CHRIS BRADFORD

PUFFIN

PUFFIN BOOKS

YOUNG SAMURAI THE RING OF FIRE

‘A fantastic adventure that floors the reader on page one and keeps them there until the end. The pace is furious and the martial arts detail authentic’ – Eoin Colfer, author of the bestselling Artemis Fowl series

‘Fierce fiction … captivating for young readers’ – Daily Telegraph

‘Addictive’ – Evening Standard

‘More and more absorbing … vivid and enjoyable’ – The Times

‘Bradford comes out swinging in this fast-paced adventure … and produces an adventure novel to rank among the genre’s best. This book earns the literary equivalent of a black belt’ – Publishers Weekly

‘The most exciting fight sequences imaginable on paper!’ – Booklist

Winner of Northern Ireland Book Award 2011
School Library Association’s Riveting Read 2009
Shortlisted for Red House Children’s Book Award 2009

Chris Bradford likes to fly through the air. He has thrown himself over Victoria Falls on a bungee cord, out of an aeroplane in New Zealand and off a French mountain on a paraglider, but he has always managed to land safely – something he learnt from his martial arts …

Chris joined a judo club aged seven where his love of throwing people over his shoulder, punching the air and bowing lots started. Since those early years, he has trained in karate, kickboxing, samurai swordsmanship and has earned his black belt in taijutsu, the secret fighting art of the ninja.

Before writing the Young Samurai series, Chris was a professional musician and songwriter. He’s even performed to HRH Queen Elizabeth II (but he suspects she found his band a bit noisy).

Chris lives in a village on the South Downs with his wife, Sarah, his son, Zach, and two cats called Tigger and Rhubarb.

Books by Chris Bradford:

The Young Samurai series (in reading order)

THE WAY OF THE WARRIOR

THE WAY OF THE SWORD

THE WAY OF THE DRAGON

THE RING OF EARTH

THE RING OF WATER

THE RING OF FIRE

For the Pocket Money Puffin series

VIRTUAL KOMBAT

For my son, Zach,
the fire in our lives

CONTENTS

Map: The Japans – 17th Century

The Letter

1  Frozen

2  Rice

3  Neko

4  Black Moon

5  Seven Samurai

6  Fire

7  Baby

8  Abducted

9  Recruitment

10  An Old Friend

11  A Helpful Monk

12  Splitting Arrows

13  Hayato

14  Yuudai

15  Out of Time

16  White Shadow

17  Army of Children

18  The Reluctant Leader

19  A Ninja’s Inspiration

20  Through the Eyes of the Enemy

21  Locked Horns

22  Defences

23  A Samurai’s Sword

24  A Dark Secret

25  Divisions

26  Samurai School

27  Thorn Bushes

28  A Lost Cause

29  Wanted

30  Scouts

31  Tracking Trails

32  Akuma

33  Up in Flames

34  Rescue

35  Fire Fight

36  An Icy Grave

37  Healing

38  Straw Soldiers

39  Battle Cry

40  Doubts

41  Fear

42  Night Watch

43  The Raid

44  The Mill

45  The Bridge

46  Ice

47  A Deal

48  Scared

49  Shot Down

50  Assassination

51  Execution

52  The Burning Pyre

53  Gone

54  The Ring of Fire

55  Overrun

56  Shakujō

57  The Pond

58  End of a Nightmare

59  Tears and Celebration

60  Koban

61  Fugitives

Notes on the Sources

Character Names

Japanese Glossary

Acknowledgements

Map: The Japans – 17th Century

The Letter

THE LETTER

Japan, 1614

My dearest Jess,