Cover Image: Toru: Wayfarer Returns

Toru: Wayfarer Returns

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Member Reviews

Billed as a steampunk novel, the opening pages unfold leaving the reader wondering where that aspect existed. Regardless, we are introduced to a character that is intriguing but slightly mysterious. As we learn more about the situation, a Japan in self-enforced isolation, we begin to see how Toru influences a change from what was to what could be. Toru, a "fisherman", brought back an awareness of the western world along with the industry and technology that was not present in Japan.

Forced to struggle against a society opposed to change, in the interest of protecting the very same society, Toru works to bring a sweeping industrial revolution and allow Japan to preserve their independence from western powers. An engaging story, with relatable characters, Stephanie has created a delightful "what if" and I look forward to returning to Toru's Japan in the future.

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Confession: I cannot wrap my head around Steampunk. I understand that it is blending of old and new. Generally with the Victorian Era. At least that is what I understood from the Wikipedia article I read. That is where my understanding of it ends. However, when I read the description of this book, a sci-fi/fantasy/steampunk novel, I had to read it. While not a Steampunk aficionado, I do like sci-fi/fantasy.

This book takes place in Japan in 1852-1853. The story opens with Toru, the main character, being dropped ashore in his homeland by the Americans that he had spent the last two to three years with. He returned to care for his mother and to warn his country about the impending attack from other countries. With him he brought ideas. Ideas that are dangerous and against the law to have without explicit instruction from the Shogun. He gets captured by Lord Aya’s men soon after being dropped off on the beach. They discover the things that he is carrying, a sewing machine, books, and detailed plans on how to build trains and planes. He is also wearing blue jeans and has his hair cut short in the typical “American” cut. It is decided that he is a traitor and is going to be taken to Evo to be brought to justice. (IE: beheaded). Toru requests to be taken to his mothers’ village so he can say goodbye. Lord Aya agrees. Lord Aya’s daughter takes a keen interest in Toru. She secretly takes some of his books to read. She becomes, even more, intrigued the more she reads. While on the way to Evo, Toru begins to tell them his story. From being shipwrecked to being picked up by the Americans and spending time in their country. His visit to West Point and other cities in the country. This gets Lord Aya interested. He starts to believe Toru’s story of an impending attack. Can Toru convince the powerful leaders that he isn’t a traitor and help them prepare for what lays ahead?

This book was not what I was expecting at all. I guess that I thought it would be more exciting. More adventurous. Instead, I was rewarded with some super slow reading. It didn’t get exciting until the last 38 minutes of the book. And I know the exact time because I looked at the time left on the bottom of my Kindle. It was almost overwhelming. There were a few twists I didn’t see coming and a few that I had suspected from the very beginning. The real saving grace was the “note from the author” at the end that stated that a few of the facts were true in the book and based off of historical events. With all this being said I will probably read the next books in the series just to find out how Toru’s story continues.

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This is one of those books that I could not put down. Even when I had to put it away for the sake of work or eating, it was all I could think about! I was so invested in the characters that I told my husband, "if [character name] dies, I'm going to be very mad." I was very much rooting for Toru to win over the Shogun and arm Japan. I was rooting for Masuyo to pave the way for women to be engineers and airship captains, though sometimes I was rooting for her father, Lord Aya, to win just one argument against her. I was especially rooting for Jiro every time he gave himself a promotion.

While the book description says it's steampunk, the author, herself, agrees that it may not be "true steampunk". Technology is central to the story, but the book is more about societal and personal reactions to sudden changes in technology, as opposed to being about the technology itself. In this, I wouldn't label it as a steampunk novel, but that does not detract from the book, for me.

I greatly appreciated Sorensen's character and world building. I'll be the first to admit that my knowledge of Japanese history is sorely lacking, so her attention to details about the land, the etiquette, etc. were quite helpful to me. Her characters were also so endearing on just about every level and diverse in their attributes. Even allies and best of friends have their own personalities and views. While there is drama and politics in this book, there is a healthy balance of humor as well, right up to the very end.

This is the first book in a series and, I'll admit, I'm quite interested in seeing where this alternative history goes. I give it 5 hoots and eagerly await the next installment!

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