Emperor of the Eight Islands: The Tale of Shikanoko, Books 1 & 2 - Softcover

Hearn, Lian

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1509812784 ISBN 13: 9781509812783

Publisher: Picador, 2016

Synopsis

An ambitious warlord leaves his nephew for dead and seizes his lands.

A stubborn father forces his younger son to surrender his wife to his older brother.

A mysterious woman seeks five fathers for her children.

A powerful priest meddles in the succession to the Lotus Throne.

These are the threads of an intricate tapestry in which the laws of destiny play out against a backdrop of wild forest, elegant court, and savage battlefield. Set in a mythical medieval Japan inhabited by warriors and assassins, ghosts and guardian spirits, Emperor of the Eight Islands by Lian Hearn is a brilliantly imagined novel, full of drama and intrigue – and it is just the beginning of an enthralling, epic adventure: The Tale of Shikanoko.

About this title

Review:

A work as densely populated as a Russian novel [which] moves onwards with the narrative force of a flood. It is easy to let the book sweep the reader away, to engage with strange events, but very compelling characters [and] huge imaginative vitality. (Sydney Morning Herald)

The Otori world is feudal Japan with imaginary place names, written in the spirit of The Tale of Genji and other classics. As with Genji, two warring clans seek to control the Emperor, and the country itself. The books are carefully researched, being surely the most wildly successful product of an Asialink grant. They convince as if being read in translation, as if Hearn is merely the medium for some lost and ancient text. Much like 'Game of Thrones', the book can be read as political intrigue, with great strength deriving from the character studies. Nobody is black or white, rather shades of grey. (Melbourne Age)

One of the great joys of genre novels is that they usually care deeply about plot, satisfying the innately human desire for story. And there is story aplenty here. The unfolding events are so fascinating, the writing so lithe and seductive. There's no need to have read Hearn's earlier Otori series, set in the same remarkable fantasy world, to enjoy this one. Indeed, her new epic seems sure to recruit a fresh legion of fans. (The Saturday Paper)

Hearn once again brings . . . a breadth of scale, ideas, and adventure that rivals any other fantasy for its pure ambition and sheer pleasure . . . Lian Hearn's return to her rich, unique universe offers everything you want from the genre, but with a wholly distinct flavor and style. In short, you'll immediately want to begin reading book two. (Barnes & Noble blog)

The action comes thick and fast . . . The compelling characters and captivating worldbuilding means readers will look forward to part two. (Japan Times)

Wonderfully evocative . . . intriguing. (Queensland Times)

A fitting follow-up to the Otori series (The Age)

Brutally thrilling historical fantasy (The Herald Sun)

A must-read (Aurealis)

All kinds of brilliant. Awesome storytelling. (Max Porter)

From the Author:

Lian Hearn studied modern languages at Oxford University and worked as a film critic and arts editor in London before settling in Australia. She is the author of Across the Nightingale Floor, the first in the internationally acclaimed 'Tales of the Otori' series; Grass for His Pillow, Brilliance of the Moon, and The Harsh Cry of the Heron follow. Praise for the 'Tales of the Otori': 'A thrilling tale of love, violence, loyalty and betrayal' Guardian 'The plot is gripping and the writing is beautiful, packed with authentic, atmospheric detail' Daily Mail 'The writing is extraordinary ... Virtually pitch perfect' Evening Standard 'An enthralling and original work of fantasy' The Times 'Across the Nightingale Floor remains quite simply the best story of magic, love, sex, revenge and suspense to have come this way since Philip Pullman' Independent on Sunday 'An original and exquisitely wrought adventure story' Observer 'Across the Nightingale Floor was described to me by the young man in Borders bookshop as a "Japanese Harry Potter, only better". In fact, it's a different beast entirely. Much darker, much sharper, much less predictable' Daily Telegraph

About this edition

• Publisher: Picador
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 1509812784
• ISBN 13: 9781509812783
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 448