Poison River

Japanese-like feudal, fantasy mystery!

Wow! That's a mouthful, but then the discovery of poisoned rice becomes a mouthful for those seeking its origin. It is like a pebble dropped into a pool, and as the ripple effect takes hold more players become involved.
This is my first foray into the world of Legend of the 5 Rings universe and hopefully not my last. Intrigue and warring factions in the land of Rokugan come to the attention of the unexpected Daidoji Shin, "Crane Clan’s trade envoy in the City of the Rich Frog." I'm enamored. I loved Shin. Hes a scion of a powerful clan, one of the Seven Great Clans, the Cranes. Sent here it seems, out of sight of his house, Shin is happily settling in, as he explains to his hard put upon sidekick the samurai Hiramori Kasami a blade of the clan and Shin's bodyguard, to a life "far from the prying eyes of the Crane, or the politicking of the Winter Court. We can both relax here, serene in the knowledge that our responsibilities are minimal and no one cares about us in the least.” Well that conceit doesn't last long.
I have always had a soft spot for the sharp and observant mind hiding behind the mannerisms of an aesthete fop. Shin is that to a Tee with more than a touch of Holmsian incisive understanding. His love of theater, of Kabuki comes into play in this fantasy detective novel set in a place reminiscent of medieval Japan with various attendant gods and spirits.
A multi layered mystery concerning poisoned rice, leading to wider encompassing circles. Cleverly written, replete with acerbic and descriptive language.
I'm looking forward to seeing more of Daidoji Shin.

An Aconyte Books ARC via NetGalley
Please note: Quotes taken from an advanced reading copy maybe subject to change

„Any Daidoji worth their steel knew that the Lion could only be trusted to devour all those before them. And the Crane were among their favorite prey.”

“Poison River: Legend of the Five Rings: A Daidoji Shin Mystery” by Joshua Reynolds is a novel from a fictional world from a card game “Legend of the Five Rings” (L5R). It was the second novel from this universe that I’ve read, and although it had a different vibe than “Curse of Honor”, I enjoyed it as well.
This time we the author takes us to a very peculiar location – the City of the Rich Frog. It is unique because it doesn’t belong to any of the great clans exclusively. Three of them – Lion, Unicorn and Dragon - have parts of the city under their jurisdiction while the imperial officer governs the whole municipality. Those who are familiar with the lore of L5R can only imagine how much tension one must feel in this little town.
As if that was not enough, the city is a high prospering trade node for the region, so the other clans also have their representatives in place, making sure commerce is not disturbed by petty squabbles of their competitors. That was also the role that Daidoji Shin from the Crane clan was supposed to fulfil. Although, he already managed to earn himself a reputation of the wastrel and good for nothing hedonist. Shin happily spends his days on wasting money, gambling, and enjoying shameful entertainment such as theatre. But his careless days of leisure are interrupted by request from governor which he can not refuse. He is tasked with investigating the case of poison rice.
For me, the most vital feature of the book is the involvement of so many great clans (Lion, Unicorn, Dragon, Crane). I’m sure all fans of L5R will be delighted to read this convoluted mystery. The author did brilliantly in portraying all the clans, their characteristics, little quirks and petty squabbles. The main character, Shin, is a perfect example of that. Even though he is not typical Crane (being the odd one who kept only bringing shame to his family), we can still see strong traits of his origin. He has a brilliantly sharp mind, excellent knowledge of all protocols and customs (though he very often intentionally ignores them), and fluency in telling and detecting lies.
Shin is a very likeable character. Beneath his image of foolish flippancy hides a vivid mind, that carves constant challenges and stimulation to keep out of boredom. Once he engages in the investigation, he spares no means to dig up the truth. And to find it he would have to rely on all his assets. Because in the end, it’s not only about finding the culprit, but also about keeping a status quo and prevent the conflict that could easily tear the city apart.
Like in all classical detective stories, Shin also has a partner, who in this case is his bodyguard Hiramori Kasami – no-nonsense samurai who treats her duty of protecting Shin as a burden. Her sarky comments and grumpy demeanour work brilliantly with witty and sharp-tongued Crane.
To enjoy this particular novel, I think it is good to be familiar with the basic lore of “Legend of the Five Rings”. There are so many vivid details from the Rokugan that fans will enjoy. But, at the same time, the meaning may be blurred if the reader is a complete novice in this universe. Some things are left unsaid as if the author assumed his audience is aware of them but could be confusing none the less.
“Poison River” is the first book in “a Daidoji Shin Mystery” series so that we can expect the return of witty Crane soon, hopefully. I will gladly read the next book, and I hope we will learn more about the protagonist himself and why exactly he became the black sheep of his Crane family

