Review: Katana by Cole Gibsen

Flux, 2012
ISBN: 0738730408
Available: Print and multiformat digital

Billed as Kill Bill meets Buffy Katana is the story of an ordinary skater teen with a gay BFF who, after being attacked in a mall parking lot one night, discovers she’s the reincarnation of a 500 year old samurai (yes, there are famous female samurai). The idea of a modern Japanese paranormal is enticing. The execution, however, was disappointing.
There’s a number of things to throw readers out of the book, things that are such glaring issues it’s hard to maintain a suspension of disbelief. Ri having the knowledge of ancient martial arts is acceptable, but her untuned body being able perform them? Not to mention a hospital releasing her after a mysterious attack and unconsciousness into the care of another minor (ahem, lawsuit) and Ri choosing to confront a boy stalking her by driving alone, without telling anyone, across state lines to the dojo the boy owns? It’s hard to get to the good bits when you find yourself so dismayed by things like this.
The premise is interesting, and there are certainly sparks of good writing, but they’re buried under events that have little logic and feel like author intrusion for the sake of drama. Hopefully we can find more to love in further books.
Contains: violence