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pickleburns's review
4.0
Fun, fast and easy reading, it reminds me both of mythology in translation and also quite strongly of classic high fantasy. I am reminded very strongly of Tanith Lee's "Death's Master." Though the sexuality in this book is significantly toned down relative to Lee's work, the world building and characterization feels very similar, and both are equally enjoyable. I look forward to the remaining volumes.
honnari_hannya's review
4.0
Not quite as gripping as her Tales of the Otori series, which remains one of my favorite Asian fantasy series of all time, but you can tell Lian Hearn knows her feudal Japanese history. I wasn't quite as invested in these characters, and the plot seemed more incidental in this first book than in the Otori books, but that's probably intentional and will come together through the rest of the series.
dromwald's review
5.0
I was a fan of Lian Hearn's Otori series and wondered if this would even come close. To my surprise I enjoyed this first part of the Shikanoko series even more. Hearn's writing has an almost poetic quality to it and she brings this new world and the characters that inhabit it vividly to life. Part Japanese folklore, part fantasy I stayed enthralled by the story throughout and I can't wait to read the next book in the series.
adamhall1588's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
marieintheraw's review
4.0
A fun feudal Japan fantasy, but it took some time to get used to the writing style.
danimal_crackers's review
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
I really wanted to like this book, but it took months to complete because it was such a slow slog. I found myself by the last 100 pages of this 249 book not caring what the ending was. Perhaps it is a set up for the later series, but something has to happen in the first book to hook me to read further.
biophile's review
3.0
Not as tidy and poetic as the Otori series, and a few too many names and allegiances to keep straight. It wasn't terrible, but also wasn't amazing and I'm not that excited to read #2. Much more of a bleak setting than Otori also.
cheems's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
czarnykot5's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0