Set in Rokugan, world of the Legend of the Five Rings games, Poison River introduces Crane Clan layabout/ detective Daidoji Shin in his first mystery. Shin has been sent to the City of the Rich Frog to represent his family in trade deals, but he spends most of his time drinking, whoring, and watching disreputable theater. A bag of rice sent to Lion Clan nearly sets off a war between Lion, Unicorn, and Dragonfly Clans, until the Imperial Governor demands Shin investigate. Shin is far more interested in the mystery of a missing actress as the threads connecting the two cases begin to intertwine. A fun mystery that promises to be the first of several, Poison River readers could benefit from some knowledge of L5R, but it is not necessary.

I have been provided with an advance copy of the new Legend of the Five Rings book Posion River by Josh Reynolds, published by Aconyte Books, so here is the honest review I promised in exchange for the book.

So here is an important disclaimer which is always important to put out there first. I have a casual work contact with Asmodee to demonstrate board games for them in stores and at conventions. Asmodee being the parent company of Aconyte the publisher.

I am also friend with Josh on Facebook, however I am sure for him that’s more about connecting with fans rather than being one of my best buds, that said he is actually a really nice guy.

I am going to try my best to not let that cloud my judgement in this review, but I accept that subconsciously it might.

So let’s crack on with a review then!

What is Legend of the Five Rings

L5R as it’s often known is a fantasy setting for a series of card games and RPGs originally published by AEG, but now taken care of by Fantasy Flight.

It’s set in the empire of Rokugan which is heavily feudal Japan influenced, with a bit of other East Asian influences, like China and Korea thrown in as well.

It’s a fantasy setting with the usual fantasy tropes of goblins and rat men, but also oni and kitsune too.

The Story

Daidoji Shin is a an aristocrat of the Crane clan banished to the City of the Rich Frog, to serve as his clans trade envoy.

He has a reputation as a wastrel and is considered a disappointment to his family, so has essentially been banished to somewhere he can’t do much harm, along with his faithful, but very put upon bodyguard Kasami.

In this story he is called upon by the cities governor to conduct an investigation into the poisoning of some rice, something which could threaten to destroy the fragile peace between the clans who call the city home.

He is only asked to do this because his clan is relatively neutral, but as it turns out, he actually has a talent for investigation, his habits of wide reading and study all manor of mundane things has made him ideal for the job.

And so he throws himself into the mystery, despite the politics and dangers posed by the clans rivalries, shinobi and the criminal underworld he finds himself embroiled in.

Conclusion

Ok so this book is very typical of Josh’s writing, in that it’s engaging and full of world building.

The novel isn’t just about Daidoji Shin but for me the main character was actually the city itself, rich and literally dripping with detail, you get a real sense of a bustling city, that is essentially a tinderbox waiting to catch fire.

The supporting cast get just as much character development as the main protagonists and it really feels like Josh has had a lot of fun developing a city that he can spend years playing with and developing.

I am hoping that’s Fantasy Flight are going to develop the city as a sourcebook for the RPG as I really want to actually play around with it and enjoy some adventures with pirates and smugglers on the docks!

Daidoji Shin is himself a fascinating character, on the surface, spoiled, rich and cares for nowt but his own pleasure, but in actual fact is an intelligent man, very much in the mould of Sherlock Holmes.

The books is utterly wonderful and I am already looking forward to the sequel, which Aconyte have already sent me.

If you want a mystery novel, with snappy dialogue, a rich setting and a cast that you are just desperate to spend more time with, then grab this book.

5 out of 5 Stars

You can buy the paperback and eBook now.

