Dragon Sword and Wind Child Reviews

• Lyrical, vivid, and simply beautiful

  
  By AG3U44TTG7767 on 2002-09-26
  It's an absolute tragedy that this book is out of print. There are more than a hundred Babysitters' Club books out there, each following an identical plot outline, yet a book of this caliber is unavailable.

  I came across this book in our local library, and I loved it from the start. The style is ornate and has an air of being old-fashioned, but that is my favorite kind of writing. Japanese must be an intensely sensual language, because the imagery was incredible. Simple things, like the description of Princess Teruhi's clothes and the field of gypsy roses, made this book magical. Saya and Chihaya are wonderful protagonists, and even Prince Tsukishiro has his moments of sympathy.

  I love how the book plays with the connotations of Light and Dark. We see Light as benevolent and pure, but is that always the case? Can one side ever be wholly right, and another wholly wrong? These are deep questions that I've found myself pondering in the middle of the night. Yet the theme is not thrown at the reader; it is presented as part of Saya's struggle.

  Although it lacks the wry humor of the Harry Potter series, I must say that this book surpasses all four of those books on my list of favorites. Anyone looking for a marvelous high fantasy novel would do well to read this book.
  
  

• One of My Favorite Books

  
  By on 2003-09-04
  Dragon Sword and Wind Child is one of my favorite books of all time! I love fantasy and this book is absolutely beautiful! I guess some people would say it is kind of boring at first, but I really enjoyed Noriko Ogiwara's writing and the character developement. The characters are wonderfully alive, each with their own unique qualities. The book also explores a lot of themes, such as: innocence, naivity, compassion, being different, etc. I know many people think that fantasy isn't "real" but I know that the people in this book are very real and that you grow to understand and sympahize with them. The book also explores immortality, reincarnation, perfection, and the human emotion. However, the book is mainly about a 15-year-old Saya who has to find out in all this mess. Saya is a very real character, and I found myself relating to her.

  I know many people are not interested in reading this book because it is a translation, but i have to say you have to give it a chance!

  Some people may think this book is not humorous, but it is in many ways. The humor is very subtle though, so you have to picture the people talking in your mind to get the humor sometimes.

  In conclusion, any person who wants to read a good book, absolutely HAS to read this book!
  
  

• An Enriching Tale of Conflict and Mystery

  
  By on 2001-01-08
  WOW! This book is remarkable. Its uplifting conclusion stunningly completes this exquisite Japanese fantasy book. Dragon Sword and Wind Child, by Noriko Ogiwari, is a story about a girl who has the power to end the war that has plagued her world for centuries. The girl, Saya, must decide whether to end the war in favor of the Light, the side she was raised to believe in, or in support of Darkness, the side she was raised to detest. Which side will Saya choose to be on? Dragon Sword and Wind Child's conflict resolution and its mysterious style make it an enthralling book to read. One very admirable thing about this book is the way characters work problems out. All characters, especially Saya (the main character), have many internal struggles which are positively resolved. I also love this book's mysterious element. The identity of many of the characters is clouded and even downright concealed for some period of the book. These are just a few of the many reasons to read this accomplished book. Although this book is charming, it is not flawless. Some people reading this book might tell you that its plot is very slow and hard to follow. However, this is just in the beginning. The book picks up and is incredibly fast moving later in the book. No book is perfect, but this book comes pretty close. Definitely read it.
  
  

• Heart Touching

  
  By on 2002-01-20
  Nothing I have ever read has so plainly made such a great impression upon my heart as this book. It definitely tops my list. Your feelings grow as you read this phenomeonal story about a young woman growing to except the world and the truths her loves hold, when staring her in the face is her true love. This book represents everything: good versus evil; love; hate; happiness; distruction; and most importantly the love that carries the hearts of its readers through to the end. This book is suspenseful and my pages are stained with tears every time I read it. If anyone needs an escape from the harsh reality we live today, they definitely should read this book. I believe it would to everyone good and enrich their lives, hearts, and minds if this book went to print again.
  
  

• A MUST if you want a bit of romance, adventure, and magic!

