Isla is a young Scottish woman who travels to Japan to uncover more about her ancestry. Was her Japanese grandfather descended from a Samurai? What happened to her family during the historic Satsuma Rebellion that effectively ended the way of the Samurai in Japan? She has so many questions—but the answers give her way more than she bargained for.

When caught up in a storm, Isla finds herself magically transported through time to Kagoshima in 1877. Confused and unaware of what happened, she is taken in by the local village and looked after by a Samurai named Keiichirō. As Isla searches for a way to find home, their connection grows—and she finds herself caught up in the tragic and brutal events of history she doesn’t know how to change.

Gate to Kagoshima explores the beauty of 19th-century Japan and the ways of the Samurai; their dedication to their craft, their respect and honor, and their acceptance of the life they lead. The descriptions of the time and setting are rich and detailed, taking you on a tour of rural Japan and cementing you in the era. The historical aspects are well-researched and respectfully portrayed, which serve to highlight the differences between Isla and those around her in an effective way.

The blending of romance into the historical setting is bittersweet but warm, giving Isla a reason to keep going in the face of war and grief. Isla and Keiichirō have decent chemistry and learn so much from one another; you get to see their perspectives and thoughts, which makes their budding love feel more intimate. The friendships and bonds Isla forms with the other villagers along the way are unexpectedly sweet, too, and show off how women were not always helpless victims of war; they often fought and participated in whatever ways they were able.

However, while the foundations are good, the story falls short of what it wants to be. There are certain plot points that don’t seem believable, even in the fantasy element of time travel, and some decisions are maddening. The central mystery of Isla’s journey is intriguing but the execution could have benefited from more revisions, especially when some parts don’t have the payoff they build towards. It felt a little unfocused at times and rushed towards the end.

With that said, if you’re a fan of Outlander or time-travel romance, this is a solid, if a little middling, entry into the genre. It’s an easy read that flows well enough, with some great observations about history and war. There are definite problems that might leave you feeling a bit flat, but the historical descriptions are inviting—so perhaps you’ll enjoy this tour of 19th-century Kagoshima, and indulge in some romance along the way.

While the premise was intriguing, the execution left me conflicted. The author’s dedication to historical accuracy and cultural detail is evident, but at times, the narrative felt bogged down by an overwhelming amount of information. This "info-dump" style occasionally pulled me out of the story, disrupting the pacing and emotional engagement.

It’s hard not to compare this book to Outlander, as the similarities are undeniable, from the time-travel romance to the historical setting. However, this story leans more toward YA in tone, which sometimes clashed with its adult themes, particularly the open-door romantic scenes. These moments felt out of place and even awkward, making me wonder if a fade-to-black approach might have suited the story better.

Although the ending wrapped things up neatly, the overall storyline and romance felt rushed, leaving little room for character development. While the setting and cultural elements were compelling, the book ultimately struggled to stand apart from its inspirations or find a cohesive balance between its themes.

A historical romance set in Japan’s past, Isla is sent back in time and encounters a samurai, Kei. With the Satsuma Rebellion going on, she soon finds herself struggling with whether she should tempt fate and change the past while navigating falling in love. This book had all the things I love, but unfortunately, it fell flat. I love historical romance, and I love Japanese culture, so I was extremely disappointed that this didn’t live up to my expectations. The plot was all over the place, and there was a lot of repetition and jumping around. The story wasn’t flushed out well, and even though the book was a decent length, it felt rushed.

I was greatly excited by the premise of this book and the cover art is fabulous. The novel is a nice blend between historical fiction, science fiction ( time travel) and Romance reminiscent of Outlander , so if you enjoyed that book., this book is for you ! . The author does well writing the historical aspects portraying Satsuma Rebellion of 1877. The protagonist, Isla MacKenzie, is visiting Japan searching for information on her ancestor when she is caught out in a storm at a shrine and suddenly transported back to 1877 where she meets and develops feelings for the honourable samurai Keiichirō Maeda. Unfortunately, this style of novel with the romance focus was not for me ,if the book had stayed focused on looking for Isla`s ancestor, the historical time period and getting back home I would have enjoyed it more. The writing is good and blends historical facts with a romantic, and science fiction narrative. The characters, are well-developed and the portrayal of Japanese culture historically is respectfully written.

Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks | Harper Perennial for this ARC. This is my honest review.

the plot came twisted and unexpected as it should!!! this was a great historical fiction read. i wish we got a little more about the main character and the reincarnation at the end of the story

Thank you NetGalley for the ebook arc unfortunately it just wasn’t for me. I’m still hovering 5 stars cause just breccias ro could get into the book doesn’t mean it’s bad.

Firstly, thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the early access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

2.5/5 stars.

I was very excited to read this book as it certainly had all the elements in a book that interest me. I'm a huge fan of the Samurai and of the Japanese culture/history. The book cover is absolutely stunning and pulled me in without even having to read the summary. I have seen different reviews of how this book can be somewhat summarized into an "Outlander" kind of vibe, which I totally can see now that I have finished this book.

The story felt pretty rushed in general up until about halfway through. Some of the world-building just didn't feel completely there either. I did enjoy the characters themselves and wished to know a little more about each of them. The romance in the book between the two main characters also felt a little flat - I was really hoping for a little more tension between them or some kind of build-up for it.

Overall, the book is a quick and easy read though for anyone who is interested in a historical time-travel/romance story.

This was such a fun premise and had a lot of potential i really wanted to love this story a sort of Outlander in Japan story but overall it felt rushed. We’re told that she been in 1880 japan for weeks and the only thing we really learn is that her Japanese gets better. There is also no reference or at least I didn’t catch are references to Reincarnation at yet at the end we are supposed to just accept that reincarnation was always part of the story for it to make sense. Our love hero in the 1880 is a samurai and its his whole life and personality, the reason they cannot be together in 1880 and yet in president day he is a medical student slash barista. I just feel like the story wasn’t fleshed out enough, everyone needed more time together and we need to know more about. The president day love interest. Overall it was a fine story that i wanted to wow me and it just didn’t,

This book was a lot of fun. I really love time portal magic especially when the historical fiction part is so flushed out. I loved the characters. Isla's character development throughout the entire book was steady and felt genuine. I was really happy to have walked away from this book with new knowledge and appreciation for Japanese history and culture that I was able to reap from this story. I thought the action scenes were well done and action packed. I actually really liked the way that this story ended. I feel like it was neither the tragedy I was expecting or the magical, tied with a bow hea. The timeline and other information at the end was also really cool and i appreciated it.

Gate to Kagoshima by Poppy Kuroki was one of my most anticipated reads of 2025, so I was beyond thrilled to receive an advanced copy. As a lover of historical fiction, especially stories involving samurai, I was eager to dive into this tale. I loved the fantasy and time-travel elements. This book feels like The Samurai’s Garden meets Outlander, and if you’re a fan of the latter, it’s a must-add to your TBR list! Readers of time-travel novels may find some aspects of the plot predictable, the journey remains thoroughly enjoyable. Isla was a standout for me. She’s not perfect—her flaws make her relatable and her character growth all the more compelling. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for an immersive story.
Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks | Harper Perennial for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
#GatetoKagoshima #NetGalley

Overall if one enjoys historical fiction I think this one will be an enjoyable read. You can tell a good deal of research was put in to tell the story of the Satsuma rebellion from a different POV.

It had all of the makings of being something I would really enjoy but it felt like the target audience was off. It read a lot like YA and I often forgot the main character was an adult herself because she felt so young. It was jarring when sex scenes occurred because it felt out of place.

There were some pacing issues with how fast everything seemed to happen on the back half when the beginning of the book lagged some.

I also as much as I hate to say it would have preferred the sad ending versus the attempted happy one. It felt jumbled and incomplete in a way that wasn’t just to set up more books. It felt unnecessary to add.

I won’t purchase it for my own shelf but if I know people that enjoy historical romance it would be one I recommend.

This novel has a really intriguing mix of time travel and well researched history elements and I enjoyed learning through both! A well written and captivating story.

