Blood Ninja

by Nick Lake

Book Overview

A boy from a small fishing village must face a new reality after his father is murdered and he is rescued by a mysterious ninja in this heart-stopping first novel in the Blood Ninja trilogy.

Could Taro, a fisherman's son, be destined for greatness? In the course of a day, Taro's entire life changes: His father is murdered before his eyes, and Taro is taken by a mysterious ninja on a perilous journey toward safety. Someone wants Taro...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1416986286
• ISBN13: 9781416986287
• Release Date: August 2010
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
• Length: 400 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.5" x 8.2"
• Age Range: 14 to 17 years
• Grade Range: Grades 9 to 12

Customer Reviews

Well it only makes sense, why do ninjas only come out at night?

Well it only makes sense, why do ninjas only come out at night? Duh, they are vampires. this is a fun read for teens (and adults that like to have fun, or still have a childish imagination). Its a quick read that introduces young readers to japan and the feudal system in the Shogun era. It was a fun read for still kids at heart.

My Teenager Loved It

I got this book for my 9th grade son, who enjoys YA Fantasy. He loved it! He read it in 2 days and asked for a sequel. He especially enjoyed the Japanese heritage stuff: Feudal Japan, ninjas, samurai, martial arts, etc. He was so interested in it that I gave him my copy of Shogun - which he is reading now. He likes (most) vampire stories and mythology, but he isn't obsessed with it and the conceit that all ninjas are vampires was interesting to him (and added to the gore - always a plus for teenage boys), but it wasn't the main draw. The ninja warrior stuff as well as the classic YA Adventure framework of 'regular' boy with a secret identity becoming 'special' are what captured and held my son's interest. He rates it 5 stars. Since I got this book from Vine, I felt I needed to read it myself, to be able to give a fair review. So I read it after my son. It is a classic YA tale: Humble fisherboy stumbles into a previously unknown world and his own secret past, and becomes a ninja warrior. Even within that (to me) trite context though, I enjoyed the story. It's well paced and well written, and (as a lover of Shogun and similar) I really loved the feudal Japan references and details. It was pretty bloody, and a little predictable, so if it were an adult book I would give it probably 4 stars from my own perspective. But it's not marketed to me, so I give it what the target audience felt it merited - 5 stars. BOTTOM LINE: Very appealing to teenaged boys, lots of interesting Japanese historical details, and not a bad read even for a middle-aged mom like me.

Fascinating Combination of Ninjas and Vampires, Very Well Done!

I found this book to be very well done and I had a hard time putting it down. In fact I stayed up quite late the other night because I just had to find out what happened next. I know that this book is categorized as Young Adult or Teen fiction, but I found that this in my opinion is merely a marketing technique as I think this book would be enjoyed by all ages. The authors blending of historical Japanese events and times with fantasy elements, which of course is vampires was exceptionally well done and I hope the author continues to write more books in this series. Now I am not going to go into all the details of the book as I hate spoiling it for future readers, so I won't, but I would and do highly recommend this book. I don't believe you will be at all disappointed. Shawn Kovacich Author of the Achieving Kicking Excellence book and DVD series.

Ninjenious!

From a silent midnight assault on a quiet fishing village to the daring final raid on a fortified castle, BLOOD NINJA is packed full of thrills and spills, and had me completely hooked until the last page! It's the story of Taro, a fisherman's son whose life is suddenly turned upside when he is whisked away by a mysterious figure called Shusaku who trains him in the ways of his clan of vampire ninjas. Taro wants revenge for the death of his father but must use his newfound powers for good...This is a brilliant adventure story, and I think it would be an amazing film too!

Don't let the title fool you...

By glancing at the cover, I'm sure you immediately thought the unthinkable had happened. I mean, there's already a book out about vampire pirates ("Vampirates"), so why not? This is different. If you like Japanese history - if you like accurate descriptions of feudal Japanese warriors - if you like a story that has twists...then this is the book for you. The book starts out with Taro, a boy who dreams of one day breaking free of his peasant life and becoming a noble samurai under Lord Oda Nobunaga. Early in life, Taro's courageous nature and his uncanny archery skills are noticed by his fellow villagers. Rumors are whispered that Taro might be part spirit - rumors that Taro and his best friend Hiro laugh off. The idea that Taro is part-spirit seems as ridiculous and unfounded as the rumors of the local kyuuketsuki - a mythical, deadly demon who hunts humans for prey. In one terrible night, Taro's beliefs are all swept away and he is forced into a new life of shadows and stealth. Becoming a ninja was the last thing Taro had wanted - but it is ultimately the only thing that will save himself and his friends. Pros: This book really brought Japan to life. It was as if I was stepping into the scenes and walking through the ornate gardens, smelling the salty sea air, feeling the rough rocky road beneath my feet. The descriptions alone would make the book a worthy purchase. Taro, Hiro and Shusaku are really well-developed characters - in fact, all the characters are very deep. Nick Lake is brilliant in this respect: every character feels real and has real passions and fears. The evil Kira is the perfect bad guy: a man who seems unstoppable, but allows his neurotic fears to draw attention to weak points. Heiko and her little sister are feisty, but sensitive young women. The plot itself is unstoppable. Surprises lurk around every corner, despite the traditional flow of the tale. I loved reading it - I couldn't put it down! It's good enough that I'm going to re-read it tonight, just to drink in the atmosphere. Cons: The book seems a little predictable at times - I admit, I kept waiting for it to become cliche - but that apprehension was pretty much destroyed in the last few chapters. Another con is something I won't mention yet - a spoiler - but let's just say it surprised me and did not seem necessary for this book to be a success. So, what are you waiting for? Read it. And let me know what YOU think.