The Name of the Blade

In "The Name of the Blade," Mio's casual curiosity with an ancestral Japanese katana turns her world upside down. She accidentally unleashes ancient gods and monsters from Japanese mythology onto the streets of London, along with Shinobu, a fearless warrior from the past. This young adult fantasy novel follows Mio as she grapples with newfound powers, intense danger, and a blossoming romance. It's a thrilling series starter for readers aged 12-18, exploring themes of courage, identity, and the clash of ancient myth with modern reality. Parents should be aware of moderate peril and fantasy violence.

Ancient Japanese gods and monsters are unleashed on modern-day London in this first book of an epic trilogy from acclaimed fantasy writer Zoë Marriott. When Mio sneaks the family’s katana — a priceless ancestral sword —from her parents’ attic, she just wants to spice up a costume. But the katana is much more than a dusty antique. Awakening the power within the sword unleashes a terrible, ancient evil onto the streets of unsuspecting London. But it also releases Shinobu, a fearless warrior boy, from the depths of time. He helps to protect Mio — and steals her heart. With creatures straight out of Japanese myths stalking her and her friends, Mio realizes that if she cannot keep the sword safe and learn to control its legendary powers, she will lose not only her own life . . . but the love of a lifetime.