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The Scarlet Kimono

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The Scarlet Kimono

By: Christina Courtenay
Narrated by: Julia Franklin
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About this listen

England, 1611, and young Hannah Marston envies her brother's adventurous life. But when she stows away on a merchant ship, her powers of endurance are stretched to their limit. Then they reach Japan and all her suffering seems worthwhile until she is abducted by Taro Kumashiro's warriors. In the far north of the country, warlord Kumashiro is intrigued to learn more about the girl who he has been warned about by a seer. There's a clash of cultures and wills, but they're also fighting an instant attraction to each other. With her brother desperate to find her and the jealous Lady Reiko equally desperate to kill her, Hannah faces the greatest adventure of her life. And Kumashiro has to choose between love and honour...

©2011 Christina Courtenay (P)2011 W F Howes Ltd Historical Historical Fiction Regency Regency Romance Romance Fiction

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Great narrator, perfect story to enjoy. A bit too perfect but that’s why we escape, nay?

A magical dream lemonade :)

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Fascinating insight into Japanese life and customs. A lovely story. Listened to it twice. Impossible not to like this author’s heroes. The best of the Japanese trilogy. But not ruling out reading the others again

Essentially a romance

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This is the first story in a trilogy called the Kumashiro Saga , where Hannah Marston stows away (dressed as a boy) on a boat from Plymouth to Japan. I personally love Christina's books,, as a fan of historical romance, we are taken from place to place having adventures and secrets along the way, with a hint of fun too. I liked Julia's narration very much, she has a soothing voice, and is able to inflect both male and female characters effectively.

An Enjoyable Historical Romance

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A very unlikely but enjoyable story.
I could have done with more Japanese customs. Good narration.

Far fetched

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Hated the narration.
I have listened to and read many of Christina Courtenays books and loved them all. Her storytelling is unique and enjoyable.
However, I am only part of the way through this book and the narrator is spoiling the whole experience. Her inflections are totally wrong and she makes the central characters sound as though they are childish idiots. The whole narration feels as though she is reading an Enid Blyton novel to a 5 year old.
This spoils the sophistication of an adult novel which, apart from the narration, is very good.
I will persevere with the story because I know the plot will be as good as all Christina’s other novels, but i

Appalling narrator

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