  
  By A1L19FUWL2P7RP on 2002-01-28
  Long ago, a fight between the God of Light and Goddess of Darkness arose. From that came earth, and the God's two immortal children, Prince Tsukishiro and Princess Teruhi.
  But the maing story focuses on a young girl named Saya who gets picked by the Prince to become his handmaiden. Saya is infatuated with him and goes with him. She knows nothing of being a handmaiden, and is treated badly at the castle, especially by Princess Teruhi. Later, we learn that the two immortal children of the God of Light are not as heavenly as they were thought to be.
  Saya becomes the catalyst that really restarts the struggle between Dark and Light. On her way, she meets Chihaya, a pretty boy, who is pure of heart, but ignorant. Together, they find eachother as well as the answer to the end of the struggle between Dark and Light.
  A wonderful and satisfying book to read. I just love this book! If you don't know anything about Japan, this may be confusing for you. It's hard to keep track of the names and who's who, but other than that the book should be NO PROBLEM for anyone to read! The novel is very magical and legend oriented. One of my favorite books of all time!
  
  
• Good Book
  By A25GDLUJS1TKWL on 2004-04-13
  This book was adventurous and it challenged the mind because you didn't really know what was going to happen.This story is a great tale of heroism and adventure.
  
  
• Love, Battle, Fantasy, all in One Book
  By A39WQ8TTJMGQVT on 2004-05-26
  A girl, Saya, is attracted to the Light and always has been. But at the night of the Kagai where love proposals are made, she finds out that she is the reincarnation of Princess Sayura, the water maiden, and a person of the Darkness. The water maiden's duty was always to still the Dragon Sword, a sword that could be fatal to the immortals, children of the God of Light, themselves. But as she rejects this fact, she becomes a handmaiden of Prince Tsukishiro, going to his palace shared with his twin, Princess Teruhi. He proposes and asks for her hand in marriage but she realizes he only wishes for the reflection of his unreachable sister from the water maiden. When a friend from Darkness is caught where he shouldn't be and is caged for the Purification sacrifice, Saya realizes her belonging to the people of Darkness and goes to the forbidden shrine where the Dragon Sword lies. However, Torihiko is not there and instead, she finds the third child of the Light. A boy named Chihaya who later on, escapes with her to face on the twin princess and prince. Afterwords, Saya travels with the Ground Spiders, people of Darkness, and becomes the new water maiden. Then, they realize that legend foretold a Wind Child who could use the Dragon Sword and end all of the war between Light and Dark. He and Saya overcomes dangerous courses in finding an answer to these troubles. Soon, they only understand each other. As Teruhi and Tsukishiro combine their powers, the climax is would Chihaya end the war for the better or would chaos spread through the land of Toyoashihara?
  
  
• A book of transcendant beauty...
  By A3PSKSA25QNFMD on 2005-08-24
  I agree with one of the former reviewers here that it is indeed a tragedy that this book is out of print. It belongs with the other classics of high fantasy and allegory that have been reprinted thousands of times throughout the years.
  The subtlety of the descriptions and development in this book is pure magic, the best I have ever seen. Everything moves so fluidly --the plot, the scenes, and the characters develop gradually but smoothly and completely-- that I can only think that if a beautiful water-color painting could have a written form, this would be it. This book must have been very skillfully translated from its original Japanese, because never in the English language have I found such images before. While this book does entertain as well, and ends, against all odds, happily, it transcends many other books because it does not simply touch the mind or emotions. There is something spiritual about it, something that touches that part of each of us that is truly alive and connected to the life all around us. Not only does it touch it, but it opens our eyes to that connection. That alone makes this book worth reading. I wish there were more books like it.
  
  
• Interesting Very interesting
  By A2T6TY4PDYT6BA on 2000-03-01
  I thought that this book was a great story. It was recommended to me by a friend and i couldn't put it down(i have actually read it 3 x's and it is now over due at my school library) The story begins in a little town of Hashiba with a girl named Saya. She was adopted into this town...her parents were really people of the darkness and she was living in a town of the light...so on and on eventually she met the son of the God of light(whom she wanted to marry) and became his maidservant...she learned who she was and went back to her rightful side. There has been a great war going on b/twn the people of light and darkness ever since the God of light shunned the Goddes of darkness (his wife) and sent her to the underworld to rule there...Saya ends up to be the Priestess of the sword and while she was in the palace of light she met the wind child, Chihaya, who is also the Dragon of the sword...Chihaya joins the side of the darness and fights for them he is immortal so he "dies" many times which is what tells everyone that he is a child of the light...so he is then shunned from the people of dakness but Saya has faith in him and so on they go on fighting the light for the good of the darkness...You really have to read the book to get what i am saying b/c i think i am just confusing you! It really is a great book and it is not about light = good and bad = evil it is light of the day and darkness of the night. :) JUST READ IT! :) :) :) :) :)
  
