Phoenix Publishings

[Review] - Tales Of The Otori

I like Japan. I mean, I really love Japan. The haunting culture, the vivid cityscapes, the wondrous landscapes. Japan, for me at least, is one of the most diverse and beautiful countries in the world. Without a doubt, this was why I picked up Lian Hearn's trilogy, Tales of the Otori. But it was Hearn's enchanting style that stopped me from putting his books down.

Tomas is a teenage boy living in Hearn's fictional oriental island in a simple village amongst a religious people called The Hidden. However, the peaceful opening is fleeing, and soon Tomas' entire world is turned upside down when a clan lord arrives and massacres his entire village. He is saved by another travelling lord who takes him to safety - and from then, nothing is the same.

Hearn constantly adds new dimensions to the plot -- Tomas' adoption and name change, the revealing of his mysterious powers, a fateful Love Interest and a destiny that provides an epic story in a rich world like no other.

The truly encapsulating plot is what drives you through the story, but Hearn truly pushes both an imaginative world and a captivating cast. Tomas is joined by a host of spiritual monks, fearless warriors, beautiful princesses and powerful lords, and all are set against an effortlessly wondrous world that is both gorgeously described and powerfully vivid.The world feels alive with a cast of thousands all woven into the destiny of one small child. From the enticing opening of Across The Nightingale Floor to the bloody-stained conclusion of The Brilliance Of The Moon, Hearn's tale is written like a true historical epic and feels both timeless and in tune with modern desires for thick plots.I can't recommend the trilogy enough. Hearn has written a hugely entertaining story that, given a chance, could become a true classic. Tales of the Otori is a unique experience.

9/10 – A beautiful series of books.

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posted by FinalSin @ 11:16 AM