This really should have been called Swagger puts down his Gun, and picks up the Sword.
I really enjoyed the story. But considering that I’ll take fantasy over military, anime over hollywood, that doesn’t come as a big surprise.
The backstory, the blood, the plotting, the guts, the wicked intense fight/battle at the end, it was great. When Swagger took on the 4 or 6 yakuza to save the swordpoliser and to get the sword back, that was cool.
BUT. The whole time I read I was rolling my eyes. Swagger is an old man, lets face it. He might be a very fit old man, but he’s an old man who is a sniper. He is NOT a samurai prodigy.
So when he became Insta-swordsman in a week and took out yakuza left and right and THEN took out the main swordsman, who has been practicing since he was 14’ish, I just threw up my hands and said “Fine, make Swagger be a swordsman. I like the story, I just don’t care.”.
This was an awesome story. But it wasn’t a Bob Lee Swagger story, even though Hunter named the main character that.
So if you’ve liked the previous 3 books, I think you’ll like this one. If you realize the inherent, internal inconsistencies and aren’t bothered by them.
Bookstooge's Reviews on the Road 