Historical fantasy set in Kagoshima, Japan

Submitted: 17th June 2024

Gate to Kagoshima – Poppy Kuroki

2005: While researching her Japanese ancestors, Isla travels from Scotland to Kagoshima. There, a vicious typhoon and a strange white gate in a deserted shrine tumbles Isla back to 1877 and the dawn of the Satsuma Rebellion, the conflict that heralded the end of the samurai…..

Map of locations in Gate to Kagoshima

BOARDING PASS INFORMATION

Destination : Kagoshima

Author guide: Poppy Kuroki

Genre: historical fantasy

Food and drink to accompany: Noodles

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A novel to transport you to Japan

Map of locations in Gate to Kagoshima

What a remarkable book!

Time travel story which takes you back to 1877 Kagoshima. There’s a portal in 2005 – well that got me interested STRAIGHT away. Isla, the lucky thing, finds it when in Japan seeking out the story of her grandfather. She does a bit of sightseeing which really interested me as Kagoshima just seemed amazing to honest.

When she goes back in time, there’s lots to enjoy and indulge her as a reader. It was fascianting to learn about the people she met, the food she ate and the nature of the rebellion playing out which could change everything. It all felt very authentic and I do wonder if the author has actually found this portal IRL. There’s lovely nods to the time in the smallest detail and even the dialect is sprinkled in the text.

As well as this story of Isla, the book looks at the rebellion itself and I, as a history buff, found that fascinating. It’s easy to follow and compelling to read to be honest and to see the troops, what went on, was quite something. It was all very vivid and colourful. Quite epic in scope!

The novel finishes as the rebellion comes to an end of sorts and then we are back through that portal and back into 2005. I needed a lie down after all this time travel!

I really admire this book for many reasons. Sometimes battles and rebellions can be hard to evoke early in novels but Poppy has done that and more. This is no history lesson, more of a history experience. I found the ‘art’ of the rebellion quite compelling to read about. There is no glory here however, The Japanese view of war and surrender was interesting and I really feel as if I have been on a journey here in more ways than one.