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The Worst Ronin

by Maggie Tokuda-Hall

A samurai quest complicated by the people behind the legend

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AlbakiReads Editorial

A samurai quest complicated by the people behind the legend

Chihiro Ito hopes to prove herself worthy of samurai status by taking on a mission alongside Tatsuo Nakano, the first woman admitted to the prestigious Kesi Academy. But Tatsuo’s life as a hired ronin is far removed from the heroic image Chihiro has built around her. Their assignment to confront a demon brings the pair into conflict with both external dangers and the burdens each carries. Framed as a young adult graphic novel, the story combines samurai adventure, supernatural threats, and a partnership shaped by contrasting expectations of honor and heroism.

Good fit for readers who enjoy

  • Teens and young adults interested in action-and-adventure graphic novels
  • Readers who enjoy samurai stories with supernatural elements
  • Readers interested in stories about unlikely partnerships and the gap between ideals and reality

Themes

Heroism and reputationHonor and identityGrief and personal burdensPartnership across differences

Based on publisher information and book metadata.

Book overview

When an unlikely pair of female samurai join forces, what begins as your run-of-the-mill quest for glory and revenge evolves into something much more complicated. Turns out fighting actual demons doesn't mean you're not running from your own internal ones. Nimona meets Attack on Titan in this edgy, unexpectedly hilarious, genre-defying young adult graphic novel.

Being a samurai isn't easy. Sixteen-year-old Chihiro Ito knows that more than anyone. Her father is renowned among the samurai, but the only thing Chihiro is known for is spending way too much time on her phone obsessing over Tatsuo Nakano, Chihiro's idol and the first woman to be accepted into Kesi Academy, a prestigious samurai school.

So, when Chihiro's father is conscripted for service and the opportunity arises to work with Tatsuo in his stead, Chihiro jumps at the chance to prove that she's worthy of a spot at Kesi Academy and the samurai title. Their mission: kill the yamauba demon terrorizing a village. With a legendary samurai like Tatsuo by her side, Chihiro is convinced victory is inevitable. But Tatsuo isn't at all like the hero Chihiro imagined. Foulmouthed, quick tempered, and a terrible drunk, Tatsuo completely turned her back on the samurai way and is now a ronin working for hire as a means of escaping the grief that haunts her. Forced to work together, the two are thrust on a treacherous journey filled with epic battles and twisted conspiracies as they must put aside their differences to save the village and face the demons of the past.

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