Books like The Sword of Kaigen by M. L. Wang

Set on a mountainside at the edge of the Kaigenese Empire, the Kusanagi Peninsula is home to a lineage of superhuman warriors who can raise the sea and wield blades of ice. The legendary Matsuda family has long defended their homeland, earning the peninsula the name "The Sword of Kaigen." Fourteen‑year‑old Mamoru, born into the Matsuda line, feels destined to master his family's combat techniques. When an outsider discloses hidden truths about Kaigen’s supposed peace, Mamoru realizes that his training may be too late and that the empire he serves may rest on deception. Meanwhile, Misaki, a former fighter now a housewife and mother, discovers that her son’s questions and the looming threat of invasion stir memories of her own past. With war on the horizon, the Matsuda family must decide whether they can protect their empire—or if internal strife will bring its downfall.

First publish date: 2019