The redemption of the series!

This book has the strong classic prose and interesting medieval Japanese-ish setting of the first two, with the strong pacing of the first book, and without the weak second plot line of the second book. There was a touch of deus ex machina in the ending, but it was tolerable. Too bad you need to suffer through the second book to get to the third one.

So read and enjoy the first book, skim through the slow female plot line of the second book, and enjoy the third book.