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tasmanian_bibliophile's review against another edition
5.0
‘The girl could see nothing. Her lungs were bursting.’
Thus opens the third book of Lian Hearn’s historical fantasy fiction ‘The Tale of Shikanoko’, set in a fantasy version of medieval Japan. This is a series where the books need to be read in order, for the story won’t make much sense otherwise.
The first two books have introduced the key players, explained their stories and why the land is unsettled. The rule of the false emperor Daigen has disturbed the harmony of the Eight Islands with. drought and famine. The true emperor, Yoshi, remains hidden among the acrobats of the Riverbank People. Shika remains in the Darkwood, unable to remove the magical deer mask created for him. Much of this novel focusses on Hina’s journey. Hina, daughter of Kiyoyori, has fled her home, and while her fate seems tied to Shika’s, her journey will be a slow one. In the meantime, the five brothers of the Spider Tribe have grown into powerful, semi human adults. Will Shika regret not having killed them when he had the opportunity to do so?
Although the action in the third book seems slower than in the first two books, this novel serves to consolidate the story, and continues to explore the themes of love, fate, failure and redemption already in play.
Can Shika be released from his magical mask? Will Hina finds what she is seeking in the Darkwood? I was glad, when I finished this novel, that I had the fourth and final novel to hand. So many questions still to be resolved. So many obstacles to be overcome.
And, I immediately read the fourth book in the series. I started to read it with mixed feelings. On one hand, I couldn’t wait to find out what would happen next. On the other hand, I really didn’t want the series to end.
‘Once, a long time ago, I made a vow,’ Shika said. ‘That I would find Yoshimori and restore him to the throne. But then the mask became fused to my face and I felt I was condemned to live out my life outside human society, like an animal in the forest.’
At the beginning of the series, the hidden emperor, Yoshi was a small child when he was forced to flee for his life with the Autumn Princess when his uncle Daigen was named emperor. Yoshi has grown now, but would prefer not to acknowledge his heritage. He lives with the Riverbank people, as an acrobat. Lord Aritomo, the power behind the false emperor Daigen, receives reports that Yoshi has been sighted for the first time in twelve years. Aritomo wants to capture and execute Yoshi, to disprove that he is the true emperor.
Shika has been living in the Darkwood for years. Unable to remove his magically empowered deer mask, he has exiled himself. Hina is searching for him: perhaps she can help him remove the mask? Will Shika’s return from exile make a difference: can he prevail over Aritomo, and can he convince Yoshi to take up his role as the true emperor?
The battle between good and evil continues. Supernatural abilities are part of the mix in determining who will prevail. Has Shika learned enough, can he use what he has learned? Can there be a ‘happily ever after’ ending?
I loved this series, and will be rereading it again soon. I know that, in my rush to find out how it would all end, I’ve rushed over passages. And, even though I found the ending (mostly) satisfactory, I wanted more. Some of these characters have their own life outside the pages of the series.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Note: I was fortunate enough to obtain electronic review copies of these books from Farrar, Straus and Giroux via NetGalley. I bought my own copy of the Hachette paperback containing Books 3 and 4. This review is of the Hachette paperback.
Thus opens the third book of Lian Hearn’s historical fantasy fiction ‘The Tale of Shikanoko’, set in a fantasy version of medieval Japan. This is a series where the books need to be read in order, for the story won’t make much sense otherwise.
The first two books have introduced the key players, explained their stories and why the land is unsettled. The rule of the false emperor Daigen has disturbed the harmony of the Eight Islands with. drought and famine. The true emperor, Yoshi, remains hidden among the acrobats of the Riverbank People. Shika remains in the Darkwood, unable to remove the magical deer mask created for him. Much of this novel focusses on Hina’s journey. Hina, daughter of Kiyoyori, has fled her home, and while her fate seems tied to Shika’s, her journey will be a slow one. In the meantime, the five brothers of the Spider Tribe have grown into powerful, semi human adults. Will Shika regret not having killed them when he had the opportunity to do so?
Although the action in the third book seems slower than in the first two books, this novel serves to consolidate the story, and continues to explore the themes of love, fate, failure and redemption already in play.
Can Shika be released from his magical mask? Will Hina finds what she is seeking in the Darkwood? I was glad, when I finished this novel, that I had the fourth and final novel to hand. So many questions still to be resolved. So many obstacles to be overcome.
And, I immediately read the fourth book in the series. I started to read it with mixed feelings. On one hand, I couldn’t wait to find out what would happen next. On the other hand, I really didn’t want the series to end.
