The story begins in East Africa, where it tells of Majok’s early life as a member of the Dinka tribe and their traditions. After being captured, Cosby describes Majok's journey across oceans and cities before arriving in Japan. On arrival in Japan, the novel depicted the Sengoku era, and the country is considered a society coated in strict order but internally filled with political chaos. As the narrative progressed, I observed that the setting explored continents and cultures, and after the last chapter, I came to the conclusion that Yasuke's exploration of these diverse locations helped mold him into something new and different.

In Yasuke: Dead Man Walking, Cosby’s writing style intertwined Yasuke’s change from being a young man captured as a slave to becoming a warrior. It also depicts Nobunaga's political transformation from a reckless man to a leader forged by loss and betrayal. Each story is individually written, but they form a connection that is personal and political. Their journeys explore loyalty and ambition as qualities that build outstanding relationships even when there is clearly a cultural difference.

Although the book is grounded in history, it also discusses topics that serve as themes on which the plot is built. Starting from Yasuke’s fight to belonging and fitting in Japanese society, the book showed how he evolved from being an African man to his drastic change and how he struggled to understand his new identity.  While reading the book, I noticed that power stood out as one of the forces that dominated the book. At first, it was presented as a physical appearance because when I imagined what Yasuke’s body looked like, I noticed that it was a form of power on its own. His body structure, height, and strength were always a cause for attracting attention. This earned him some respect and distinguished him from others on the battlefield since he was very different from them. Secondly, Yasuke's crash came about when he was taken and sold into slavery; he was stripped of his identity, making him powerless and weak. However, he did not stop there. When he was given the position as a samurai, he rose to a higher spot, reclaiming his lost power. Apart from Yasuke's rise to power and his physical appearance, power also appeared as political ambition. As a leader whose main goal was to unify Japan, Nobunaga’s authority demonstrated that power brings forth betrayal; the higher he climbed, the more enemies he accumulated, and in some situations, power demanded sacrifice for certain things to happen. 

I appreciated Yasuke’s loyalty as one of the qualities that founded his new identity. Most of the warriors born of Japanese parents have their lives already laid out, but Yasuke, who lacked such identity in the country, had to serve Nobunaga, who entrusted him with a status he did not even expect. The only thing he had to offer was his loyalty, which served as a trademark and proof of his worth.

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. Because of some traces of violence and political themes that may seem complex to understand, I best recommend this book to mature young adults and adult readers,  Readers interested in stories with themes pointing to belonging and identity should also read this book since it focuses on these themes as the core aspect of the book.