Reviews

The Tengu's Game of Go by Lian Hearn

chrispy294's review against another edition

4.0

Great finale to the series that wrapped up all the storylines satisfactorily while setting up the original Tales of the Otori series with some interesting details. The overall setup of The Three Countries and the relationships between the main houses make a lot of sense now knowing their origin. I’m really glad I dug back into this series to read the prequels and am now more excited than ever to re-read Tales of the Otori and get to the two new sequels released last year

bookworm5732's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

charliess's review

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

helliecreed's review against another edition

4.0

As much as I loved this book over the third book i began to trudge through this. It wasn't a bad book or poorly written however I felt like this was a long journey. This amazing serious could have been easily one book. I'm just glad I finished this!

runemarks's review against another edition

5.0

Loved the final book, I was delighted when the Tengu's came back and started moving their pieces around. I was wondering how all the characters would collide and Hearn delivered. The ending was amazing when she tied all the stories in with Tales of the Otori.

pearseanderson's review against another edition

3.0

Hearn's writing really confuses me. Not only how much information and summary comes at me, but why she skims over certain sections but not others. The action scenes in this book were really bad. To build up certain things for so long only to shut them down kills me, disappoints me. But then to add other strange paragraphs about mostly meaningless histories or names of unnecessary characters creates a contrast I don't like. If I had to do it over, would I listen to the entire Tale of Shikanoku? I don't know. And that's telling in itself. I expected more. Although there were some great moments, I was never too excited to listen to this audiobook epic.

dianchie's review against another edition

3.0

Out of all the books, this one was the least satisfying. It was good but it just did not have the oomph of the previous three books. Instead of ending with a "bang" it just ends with a whisper.

The whole book resolves itself in the last four chapters which makes it feel rushed. I wanted to spend a bit more time with the characters because I am attached to them. The ones I liked the least died in this book so that makes me happy.

Overall I really liked this series and this book is just missing that something that makes just as good as all the others.

drewsof's review against another edition

4.0

Really more like 3.5. A satisfying, if not exceptional, conclusion to a series that earns those same descriptors.

More in early Sept at RB.

sylvieee's review

adventurous dark reflective slow-paced

4.0

bentgaidin's review

4.0

Tengu’s Game of Go was the fourth and final part of the Tale of Shikanoko, bringing back together all the characters and plot threads to restore the rightful emperor -- it was also less a triumphal celebration, and more a slower and thoughtful look at what it means to have been living in exile for years.