I thought this fantasy romance intrigue adventure was good but nothing extraordinary and don't understand why it was so highly reviewed, being named a New York Times Notable Book of the year. ( )

Fantastic book

I realized trying to explain this book to John that it was too hard to do a quick synopsis. I suppose I can say that Tomasu is a young man among the Hidden, a group that is persecuted by the area Lord. He escapes the destruction of his village and family with the help of a man who turns out to be a Lord in the Otori clan, but their meeting may have been less by chance than Tomasu first believes. Shigeru knows more about Tomasu's past than he does himself and plans to adopt him into the Otori clan.

This book picked up pretty quickly for me from the beginning, and I was eager to follow it to the ending. The descriptions were pretty. I'll probably pick up the next in the series if I run across it.

When a little boy’s family is murdered in a horrible raid, an Otori lord saves his life and gives him a new name, Takeo. For Takeo’s family was of the Hidden, a tribe which has been persecuted throughout their country, and Shigeru knows that Takeo’s identity will get him killed. As the story unfolds, Takeo realizes that he has somewhat extraordinary skills; he can hear unnaturally well, be in two places at once, and even draw better than a normal person. He is a born assassin and he is determined to wreak revenge on the man who killed his family. Meanwhile, Kaede is a helpless prisoner, forced into a marriage agreement with Shigeru after years of deprivation and unhappiness. Her marriage offers hope until Kaede realizes just what she’s getting into.

This YA fantasy was a total change of pace. It’s set in a fictional feudal Japan, a beautiful setting that evokes a much different feel than most fantasy set in fiction medieval Europe. It helps that the writing is beautiful; I would quote but unfortunately I had to return the book to the library, so you’ll have to take my word for it. The words of love spoken between the characters, especially Shigeru and his love, were heartbreaking and touching. Even the title, Across the Nightingale Floor, refers to a floor that most of us would refer to as just creaky, designed to alert the occupant to intruders. This is the real name for these floors, but it is still far more beautiful than using just plain English. The book has not only ninjas and samurais and swords, but a feel of history and scope that I loved. Since Kaede and Takeo are from different locations and both travel, we get a feel for this world that is quite breathtaking.

As far as characters are concerned, I liked these, although I do feel we could have gotten to know them a little better. They all have a massive sense of honor and it was fascinating to see how their personal thoughts played out against their real world actions. This is such a polite world even as many of the characters sneak behind each other’s backs and murder one another. If one’s honor is impugned, he or she decides to die. It’s a foreign world view but extremely well played; it doesn’t feel melodramatic, it fits. The special magical skills that Takeo had fit, too, especially given that he’s a scion of a special tribe with many of these skills themselves.

Across the Nightingale Floor was a wonderful read. It’s a different kind of fantasy than I normally prefer but I loved it. I could have done with feeling a bit more emotion towards the characters, but I’m hoping that will come as I continue the series. ( )

Set in a remarkably envisioned feudal Japan, it would be easy to mistake this book for historic fiction. Across the Nightingale Floor has opened my eyes to a new subgenre: historical fantasy. Nightingale fits this subgenre only in its superb rendering of a place in time.

Takeo is the hero, orphaned, then rescued by the good man, Lord Otori Shigeru. Three nations exist on this fantasy island off Japan, and the evil Lord Iida wants it all. It is he who is responsible for killing Takeo's family, because one of his goals for domination includes killing all members of the religious sect, The Hidden, a group with parallels to Christianity. Lord Iida also wants to control the three major nations, and schemes to do so through a marriage agreement that draws Takeo, Shigeru and Kenji into battles and suffering. Takeo faces many coming-of-age dilemmas including falling in love with Kaede, the betrothed woman (girl) of Lord Iida's plan.

It turns out that Takeo is also a member of another secret group, The Tribe. He is endowed with super-human powers that must be developed, and which become critical for the battles between good and evil. Typical of Joseph Campbell's definition of a hero cycle, Nightingale is a monomyth, the type of story I love: unlikely hero is born of seemingly ordinary roots, has supernatural capacity, battles evil, and brings goodness to ordinary people. Hearn has given birth to a likable hero. I look forward to reading more. ( )

Tales of the Otori book 1 - coming of age, teenage angst and confusion and revenge in a romantic, thrilling setting. Should not have taken me as long as it did to finish it. ( )

Clever, but a bit gory. This series got bloodier and bloodier till I couldn't read it anymore. ( )

This book swept me up and took me away into a world far, far away and long, long ago. Somehow the author made me see and hear and smell and believe, and I was devastated when things became more tragic than I had anticipated.

I cannot WAIT to start "Grass for His Pillow."

You like this one, go read some Kij Johnson... especially "Fudoki."

