The Tokaido Road

By: Lucia St. Clair Robson

Narrated by: Rebecca Cook

After the execution of her father, the young and beautiful Lady Asano is in grave danger from the powerful Lord Kira. In order to save herself Asano must find Oishi, the leader of the fighting men of her clan. She believes he is 300 miles to the southwest in the imperial city of Kyoto. Disguising her loveliness in the humble garments of a traveling priest, and calling herself Cat, Lady Asano travels the fabled Tokaido Road. Her only tools are her quick wits, her samurai training, and her deadly, six-foot-long naginata. And she will need them all, for a ronin has been hired to pursue her, a mysterious man who will play a role in Cat's drama that neither could have ever imagined.

©2013 Books In Motion (P)2013 Books In Motion

Loved it

This was a very good story. The narrator was really good. I will definitely listen to this book again.

Immersive and Enchanting

A breathtaking epic adventure across historic Edo-era Japan featuring a strong female lead and a colorful cast of characters along one of Japan’s most famous routes. Highly recommend for those who want all the elements of a samurai story grounded in real, historical research and delivered with lyrical and engaging prose,

Amazing

This story has been a favorite of mine since I was a teenager. The reading that Ms. Cook provides is truly magical and brought life to St. Clair Robinson’s tale of a journey down the Tokaido. I highly recommend this book either in print or audio!

Fabulous book!

Read it years ago, and can't wait to hear the audio version! A different take on the 47 Ronin legend.

A Visit to Feudal Japan

I thoroughly enjoyed this adventure story of a women's quest in another time, another place. At the end of the story there is an author's note explaining that the setting and background story really happened, but the main character's are fiction. And indeed, some of the events during the quest are satisfying but unbelievable (a woman repeatedly taking on groups of men and besting them, sometimes without real weapons). There is more violence than I am typically comfortable with, but it is handled in an almost impersonal, not detailed, way that made it easier for me to handle and not think too much about. What I loved were the rich descriptions of life on the road and feudal Japan. It was especially nice having both an aristocrat and a peasant, which allowed the reader to glimpse life for the different classes. And I loved and rooted for the main characters.