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Across the Nightingale Floor

by Lian Hearn

Other authors: See the other authors section.

Series: Tales of the Otori (1)

MembersReviewsPopularityAverage ratingMentions
4,6961242,383 (3.9)179
Already a sensation around the world, this first book of the Otori Trilogy is a brilliantly imagined, wholly seductive tale of war, passion, and intrigue, evoking the spirit of medieval Japan. It is the story of a boy who is suddenly plucked from his life in a remote and peaceful village to find himself a pawn in a political scheme filled with treacherous warlords, rivalry and the intensity of first love.… (more)
  1. 20
    Cloud of Sparrows by Takashi Matsuoka (AHS-Wolfy)
    AHS-Wolfy: Historical fiction set in Japan with a light touch of fantasy.
  2. 21
    Shōgun by James Clavell (leahsimone)
  3. 10
    Bridge of Birds by Barry Hughart (wordcauldron)
  4. 00
    Tiger by Jeff Stone (benfulton)
    benfulton: Tiger is aimed at younger readers, but the less fantastic story.
  5. 00
    The Initiate Brother by Sean Russell (Anonymous user)
    Anonymous user: Another fantasy set in a feudal Asian society. Epic and satisfying -- be sure to read both The Initiate Brother and Gatherer of Clouds.
  6. 00
    Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb (soffitta1)
    soffitta1: A coming of age story, a noble boy with an uncertain future.
  7. 00
    Heart of the Ronin (the Ronin Trilogy: Volume One) by Travis Heermann (wordcauldron)
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» See also 179 mentions

English (118)  French (3)  German (1)  Danish (1)  Swedish (1)  All languages (124)
Showing 1-5 of 118 (next | show all)
Read this a few years ago so don't recall much detail but know I absolutely loved the different to usual setting for fantasy, based on an alternative mediaeval Japan. The plight of Kaede is particularly interesting and sympathetically depicted. I have always meant to read the rest of this trilogy, but have had a lot of other books to catch up on first. However, unlike most of those, the present novel is a 'keeper', that I have held onto, to re-read in the future.
**********************************

Update: having obtained other volumes in the series I decided to re-read the first and it is as good as I remember. The choice of a first person narrative for the young male protagonist and third for the female is an interesting choice but the characters are all well delineated despite there being a lot of them, so you don't get confused who is who. The main ones are very sympathetically developed, with the pairs of star-crossed lovers, and the Japanese attitudes towards honourable suicide well conveyed. Despite the social attitudes towards women and in some cases persecution, the main female characters are all strong and find ways to resist. The special powers that Tomasu/Takeo develops are also interesting and the tensions between the various clans and the Tribe of assassins with the undercurrent of doom hanging over some likeable characters.

Given that I have been disappointed by some re-reads over the past few years, but not by this one, I have upgraded the original 4 stars to a 5 star rating and I hope to enjoy the subsequent volumes as much. ( )
  kitsune_reader | Nov 23, 2023 |
After picking up a tiny little book that had just the first half of the story in it and reading that, I decided to finish it on audio. I enjoyed it, but don't really feel like I need to read the other books. Which is actually not a bad thing because it means the first book concluded successfully and didn't leave me hanging. In the end, this is YA stuff and I'm in my 50's so I need a little more adultness to be interested in reading an entire series.

One thing I didn't like was that the hero of the story was visiting whorehouses where it sounded like there were "underaged" girls and he himself was in his mid-teens. So first off, gross, and second, it just doesn't seem very "heroic" to have your young hero paying for sex. There wasn't any description of what happened, just a sentence about him visiting often. I'm like, "Would Captain America go to a brothel?" "Would Aragorn go to a brothel?" "Would Harry Potter go to a brothel?" I mean Geralt of Rivia or someone like Wolverine sure, but those "anti-heroes" and they're kind of assholes. ( )
1 vote ragwaine | Jun 25, 2023 |
Entertaining with a similar feel to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon ( )
  joncarr | Dec 26, 2022 |
Actually read this a long time ago but for some reason never added this to my books.

Could be because it didnt leave a lasting impression on me. On paper the plot sounds very exciting (ninjas! adventure!) but the narrative is too dry and you never manage to connect with the characters.

I never even tried to start on the other books. Not horribly bad...just simply not that interested. ( )
  Litrvixen | Jun 23, 2022 |
Loved all four books of the Asian fantasy series, and any fans of Shogun are sure to enjoy this series.
...
I just finished rereading the novel and feel very differently from the other people who’ve already posted in the SF & Fantasy Thread. I think this book written by a westerner is very Japanese, I believe that’s why it is paced the way it is. Sure love at first sight is unbelievable but imagine a fifteen year old girl, forced to marry against her will. She is dreading meeting the old man who’ll force himself upon her. Suddenly she’s filled with relief when she sees the young man who she believes is to be her husband, may it isn’t love at first sight as much as relief at first sight.

I don’t believe that good fantasy has to have a twist ending. When Frodo picked up the ring and headed to Mordor, I had no doubt that he’d arrive and destroy the ring but I’ve read and reread LOTR enough times to make it an all time favorite.


Keep reading if you like ninjas and pirates, there’s only four more books to go.
( )
  kevn57 | Dec 8, 2021 |
Showing 1-5 of 118 (next | show all)
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» Add other authors (38 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Lian Hearnprimary authorall editionscalculated
Brender, IrmelaTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Gray, KevinNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Jonassen, Fartein DøvleTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Nakasone, AikoNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Serra, LauraTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
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Epigraph
A prophecy governs their fate. Blood, honour and love rule their hearts.
Cuentan
que la cierva que se aparea en otoño
con el arbusto de lespedeza
engendra un único cervatillo.
Un muchacho solitario
emprende un largo viaje,
con la hierba de almohada.

Manyoshu, vol. IX
N° 1.790

Hiroaki Sato & Burton Watson
The country of the eight islands
Dedication
for E
First words
My mother used to threaten to tear me into eight pieces if I knocked over the water bucket, or pretended not to hear her calling me to come home as the dusk thickened and the cicadas' shrilling increased.
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Already a sensation around the world, this first book of the Otori Trilogy is a brilliantly imagined, wholly seductive tale of war, passion, and intrigue, evoking the spirit of medieval Japan. It is the story of a boy who is suddenly plucked from his life in a remote and peaceful village to find himself a pawn in a political scheme filled with treacherous warlords, rivalry and the intensity of first love.

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