  
• Dragon Sword and Wind Child
  By A3UCKUP7DI5BO8 on 2000-01-28
  This book is very unique, although if you don't follow along you may have trouble comprehending later on in the story. It is basically about two special people named Sayura (Saya) and Chihaya. They meet while Saya is on a quest to find a way to get the goddess of darkness, (her mother), and the god of light, (his father) back together after a fatal accident mentioned at the beginning of the story. I liked the story because it had a special way of showing how people came to live in a world with both light and darkness. My favorite part is the last decision at the end, which I can not give away. I would recommend this book to any age old enough to comprehend it.
  
  
• A must read book
  By A207GXLXTEG0F3 on 2000-01-28
  This book was so fascinating, I couldn't put it down. I loved reading about Saya and all that she went through it was so unpredictable! I was doing a report and found the book, I thought It'd be boring and almost didn't read it but when I started I couldn't put it down! I recomend it to anybody who loves surprize endings!
  
  
• My Favorite Book EVER!!!
  By on 1999-08-26
  I have read this book in Japanese, too, and as the author writes as she reflects on her book, "this is the book i've always wanted to read." The mythical beliefs and wonders tickle your heart, as the author describes Princess Teruhi shining from within, or Chihaya rescuing Saya... they're all so well written, you can almost see them before your eyes! I also love the many connections between characters that the author has woven in with her story. I've read this book about 6 times now, and i'm still not tired of it! I especially recommend this rewarding book if you're a "Young Adult" that has some knowledge of Japan.
  
  
• A Very Good Book!
  By A2HHZT7DSA8YF8 on 1999-11-19
  This book was very good! I am a fantasy book lover and have read a great variety, many twice this length, but this is definatly one of my favorites! Saya is well described, as are the other characters. The settings were described picture-perfect and you can't put the book down once you start! A Must-Read and a classic in my mind!
  
  
• One of My favorite Books!!
  By A1X0KTZ1FT6QWO on 2002-04-29
  In my lifetime I have read many books. Some good, some bad. But this I THOROUGHLY enjoyed reading this book. In Dragon Sword and Wind Child a teenage orphan girl who finds herself in a world of war, gods, pain, but also of compassion and love. As she meets many new people this young girl strives to find herself.
  
  
• Celestial magic, I'm impressed!
  By A3GUGKKXP2HI4C on 2002-05-08
  I am very picky about what books I really declare that I love but I LOVE this book! Chihaya is such a cool character and Saya is too. I began to feel for the characters, like feeling sympathy when they're depressed or joy when they succeed. Noriko Ogiwara has created an excellent world of fantasy, and magic. As an anime fan I found this book especially interesting. Now, I'm not going to give away any details but I will say that the ending was great. ^_~
  
  
• A WONDERFUL BOOK!!
  By on 2004-04-04
  okay, this girl is found to be the reincarnation of the Water Maiden who is part of Darkness. It is really like Inuyasha, sorta. She believes herself to be in love with the God of Light's son, whatever-his-name-is, but later finds out he is in love with his twin, the princess. realizing she worships the light but is part of Darkness is confusing and later she desperately seeks the Dragon Sword which she could only sedate to rescue a fellow friend Toshiro or something. during this quest she meets the third child of the light god now known as C. Toshiro goes into a crow form and survives the fire that C accidentallly releases after Saya loses consciousness (saya being the main character). then they travel around with the Ground Spiders in a war against the Lights. Slowly, she and C realizes they are the two parts of one and their relationship starts developing but both (mostly C) are ignorant to. Then many things happen and the war ends, ta-da! but it is so much greater--the writer writes with such specific details and majestic flourish that your eyes stay glued to the page.
  
