Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Initiate Brother | 1991 | Sean S. Thomas Russell | Buy |
| 2 | Gatherer of Clouds | 1992 | Sean S. Thomas Russell | Buy |
The Initiate Brother, published in 1991, is the first of two fantasy novels by Sean Russell set in a world inspired by feudal Japan. The story follows Brother Shuyun, a young monk of extraordinary ability who is assigned to serve a powerful lord. Political scheming, martial arts, and spiritual power collide as Shuyun becomes entangled in a struggle that could reshape the empire.
Gatherer of Clouds, published in 1992, continues the story as war engulfs the land. Russell builds a richly detailed setting that feels distinct from the medieval European model that dominates much of fantasy fiction, drawing instead on Japanese history, Buddhist philosophy, and the aesthetics of classical Asian literature.