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A review by jodiesbookishposts
Brilliance of the Moon by Lian Hearn
5.0
This is a trilogy that has been sat on my shelves for years. I read Across the Nightingale Floor when I was a teenager, I can’t remember when I read it first but I then bought the sequel Grass For His Pillow straight after and I never finished it. Then, much much later, I found the third and final book in a charity shop and bought Brilliance of the Moon. Again I tried to reread the series but never finished. I made it my mission this year to do it. I was not putting it off again. So I decided to marathon it. No excuses.
It’s not that I didn’t enjoy the series. In fact, it was the opposite – I loved this series. I think why I never finished it the first time round was how many characters there were. Every time I picked up the next book it was like trying to reremember everything. It is definitely a trilogy to marathon.
The story focuses on Takeo, an orphan boy from a remote village in a fictional world with similarities to Feudal Japan. He is adopted by Lord Otori from the Warrior Class. He is taken from his quiet life into a world of intrigue. But Takeo’s past is not as it seems, he has unique gifts, gifts that make him a desired assassin. When Takeo is claimed by the mysterious Tribe, he has to chose between the families who have a hold on him. From the other perspective we have Kaede, a young girl, a hostage of a warrior lord. She is sent to be married, but Kaede too is hiding secrets. Desiring her is deadly. When Takeo and Kaede meet, there already twisted fates collide.
It’s hard to describe a trilogy without any spoilers. Each new book brings with it new challenges and each is a fresh new story. It sits well as a series. The tension is pumped up with each new installment.
Taeko and Kaede are great protagonists in their own right. They both raise issues in society still relevant today – gender, religion, class. It is done in a way that doesn’t feel preachy and it develops with each book.
It is sometimes a tragic story and it’s beautifully lyrical and has that air of a Japanese painting. It is elegant and indulgent in a good way. There is a great sense of place to the story and the world building is rich and detailed.
This was worth the wait. I’m glad I finally finished it.
It’s not that I didn’t enjoy the series. In fact, it was the opposite – I loved this series. I think why I never finished it the first time round was how many characters there were. Every time I picked up the next book it was like trying to reremember everything. It is definitely a trilogy to marathon.
The story focuses on Takeo, an orphan boy from a remote village in a fictional world with similarities to Feudal Japan. He is adopted by Lord Otori from the Warrior Class. He is taken from his quiet life into a world of intrigue. But Takeo’s past is not as it seems, he has unique gifts, gifts that make him a desired assassin. When Takeo is claimed by the mysterious Tribe, he has to chose between the families who have a hold on him. From the other perspective we have Kaede, a young girl, a hostage of a warrior lord. She is sent to be married, but Kaede too is hiding secrets. Desiring her is deadly. When Takeo and Kaede meet, there already twisted fates collide.
It’s hard to describe a trilogy without any spoilers. Each new book brings with it new challenges and each is a fresh new story. It sits well as a series. The tension is pumped up with each new installment.
Taeko and Kaede are great protagonists in their own right. They both raise issues in society still relevant today – gender, religion, class. It is done in a way that doesn’t feel preachy and it develops with each book.
It is sometimes a tragic story and it’s beautifully lyrical and has that air of a Japanese painting. It is elegant and indulgent in a good way. There is a great sense of place to the story and the world building is rich and detailed.
This was worth the wait. I’m glad I finally finished it.