I am a huge fan of time travel stories, and this one certainly didn’t disappoint. The author did an incredible job bringing the culture to life, and it’s clear a lot of research went into it. Isla, the protagonist, is thrust back in time 128 years after a typhoon strikes. She finds herself in an era where she knows the fates awaiting the people around her—Samurais, rebellion, and all. This story weaves together themes of love, loss, grief, family, and rich Japanese history in a way that feels both captivating and immersive.

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins, and Poppy Kuroki for the e-ARC!

If you loved outlander than you with love this book! The story was very interesting and it kept my attention the whole time. I would highly recommend reading this book.

"Gate to Kagoshima" by Poppy Kuroki is an enthralling blend of historical fiction, romance, and time travel. Isla Mackenzie, a Scottish woman researching her ancestry in Japan, is transported back to the dawn of the Satsuma Rebellion by a typhoon. In this fascinating era, she meets her samurai ancestors and a captivating warrior, Kei, sparking a romance that defies time. As she grapples with the knowledge of history’s course and her love for Kei, Isla faces an impossible choice: change the past or return to her life. Rich in historical detail and emotional depth, this novel is a compelling journey of love and duty.

I really enjoyed this book. It was nicely written and I enjoyed the characters and their interactions with one another. The setting was also great.

I really enjoy historical fiction, and Gate to Kagoshima made me want to learn more about the Satsuma Rebellion and the history of the samurai in Japan. However, Isla came off as very immature and also quite flat - her romance with Kei never felt fleshed out or real, and the sexual content didn't pair well with the YA story or dialogue. The historical information was also included as info-dumps, which created a choppy narrative that was difficult to get through at times.
Overall, I found the premise of this book really interesting and I learned a lot about the samurai rebellion and the historical figures whose legacies still live on in Japan.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Harper Perennial for the eARC!

This was such a fresh concept and a beautiful integration of 2 cultures that are so so different. I devoured every page and flew through it(even with my final exams, so it has to be good 😊). Just a really fun time from start to finish. One issue that I did have is that the writing style felt a bit disjointed and simplistic for the story hence the 2 stars I cut off.

I enjoyed the story. Isla going to Japan to find information about her great-great grandfather for her recently departed grandfather was honorable.. Boy, did she more than she bargained for. I received an advanced copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Gate to Kagoshima by Poppy Kuroki is a third person multi-POV speculative historical in the vein of Outlander. Isla is a Scottish woman whose grandfather was Japanese and her ancestors were samurai. When she goes to Japan to learn more about her grandfather’s culture and language and to get confirmation of her family’s history as samurai, she accidentally goes back in time to several months before the Satsuma Rebellion. She meets Keiichirō, a young samurai-in-training who serves under the famous Saigō Takamori.

What I really liked was how the lead-up to the Satsuma Rebellion focuses on the daily life of the lower class, such as the farmers and merchants. Isla works with the women, doing laundry and training to defend herself and her temporary home. Through Keiichirō taking her in, we see some of the family dynamics that did exist in that time, such as Keiichirō taking care of his sister and her daughter after the death of their father. We do get some time with Saigō Takamori, but not a lot and I’m fine with that as there is a lot of material on him out there and the scope of the book wasn’t so much on the courts or how the samurai class operated.

There is Japanese written in romaji throughout the book that might not be to some readers’ tastes. I’m used to it from being in anime fandoms in the 2000s and sometimes short Japanese phrases appear in older translations of Japanese classics, so, for me it doesn’t detract from the text but could pull a different reader out of their immersion.

The romance is more of a slowburn that starts as a friendship and ends in a passionate romance. Keiichirō does initially put some distance between him and Isla despite his attraction to her while Isla has a bit of a harder time staying away. Isla is also getting over a fairly recent break-up with someone she was considering marrying, which adds a bit of internal conflict that pops up when she realizes she is attracted to Keiichirō.

Content warning for mentions of sexual assault

I would recommend this to fans of Outlander who want something similar but taking place in Japan, readers looking for a historical with a light sci-fi element, and those looking for an interracial romance set in the age of the samurai