I very much enjoyed this book and recommend it to others. The author dove deep into L5R lore, but made his book approachable, funny, and a joy to read. The characterization, in particular, is excellent...think a fantasy Japan version of West Wing.

Poison River is the second story Aconyte have published in the land of Rokugan, home of the Legend of the Five Rings, following Curse of Honor, released earlier this year, as well as the second title from Josh Reynolds. Where Curse of Honor leaned strongly into the Monsters and Horror side of the setting, Poison River focuses on the other key element of Rokugan, the courtly intrigues and constant jostling for position between the land’s Great Clans.

Our main protagonist for the story, is Daidoji Shin, a feckless, idle younger son of a great house, sent to a small city in which his clan has a fairly limited stake, with a remit to keep an eye on the city’s trade. (For those new to Rokugan, the Daidoji are the chief family of the Crane, themselves one of Rokugan’s 7 Great Clans, famed for their skills in courtly diplomacy) Shin has decided that the best way to spend his time in the city is by drinking, gambling, and attending the theatre, much to the chagrin of his long-suffering body-guard, Hiramori Kasami. Kasami is the archetypical Samurai: she is noble, dutiful, and she is both willing and able to swiftly dispatch anyone who threatens the Crane’s life. However, she would much rather see him apply himself to something useful and noble, rather than get into needless scrapes that she then has to get him out of.

So far, so normal: an entertaining-enough odd-couple premise, but nothing by itself to sustain a novel. The twist – and the catalyst for our story, comes in the form of a poisoned sack of rice! With war threatening to break out between the Lion and the Unicorn (each blaming each other for the poisoning), Shin finds his enjoyable, but largely pointless, routine interrupted by an order from the city’s governor to investigate the matter.

As a neutral third-party of impeccable lineage, the choice of the young Daidoji makes a certain amount of sense, but it comes as a surprise to almost everyone around him that he turns out to actually be quite good at this sleuthing business, proving that all those books he had “wasted” his money on were a good investment after all.

Once things get going, Poison River has everything you would hope for from a Rokugan novel – Honourable Samurai preparing to cross swords, and courtiers duelling with words and insinuations. Mysterious Shinobi hunting each other across the rooftops and the docks of the city, and powerful Shugenja with astonishing powers to control and manipulate the elements. There is even a touring theatre troupe who are slightly more than meets the eye.


Poison River is definitely the style of Rokugan Novel I enjoy the most, leaning away from the supernatural/monsters emphasis, and into the inter-personal and the political. The size of the cast can feel a little daunting, particularly if you have as bad a memory for names as I do, but there’s a handy little dramatis personae quick-reference at the back.

I do wonder a little just how accessible Poison River would be for a reader new to Rokugan: the complex politics and interactions are certainly a little easier to follow if you already have a basic knowledge, even if it is as crude and simplistic as “Lions are brash and warlike, Unicorns are uncultured outsiders, Dragons are aloof and Inscrutable” (these are all over-simplifications, but potentially a useful starting point).

Although there are various point-of-view characters featured at different times in the book, Poison River remains very-much Daidoji Shin’s story, so it’s a good thing that Reynolds succeeds in making this apparent layabout actually quite likeable as a character. Although he lacks the genius of a Sherlock Holmes-style master-sleuth, there is a definite sense in which Shin, like the more famous detective, is simply bored with his existence until a mystery presents itself needing to be solved. Overall, I think the book does a good job of showing that there is far more depth to his character than meets the eye, without forcing an implausible transformation on the young Daidoji.

Of the supporting cast, Kasami was the one I would have liked to have seen more development from – this is, apparently, the first in a series of books focusing on the young Crane, so hopefully we will see more of this longsuffering bodyguard and find out a bit more about her as we go.

Aside from the main two, I think my other favourite character was Okuni. There’s always a danger of ninja-type characters becoming a bit trope-y, and I was pleased to see Reynolds making this Shinobi fallible, both in terms of her martial skills, and her judgement and decision-making. (The book as a whole does a good line in making various combatants feel normal, rather than implausibly matchless). Although much of Okuni’s story is a cat-and-mouse, kill-or-be-killed, she is nevertheless depicted as a fully-realised human character, whose relationships with those closest to her feel deeper and more significant than you might first assume, with the bonds exposed slowly, carefully, without the need to unload her entire backstory in a mass info-dump.

