Kaminishi

Insight of 19th century Japan with smexy times and a tad bit of fantasy.3.5 Stars for this piece of romance through time and space with so many beautiful historical details.

This review is also featured on my blog. Drop by if you have time so we can have a nice cup of tea http://strawberrygeek-reads.blogspot.de

I received a free ARC in exchange for a honest review.

The expectations I had for this book weren't high though I hoped that it wouldn't totally disappoint. Glad to say it didn't disappoint. Quite the opposite was the case!

The stories that actually try to portrait slice-of-life of a specific historic time sound and accurate are few and even fewer are those that give the reader a huge amount of detail about the time they play in.
Though I know a bit about japanese customs and traditions and can say that everyone was correct as far as I know but I'm no student of the culture. From other reviews I gathered that readers have trouble understanding some things because customs or objectsnlack explanation or translation. Thinking back I would say that there are a few scenes only people with a bit of japanese knowledge will understand right away which is a bit sad. The book has so many details that it would be lovely for people who want to know more about japanese customs but lacks explanation.

Okay, let's get to the story.
It starts with Michael Holden, an american student whomhas weird dreams in which he sees a samurai. What Michael doesn't expect is to actually meet the guy when he falls asleep at his desk and wakes to find himself in 19th century Japan. Two whole years before it would be opened once more to foreigners!
Good thing he is a japanese arts student or he'd probably be completely screwed.
Another thing Michael didn't see coming is falling in love with Shinjiro-sama, the samurai (and lord) who seems to be the trigger of Michael being janked through time and space.
But can a love story with over a century parting them really have a happy ending?

The fact that some sentences were actually in japanese was a lovely bonus. Though I understand a good part of it I can't say anything about the grammar and a few transitions from japanese to english felt a bit strained, but I enjoyed it anyway.

There were many smexy times, though I felt that more character depth and detail would have been far better than another go on the matress. If the authir would have given the same amount of attention and detail to the two main characters it would've been perfect and gotten a way higher rating from me.
Alas, Michael as majormcharacter felt too flat and his reactions or lack thereof made it impossible for me to connect with him.
Michael appeared too calm and relaxed during scenes that would've warranted action or at least a strong emotional reaction.
You could probably chop his arm off and he'd be just like:




So yeah, star deduction because of not enough character depth and insight as well as weirdmbehaviour and reactions.
The psychic stuff at the end was a bit too much for my liking. Sure, Michael travels through time and space but aside from that there wasn't really anything supernatural. But don't worry. It's just a tiny bit at the end and you can just ignore it.

Speaking of time and space. The reason why excactly Micheal landed there was never explained and the part where future!Shinjiro goes back in time just feels weird at the end because it isn't mentioned again and future!Shinjiro doesn't even remember.

Recommended if you want a novel about 19th century japan with gay.