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Read Risuko — Chapter 6: Tea and Cakes

Ch. 6 — Tea and Cakes.

Risuko discovers that waking up in a war zone can lead to surprises. (Author David Kudler says, “One of my favorite chapters!”)


A rumble woke us all the next morning. It sounded like a peal of distant thunder. But Mieko and Kuniko were already on their feet before I could sit up and wipe the sleep from my eyes.

“What is it?” I asked Emi, who was rubbing her eyes next to me. “It’s awfully cold for thunder and lightening, isn’t it? And it doesn’t feel like an earthquake….”

Emi shook her head and scowled. We both listened carefully as we pulled on our clothes—mine still slightly damp from the night before, smelling faintly of stale soy sauce and burnt rice.

Another low rumble shook the morning silence. From where I had been sleeping near the kitchen, I could see a grey, thin light leaking beneath the outer kitchen door.

We began to fold away our bedding with a sense of uncertain urgency. I was about to ask again what that rumble might have been, when a new sound broke the silence and explained everything. It was a sharp, high crack. Musket fire. And not very far away, from the sound of it.

My legs went cold and I dropped my bedroll.

The battle had come to us. Continue reading Read Risuko — Chapter 6: Tea and Cakes

Read Chapter 4 of Risuko — The Edge of the World

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4 — The Edge of the World

Around me, everyone was rushing around the courtyard, loading supplies on the two packhorses, putting on extra layers of clothing.

When I reached them, Emi smiled, a small grin, and handed me a warmer coat, and then a sleeping mat. “That’s for tonight. Put it with ours on the white horse.”

I was so surprised at the tiny smile that it took me a moment to accept the bundle from her. Continue reading Read Chapter 4 of Risuko — The Edge of the World

Read “Flying” — Chapter 3 of Risuko

We’re excited with how you’re response to David Kudler’s historical adventure novel Risuko!

Our next installment, “Chapter 3 — Flying,” finds Risuko meeting with three other children — Toumi, Emi, and Aimaru. But if Emi and Aimaru are friendly, Toumi… definitely isn’t.

READ CHAPTER 3: FLYING

Read “Putting on the Lotus” — Chapter 2 of Risuko

We’ve posted the next chapter in the exciting historical adventure novel Risuko!

Pulled into an adventure she wasn’t looking for, Risuko tries to decide whether to escape, or to join Lady Chiyome’s servants in wearing the emblem of the ten-petaled lotus. Who are these strange people? And where is Lady Chiyome leading them all — and why?

READ CHAPTER 2: PUTTING ON THE LOTUS

Read “The Left-Hand Path” — Chapter 1 of Risuko

Thanks for the wonderful response to Serenity, the prologue to David Kudler’s historical adventure novel Risuko!

Our next installment, “Chapter 1. The Left-Hand Path,” begins Risuko where she most loves to be — up in a tree, overlooking the castle of Lord Imagawa.

Before long, however, an old noblewoman forces her to the ground, and nothing will ever be the same.

READ CHAPTER 1: THE LEFT-HAND PATH