I picked this book up after a friend recommended it. It is young adult fiction so it is a very easy and fast read. The story centers around the two main characters Takeo and Kaede and is set in a kind of fictitious medieval Japan.Takeo loses his family in the beginning of the book and is adopted by an Otori Lord. The man provides for Takeo's education and Takeo discovers he is one of the mystical people known as the Tribe. As the book progresses he learns and pursues his final destiny of killing the man who killed his family.Concurrently, Kaede suffers as a hostage in the feuds between warring houses. Ultimately, and very predictably, her path crosses with Takeo as they both pursue their destinies.All and all it was a good book and there is an excerpt from the next book in the series at the end. This would be ideal for a young teen reader to enjoy, bearing in mind that there are some adult themes in the book. ( )

The first in a series set in an imaginary world based on feudal Japan and the chivalric Bushido code of conduct. It successfully takes you into that world of honor and loyalty, mastery of martial arts, married with simple living and appreciation of nature and art. Well -that's how the good guys aim to act - but at heart they are all warriors.

The three nations that make up this land are at war and Lord Iida wants it all. He lives in fear of being assassinated though, the nightingale floor of his palace sings - no assassin could cross it without being heard. So he schemes and plans on how to trap the Otori clan into alliance, using the kidnapped daughter of another subdued Lord as bait. Iida is also systematically trying to wipe out the Hidden, a psuedo-Christian sect that live in secrecy. At the start of the novel young Tomasu is the only survivor of a massacre of Hidden and is rescued by Lord Otori Shigeru before Iida can kill him too. Shigeru recognises something in the boy and decides to adopt him, and thus begins a life of adventure, romance and very hard work for the boy, rechristened Takeo. Unbeknown to him, another secret sect known as The Tribe, a sort of ninja assassin guild, also seek need him for their plans.

Hearn has produced a remarkably well realised world. Shigeru, in particular is a potent force for good, he was my favourite character by far. Takeo, whose life and career will develop in the subsequent volumes in this series, starts off as an empty shell, to be formed, like Kung-Fu's Grasshopper, into the warrior and more that is inside him. We are also introduced to young Lady Kaede, the hostage who is to be married to Shigeru, but predictably falls for Takeo. All are well fleshed out characters. Iida and his henchmen though are rather stereotypical baddies and sketchily drawn.

The novel is full of action, but takes its time. In between these scenes, there is much philosophy, talk of politics, and time for romance too. Also, Takeo, our grasshopper, has to learn many new skills and go on a voyage of self-discovery that leaves you at the end, desperate for more. Volumes two and three immediately go onto my wish list - Highly recommended. ( )

I really enjoyed this book. Lian Hearn blends an amazing tale with japanese historical points so well you would almost believe it wasnt a work of fiction.
A must read for anyone who enjoys reading. ( )

I did not love the first installment of the Tales of the Otori trilogy as much as I expected to. The characterization really shines in the other books of the series, but I felt it faltered here. The story focuses on Lord Otori Shigeru's attempt to use his adopted son Takeo to get vengeance on his long-time enemy, the cruel and oppressive Lord Iida Sadamu. But, although Takeo has reasons of his own for wanting to kill Sadamu, I was never quite comfortable with a plot centered around manipulating a teenage boy into becoming an assassin. It seemed particularly at odds with Lord Otori's previously established reputation for honor and justice. Moreover, the other characters seemed a bit wooden, moving more in response to the demands of the plot than their own human motivations. The plot was entertaining enough to propel me through the book quickly, but I never got as emotionally involved as I did with the other novels in the series. ( )

The book was very good, Lian really took you into the story and you just wanted to know what lies forward.
Anyway, like others say, there were kinda alot of description, but they were good so it doesnt really matter.
To sum up, the book was a very good one, maybe sometimes things are kinda little hard to understand because we don't understand perfectly this era(feudal japan). but Liad did a good job of taking us in this era and fascinate us to the story. ( )

Takes place in a fantasy world based on Japan during the time of the Samurai. It follows our Hero from humble boy to powerful Lord. Fantasy, but contains a spare amount of what I would call typical magic. It is mainly about the constant struggle for land and power and dominance between these powerful lords. So there are battles, beheadings and everything else you would expect ( )

I love works with Japanese influences, but I'm not usually interested in action-heavy fantasy novels. I picked this book up on a whim, and I was completely drawn into the world and characters. ( )

A riveting story with wonderful story telling; several of the sequels fell off a bit after this, but this one was fantastic. ( )

I so wanted to like this series a lot after reading this book. Unfortunately, all I can say is that it's OK. And then, I can only say that as far as Book 3, as I haven't gone on with it.

