The Worst Ronin

BIPOC

When an unlikely pair of female samurai join forces, what begins as your run-of-the-mill quest for glory and revenge evolves into something much more complicated. Turns out fighting actual demons doesn’t mean you’re not running from your own internal ones. Nimona meets Attack on Titan in this edgy, unexpectedly hilarious, genre-defying young adult graphic novel.

Being a samurai isn’t easy. Sixteen-year-old Chihiro Ito knows that more than anyone. Her father is renowned among the samurai, but the only thing Chihiro is known for is spending way too much time on her phone obsessing over Tatsuo Nakano, Chihiro’s idol and the first woman to be accepted into Kesi Academy, a prestigious samurai school.

So, when Chihiro’s father is conscripted for service and the opportunity arises to work with Tatsuo in his stead, Chihiro jumps at the chance to prove that she’s worthy of a spot at Kesi Academy and the samurai title. Their mission: kill the yamauba demon terrorizing a village. With a legendary samurai like Tatsuo by her side, Chihiro is convinced victory is inevitable. But Tatsuo isn’t at all like the hero Chihiro imagined. Foulmouthed, quick tempered, and a terrible drunk, Tatsuo completely turned her back on the samurai way and is now a ronin working for hire as a means of escaping the grief that haunts her. Forced to work together, the two are thrust on a treacherous journey filled with epic battles and twisted conspiracies as they must put aside their differences to save the village and face the demons of the past.

 
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# of Pages: 336

Book Binding: Paperback

Year of Publication: 2024

Publisher: HarperAlley

Language: en

ISBN: 9780358464938

Maggie Tokuda-Hall is an author, editor, and podcaster based in the San Francisco Bay Area. She has written several books for children and young adults, including the critically acclaimed novel "The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea." She is also the co-host of the popular literary podcast "Drunk Booksellers" and has served as a contributing editor for Book Riot. With a background in writing and editing for film and television, Tokuda-Hall brings a unique storytelling perspective to her writing, weaving together fantasy, adventure, and diverse characters. "The Worst Ronin" is her latest collaboration with illustrator Faith Schaffer, showcasing their shared love for Japanese folklore and storytelling.