki, better known as Risuko (Squirrel) loves only one thing more than climbing—her family. But her mother has just sold her to Lady Chiyomi, a mysterious woman who runs a compound that trains women to be soldiers in Japan’s hundred year long civil war. It takes Risuko a while to figure this out, but readers will know it right away. Chiyomi’s women are spies, body guards, assassins. They are intelligent, strong, capable, and clever. Risuko fits in well, except it’s not the traditional role little Japanese girls grow up imagining themselves in.

But Risuko isn’t a traditional girl either. Her father was a famous samurai. He fought in the war until he was also forced to choose between honor and family. Chiyomi choose Risuko, not for her climbing skills, but for another, more personal reason. Continue reading Risuko MonsterLibrarian Review: “A fascinating tale”