Between the various point-of-view characters, the plot starts out in a fairly broad, almost swarming fashion, before gradually pulling those various strands together into a coherent reality. All-in-all, I liked how everything came together for the final resolution, although I did feel a bit underwhelmed the big “reveal” of the ultimate villain behind the various plots and schemes. It’s difficult to elaborate without spoiling the main plot, but I would have like a slightly grander overall purpose to everything.

Ultimately, I think Poison River works well, both as a story, and even as an entry-point to the political side of Rokugan. Shin is a likeable enough character, despite his wastrel exterior, and the supporting cast are all suitably well-depicted, each with their own distinguishing and appealing features. I think I still prefer FFG’s web-fiction series, or even the (now-rather-ancient and non-canonical since the reboot) Clan Wars novels of the late 1990s, because of the way they tell the more epic stores that concern the whole fate of the land, but that doesn’t take anything away from Poison River, which sets out to tell a much smaller-scale story, and does it very well. Any time spent reading this is definitely well-spent, and I would recommend it to others.

The City of the Rich Frog sits within a fragile peace between the Lion, Unicorn, and Dragonfly clans. Each has a claim to it and only imperial edict keeps them from each other’s throats. When a shipment of rice the Lion had purchased turns up poisoned, that peace is threatened. When the Imperial Governor finds himself in a position where his neutrality might easily be called into question with regard to the case he calls in Daidoji Shin, trade envoy to the Crane Clan and general wastrel, to get to the bottom of the case. In a city filled with crooked merchants, pirates, and shinobi, trying to save the city might just be the only thing that can convince Shin to do an honest day’s work.

It has been awhile since I last read a mystery and, while The Legend of the Five Rings’ setting of Rokugan is very much a fantasy setting, Josh Reynolds’ Poison River was a nice step back into mysteries as well as making for an enjoyable exploration of the way strict rules and the political balance of the various clans works, at least within the City of the Rich Frog.

Daidoji Shin is a stand out in a book full of well done characters. As a lay about noble he has sunk a lot of time into learning things that would not normally be useful. Things that, coincidentally, help with the case at hand while also establishing him as particularly well read. He pays attention to people, how they behave, what they say and do not say, something in text expected of the Crane clan. Shin comes across as very much the smart guy but done in a way that brings the reader along, many of his conclusions are things that the reader could have also figured out or that he explains to his bodyguard, Kasami, as he works. In looking for who poisoned the rice he looks both for evidence of the culprit as well as the intent behind the poisoning and clues why this was all done.

Poison River lives by its characters and, while Shin might be the stand out, Kasami was absolutely my favorite. Despite the setting having very strict rules about proper behavior and difference to social superiors, Kasami is allowed to be just completely done with Shin’s being terrible at being a noble. It is established more than once that this is deeply odd and that she really should not be allowed to act this way, but that she is allowed and does so obviously express her frustration adds to the characterization for both her and Shin as well as making her a fantastic Watson for Shin to explain his thought process to the audience through. It expands beyond that though. The shinobi, Nekoma Okuni, is key to setting up the background happenings of the mystery while also telling a solid side story of its own. The various clan representatives are both clever leaders as well as shifty in their dealings with Shin’s investigation. Minor characters like Daichi the gambler and the ship’s captain have their own background happenings that add nicely to the story and to our understanding of other characters.

The mystery itself is less about who poisoned the rice and more about who was behind the poisoning being ordered and why. I confess, I think I had figured out the broad strokes of the solution by around half way through the book, but the story was good enough for me to want to keep going and Reynolds’ use of the tangle of clan politics in the City of the Rich Frog meant that there were still some really well laid turns in what was going on that kept it engaging. I did have a little bit of frustration with the ending, it was well done and what was necessary for things to be tied up neatly, but it felt very like a matter of necessity versus justice and that sort of left an iffy taste in my mouth.