  
• A Favorite Finally Goes Back Into Print (fewer spoilers)
  By A14STPI52W4YRU on 2008-01-11
  Dragon Sword and Wind Child is one of my favorite novels. What's to like? Saya is a village girl in Toyoashihara (sort of a mystical/magical Japan), a land split by the war between the Gods that created the land: The God of Light and the Goddess of Darkness (and Death). Saya has been raised to love the Light and is shocked when strange people start proclaiming that she is one of the Goddess of Darkness's people, reborn again and again to wage her battle against the children of the Light. This revelation is complicated when Prince Tsukishiro, one half of the children of the Light, comes to Saya's village, trying to woo her to the side of the Light by enlisting her as a handmaiden in his palace.
  
  You've heard this story before, right? Honestly, I normally hate this sort of plot set up and the reluctant heroine type. However, Saya is unique to me because her reactions are understandable and even relatable; you see how she subtlely changes and how she makes her decisions and her mental conflicts. As for the plot? Not all is as it seems. Once Saya comes to the palace, she doesn't particularly fit in the whole court atmosphere and furthermore warrior Princess Teruhi is determined to catch Saya collaborating with the Darkness. Prince Tsukishiro isn't much of a help, as it seems this situation has all been played out before in Saya's previous lives (that she has no memory of), and he's still in love with Saya's last incarnation, who killed herself in the palace pond. And the Palace of Light has many sinister secrets... (The novel continues for much longer, not only through Saya's revelations, her final choice in alliances, but also to the final conclusion to the war that has engulfed the land for as long as it as existed.)
  
  Another interesting part of this book is that it's not your usual elves, fairies, etc. Noriko Ogiwara, influenced by Western writers, used Japanese mythology to create this world. The implications of this are just obvious by the summary of the book above. This isn't Good vs. Evil, Dark v. Light of your normal fantasy epic. The issues the characters have to deal with in this book are immortality, mortality, reincarnation along with loyalty and empathy. Are we cursed to repeat the same mistakes over and over through our lifetimes? Does immortality create an lack of empathy? What is sacrificed during war, what is gained, and is it worth it?
  
  I had worn out checking out the library copy all the time, so I was thrilled this classic finally has gone back into print. The deft translation by Cathy Hirano is still intact, except that mentions to Saya's stone has been changed to "magatama". I somewhat miss the old cover, but some interesting drawings have been added to the chapter title pages. I have heard that there are two more books in the series (about what I don't know, as the book pretty much covers all the bases and closes all plotlines), and I'm hoping the other two will finally be translated for English audiences. And I lied earlier. This is pretty much my favorite book (Tied with Dark Lord of Derkhom by Diana Wynne Jones). And I cry and laugh every time I read it.
  
  SPOILERS
  The insertion of Chihaya completely changes the landscape of the book. And amazingly, it doesn't feel random and unwarranted. Like Chihaya's the other main character, he's just been missing. The romance parts of the book are perhaps its weakest point, but understandable, and really do drive the plot.
  
  
• I LOVE THIS BOOK!!
  By on 1999-10-31
  I just finished reading this book, and I love it! Saya is powerful, yet vulnerable, due to her human heart, but still, she has a feeling for the path...Chihaya is my favorite character...He's learning about everything. He has an understanding, yet an innocence...I just love this book!
  
  
• Can you beleive......
  By on 1999-09-26
  This book is a true inspiration to us all. A collection af wonderful events that has captured the hearts of everyone who has read it.Using the setting of a traditional Jappaneese background, placed in a world of conflicting darkness and light, you can't help but loose yourself in the story. The characters are beautifully put together and I can't wait until the 16th time I read it!
  
  
• Spetacular!
  By on 1999-11-14
  This book is one of the best books I have ever read! I used to live in Japan, and reading this brought back many visual memories. It is encredibly well written and a wonderful story that can not be put down!
  
  
• Wow! What a story!
  By on 1997-11-02
  Dragon Sword and Wind Child is a wonderful, fascinating book set in ancient Japan when Gods and humans walked the earth at the same time. Saya is a well-written beleivable charactor that is very confused when it comes to personal matters. Chihaya is very innocent, but also very powerful. I most definately reccomend this book to anyone in search of a good historical fiction book.
  
  
• i love this book
  By on 2001-03-14
  this book is my favorite! i couldn't ever find it because it was out of print, now that i've found it i have to ask my parents for some money. this book opened my eyes to different ways of thinking, and being. that not everyone has the same perspective. i read this book in the sixth grade, and i've not been the same. it's a great book, i hope you read and enjoy it.
  
