Lian Hearn: Tales of the Otori series

[AMarchAnt31]

It's a four book series which starts with Across The Nightingale Floor. My mum gave it to me and I loved the whole series. I just gave it to my brother to read and he says he can't put it down. Anyone looking for something different and amazing should read this series.

[aoboshi36]

Certainly amazing books for me too. In fact, the Harsh Cry of Heron, which was the fourth book and sequel to the trilogy, was the first book to make my shed tears. Even though the ending was somehow predictable, the final chapter which concluded the story in a long letter practically made me sobbed uncontrollably. It was very emotional as if I was witnessing everything and everyone from the backstage. I've read it many times and still wept after finishing it although not as extreme as in the first time.

I've also read the prequel to this series, Heaven's Net is Wide. It recounts Shigeru's life before meeting Takeo. It was similarly heart-wrenching but somehow not as tragic as the trilogy.

For those who are not familiar with the series, Tales of the Otori is a series of historical fantasy novels by Lian Hearn, which is a pen name of Gillian Rubinstein. The series is originally a trilogy: Across the Nightingale Floor (2002), Grass for His Pillow (2003), and Brilliance of the Moon (2004). It was followed in 2006 by a sequel, The Harsh Cry of the Heron, and in 2007 by a prequel, Heaven's Net is Wide.

The book followed a young boy named Takeo with complicated past who was adopted by a warrior and his struggle to avenge his adoptive father, and pursue the love of his life in the midst of an enormous power struggle involving dozens of clan lords and thousands of warriors. The entire trilogy took setting of feudal Japan.