I said back in my Wrath of N’kai review that I looked forward to seeing what Josh Reynolds would do next and if Poison River is anything to go by I stand by that completely. The character work is solid. The story is enjoyable and well plotted out. Even with my single issue regarding the ending, which is entirely my issue, it easily earns a four out of five. I am definitely looking forward to the next Daidoji Shin novel later this year.

This isn't a bad story, with likeable and believable characters throughout. I guess I was confused by the description, I was expecting more of a mystery.
Well written, this book is going to enjoy by someone... while I appreciate and liked the story OK, this just isn't for me.

Josh Reynolds kicks off his ‘Daidoji Shin Mysteries’ series of Legend of the Five Rings (L5R) stories with Poison River, his second novel for Aconyte Books. Sent by his family to the City of the Rich Frog to oversee the Crane Clan’s trade activities, Daidoji Shin relieves his boredom by spending his days drinking and gambling, much to the dismay of his bodyguard Kasami. All that changes, however, when the Imperial governor sets him the task of uncovering the culprit behind a plot that risks upsetting the balance of power in the city. Invigorated by the investigation, Shin throws himself (and Kasami) into his work, in spite of the danger posed by rival clans, court politics and hired assassins.

While L5R’s Rokugan is very much a fantasy world, mixing feudal Japan with magic, demons and spirits, Poison River focuses much less on the fantastic elements of the setting and more on the everyday realities of life in the City of the Rich Frog. It’s essentially a Golden Age detective story, complete with a central mystery full of twists and turns, a main character who uses his sharp deductive skills to seek out the truth, and a supporting cast of kabuki actors, corrupt merchants, mercenary shinobi and grouchy samurai. Set to the backdrop of a vibrant riverside city parcelled out in an uneasy alliance between a trio of rival clans, it’s full of pointed conversations over cups of tea, devious nobles lying through their teeth, and the occasional breathless chase across rooftops and through crowded streets.

The mystery itself revolves around poisoned rice, the underground black market and the currents of political power in the city, but Daidoji Shin is the main draw of the novel, proving to be a tremendously entertaining character and an unconventional, but effective detective. Capable of holding his own with a blade if he really has to (although why fight when he has the much put upon Kasami to do it for him?), he prefers to duel with sharp words, with which he’s positively lethal. On the surface he’s a typical spoiled aristocrat, but behind his mask of indolence and sarcastic wit he has a mind for details and a degree of cunning that make him ideally suited as an investigator, despite initial appearances and his relative lack of experience in the role. His nonchalant immodesty and blatant disregard for propriety drive poor Kasami spare, but are a lot of fun to read about.

This is perfect Reynolds fare really, with the mystery lending the story drive and momentum while giving the characters opportunities to do plenty of talking and explore the setting in interesting ways. Shin understandably steals the show, but it’s absolutely packed full of snarky, sharp-talking characters all hiding behind their own masks (occasionally literal, mostly figurative), and between them they explore both the surface detail and the deeper workings of the city (and by proxy the compelling world of Rokugan) – its locations, its structures of commerce and agriculture, the clan politics that bind and divide it, and the dynamic between the samurai and the common folk of the city. Come for the mystery, stay for the fantastic characters, snappy dialogue and sense of fun. As the first book in a series, it’s a very promising start indeed.

My usual range of reading material is broad, but "Poison River" stood firmly outside my norm - and I loved it! I'm not a gamer and hadn't heard of "Legend of the Five Rings" until I saw this book, but it really didn't matter. I loved the writing, found the story immersive, and enjoyed the characters and world this story is set in. I might have to start gaming!

My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.

A deep and nuanced preview of Legends of the Five Rings. Fans of L5R would love this! Written from a third person of view, we follow Daidoji Shin, a wastrel son of the Crane clan who's supposed to play his role as an envoy in the City of the Rich Frog but he actually spends most of his time watching kabuki or gambling. His character is witty and it is funnier when he always picks up a little fight with his stone-faced guard, Kamisami. Reynolds really emphasizes the traits of the characters' arcs because of the dynamism in Shin is really awesome. Besides, the story itself is very intriguing for the emerging mystery of the poison rice.

