Book Review - Undead Samurai by Baptiste Pinson Wu

Rogue One meets the Fellowship meets the Army of the Dead featuring Zombie Samurais!!!!!

I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review and boy, I am happy to say this book is a total blast from start to end. To paraphrase Jerry Maguire – “You had me at…. Undead Samurai”. Obviously, a cool concept goes only that much – which is where the author builds a rousing story that, while paying homage to classic tropes, is packed with propulsive action, gritty thrilling one to one combat and terrific character motivations

****************************************************************

Japan, 1625

A new Drum Master has risen, and dead warriors abandon their peace to once again roam the land of the living. Japan’s last hope lies in the hands of the nine warriors gathered by the young daimyō of Owari. Against the undead, the Nine only have two choices, fighting as one or becoming them.

**************************************************************************

First of all, that’s quite a lovely cover in itself. Secondly, the story element itself bringing together a group of 9 members, each with unique characteristics and motivations and station in life, to go on a quest for an artifact that could unleash evil upon the world is as direct a comparison to Lord of the Rings as it can get. That can easily put any story or author at a massive disadvantage but rooting this entire saga in 1600s Japan and peppering it with enough Japanese idioms and phrases allows for that shift enabling you as a reader to put that comparison aside and sink your teeth into the story (see, what I did there)

The story mostly follows a linear timeline but cuts away with interludes for each of our 9 characters and their motivations. It does serve as a neat break from the pacey narrative while allowing us to understand where each character comes from. Our view to us this world comes from unnamed Ronin, a warrior with no hope, who has been wandering for quite a while and chances upon a challenge from a young ruler that leads to this quest. Ronin leads pretty much a pained purposeless existence but the possibility and the thrill of this quest opens him up to the group. The 9-member group is a disparate one that brings in a few masters from differing schools of combat, different weapons (including the early version of guns), a blind priest warrior, a drunkard, a master and an apprentice – all with their own fears, drives, motivations and dark secrets; All of which gets unpacked as the story progresses and explains their actions and reactions

There is variegated storytelling at work here – with the entire countryside against them in their quest, the group is beset by the undead (zombie) samurais as well as rogue bands of ninja that seek to thwart them at every turn. A significant portion of the book is all about the chase and action but it also allows for moments of levity and smaller moments that seek to bond and build the team. There is a small sequence on boats that introduces an element of mirth to the overall team dynamics as well.

The author peppers the book with Japanese lore & phrases – while it takes you out a bit especially in the beginning, you are pretty much in flow of the things once the action starts picking up. The action is also pretty well spread out and more often than not features our small group facing off with scores of undead. Those sequences are quite wonderfully written & the action sequences coherently explained. While those are the moments you expect from a book like this, the one-on-one sequences in the book are pretty breath-taking. Those moments also give the author an opportunity to explain some of the backstory for the characters while also bringing forth the pain and burden they have been carrying.

The climax of the story draws parallels to the Mines of Moria section and the tension is quite taut all the way through. Where the book does falter a bit is towards the end especially in the identity of the person responsible for raising the undead and also the betrayal twist – it kind of felt a bit predictable but then the sequences that follow are fabulously thrilling. While there is still the element of trope at play, the action sequences are both frenetic & heartfelt as well. The ending, suitably action-packed, is laced with poignancy as the author ties it back to the character motivations etched in the beginning of the book, revealed pretty satisfactorily.

Undead Samurai (Zombie Samurai sounds better) is a fun action ride with just the right amount of trope homage that makes it stand apart. The pacing & character sequences are pretty good and I strongly think this has all the makings of a great television show along the lines of Into the Badlands & the soon to be released Shogun

Rating - 4 Deadly Weapons of Undead Destruction on 5