Lady Samurai by James Kilpatrick (e-Book version)

Description

In the year 1608, during the reign of shogun Hidetada Tokagawa, two northern clans found themselves at odds. The Yoshimura clan and the Oda clan knew they were soon to be in open warfare. With that in mind, the Oda clan attacked the Yoshimura castle, killing every man, woman and child, save Akiko — their eldest daughter — and four retainers.

She and her four loyal samurai retainers would build a force to seek revenge for her family. Akiko could not forget the picture in her mind of her father, mother and two brothers stripped naked and crucified for the birds and animals to feed on as they hung in the castle courtyard.

Her revenge would be absolute. Along the way to that revenge she makes lasting friends, learns more about being a samurai and finds love in a place she did not think possible.