This book could have been so much better if everything before the 25% marker had been condensed. The writing and characters and plot and setting and everything was really lovely but nothing happened! It was so boring! After it really picked up but I was disappointed for such a short book to have such a slow start.

I thought the plot was fun and really liked the mc. I found the story telling to be really well done too.

Bright Eyes was such an interesting read. The world building the author created transports you back to ancient Japan to continue Ritsuko's story as an assassin and hero in her own right. The character of Ritsuko is such a strong female lead that makes you root for her and her cause. The story is wonderful written and detailed. Great read.

A Massive Thank You to the Author, the Publisher and NetGalley for giving me the chance to read and review this book prior to its release date.

Risuko is a true warrior. Her love for fighting and for justice, her determination and the need to protect others are just some of the qualities I loved. I was mesmerized by the historical Japanese background. An amazing sequel!

This is the second novel in the series that follows Risuko, a female samurai. I really like Risuko and found her to be a very strong and clever protagonist. I also thought the author did an excellent job in making medieval Japan come alive. I also loved the murder mystery that was added into the novel. This, it was a solid follow-up to Risuko. I recommend this for fans of Stranger in the Shogun’s City, The Samurai’s Daughter, and Firefly!

Bright Eyes is a Kunoichi Tale by David Kudler. The future of Japan hangs in the balance, and it's up to a girl who likes to climb to save the day. Two armies have descended on the Full Moon, and the war that has torn Japan apart for over a century threatens to destroy Lady Chiyome's school for young shrine maidens (and assassins). In this thrilling sequel to Risuko: A Kunoichi Tale, Risuko must face warlords, samurai, angry cooks, a monster in the hills, the truth about her father, a spy among the kunoichi, and a murderer. Someone kills a Takeda lieutenant, staging it to look like suicide. Can Risuko figure out who would do such thing? And can she keep it from happening again?

Bright Eyes is a book that I desperately wanted to read as soon as I saw it existed, and dreaded reading since it had been so long since I had read Risuko. which I remember loving but worried that I would not remember enough to follow this sequel or that it would not live up to my expectations. I should not have worried, or put of starting the book because of those worries for so long. I enjoyed this read just as much as Risuko, and honestly look forward to more. I thought the continued character development for the major characters was well done, and the mystery was handled very well. There were clues, red herrings, and interesting information about all the major players through out the book leaving readers wondering which were the really important bits for the mystery and which were there to help us understand the characters and situation even better. Even though I felt like it had been too long since I read the first book there were little hints about what had happened. Just enough to remind me, but not enough that would bore or bother readers reading the books back to back. In fact, I know there are a few novellas or short stories tied into this series , which I now need to go find and read as soon as possible. I really enjoyed the read and think it will be a hit with a wide range of readers.

Bright Eyes is an engaging and entertaining read that delivers a rollercoaster of emotion.

I received this ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I love all of David Kudlers books and I love the audiobook versions too

I'll be buying them all in paperback /hardback can't wait for more!!

This is so well written and such an original story. It's easy reading and I had a difficult time putting the book down before I reached the ending. Excellent!

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Bright Eyes is the second installment within the Swords of the Seasons series. Just like in the first book, we are still following Risuko. Unlike the first book, though, things did not hit any bumps in the road or get boring. Which, yes, I was very thankful for because I could see the potential lurking in the corners.

She definitely hits the ground running after initiating. So, it's pretty safe to state that is constantly challenged and always learning. Through in a murder mystery to solve and I was completely hooked. It also didn't hurt that we met a bunch of new people which ended up making me oddly suspicious of every little thing.

Besides all of the action, we also get some secrets revealed. I've been dying to figure out everything about her father and family. Now that we know what we know, I'm secretly wishing for the next book to fall into my lap.

In the end, I definitely enjoyed the heck out of this book. So happy that I found this series and look forward to Risuko's next adventure!

Book review : Bright eyes by David Kudler is a tight, fascinating , gripping and amazing read.

Bright Eyes tells more about Risuko’s everyday life in Full Moon (a school for kunoichi) after she’s become initiates. But, in this sequel, Risuko is facing a murder mystery, warlords, suspicion about a spy among kunoichi, and dealing with the truth about her father. More characters involved here, making the plot more complicated and exciting.

This gripping book hooks the reader from the beginning till the last page. The author has beautifully depicted all the characters and their emotions. The will of a girl to save the full moon and the people is really praiseworthy.

I loved reading this exciting book and would recommend this japanese fantasy novel to all fantasy book lovers. I am thankful to netgalley and the publisher for providing me this book in return of an honest review.
Happy Reading!

NO RATING

This is a very young YA novel and unfortunately I'm not the target audience. I was attracted to the book by the Japanese culture and stunning cover, but unfortunately, I am too old for it.

