Hailed by one critic as “Inspiring, Altruistic and Full of Wisdom”, ‘Kirin Rise: The Cast of Shadows’ immerses readers in the Gung Fu culture as one young woman battles against fierce apathy to make the world a better place. The narrative is directly inspired by author Ed Cruz’s decades of martial arts experience – empowering readers to dedicate their lives to mastering something, and using it for the greater good of humanity.
Chicago, IL -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/22/2015 -- When Ed Cruz decided to dedicate his life to mastering Wing Chun Gung Fu, he came to the stark realization that the world around him began to change for the better. Embracing this phenomenon, Cruz is now a respected martial arts mogul.
Committed to changing the lives of even those who have shunned martial arts, Cruz has released a bold and powerful new novel that's a Sifu in itself. 'Kirin Rise: The Cast of Shadows' proves that one individual's power literally can change the world.
Synopsis:
Nineteen-year-old Kirin Rise doesn't look like a hero. Short and scrawny, she's not the type to strike fear into anyone, much less the brutes that make up the United Federation of Mixed Fighting. Despite her size, she spent her youth secretly training with her Sifu in the art of Wing Chun Gung Fu. What's more, Kirin has something that many people in 2032 seem to have lost-a conscience.
Enraged by government corruption and corporate greed, Kirin sets out to do something about it in the most unlikely place: the weekly bloodbath known as Chum Night. With the guidance of her Sifu and the help of those who love her, she just might survive. Kirin Rise: The Cast of Shadows is the story of a young woman struggling against the apathy of a nation in her drive to make the world a better place.
"This may be fiction, but every shred of the narrative was inspired by my almost forty years teaching Martial Arts," explains Cruz. "I wanted to create something that not only provided an edge-of-the-seat adventure, but left readers with plenty to think about that could affect change in their own lives."
Continuing, "If people can dedicate their life to one thing, and do it at mastery level, they will see their entire world in a new light; a light where no feat is unachievable. Kirin managed to take on the apathy of her entire race, and she's the perfect role model for humanity."
Reader agree, leaving a slew of positive reviews. One Amazon reader comments, "Pluck a duck!!! That's one phrase you won't soon forget. After reading this book, I was pleasantly surprise by how the Characters passion and determination shine through in her development of learning this simple, yet very complex style of martial arts. The real gems are in the small, but meaningful quotes by Kirin's sifu. A realistic training companion in written form which is built on a fantasy setting where anyone who likes Wing Chun or any other martial art will truly appreciated. And from the looks of it, Kirin is just getting started."
Ryan Carandang adds, "When I first read this book I became extremely excited that there was a strong female protagonist. Kirin is a star. She's sassy, strong, and inspiring. It's not only Kirin that found her way into my heart, but the whole crew has as well. Trust me, they will. The story is absolutely wonderful and engaging making it nearly impossible to put the book down. If you get the chance to read a book this year make it this one. Kirin's trials and tribulations will keep you at the edge of your seat!"
'Kirin Rise: The Cast of Shadows' is available now: http://www.amazon.com/Kirin-Rise-Shadows-Ed-Cruz/dp/1496929640/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1429633099&sr=8-1&keywords=kirin+rise
For more information and resources, visit the official website: http://www.kirinrise.com
About Ed Cruz
Ed Cruz was born in Manila, Philippines in September 1970. Due to political unrest, his family decided to move and head to the United States. At the age of 3, Chicago became his home. His fascination and love for the city has always remained as he received his B.A in finance at Loyola University Chicago.
His father exposed him to martial arts at a very young age and, since then, his life has constantly revolved around it. For the first 11 years, he trained in multiple martial arts, being exposed to many different styles and concepts. Eventually, he discovered one that captured his attention and was unique to anything else. Of the hundreds of martial arts that exist in the world, Wing Chun Gung Fu is the only art ever created by a woman. Its approach was direct, to the point and extremely effective. But finding the style was not enough, he also had to find a master. It wasn't until 1995, when he met the Legendary Gung Fu Master Augustine Fong, that everything changed. Since that time, he has devoted all of his efforts toward mastering and teaching the art. He has written several nationally published articles over the last 10 years and has a large devoted following on the internet.
The story of his first novel, Kirin Rise: The Cast of Shadows, came about through his years of training. He believed that once you find something in your life that you dedicate yourself to and master, the world around you begins to change. The birth of the internet, the growth of mixed martial arts, and the everyday happenings of the world helped forge his story. It would take years of training and dissecting the art before he finally began to create the story. The phrase, "It's just a story, but the skill is real," is his unique approach of sharing the art with the entire world. His plan is to preserve and share the entire art through the Kirin Rise series.