Although James Clavell’s novel has often been regarded as a mixture of history and fiction, Shogun is a love story, as well as a thrilling adventure in an alien land at the time. This book not only teaches readers about medieval Japan, it shows readers the value of love and perseverance. It made me understand how both cultures had flaws, and that no culture is completely flawless.

The book picks up pace at an alarming rate, it becomes irresistible before you know it. The great detail that goes into each character's moral increases the depth of the novel from the first page, conflicts occur often and religion is a huge factor. The plot twists from different drives, and the reader learns more from the characters than they would from a history textbook.

The characters are remarkable in the novel, because of how many languages they speak, as well as their devotions to home nations, and religion. For instance, in the early part of the novel Blackthorne thinks that the Portuguese priests are the anti Christ, and he seeks to kill one who insults him. However later in the novel, Blackthorne puts his morals aside in order to survive with the priest who hates him as well.
The novel is bloody yet elegant, there are many battles, yet a love story dominates the second half of the novel. A realistic love story that defies the morals of all countries in that time. A love between two different races of people is almost unheard of in the early 1600s. However Blackthorne and Mariko find themselves madly in love, and later in great tragedy. Sailors, samurai, and kings all play a role in the story set in medieval Japan, and in the end the reader has learned more and cried more than they have over any other book.

Shogun is an action packed Japanese medieval love story, filled with betrayal tragedy and knowledge. Through the chaos I saw one thing that I will live by forever: Love knows no boundaries.