Katana by Cole Gibsen

Katana by Cole Gibsen

Title & Author:
Katana by Cole Gibsen
Publisher:
Flux
Publication Date:
March 08, 2012
Pages:
384
Source:
NetGalley

Rileigh Martin would love to believe that adrenaline had given her the uncanny courage and strength to fend off three muggers. But it doesn’t explain her dreams of 15th-century Japan, the incredible fighting skills she suddenly possesses, or the strange voice giving her battle tips and danger warnings.

While worrying that she’s going crazy (always a reputation ruiner), Rileigh gets a visit from Kim, a handsome martial arts instructor, who tells Rileigh she’s harboring the spirit of a five-hundred-year-old samurai warrior.

Relentlessly attacked by ninjas, Rileigh has no choice but to master the katana–a deadly Japanese sword that’s also the key to her past. As the spirit grows stronger and her feelings for Kim intensify, Rileigh is torn between continuing as the girl she’s always been and embracing the warrior inside her. – Goodreads

Guys, I have been dying for Katana by Cole Gibsen ever since I read the “Buffy meets Kill Bill” comparison. And while I have never seen Kill Bill (*ducks and runs*), Katana was all kinds of awesome. It did take me a little while to get into, but once I was hooked, I was hooked!

For one thing, something crazy is happening to the main character, Rileigh, and she doesn’t just lay down and accept it when the mysterious boy tells her what’s up. THAT IS SO RARE. She fights what he’s telling her and tries to prove him wrong and goes through all sorts of denial before finally admitting he might be right. If a guy told me I was a samurai reincarnated, I’d laugh, and all kinds of props go to Cole Gibsen for making Rileigh realistic like that.

But also, the story of Katana was awesome. There was so much going on – you’re literally dropped right into the action, no drawn-out back story necessary because you learn it as you go along, and yet it all flows very nicely. And the twists! There were a couple of twists that I was kind of mind-blown by and I was like what, did that just happen?!

And, you know, Rileigh and her new samurai pals are kind of bad ass. I’m not usually a big reincarnation fan, but I thought the whole idea why they were reincarnated, and the way Cole Gibsen explained their reincarnation, was really interesting and worked well for Katana.

And this one kissing scene that was awesome. I spent the first 250 pages thinking “Just make out already!” and then I was happy, haha.

Overall, Katana by Cole Gibsen was an exciting book with Samurais and cute Japanese boys and reincarnation and I had a lot of fun reading it. I was swept away by the action. Definitely check it out if you think you might be interested!

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