I almost never re-read books, but I read this one twice and loved it equally both times. The second installment of the Tales of the Otori Trilogy, Grass for His Pillow alternates between two linked stories: Lord Otori Takeo's quest to avenge the death of his adopted father and Lady Shirakawa Kaede's struggle to reclaim her domain in spite of traditions that deny women power. In the first book, the characters felt like puppets manipulated by the demands of the plot, but in this one, they are three-dimensional human beings. Takeo is intriguingly torn between his pacifist upbringing, his longing for vengeance and the requirements of the tribe of ruthless assassins who have adopted him. Kaede, meanwhile, believably transforms from a political pawn to a powerful woman without becoming a cliched "girl power" character, making her one of my all-time favorite female characters. Both of these characters, along with an interesting supporting cast, struggle through a suspense-filled plot that kept me turning pages long after midnight. At times, reading this book was like watching a good horror movie: being able to guess exactly what was coming kept me glued to my seat, unable to tear my eyes away. Perhaps some people would say the book is predictable, but for me, this only intensified the suspense. This is an excellent choice for readers seeking a good escape on a Sunday afternoon -- just beware that you'll have to dash to the bookstore to buy the third installment as soon as you've finished this one. ( )

I really enjoyed the first two books in this trilogy, set in Japan, which tell the story of two lovers, each with great power and heir to a large dominion, who are swept along by forces they cannot always control. These books contain mystery, intrigue, love, war, and tradition. The author’s style of writing makes you taste, smell, and feel Japan. ( )

See Across the Nightingale Floor. ( )

Book 2 of tales of the Otori was an almost seamless continuation of the original story. The supernatural nature of the main character made for a great (if not predictable) plot device. ( )

Follow-on to Across the Nightingale Floor (book 1 of "Tales of the Otori". Picture Harry Potter in feudal Japan... Well, a little more sophisticated than that, but similar magical realism. ( )