Let me start this off by saying this isn’t my normal genre so that makes it that much more impressive that I loved and devoured this book as much and as quickly as I did. Shreve paints a gorgeous setting with regular inserts of natural details, like turtles on the beach or Mount Fuji, that makes it vivid in your brain as you read. I loved that, each depiction was gorgeously authentic and added to the book in ways I can’t quite put into words. On top of that, this story of adversity and struggle is truly stunning. I laughed, smiled, screamed, and somehow (although I’m not sure how and I wasn’t expecting this) cried.
Yasuke is beautifully written and a battered down human being who is constantly and consistently subjected to the worst the world has to offer and yet is still written as a man with strong feelings and a sense of self. I won’t give anything away but the ending was better than I could’ve imagined and I thought it was the perfect conclusion to the journey of discovery that Yasuke went on. Each deviation or addition to history that Shreve makes is clearly thought-out and is done so in a way that it only enhances the story and the character but never steals attention away from the truth of it. I recommend this book and even as someone who isn’t a typical reader of this style or genre I found that I thoroughly enjoyed it.

AN INSIGHTFUL AND SPIRITUAL JOURNEY

The African Samurai touched me in unexpected ways. Craig Shreve did an amazing job taking us along for the journey of Yasuke's life. I felt his pain, his loss and his humiliation. He was stolen from Africa as a boy, traded like property and treated with little regard, much less any humanity. I wanted him to know freedom like it was my own at stake. His imposing physical strength is but a shadow compared to the strength of his character. His content is replaced with the steely will to survive, bolstered only by the fading memories of home and the love of his parents. After many years in servitude he finds himself in Japan and once again like a chameleon of survival he finds his way in their society. I do not want to share any spoilers because I want you to unwrap this story like a gift. It is a gift.

I did find myself a bit lost with all the names of the various warring factions in Japan. I was confused trying to follow who held which position, who was good or bad, who was an ally. I would suggest that is just my personal taste and interest and others would find quite vital to the story. I prefer to get into the mind of the protagonist to understand them.

I honestly wished the novel could have been longer - more of life in Africa, more descriptions of the landscape and life in his village. I wanted more of Yasuke in general. I enjoyed the descriptions of Japan's landscape and culture.

I look forward to more from Craig Shreve and am so glad to have had the opportunity to read an advanced copy and suspect this novel will do VERY well. Any author that can reduce me to tears and cause goose flesh while I am reading has me looking for everything else they have written and looking forward to their next project. I heard that it is going to be developed into a series/movie on Netflix and I will certainly be watching for it.

Wow. I loved this book. I've heard about Yasuke multiple times, but I've never dived deeply into his story (I'm not counting the Yasuke anime on Netflix, sorry not sorry). I'm so glad I ended up stumbling upon this book by Craig Shreve, because this was masterful!
It's hard to pick what I loved the most about this book, but I think I'm able to narrow it down to three things; Yasuke's characterization and development, his friendship with Nobunaga, and all the rich details.

I loved Yasuke and rooted for him right away. What a gentle giant. Shreve did an excellent job portraying the complexities of Yasuke's emotions because I felt them. When he was hurt, so was I. Seeing what he went through made me want to yell! His good sense of humour made me smile (I loved his banter with Ranmaru, Ogoru and Jingorou), and I worried for him.

Nobunaga, was another excellent character. I was wary of him immediately, but the bond that he and Yasuke forged?! It really touched me. There was a scene in the book that brought tears to my eyes. When Nobunaga bowed after Yasuke performed for him in the rhino mask, I was amazed. Yasuke took such a risk by showing Nobunaga a precious part of his culture. I was so afraid Nobunaga might have derided him but he bowed out of respect! Seeing the respect between the representatives of two cultures really moved me.

The details peppered throughout this novel were excellent. I felt like I had been transported back in time. Little details like what a tea ceremony is like, the mythology and stories of Mozambique and Japan, what samurai armour feels like, etc. The novel really came to life!The political machinations went over my head but I wasn't entirely lost because of an otome game I played that depicted events from the Heian and Sengoku period (thank you, Birushana and Nightshade LMAO).

Also Craig Shreve is Canadian of black descent. I can't help but feel pride for a fellow Black Canadian. This book was excellent! Thank you, NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada, for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.