The Curse of Koshiu: A Chronicle of Old Japan

"The Curse of Koshiu: A Chronicle of Old Japan" by Lewis Wingfield is a historical fiction set during the chaotic fall of Japan's tyrannical Hojo family, a time of immense strife. The story revolves around O'Tei, the lovely daughter of the Daimio of Nara, and her husband, No-Kami, a young Hojo lord whose cruel habits clash with his duties. The narrative introduces 14th-century Japan, dominated by the oppressive Hojo clan, and explores the differences between No-Kami and his honorable brother, Sampei. Early on, the book builds themes of love, tyranny, and family loyalty, showing O'Tei's increasing emotional struggles as she deals with her marriage to No-Kami. The growing tensions foreshadow a major conflict, mirroring the historical troubles of Japan.