Child of Shadow

Child of Shadow is book one of the six part series, young Miki, an illegitimate child of Koga heritage, is on a quest to find out the truth of her own identity. Miki is unable to avoid a destiny that she does not understand as well as powerful enemies who learn her secret in her struggle for survival in a brutal world of Sengoku Japan. In the Zen temple where she is raised as a Buddhist nun, she receives an education and desire to serve others. However, she fails to realize that she is a pawn in a dangerous and much larger game and a part of a family that has both an unfavorable past and destiny. When a Koga child named Hisano is assigned to be a link to Miki and her people, her destiny begins to ensue as the Koga want Miki in their world. Miki begins to teach manners and religion to a young Samurai boy who happens to be the son of fugitive Lord Oto. As she helps the boy, she becomes a criminal and finds herself as the next to be executed. Barely escaping, Miki finds herself in Hisano's Koga village, unable to return to the temple. She is soon trained to be a female ninja. Intelligent, educated and naive, her samurai like courage and memorable dark eyes, make her a liability in the Koga world of stealth and shadow. Abandoned by her Koga clan she finds herself in another temple. Over the next few years, Miki grows into a gifted woman who is chosen to be the wife of the governor's son, Uji, in a scheme concocted by the governor and temple masters. In the meantime, destiny creeps in when a traitor within the Koga ranks finds out Miki is alive and well. After an Iga attack and the murder of Uji, Miki changes and is on the course of vengeance to stop evil. She makes a plan to fool Hisano who wants her back in the Koga village. However, when Hisano learn of Miki's plans, everything changes. The author believes "Child of Shadow" will appeal to American readers as there is very little Samurai-era fiction in America, and it reveals a world they are unfamiliar with. He hopes that the story of treachery, and hope will attract readers of all ages.