by BRAXTON A. COSBY
YASUKE: DEAD MAN WALKING
EVEN THE ACURSED, FIND SALVATION
In 1579, the origin of Yasuke begins, as a young Dinka warrior named Majok is torn from his family in East Africa and thrust into the brutal world of the international slave trade. After enduring the horrors of bondage across three continents, he finds himself in the service of Portuguese missionaries bound for the mysterious islands of Japan—a land where honor is currency, and the sword determines destiny.
When fate delivers Majok to the court of Oda Nobunaga, the legendary “Demon King” who dreams of unifying all Japan under his rule, everything changes. Recognizing the African’s intelligence, strength, and warrior’s heart, Nobunaga does the unthinkable: he grants Majok the name Yasuke and elevates him to the sacred rank of samurai—the first foreigner ever to receive such an honor.
But not everyone welcomes this revolutionary act. Akechi Mitsuhide, Nobunaga’s most trusted general, seethes with jealousy and resentment as Yasuke rises through the ranks, earning victories on the battlefield and a place at his lord’s right hand. As political tensions mount and whispers of treachery echo through the halls of power, Yasuke must navigate a world where his skin color makes him both a symbol of change and a target for those who would preserve the old ways at any cost.
When Akechi’s hatred finally boils over into open rebellion, leading to one of history’s most famous betrayals at Honnō-ji temple, Yasuke faces his ultimate test. In a climactic confrontation years in the making, he must choose between personal vengeance and honor, between survival and sacrifice, between his past as a slave and his destiny as a legend.
Based on the remarkable true story of history’s first African samurai, Yasuke: Dead Man Walking is an epic historical fiction tale of transformation that transcends cultures and centuries. It’s a story about the power of the human spirit to rise above any circumstance, the bonds of brotherhood that unite warriors across all boundaries, and the timeless truth that greatness is not inherited—it’s earned through the choices we make when tested by fate.
From the dusty slave markets of Goa to the mist-shrouded mountains of feudal Japan, from the halls of power in Azuchi Castle to the burning temples of Kyoto, this is the untold story of a man who refused to let the world define his worth—and in doing so, became immortal.
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT DEAD MAN WALKING:
OUR VERDICT: GET IT– “… the story is compelling, with some violence and much court intrigue. The author includes a lot of great detail; some of the descriptions of Japan, especially of the natural features, are quite beautiful… and the battle scenes are tightly composed and suspenseful… An engaging historical epic.” – KIRKUS REVIEWS
5 STARS – “Themes of bravery and loyalty run through the narrative. I really enjoyed how personal stories and historical events are intertwined, making history feel alive. Anyone who likes historical adventures with strong characters and a mix of action and heart will enjoy this book. Very highly recommended.” – DAVID JAGGART for READERS’ FAVORITE
5 STARS – “The action scenes hit hard, while the emotional ones are slow and thoughtful. And when brutality appears, it’s not glamorized; it’s presented as the cost of survival in a world shaped by war, pride, and fear… The story sits firmly in the historical fantasy genre, but its emotional centers feel close enough to real history to make you think about the people behind the legends. If you enjoy tales of rising power, morally complex leaders, richly built worlds, and characters shaped by both tenderness and violence, this book will speak to you. It’s especially fitting for readers who like their fantasy threaded with cultural depth, political tension, and personal transformation.” – LITERARY TITAN
4 STARS – “Yasuke: Dead Man Walking is a historical narrative with themes that make it stand out and emotional depth that would make a reader relate well with the characters. I recommend this book to fans of historical fiction as well as readers interested in anything related to history.” – ARIA for LITPICK
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YASUKE: RESURRECTION
EVEN LIFE AFTER DEATH, WITH PURPOSE, CAN BE… REDEMPTION.
To save his family, a samurai must find a legendary weapon and stop an army of the dead from invading the living world.
Ill-fated samurai warrior Yasuke awakens in a realm shrouded in eternal darkness—a place called Elsewhere, where all spirits dwell. Disoriented and freezing, still clad in his battle armor from a previous conflict, he encounters Omocha, a mysterious Tengu creature who reveals a devastating truth: Yasuke’s family is dead, but there’s hope. If he can defeat Chiwa, the tyrannical ruler of Elsewhere, he can travel back in time to when his loved ones were still alive.
But to do so, he will need the BASAG—the most powerful weapon in existence, a Big Ass Sword And Gun capable of forcing even gods to submit. The catch? The weapon is lost, hidden somewhere in this nightmare realm. Omocha claims only he knows its location and offers to guide Yasuke through Elsewhere’s treacherous landscape in exchange for saving his life from deadly beasts.
As Yasuke embarks on this perilous quest, he battles monstrous creatures, allies himself with Yanira—a Vox warrior with a cursed wooden arm and her own vendetta against Chiwa’s forces—and rescues Darla, a young girl who reminds him painfully of his own daughter and who holds a secret that Yasuke will need to complete his quest.
United, this unlikely band of heroes must race against time to defeat Chiwa before the Blood Moon reaches completion, threatening to destroy Elsewhere and open a portal that would unleash Chiwa’s army upon the living world.
In a final showdown between good and evil, Yasuke must make an impossible choice: accept his role in Chiwa’s plan or fight for his freedom and the chance to reunite with his family, while the fate of multiple realms hangs in the balance.
If Yasuke fails to stop Chiwa before Elsewhere collapses and the portal opens, how many worlds will fall to the tyrant’s unstoppable army?
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YASUKE SIDE STORY
BLOOD MOONS: A YASUKE STORY
EVEN EVIL HAS AN ORIGIN STORY
In the early 1500s, legends speak of Chiwa, a young African deity who created a realm called Elsewhere—a domain to rival heaven, hell, and purgatory itself. Over centuries, this god recruited souls of exceptional depravity and value, collecting both mortals and mythical beings who had committed acts of extraordinary savagery.
However, Chiwa’s creation became his prison. He discovered that he could not leave Elsewhere unless he amassed an army of warriors strong enough to unlock a legendary weapon hidden deep within the realm.
Ancient whispers tell of a prophecy—of a formidable warrior summoned to Elsewhere against his will. When Chiwa finally encountered this equal and opposing force, the warrior’s purpose remained shrouded in mystery. Would he destroy Elsewhere to claim the ultimate weapon for himself? Or was his heart focused on escape, desperately seeking a path back to the family he had been torn from?
This is the untold, ill-fated origin story of Chiwa that has evaded the minds of readers and historians… until now.
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