‘Once, a long time ago, I made a vow,’ Shika said. ‘That I would find Yoshimori and restore him to the throne. But then the mask became fused to my face and I felt I was condemned to live out my life outside human society, like an animal in the forest.’
At the beginning of the series, the hidden emperor, Yoshi was a small child when he was forced to flee for his life with the Autumn Princess when his uncle Daigen was named emperor. Yoshi has grown now, but would prefer not to acknowledge his heritage. He lives with the Riverbank people, as an acrobat. Lord Aritomo, the power behind the false emperor Daigen, receives reports that Yoshi has been sighted for the first time in twelve years. Aritomo wants to capture and execute Yoshi, to disprove that he is the true emperor.
Shika has been living in the Darkwood for years. Unable to remove his magically empowered deer mask, he has exiled himself. Hina is searching for him: perhaps she can help him remove the mask? Will Shika’s return from exile make a difference: can he prevail over Aritomo, and can he convince Yoshi to take up his role as the true emperor?
The battle between good and evil continues. Supernatural abilities are part of the mix in determining who will prevail. Has Shika learned enough, can he use what he has learned? Can there be a ‘happily ever after’ ending?
I loved this series, and will be rereading it again soon. I know that, in my rush to find out how it would all end, I’ve rushed over passages. And, even though I found the ending (mostly) satisfactory, I wanted more. Some of these characters have their own life outside the pages of the series.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Note: I was fortunate enough to obtain electronic review copies of these books from Farrar, Straus and Giroux via NetGalley. I bought my own copy of the Hachette paperback containing Books 3 and 4. This review is of the Hachette paperback.
buuboobaby's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 - 3.75 stars
This series is somewhat addicting, even given the questionable portrayal of the female characters. Their complete lack of agency is maddening. The writing style is a bit dry, which made me feel like I was being kept at arms length from the characters and the on page action. These are all quick reads, so I will be finishing the series, but I feel that by breaking the series down into four separate books, the publisher did themselves a disservice. Every time I start a new installment of the series, I am frustrated because I can't remember everything that happened in previous books. If possible, I would suggest reading these all in a row, which wasn't possible for me, as I read them shortly after release date. I would probably have enjoyed these more if I just waited to read them all at once.
This series is somewhat addicting, even given the questionable portrayal of the female characters. Their complete lack of agency is maddening. The writing style is a bit dry, which made me feel like I was being kept at arms length from the characters and the on page action. These are all quick reads, so I will be finishing the series, but I feel that by breaking the series down into four separate books, the publisher did themselves a disservice. Every time I start a new installment of the series, I am frustrated because I can't remember everything that happened in previous books. If possible, I would suggest reading these all in a row, which wasn't possible for me, as I read them shortly after release date. I would probably have enjoyed these more if I just waited to read them all at once.
chrispy294's review against another edition
3.0
While still good, Lord of the Darkwood really felt like a middle book here. Unlike its predecessor, all the set up and development didn’t really have any payoff in this entry, but it still put a lot in place for the final book in the series. I really like how it pushed forward so far in time that we get to see a lot of the children characters grow up and establish themselves as major players in the overall narrative. It’s just too bad we didn’t get to see them or the major players from previous entries do much.
I’m really excited to see how this all ends, and I think this book is very important in developing the various story threads so they can all converge for the grand finale. However, as its own book, it falls short of the previous entries.
I’m really excited to see how this all ends, and I think this book is very important in developing the various story threads so they can all converge for the grand finale. However, as its own book, it falls short of the previous entries.
bookworm5732's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
miramanga's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed all the different stages and characters in this epic
Perfect balance of heartache, adventure, betrayal, romance, magic, meditation and melodrama.
Perfect balance of heartache, adventure, betrayal, romance, magic, meditation and melodrama.
anban's review against another edition
5.0
When I started The Tale of Shikanoko with Emperor of the Eight Islands I was under the impression that it would be a trilogy, for no other reason than fantasy series often are. But then Lord of the Darkwood started coming to a head and the events which lead up to the Tales of the Otori slotted themselves into place and I had to reassess my preconceived notion: the story was going to end with this book.
What I absolutely love about prequels set some hundreds of years before are the tiny little details which though inconsequential to that particular book are hugely important in the preceding story; they become like historical records to enrich the make believe world the author has created. Rather than just accepting that world as 'because that is how it is' as a reader we have a much wider and deeper understanding. This is turn heightens my enjoyment of the main body of work.
