Book Review: Usagi Yojimbo Book 17 by Stan Sakai

Usagi Yojimbo Book 17: Duel at Kitanoji by Stan Sakai

More adventures of the ronin rabbit, Miyamoto Usagi!

Vendetta--Koyama is a young samurai who is hunting down the four killers of his father. He executes one as Usagi comes into town. Usagi does not want to mix in trouble but Koyama's path and Usagi's overlaps, so they wind up working together with the local police chief to take out some mountain bandits, a group that includes some of the killers. It's an interesting story that doesn't fully resolve, so I expect more in the future.

The Return of Lone Goat and Kid--Usagi finds Kid, the son of Lone Goat, menaced by a warrior in the woods. He comes to Kid's defense and then tries to reunite him with Lone Goat. Lone Goat is an assassin on a mission, so facilitating the reunion is full of peril. This is another entertaining story.

Images from a Winter's Day--Usagi is hired by an old man to find his son. The son left because of a duel with a rival clan. The father is so sick, it is worth the risk of coming back for one last visit. The situation has a very melancholic ending, more downbeat than I expected from this series. Still, it was a good tale.

Koji--Usagi is trying to get to Kitanoji for his master's duel. He is blocked from traveling through one town. He looks for another route when another great swordsman, Koji, comes along the same road. He knows he will be challenged by a local swordfighting school. He can easily beat them but does not want the bother. They team up to get through the town and wind up on the road to Kitanoji together, even though the other samurai is going there to fight Usagi's master, Katsuichi.

Crows--Katsuichi's trip to Kitanoji is sidelined by a local town that is being pestered by bandits. He winds up in the town and helping out. Meanwhile, Usagi and Koji wind up at the same town and have some awkwardness as the three of them deal with the bandits. It's an interesting story that leads directly into...

Duel at Kitanoji--The long-anticipated conflict finally happens as two master swordsmen face off for no other reason than to see who is the better. Sakai does a great job building suspense and developing character. The ending leaves Usagi with his former master's young disciple, who is in fact (though it is not public knowledge) Usagi's son. The ending opens the door to new and interesting possibilities.

A Lesson in Courtesy--This flashback story has young Usagi being brash and rude to a wandering samurai who is using their watering hole. This is another charming little story that has a fine ending.

Recommended.