The Name of the Blade

September 29, 2014
Marriott (Shadows on the Moon) launches a trilogy that draws from Japanese mythology to deliver an action-packed story with a romantic undercurrent. When nearly 16-year-old Londoner Mio Yamato “borrows” the katana that has been in her family for centuries to flesh out a Christmas party costume, she inadvertently awakens an ancient evil—a nine-tailed cat demon called a Nekomata—which leaves blood and misery in its wake and wants the sword for itself. But she also frees Shinobu, a young man who has been trapped in the sword for 500 years. To rescue her best friend’s sister from the Nekomata and thwart its plans, Mio and Shinobu team up with London’s reclusive Kitsune community of shapeshifting foxes while Mio learns to master the sword’s power. While the story starts off slowly, it quickly kicks into high gear as Mio and friends fight for their lives in the real and spirit worlds, deal with Kitsune intrigue, and face omnipresent
danger. Strong characters and an intriguing premise make this a
solid, enjoyable story. Ages 12–up. Agent: Nancy Miles, Miles Stott Literary Agency.

August 1, 2014

Gr 6 Up-Mio Yamato has owned a beautiful and dangerous katana for most of her life, a gift passed down from her beloved Ojjichan (grandfather), meant to become hers when she turns 16. She knows she shouldn't take it out earlier than her 16th birthday, but with her parents away on a trip and a Halloween party to get ready for, the teen takes it down just days before it was meant to be hers. Almost immediately, she regrets her decision. To and from the party, she begins to see dark figures and omens everywhere. The Nekomata, an ancient cat monster begins stalking those close to her, and a boy she has only seen in her dreams shows up to aid her against the monster she has apparently set free. Since everything has come from the sword, Mio feels like she has to make it right, especially when the monster threatens her best friends. What follows is a crucial battle for a highly sympathetic character and a clever twist on Japanese mythology. The story is slow to develop, but readers who keep with it will be rewarded with unique and fun characters, a truly dire conflict, and a lifetime-spanning love story. This is a particularly good choice for library collections that need more myth-based fiction, and want to branch out from Greek myth and fairy tales.-Heather Talty, formerly at Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School, New York City

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 15, 2014
An antique Japanese sword causes havoc in contemporary London in this series opener. Growing up in the U.K., Mio has little knowledge of her Japanese heritage. What she does have comes mostly from her late grandfather, who on one unforgettable occasion showed her their family's heirloom katana. Mio knows it's stupid to use a priceless family treasure as part of her costume for a Christmas party, but she can't resist the temptation to accessorize with the Japanese long sword. Of course, when she removes the katana from its hiding place, she unwittingly awakens its powers and unleashes a monster from Japanese myth on London. In her first foray into urban fantasy, Marriott (Shadows of the Moon, 2012) wears her influences on her sleeve. Many details of the plot will feel familiar to fans of shonen manga and anime, like Tite Kubo's Bleach or Kazue Kato's Blue Exorcist. While Mio's wry narration is appealing, her romance with Shinobu, a boy linked to the katana, progresses too quickly to instant love to be compelling. In the end, it's a shame the London setting isn't more fully explored, as the contrast between the setting and the use of Japanese myth has the potential to make this otherwise derivative adventure feel fresh. Fast-paced but forgettable. (Urban fantasy. 13-16)

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November 1, 2014
Grades 8-12 Mio Yamato's grandfather died before he could explain the mysterious katana in the attic, and although Mio enjoyed Japanese fairy tales as a kid, she's way more interested in the sword's potential to spice up her outfit for a big party. Unfortunately for Mio, unleashing the katana on London means opening a portal that releases a (superhot) Japanese warrior named Shinobu and calls up the gods and monsters of Japanese legend to battle over this mysterious sword. Marriott gifts Mio with a bit of uncertainty and typical teen angst, tempering the hard edge of the high-stakes-action scenes with convincing, swoon-worthy moments between Mio and Shinobu. Fans of Japanese lore will appreciate the wily kitsune tribespeople, who agree to help this unlikely trio, and there's enough nail-biting action and near misses in the romance department to keep every reader on their toes. First in a trilogy originally published in the UK, this will win American fans who like their fantasy urban, their romances mysterious, and their swords well sharpened.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2015
Handling her family's ancestral samurai sword, Londoner Mio sets loose dangerous Japanese gods and monsters. Mixing myth, horror, humor, and romance, this urban fantasy, first in a trilogy, takes too long to gain traction. The diverse cast (including nonwhites and a lesbian) get lazy descriptions: Asian eyes are "almond-shaped" and "slanting"; a mixed-race character has "an amazing year-round golden tan."

(Copyright 2015 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)