Review of Ghost With Two Hearts

[Janet Kimetto]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Ghost With Two Hearts" by michael r french.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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In Ghost With Two Hearts by Michael R. French, a young software engineer undertakes the task of returning a samurai sword to its rightful heir because he believes it's his moral obligation.

Adrian's grandfather, who fought in World War II, took a samurai sword that belonged to a fallen Japanese captain. The grandfather gave it to Adrian's father as a birthday present, who in turn gave it to Adrian as a graduation present. When Adrian takes a much-needed break from work, wanting to escape his American life, he flies to Japan, his other motive being to find the captain's surviving family. The sword had been attributed to a Kyoto swordsmith.

In Kyoto, Adrian rents a house that happens to be haunted by the ghost of a young woman, Emiko—a disgraced kami. Emiko is living with the consequences of her choices and actions, while Adrian finds himself facing the sins of his ancestor.

The story is built around Shinto and Buddhism, the prevalent religions in Japan. Adrian, a gaijin (outsider), has a lot to learn. The reader learns along with him. This aspect makes the story very insightful, especially regarding the culture in Japan.

Emiko's story had me captivated. I was eager to learn about her past, present, and fate, and I wasn't disappointed. I loved that I couldn't guess any part of her story; every part of it was a revelation. Josh was another character that I loved. His and Adrian's friendship was admirable; everyone would love a friend who'd fly halfway across the world for them.

That said, I found the story a little slow and difficult to get into in the beginning. I think mentioning the sword earlier would help make the reader anticipate. That wasn't until the third chapter.

I also thought Adrian found the katana's rightful family too easily. Both Adrian and his father stressed how difficult it was going to be, likening the task to that of finding a needle in a haystack. I was a little disappointed because I expected a challenge, but I also saw that that part had to be done with for the rest of the story to 'begin.' A big part of the story depended on that moment.

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars. I'm deducting one star for the above reasons and because I noticed more than ten errors. Also, I did not like how Adrian's story ended—the uncertainty surrounding his future. I do not give it a lower rating because I enjoyed the story. I recommend it to anyone interested in the culture and religious beliefs in Japan.

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Ghost With Two Hearts
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[Joshua Chiboy]

Woww! As a lover of “mysterious”, this would be an interesting read. Mixed with thriller theme, this would be legit interesting…
Buddhism isn’t exactly a public’s best choice of read but this would surely be great

[Yasmine ZM]

The plot is captivating. Adrian has a noble quest and Emiko is mysterious. Based on the review it doesn't seem that the story is well-tied together. The slow pace at the beginning, returning the samurai sword doesn't seem to be the main plot after all and the ending doesn't seem to be satisfying. I enjoyed reading the review though.

[George Bastem]

This sounds like a thoughtful and culturally rich story with a unique blend of personal duty, spiritual themes, and emotional depth. The slow start and easy resolution of the main quest seem like small bumps in an otherwise meaningful journey.

[Neto Onuoha]

This book follows Adrian on his adventure to return a sword. It is an interesting read because you also get to be educated on the Japanese culture. Good review.