Considering as almost all historical texts are written with bias, this one just contains sides that people who read history aren't used to seeing.

Girard and Lockley provide a tale that covers a refreshingly new topic for many history buffs and an enticing beginner novel for those just entering the field. While the narrative is certainly embellished, this novel successfully pulls the limited historic texts there are to tell a surprisingly comprehensive story. Utilizing a stylistic approach to set the scene, this story is deceptively fast-paced and it is easy to fall into the pages. The nuances and politics of medieval Japan are carved out through multiple perspectives and feelings to tell a compelling tale of an enslaved boy turned legendary warrior.

Yusuke is given a breadth of personality that borderlines on presumptuous of the authors. Readers will quickly fall into the magnetism and larger-than-life presence, while feeling a deep respect to both the historic texts and legends that were used to shape this retelling (Although, an addition of more sources would not have been remiss here). Take this book with a grain of salt and a whole lot of other reference books, and it's a good read.