As for Lord of the Darkwood itself, no love nor knowledge of the Otori is required, though the last two pages would be rather meaningless without it. The story is intense, spaning over a decade of time in which the characters grow and change as the environment around them crumbles; the very essence of the world unhinged with it's faux rulers and hidden, evil powers.
Similarly to Hearn's other books, chapters differ in their narrator giving us the perspective of each of the main characters. This method keeps the story fresh, allowing character's whose current story is stationary to be skipped over. Consequently readers are privy to the insights and intentions of both the pro- and antagonists and left unsure as to where the story is headed.
My one and only gripe is the names. One of my own biggest flaws is pronunciation, even in my head, even worse when place and character names are similar, and I struggle to sound unfamiliar words out. Coupled with the quirk of family names and their relation to the city the person is from I found myself frequently flipping back to refer to the map and character list.
The list was invaluable. For a series which I started last year it was useful to reaquaint myself with the cast. Additionally, the whole scope of the story leans heavily on politics and that comprises of two things: people and places. I am not usually one for novels with such focus on domains and their rulers, but what I do love, interesting characters, makes this element secondary. The cast is huge but each is balanced and evolved. As much as I loved Hearn's previous work Lord of the Darkwood demonstrates her improvement; the story fleshier and writing amplified.
I initially gave this four stars but then I felt bad cos I just loved it so much. I will definitely be revisiting the Otori, it is one of the few series which I read as a teen, read in my 20s and will reread again in my 30s.
What I absolutely love about prequels set some hundreds of years before are the tiny little details which though inconsequential to that particular book are hugely important in the preceding story; they become like historical records to enrich the make believe world the author has created. Rather than just accepting that world as 'because that is how it is' as a reader we have a much wider and deeper understanding. This is turn heightens my enjoyment of the main body of work.
As for Lord of the Darkwood itself, no love nor knowledge of the Otori is required, though the last two pages would be rather meaningless without it. The story is intense, spaning over a decade of time in which the characters grow and change as the environment around them crumbles; the very essence of the world unhinged with it's faux rulers and hidden, evil powers.
Similarly to Hearn's other books, chapters differ in their narrator giving us the perspective of each of the main characters. This method keeps the story fresh, allowing character's whose current story is stationary to be skipped over. Consequently readers are privy to the insights and intentions of both the pro- and antagonists and left unsure as to where the story is headed.
My one and only gripe is the names. One of my own biggest flaws is pronunciation, even in my head, even worse when place and character names are similar, and I struggle to sound unfamiliar words out. Coupled with the quirk of family names and their relation to the city the person is from I found myself frequently flipping back to refer to the map and character list.
The list was invaluable. For a series which I started last year it was useful to reaquaint myself with the cast. Additionally, the whole scope of the story leans heavily on politics and that comprises of two things: people and places. I am not usually one for novels with such focus on domains and their rulers, but what I do love, interesting characters, makes this element secondary. The cast is huge but each is balanced and evolved. As much as I loved Hearn's previous work Lord of the Darkwood demonstrates her improvement; the story fleshier and writing amplified.
I initially gave this four stars but then I felt bad cos I just loved it so much. I will definitely be revisiting the Otori, it is one of the few series which I read as a teen, read in my 20s and will reread again in my 30s.
charliess's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
boomt's review against another edition
2.0
I'm loosing interest the longer the saga drags on. The plot is so convoluted that the characters become shallower and not deeper as the years roll by.
fishface's review against another edition
4.0
This book (3-4) was probably better than 1-2 because it felt less like a prologue and more like a conclusive story. I also appreciated reading it because it provided backstory for the characters that feature in “Tales of the Otori”, however for the same reason, this series should be avoided until you have read than one.
Lian Hearns writing has a wonderfully refreshing descriptive aspect, managing to be both vivid and concise, which enhances the experience of reading.
Lian Hearns writing has a wonderfully refreshing descriptive aspect, managing to be both vivid and concise, which enhances the experience of reading.
pearseanderson's review against another edition
4.0
After a disappointing second book, I'm starting to see where the Tale of Shikanoko is going. I enjoyed all the smaller plots and developments, especially once the big movers and shakers get involved and after we spend so much both in the world and in the series. It answered questions and didn't have much conflict, just conspiracy. I'm really not loving how some women are represented in the series, but it's hard to parse if that's the fault of the setting or the characters or the author. I'm seeing where the hidden feminism shines through and really loving those places in the writing. And the tengu! Let's finish this series off!