I spent one glorious early fall afternoon reading Kei Swanson's The Seabird of Sanematsu. The sun shone bright and the air was crisp as I opened the pages of the book and found myself transported to 1500's Japan.

Very few romances have been set in Japan and it was so refreshing to be reading of something other than European highwaymen and Caribbean pirates. The romance of the Samurai flows through every page of this book with the grace and dignity of people described within. An unusual read, The Seabird of Sanematsu is well worth a few days of your time.

As the story opens, Aderyn Aquilla awakens to the sound of her mother's frantic yelling, the family's merchant ship is overtaken by sword-bearing Samurai. Huddled beneath the bodies of her sisters, Aderyn tries to hide until the raiders leave, but she overhears their plan to burn the ship.

She looks on silently at the man who stands above all the others, the leader of the Samurai. Aderyn can't help but marvel at his perfect face and dark flowing hair. His dress is flawless and his presence is as unmistakably powerful as he is unusually tall.

Catching her breath a little too loudly points her location out to the invaders. Pulled from the pile of bodies, a sword to her throat, she is nearly killed by one of the tall man's soldiers.

Aderyn breathes a sigh of relief as Sanematsu Yoshihide stops the sword that would have brought her death, only to become outraged as she is taken prisoner. What will become of her, bound and forced off the ship, all family and belongings lost? Always the strongest sister, Aderyn worries little. She knows she most certainly will escape…somehow.

Sanematsu Yoshihide stands unhappily over the bodies of the ship's former inhabitants. Matsumoto had not stopped his soldiers from killing the innocents and only this one girl remains, a girl who dared to look him in the eye.

What kind of a place did she come from that a mere woman would look at him so openly, would stand defiantly instead of bowing before him in gratitude for saving her life? He didn't know, but he meant to find out what kind of place that was, and what kind of woman she was. Not only did she appear disrespectful, but underneath all that blood and muck she also promised to be a great beauty. Perhaps he would question her himself, in private.

What follows is an interesting tale of love and respect, showcasing how two people from different cultures can listen to each other and form a new relationship by taking the best from both worlds and leaving the undesirable behind.

The characters of The Seabird of Sanematsu are fascinatingly believable and I found myself smitten with Sanematsu Yoshihide. The story deals with members from many levels of Japanese society, and it is interesting to see how their opinions differ based on their role in life.

Ms. Swanson details the dedication and honor of the Samurai class to which Sanematsu Yoshihide belongs and shows us what it must have been like to be loved by one of these amazing men – a most envious position, but one also filled with heartache and loneliness.

The Seabird of Sanematsu is the first of a three book series featuring these characters. I feel I need to mention that the story is not completely played out in this first book. We are left hanging to a certain degree about the future of Aderyn and Sanematsu Yoshihide. Normally this would not be a problem, but as of the date of this review the second book, The Season of Sanematsu, has yet to be published.

Do I still recommend you read this first book? I most certainly do. It is a rich story full of life and even if you never read the second book, you will come away with a wonderful feeling of having experienced the love of a Samurai warrior and an amazing adventure in long-ago Japan.

Reviewed By Sabine Maurier
© September 2007