I absolutely loved Jennifer Cody Epstein’s book, The Painter From Shanghai!  So when Amy Bruno asked me if I wanted to take part in this tour, I jumped at the chance!


Description of The Gods of Heavenly Punishment:

A lush, exquisitely rendered meditation on war, The Gods of Heavenly Punishment tells the story of several families, American and Japanese, their loves and infidelities, their dreams and losses, and how they are all connected by one of the most devastating acts of war in human history.

Fifteen-year-old Yoshi Kobayashi, child of Japan’s New Empire, daughter of an ardent expansionist and a mother with a haunting past, is on her way home on a March night when American bombers shower her city with napalm—an attack that leaves one hundred thousand dead within hours and half the city in ashen ruins. In the days that follow, Yoshi’s old life will blur beyond recognition, leading her to a new world marked by destruction and shaped by those considered the enemy: Cam, a downed bomber pilot taken prisoner by the Imperial Japanese Army; Anton, a gifted architect who helped modernize Tokyo’s prewar skyline but is now charged with destroying it; and Billy, an Occupation soldier who arrives in the blackened city with a dark secret of his own. Directly or indirectly, each will shape Yoshi’s journey as she seeks safety, love, and redemption.

My Thoughts:

The Gods of Heavenly punishment was a bit different than most books that take place during World War II.  It gives the reader a inside view of what Japan was like before, during, and after the war.  First we are introduced to a young couple in love, Cameron Richards and Lacey Robertson.  Of course, Cameron is called into action to go to war with Japan as a fighter pilot.

Then in pre-war Japan we are introduced to two families having dinner together.  One a Japanese family and one American Family living in Japan.  The  head of the American family is architect, Anton Reynolds, his wife and their son, Billy. The head Japanese family is building contractor,  Kenji Kobayashi, who works for Anton, his educated wife, Hana, and their daughter, Yoshi.

The story is told in vignettes that are ultimately connected.  The main common thread, being Yoshi.  Without giving too much away, I had trouble with how the story was told, it just didn’t flow well for me and I would have liked to delve into some of the unwritten parts of the story more.  There was one part that I would have edited out all together.  I just didn’t think it added to the story.  However, that said, I still found the book quite worthwhile.  It showed a side of the war that hasn’t been covered that much and how it affected both sides.

I recommend The Gods of Heavenly Punishment.

3.5/5

I received the ebook format of this book for my honest opinion.

About Jennifer Cody Epstein:

Jennifer Cody Epstein is the author of The Gods of Heavenly Punishment and the international bestseller The Painter from Shanghai. She has written for The Wall Street Journal, The Asian Wall Street Journal, Self, Mademoiselle and NBC, and has worked in Hong Kong, Japan and Bangkok, Thailand. She lives in Brooklyn, NY with her husband, two daughters and especially needy Springer Spaniel. 
For more information, please visit www.jennifercodyepstein.com.

 Thanks to Amy Bruno of Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours, I am giving away one copy of The Gods of Heavenly Punishment.  This giveaway is open internationally and ends on July 9, 2013.  Please use Rafflecopter to enter.
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