The Initiate Brother by Sean Russell

The Initiate Brother is the first book in a two-part series. It is a big, sprawling saga about a pseudo-China (with some Japanese characteristics) during a period in history when battles were fought using swords and on horseback.

The novel centers on the conflicts between the Emperor and one of the most powerful lords in his domain, Shonto. The Emperor is only the second in his line, and rules through fear and misdirection. Shonto is a popular and highly respected general from an old and important family. In addition to the Shonto family's importance, Shonto's adopted daughter is beautiful, accomplished, and of royal blood (from a previous dynasty.) Shonto is a Botahist and retains a Botahist spiritual advisor (Shuyun--the initiate brother.) The Emperor's head of security wants to move up in rank and is plotting the downfall of Shonto.

The action of the novel takes place in a fairly short period of time, during which Shonto is sent North to put down a possible Barbarian uprising on the desert border. The major characters: Shonto, his adopted daughter, his spiritual advisor Brother Shuyun, and the Emperor's chief guard Jakko are well-realized, as is the world in which they live. Much of this book could be straight-ahead historical fiction, but for the mystical element provided by Brother Shuyun and the Botahists.

I am looking forward to reading the sequel, Gatherer of Clouds.

More information about Sean Russell and his books is available on the web, at:

http://www.sfsite.com/seanrussell/theinitiatebrother.htm

Other books that might interest you, if you like The Initiate Brother are:

Lian Hearn's Tales of the Otori series.

Barry Hughart's Master Li and Number 10 Ox series: The Story of the Stone, Eight Skilled gentlemenn, and Bridge of Birds. http://www.barryhughart.org/

L.G. Bass's The Outlaws of Moonshadow Marsh (Sign of the Qin.)
http://www.hyperionbooksforchildren.com/bass_interview.html

The Laughing Sutra by Mark Salzman.
http://www.rambles.net/salzman_sutra.html

Laura Joh Rowland's Sano Ichiro mysteries.
http://www.laurajohrowland.com/

The Tokaido Road by Lucia St Clair Robson.
http://www.luciastclairrobson.com/TokaidoRoad.htm

The Silk Road by Jeanne Larsen.
http://dannyreviews.com/h/Silk_Road.html