  
• A must Read along the journey of life
  By A3F8HOU35IPZJU on 2001-03-26
  Dragon Sword and Wind Child. The title of course screamed sci-fi/ fantasy plus a bit or say a bunch of oriental legend. Japanese to be exact, I noticed after I read the inside. I had just been chosing books by color of the binding. But then I noticed that it did seem a little interesting. And I liked anime and manga stories so I thought I might as well read it. But it actually taught me or instilled in me a bit more of Japanese culture and feeling.

  Well I respected and looked up to it completley. To Noriko Ogiwara I wished I could just say that it was completley amazing. And I too started on Chronicles of Narnia and Anne of Green Gables, and now I have added this book to that collection of my book memories. We all come from a background of lives before us, and this story helped conclude about the questions we have in the energies of the earth. The fantasy just takes you off into a different world. And it's a great representative, or like said before "metaphor" of many things we see. The description, plot, writing, all of it seems like it could leap out.

  If you are a fan of Japanese legends and stories, the book will certainly appease you. The story ties in perfectly and the details will give you scenes that you will always remember. Read it... And be changed... enjoy!

  I only wish the book were still published.
  
  

• Of all the books I've ever read...
  By A2V76UDXIP0FJ6 on 2001-06-11
  Of all the books I have ever read, this was by far the best and continues to be. I love a good book and even write one or two and I must say, this book is above and beyond anything I've ever read or written. It is so good that I've named it my favorite book of all time. I highly enjoyed it. It is a book that stays with you forever. Everytime I read it, I still get that tingly feeling whenever something is about to happen. It's the best book in my history and I'm sure that you'll like it too if you read it.
  
  
• Page 324
  By A35BETCCH8W62R on 2001-08-15
  It was once said, or maybe I just made it up, �There is not a thing in this world worst than the end of a good book.� So, as for page 324 of the book Dragon Sword and Wind Child, you have a special place in my heart as the wonderful conclusion of a great story and the loathsome end to one of the few books I wish had gone on forever.
  
  
• So Sad, yet Beautiful
  By AA91OY4974MAA on 2006-01-26
  I agree with the other reviewers, this book NEEDS to be back in print. I read it in junior high and was extremely enchanted! I quickly passed it to my mother and told friends about it; its just so lovely, though occassionally sad.
  
  I really can't say much that hasn't been said, but if anyone who has power reads this- LET'S GET THIS BOOK BACK IN PRINT!! (I can't afford a $200 book on a college students pay...)
  
  
• definitely a must-read!
  By ANXR0AZMUX5HZ on 2006-06-16
  this book is amazing and i loved it! i read it in junior high, too, and i wish it would be back in print. i definitely cannot buy it for $200! this book is amazing with its details and dialogue and interesting adventures that happen! and the innocent mind of chihaya is definitely attractive and also his unknown power over the dragon sword is so alluring. this historical fairytale is the best i've ever read! it keeps you reading and your heart thumping in anxiety over what will occur next.
  
  
• Finally we have the book in print.
  By A19DGAWQEOHJ6Y on 2007-07-10
  I am so happy that the book was brought back in print by Viz. I have been waiting for this book for a really long time. After I saw it on an English book of literature I wanted to have it. But when I learned that it was out of print and that it was on Amazon for more than $3oo dollars I was devastated, and I hoped that some day it would be back in print. I had to settle for the copies that were on my public library. But I really wanted to have my very own copy as well as the sequels of the book. So I remained patient and waited and finally it was brought back. I cannot wait to get my copy and hopefully I will also see the sequels also translated. But in the mean time I will enjoy this book first.
  
  
• Love It!!
  By A3O6DTFJ05Z4L2 on 2007-09-30
  I first read this book when I was a child. I loved it. I checked it out of my schools library so many times they let me just keep it till the end of the school year. The story line and the people themselves are so hard to put down. The mythology in the book made me look into the shinto myths. I would recommend this book to anyone. I am twenty six now and still love this book!!
  
  
• Must have!
  By A19E8NLU5CEBLQ on 2007-12-03
  Noriko Ogiwara creates riddles which seem unavoidable. And they are. However, like the words of any oracle, they are open to *very* interesting and unexpected interpretations.
  
  Don't debate. Buy this book! Thank yourself later.
  
  

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