The Unicorn (Legend of the Five Rings: Clan War, Second Scroll)

The series caught me from the first page. It takes you into japanese, Chinese, and Korean Lore. Of a time where samurai, magic, demons, grand schemes, and grand battles take place. You get the feeling like your there with the characters and you feel what they feel, and see what they see.

if you got into the card game during the hidden emperor you haev to read this book it tells the story of beiden pass one of the largest battles in the l5r world

Although there aren't as many plot lines as in "The Scorpion", This book is just as good if not better. Better because the story doesn't have to deal with as many subjects and can spend more time developing fewer characters. "The Scorpion" had a lot to set up. "The Unicorn" is mostly about two characters, a Unicorn "Battle Maiden" and a Unicorn ambassador. A lot of characters from the previous novel are here. Most are very much different from what they started out as in "The Scorpion".After reading this one, I'm totally hooked on the series. I'm into the way the characters are changing and developing... specifically the hero from "Scorpion". It was also fun to watch the 'Battle Maiden' and her horse earn respect.This series is a HUGE soap opera... with a lot of beheadings during battle. That seems to be a common way to die when there are swords about.It resembles "Lord of the Rings" to the extent that there is a dark ominous bad guy whose power is growing (like Sauron). He uses goblins and ogres and other monsters as his minions (Like Sauron did). He has his own dark land (like Mordor). There are even Shadow Warriors that are basically clothing and armor draped over nothing more than shadows (like Ringwraiths). There is also a capitol city under siege (in "The Scorpions") that reminds me of Gondor. At least there aren't any Hobbits.One interesting note so far is that these first two books don't really seem to have a bad guy. Everybody (even the Scorpion clan) are working for the better of Rokugan. The only real bad guys are the monsters and the dark bad guy called Lo Feng or something like that.On to "Scroll 3"!!

I didn't get to read the first book in the series, but I'm definitely going to after this one! The battle scenes were enthralling - I don't always go for that sort of stuff (especially all the gore) but I was totally hooked. The woman in me really appreciated the equal treatment of the genders. Tetsuko was great - I really want to read more about her (just hopefully without so many tissues next time)!

This book started out ok, and then got better, and towards the end I couldn't put it down. Following the dual story of Tetsuko's breathless life of battle and Tadaji's dreams and palace intrigue was a stark contrast at first, but once the threads between them become clearer, it all fell into place. The whole book is full of brilliant images and characters. The plot's foreshadowing had me guessing and flipping back to re-read and see if I had guessed right. At one point I even read ahead because I couldn't stand the suspense (and I never do that)! Like Jikkyo, "No matter what happens tomorrow, it will be with you always..."