Path of the Assassin, Volume 14

March 15, 2009
Having earned the titular sobriquet, Hattori Hanzo must deal with three beautiful sorceresses dispatched by his targets son to kill him and his master, Ieyasu, eventual founder of the long Tokugawa shogunate. That challenge met, the historical sagas finale begins with Hanzo uniting his three wives (and fellow ninjas) under his loving leadership and preparing for the threat represented by the fact that the father of Ieyasus heir apparent really isnt Ieyasu. Sex and political intrigue are bonded so closely that the oddness of presenting so much verbal plot exposition during lovemaking barely registers. Koike and Kojimas enormous manga maintains its head of steam and its heady steaminess.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)