The follow up to The Samurai of Seville - its is a story of acceptance and finding your place in the world as Soledad Maria - the Samurai's daughter - finds herself torn between two cultures - that of her Japanese father and that of her Spanish mother; and never quite accepted in either.
We follow the alternating storyline - Shiro and Catriona / Japan and Spain, as Soledad Maria and her father return to his native Japan where she will be raised. On the way, many adventures take place - shipwrecks, mutiny, imprisonment, gladitorial style combat, narrow escapes, separation and reunion. New characters appear - the Irish captive, Catriona; the Dutch sea captain, Kurt; new family members in both japan and Spain.
In Japan they are received by the Shogun Tokugawa Hidetada, who hears their amazing tale of survival; Soledad maria (now Masako); is trained in the arts of the samurai, all the while being courted by the vengeful Data Tadamune.
On the run and attempting to return to Spain, many more adventures take place until finally they arrive and all stories merge into one.
It is a quick moving tale - slightly smaller in volume that the first. It is ultimately a young woman's reflections of both her own and her family's lives.
"... each of us is hos own person to be respected and understood ..." a poignant message.
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