Moonshadow: eye of the beast

Simon Higgins (author)

Random House, Australia: 2008; 310pp

ISBN: 9781741662832

Genres: adventure, fantasy, historical fiction, war

Issues: friendship, identity, loyalty, giftedness

Named for the sword movement that has become his signature, Moonshadow is the newest - and youngest - secret agent for the Shogun, who has only just managed to quash the civil war that has troubled the country for so long.

Having passed his final test for the Grey Light Order, Moonshadow finds that the continued peace of Japan is dependent on the success of his first assignment.

Silver Wolf, the Shogun's favourite captain, has done the unthinkable - bargained with the western barbarians for the plans of an early design of machine gun. Moonshadow must slip past trained warriors and hired hands, including the infamous ‘Deathless', to steal the plans and bring them back to the Grey Light Order.

Sword-fights, spying, disguises, secret agents, a beautiful and mysterious girl - this is a page-turning adventure in the best tradition of orphan heroes with remarkable, somewhat mystical abilities. Obviously the first in a series, 'Eye of the Beast' should appeal to boys and girls alike. While lacking the complexity of Lian Hern's 'Tales of the Otari', it's an excellent lead in to that series.