Tag Archives: Risuko

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 The Mt Fuji Inn – the next exciting chapter of Risuko!

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 5 — The Mt. Fuji Inn

There were three rooms downstairs besides the dining room and kitchen, but the two closest to the front door were both closed off. The doors were edged with black soot. Lady Chiyome had the Little Brothers carry her chest to the rear room.

Mieko and Kuniko led Toumi, Emi and me to the dining room. I was surprised that Mieko left her own bedroll there in the room with us; I had expected her to spend the night with the lady, but she stayed with us and quietly took charge of the servants’ quarters. Continue reading Read The Mt Fuji Inn – the next exciting chapter of Risuko!

On climbing and Risuko

David Kudler headshot
David Kudler

I’m not afraid of heights, not really.

It’s just that, like Terry Pratchett’s wonderful protagonist Tiffany Aching, I have a well-developed respect for depths.

It’s funny, then, that I’ve written a book on climbing — a book about a young girl who loves nothing more than being as high up in the air as she can be. How did that happen? Continue reading On climbing and Risuko

Sign up to win an advance copy of Risuko!

Win a free copy of Risuko!

We’re giving away an advance paperback copy of Risuko: A Kunoichi Tale, signed by author David Kudler.

The giveaway is being held on Goodreads — sign up now  by clicking below or by visiting the Goodreads Risuko page.

Hurry! Sign-up to win an advance copy ends on Friday, October 16.

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Risuko

by David Kudler

Giveaway ends October 16, 2015.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter Giveaway

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 the list of characters in Risuko!

We’ve posted the list of the major characters in Risuko! Check out who’s who, find out which historical figures are part of the book, and even get a peak into who’s going to be appearing!

Risuko — Character Names

Note: In Japan, as through most of East Asia, tradition places the family name before the given name. For example, in Kano Murasaki, Risuko’s proper name, Kano is her family’s name and Murasaki her given name—what English speakers would call her first name. Continue reading Read the list of characters in Risuko!

Help us choose the best cover design!

Help us choose the best cover design

Thanks for helping choose a cover concept for Risuko! Now we need you to choose your favorite design
A little while ago, we asked you which cover concept you thought we should send to our designer. Thanks so much for the great response! We went with the winner, and shared that, along with a lot of other information, with BookFly, who are putting the cover together for us.

They sent us a mock-up over the weekend, and we’d love to know whether you prefer the original concept or the new design!
Which of these two covers makes you want to read the book more?*
We know you may like both or neither — but go with your gut, and help us choose the best cover design!

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

Check out the new glossary on Risuko!

We are in the process of compiling a new glossary of Japanese, Korean, and Chinese words that occur in Risuko — and we’ve posted it on Risuko.net!

Check it out. If you have questions about any of these translations or about any words you’ve encountered in the book, please let us know!

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