An irresistibly romantic historical adventure, set in medieval Japan, tinged with fantasy and revolving around the art of waka poetry

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'A charming, magical, picaresque journey through medieval Japan, filled with mystery, meaning and wonderful imagery. Denis Thériault's brilliant evocation of the noble art of the waka (classical Japanese poetry) is an absorbing, pacy and immensely enjoyable read' Sean Lusk, author of The Second Sight of Zachary Cloudesley

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Matsuo is born to be a samurai, but as he is being trained in the art of war he realises he was meant for a different art altogether. Turning his back on his future as a warrior of the sword, he decides instead to do battle with words, as a poet.

Thus begins a story of romance and adventure, love and betrayal, that takes Matsuo across medieval Japan, through bloody battlefields and burning cities, culminating in his ultimate test at the uta awase - where Japan's greatest poets engage in fierce verbal combat for the honour of victory.