I'd recommend this to the younger YA audience.

When I first picked up Bright Eyes I had no idea that this book was part of a series, which I will definitely be reading going forward. I wasn't sure how I would feel about this one initially but it was a really engaging and compelling story!

Thanks so much for allowing me to read and review this title.
While I was very much looking forward to reading it, unfortunately it just wasn’t for me.
I thank you again for allowing me to read this title and I hope to read more from your company in the future.

I didn't realize this book is part of the series so I will give my opinion only based this one. First thing that caught my eyes is how enrich this book with Japan Feudal era as setting. The MC Risuko easily gripping my attention with her character arc since beginning. I think she got enough depth and developing in whole book.

This book is fast pace and packed with action. The plot is complicate enough with additional of mysteries elements but still easy to follow. I really love it and will try go got my hand to the another books in series to enrich my experience.

I received a free copy of this book but my opinion are my own.

I enjoy this book; I did not know this was a series, however, I will purchase the first book to read and read again this book.
The well-written storyline was engaging and well-developed characters that I loved. I will re-rate when I read the first book.

Wow, this Risuko’s sequel was living up my expectations! It was gripping from the start, more action-packed, more character development, and more mystery elements added.

Bright Eyes tells more about Risuko’s everyday life in Full Moon (a school for kunoichi) after she’s become initiates. But, in this sequel, Risuko is facing a murder mystery, warlords, suspicion about a spy among kunoichi, and dealing with the truth about her father. More characters involved here, making the plot more complicated and exciting.

Just a thought about the titles in this series. The first book titled Risuko, second is Bright Eyes (her nickname given by Kee Sun, the cook), and the next book is Kano (Risuko’s family name). I think that the titles are depicting the development of Risuko as she lived up her all name and nicknames. Risuko (Book 1) is about her as ‘squirrel’, jumping from her home to the Full Moon. Bright Eyes is about her as initiates, with improved skill and intuition, and how her ‘bright eyes’ see the little details and helps solve the murder mystery. Next is Kano and I think it will going to be about her living up her father’s name and her fight to return his father’s honor. I really can’t wait for the next book to come!

While this was technically a 'beta read' it was more polished and set up more like an ARC read, so I'll go ahead and review as such.

I really enjoyed this one! As with Risuko: A Kunoichi Tale, this sequel is rich in culture and tradition. I loved learning more about Risuko's life in a Feudal Japan setting, as her lessons and training to become an kunoichi!

I also enjoyed getting to know more about some of the characters in the first book, as well as meeting some new interesting faces as well!

I felt this one did take a slightly different approach with the story telling. While Risuko was her same curious self, I didn't feel the emotional side as much in this one. She did spend time with friends and learn valuable lessons (both those she enjoyed, as well as some of a more painful nature as well) about who she was and who was was to become as she trained at the Full Moon, but the theme of friendships and family that was so relevant in Risuko took a slightly more muted and withdrawn approach in this one. It wasn't that I didn't enjoy the story, but I felt this one focuses more on the mystery and on some special guests at the Full Moon, and less on Risuko and her growing friendships at the Full Moon with the people she now calls family.

I did enjoy this sequel though, and am excited to see what the next installment will bring! I really enjoyed seeing Risuko learn more about herself and about her past in these first two books, and I look forward to more of her story in the future!

This book was unimpressive. Supposedly it takes place in the 1500's in Japan. The dialog between the women, girls, and the men is mind boggling.

I didn't realise that this was part of a series so I will definitely go back and read the first before reading this one again as I think I would understand some things more than I did the first time around. It was a well written storyline that was engaging and compelling and well developed characters that I loved and think I will love even more on a reread after the first book.

I really enjoyed this one! As with Risuko: A Kunoichi Tale, this sequel is rich in culture and tradition. I loved learning more about Risuko's life in a Feudal Japan setting, as her lessons and training to become an kunoichi!

I also enjoyed getting to know more about some of the characters in the first book, as well as meeting some new interesting faces as well!

I felt this one did take a slightly different approach with the story telling. While Risuko was her same curious self, I didn't feel the emotional side as much in this one. She did spend time with friends and learn valuable lessons (both those she enjoyed, as well as some of a more painful nature as well) about who she was and who was was to become as she trained at the Full Moon, but the theme of friendships and family that was so relevant in Risuko took a slightly more muted and withdrawn approach in this one. It wasn't that I didn't enjoy the story, but I felt this one focuses more on the mystery and on some special guests at the Full Moon, and less on Risuko and her growing friendships at the Full Moon with the people she now calls family.

I did enjoy this sequel though, and am excited to see what the next installment will bring! I really enjoyed seeing Risuko learn more about herself and about her past in these first two books, and I look forward to more of her story in the future!