Poison River (releasing December 1, 2020) is the second
entry in the Legend of the Five Rings (L5R) universe from Aconyte Books (the fiction publishing arm of Asmodee). L5R is inspired by feudal Japan (and, to a lesser extent, other parts of Asia). The nation of Rokugan has an Emperor, but also seven great clans (and numerous minor ones) with their own competing power bases. In Poison River, Josh Reynolds spins a detective novel that is both fun and completely accessible to those who are new to Legend of the Five Rings. Poison River doesn't have the weight of epic storytelling and worldbuilding that some of the L5R novels from decades ago have, but it is probably the single best Legend of the Five Rings novel for purposes of just picking up and having a good read.

Protagonist Daidoji Shin (coming to more mystery novels near you) is a relatable character - one of those lovable wastrels who has quite a lot of talent, but chooses to fritter it away (by society's standards) because he isn't interested in traditional measures of success. The events of Poison River provides Shin with the gift motivation. Shin, having caused some embarrassment to his noble family, has been sent off to manage his clan's trading operations in the City of the Rich Frog - a reasonably important city, but not one where the Crane have major interests.

A poisoned rice shipment and political machinations result in Shin being chosen as an investigator by the city's Imperial governor. Suddenly, all of the esoterica that Shin has learned in years of leisure pursuits pays off, and we learn that Shin has an eye for something more than the lead actress in the local kabuki theater troupe. If Reynolds's investigator in the Wrath of N'Kai read like a noir detective, Shin here gets to play a bit of the Sherlock Holmes, with bodyguard Hiramori Kasami serving as a katana-wielding Dr. Watson. Kasami gets to serve both as source of expension (when scolding Shin on his failure to live up to expectations) and recipient (when Shin explains his theories).

Shin's investigation requires him to navigate the political intrigues of the great Lion and Unicorn clans, as well as the minor Dragonfly clan, who divide most of the city's trade interest between them. He must also delve into a web of underworld connections, pawns, and masterminds - the pirates, gamblers, black marketers, and shinobi. Shin doesn't take himself particularly seriously, which serves him well in both arenas - to allow him to himself to be underestimated in the former and to allow him to meaningfully interact with the latter at all.

Somewhere, I am sure, there will be L5R diehards who will grump at the way that Poison River often acknowledges the particulars of Rokugani etiquette only for the purpose of explaining how it's being disregarded. For example, Shin directly accuses other samurai of lying, which is the sort of thing that will tend to result in a fatal duel at a Legend of the Five Rings RPG session. To this I say "pshaw." I'm not sure how anyone could write detective fiction while meeting the highest standards of Rokugani formality. But Reynolds's looser application of these formalistic strictures is a positive, not just a necessary evil. Rokugan could not function if its nobility actually resolved every single squabble with a ritualized duel. The portrayal in Poison River is, ultimately, probably more "realistic" than the high-strung formalism of some L5R fans.

L5R grognards may also be up in arms at Reynolds's aversion to specialty lingo (the example of this that stood out the most was the use of the the phrase "ritual disembowelment" instead of "seppuku"). I don't know if this lack of specialist terminology was necessary, but I can't find fault with it. This is a novel intended to be read beyond diehard fans, so it needs to be accessible. This position of mine probably won't be a surprise to longtime readers of my reviews, as I have never put too much stock in heavy use of Japanese terms in the world's writing (overuse of such was, for example, the one quibble I had with Robert Denton's The Sword of the Spirits, which I think was the best of the recent L5R novellas).

As a long-time L5R geek myself, who heavily participated in certain card game events that helped direct relevant parts of the grand story of a prior version of the universe, I must admit that I took some personal pleasure in Shin employing the Kitsuki Method - that is, actually considering evidence of what happened, instead of the traditional Rokugani methodology of simply accepting the word of the highest-status individual in the vicinity.

Poison River was an excellent read. It provides an introduction to the flavor of the Legend of the Five Rings Universe without drowning the reader in minutiae. The protagonist is interesting, the conspiracy he investigates is coherent, and his adventure riveting. I would recommend this to all but a few longtime Legend of the Five Rings fans (see above), or to anyone who thinks that a feudal mystery might be interesting.

really excited to see that there will be more Shin to come - excellent storytelling and characterization.

(posted to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3631808614?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1)