Blade and Blossom: The Story of Hangaku Gozen

Blade and Blossom: The Story of Hangaku Gozen

She was born into a world that told her to kneel. She chose to rise.

In the war-torn mountains of 13th-century Japan, a fierce young woman dares to defy tradition. Hangaku Gozen, trained in secret and forged by rebellion, becomes one of the few female warriors—onna-musha—to lead troops into battle against the ruthless Kamakura shogunate.

Captured but unbroken, Hangaku is offered a strange sentence: marry a noble samurai of the enemy court or face execution. But Asari Yorito is no ordinary man—and their union is no surrender. It's a new kind of war, fought not with blades, but with honor, trust, and an unexpected, powerful love.

Blade and Blossom is a sweeping tale of courage, sacrifice, and defiance. Inspired by the true story of a legendary female warrior, this historical fiction debut reimagines Hangaku Gozen’s life with heart-pounding battles, unforgettable romance, and the rise of a legacy that would echo through centuries.

She did not lay down her sword. She chose when—and for whom—to draw it.