Tail of the Moon Prequel cover image is courtesy of barnesandnoble.com

“T+” for “Older Teen”

Set in the Tenshō era of Japan (1573-1592) – the “Era of the Warring States,” Tail of the Moon told the story of a Usagi (also known as “Usa”), a ninja-in-training who was madly in love with the young ninja Lord Hattori Hanzo.  Taking place before the events of the original 15-volume series, Tail of the Moon Prequel: The Other Hanzo(u), focuses on Kaguya, a young woman suffering from amnesia.

Six months before this story begins, Kaguya was found injured and unconscious in a bamboo field.  Now, she works as a housekeeper at a brothel in the red-light district of the castle town of Okazaki.  Things begin to change for Kaguya with the arrival of Hanzou Masanori Hattori, a handsome young bodyguard at Okazaki Castle.  Hanzou is a popular costumer at the brothel where Kaguya lives, and he takes an immediate interest in her.  Intrigue at the castle leads to Kaguya recovering her memory, but more complications arrive in the form of Lord Hanzo Hattori, a leader of the ninja village of Iga and Hanzou’s cousin.  Soon, Kaguya finds that not only must she be true to what she is, but she must also choose between the two cousins, Hanzou and Hanzo.

For readers familiar with the historical ninja romance, Tail of the Moon, Tail of the Moon Prequel is more of the same.  It is the same pretty art, historical romance, palace intrigue, love triangles, duty, honor, betrayal, familial obligations, etc.  Kaguya isn’t quite the romantic heroine that Usagi, from the original series, was.  That’s mainly because Kaguya can be so disarmingly masculine, but then turn into a shrinking violent/damsel in distress.  That’s not inconsistency; that’s probably schizophrenic.

Anyway, for those of who wished that Tail of the Moon had never ended (like me), they have the completely acceptable Tail of the Moon Prequel: The Other Hanzo(u).

B+