Name: The Iris Fan
ISBN: 9781250047069

Laura Joh Rowland

In 1709 Japan, Sano Ichiro, dedicated to the samurai code of honor, is restored to the rank of chief investigator when the shogun is stabbed with a fan made of painted silk with sharp-pointed iron ribs—a case that, if the shogun's heir is displeased with the outcome, will result in his death. By the author of The Fire Kimono.

A Novel of Feudal Japan

The Iris Fan

Astor Reinhardt

** spoiler alert **
           I'm not terribly great at reviews, so there's probably a better review on this book that you can read.

That being said, let's get into it.

I started this series years ago, when I stumbled across the first book in a thrift store. Ever since then I was hooked. I've actually had a hard time tracking down all the books in this series (some of them I had to buy online), but the series was so good I wanted to get all the books! And then...the series changed. I can't remember which book Hirata was forced into the group (was it the one before this one?) but it started going downhill there. Rowland has used ghosts and the spirit world before in her books, that didn't bother me. What bothered me is she made a "get out of jail" card with Hirata and the ghost. I suppose it really started when Hirata was injured and had to turn to the mystic arts to get strong again. She was making this character...overpowered and totally different from what he used to be. He loved Midori and his kids...now he leaves them and ignores them? When he's with them he fights with Midori? That's not his character. She totally messed up Hirata.

And she keeps doing it. Giving him more and more power. Putting him in an impossible position and finally throws the character in the trash when she has the ghost possess him. She would have been better off just killing him. So now she has an overpowered character that can come in and wrap up the ending of the book, fixing all the problems she made. Lazy writing in my opinion.

I guess as series build and get longer and longer...the author just gets lazy. It's happened in other series that start off fantastic and end horribly. Steven Kings The Dark Tower series comes to mind.

I feel that she could have took her time and made a longer book or another book altogether and actually spent time on fixing the mess she made of the characters and the world. Not only did this book make a mess of everything in that world, it felt rushed. Like she just wanted the series to be over. Which after 18 books...I suppose I can see that.

It's a poor ending to what was a great series. The characters deserved better.

shellybn

This series has gotten better with each book. I am profoundly sad there will be no more Sano Ichiro mysteries. I feel like these characters are old friends I will never see again. However, the ending to the series is satisfying, if bittersweet.

The Iris Fan A Novel of Feudal Japan

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