This wasn't a bad start to the series. I enjoyed the feudal-Japan-in-all-but-name setting; I found the characters both well-limned and sympathetic; there was the potential for a great plot arc reminiscent, perhaps, of Shōgun. I did feel that the political situation was a little muddled—I think the book would have benefited from a prologue to decribe the general situation or, at least, a bit more explanation of how/what/when/where/why, but this didn't detract unduly.

When the second installment, Grass for His Pillow came out, I was pleased with it. As explanations came forth, I found myself immersed more and more in the plot. I liked the direction the story was going. The singular skills/magic of The Tribe seemed a trifle out of place in a world where there was no other hint of the extra-normal, but it wasn't particularly jarring. A good second book, superior to the first.

The third installment, Brilliance of the Moon, brought it all tumbling down for me. The characters were no longer the same people from the first two books. They had gone from sympathetic to people I just wanted to tell, "Shut up!" The pacing of the plot fell apart, losing the previous even flow in a rush toward and ending. And the ending!...the word 'coincidences' nowhere near conveys things; we must use deus ex machina.

The afterword indicates that the trilogy may become a quartology. If I find the fourth in a used paperback and I'm out of reading material, I may finish it. Otherwise, no. ( )

I was curious about this book and its series for a while now, and more than one person recommended it to me. I read comments on the book and was naturally excited about it, so I started reading it with high expectations. I loved the story, I truly did, but it was a love that grew as I read, tempered by some problems I encountered with the book. No book is ever flawless, and Across the Nightingale Floor has its fair share of aspects that could use some work in my opinion. As the first book in a trilogy, I am confident that the story will only improve from now on, so I'm looking forward to reading the next two volumes.

The author's writing is very good, with breathtaking descriptions and a simple but beautiful language that draws you in. The world she creates, with its traditions, cities and people, is surprisingly real, and brings with it a sense of the East, with its mysticism and beauty. The characters are fleshed out very well, and we as readers easily identify with them. Takeo is a likeable protagonist and his story is one we read with a sense of wonder and fear and anxiety, wanting to know what he thinks and does and chooses. Although the author uses themes that have been explored by other authors (the suddenly orphanaged boy in a quest for revenge), the author brings a fresh perspective to it. If you liked this story, I also recommend reading Robin Hobb's Farseer Trilogy and subsequent works.

But this first book in the series does have its problems where I am concerned. Some books have the particularity of almost losing themselves in details and side stories, whereas this one lacks some detail and backstory that would have made it a far more enjoyable read. It is a short book, with fewer pages than most books in the fantasy genre, probably the reason why you end up missing some aspects of the story you would like to have read about.

The book starts too abruptly; by the second page Takeo is already confronted with the death of his family and the destruction of his village. We hardly have time to be introduced to the story and this boy before we're taken away from the idylic village of the Hidden to a desperate escape from the muderers. We never really get the feeling Takeo has grieved for his family, and since we hardly know his mother and sisters (consequence of too soon a jump into the action, the burning of his village that is the cataclyst of the story), we never really get the feeling of loss, and we can't really identify with the character in his grief (which is hardly shown, anyway).

Another aspect I thought to be missing were little moments in those lost six months when Takeo was trained. I would have loved to have seen at least a few lines that would describe these six months, his training, the gradual change in his character as he got more in touch with his heritage and his talents. We realise he is someone with a deep aversion to death, legacy of his upbringing with the Hidden, but after six months he seems to be more open to the idea of killing (even if he starts by killing out of mercy, and not out of revenge or, worse still, cold blooded determination) and we never really see how this transition might have come about.

Exploring a few of these things would have added more pages to the book and perhaps some would argue that the story hardly needs anything more, being perfect as it is. I could agree, because despite these problems, the story grew on me and I ended it wanting more. But a little more backstory, a few more incursions into the gradual change of one's character from scared child to hardened assassin-to-be, would have made me enjoy it even more. ( )

Don't know that I'd have chosen this one on my own but I was given it as a gift. Thank God! I couldn't put it down. Read thru the night. And it was well worth it. One of the best fantasies/historical fiction I've read in a while. Highly recommend it to YA or adults. Can't wait to read the next one. (And thanks, Dan, for a great read!) One of the best fantasies I've read in a long while! ( )

This book was great! I loved almost everything about it. The characters were involved, the story was interesting and the plot was well balanced. The only disappointment here was the rather abrupt end. ( )

Interesting fantastical-realism story about feudal Japan. Have to suspend belief a lot, but insight on Japanese feudal culture in very interesting. ( )

Dette er en af mine yndlingsbøger: Den første i serien om Otoriklanens fortællinger. Jeg er efter 4 bøger blevet dybt afhængig. Og de bliver ved med at være gode! ( )

Good, strong scene-setting opener to a wonderful crossover trilogy ( )

http://community.livejournal.com/50bo... ( )