Grass for His Pillow is the second novel in Lian Hearn's astonishingly beautiful series inspired by feudal Japan, Tales of the Otori.
In the ancient Oriental lands of the Otori, amidst a time of violent war, famine and treacherous alliances, the fate of the young lovers Otori Takeo and Shirakawa Kaede hangs in the balance . . .
Takeo, heir to the great Otori clan, has pledged his life to the secret Tribe. His supernatural skills of virtual invisibility and acute hearing make him their most deadly assassin. But he must deny the solemn oath of vengeance he made, his adopted birthright of wealth, land and power – and his love for Kaede. If he does not devote himself entirely to the brutal ways of the Tribe, they will kill him. Whichever path he chooses, it will lead to hardship and sacrifice in the bitter winter of the high mountains, and test him to the limits of his being.
Kaede, heiress to vast lands, is now the valuable pawn of ruthless warlords. She must use her intelligence, beauty and cunning to assert her place in a world of all-powerful men – who must never suspect the dangerous secret she hides.
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Meanwhile Kaede, pregnant by Takeo, returns to her dilapidated family estate and--without any magical talents to help her--determinedly begins to consolidate power and fight with all her intelligence, personality and beauty against the universal view that women are of no account except as wives. Her inheritance, she's told, will make her future husband a key player in the feudal power-struggle. So she thinks: "why should I not become a key player myself?"
The sense of place is strong and effective, as is the irony that in these times of unrest and upheaval the warrior class also cultivates appreciation of exquisite things. Elaborate preparation of tea, for example, or watching snowfall by lantern-light, or collecting ceramics too fine to be kept on display for profane eyes. This, Kaede fears, is how that lordly collector would like to keep her: beautifully wrapped and hidden away.
Inevitably Takeo breaks with the Tribe again and learns more about his other heritage as an Otori Lord. He also learns that there's a prophecy that he himself can buy peace for the troubled land after five battles: "four to win and one to lose". Compelling and evocative, Grass for His Pillow ends on a high note of suspense. The trilogy is to conclude with Brilliance of the Moon. --David Langford
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Book Description Paperback. Condition: new. Paperback. Grass for His Pillow is the second novel in Lian Hearn's astonishingly beautiful series inspired by feudal Japan, Tales of the Otori.In the ancient Oriental lands of the Otori, amidst a time of violent war, famine and treacherous alliances, the fate of the young lovers Otori Takeo and Shirakawa Kaede hangs in the balance . . . Takeo, heir to the great Otori clan, has pledged his life to the secret Tribe. His supernatural skills of virtual invisibility and acute hearing make him their most deadly assassin. But he must deny the solemn oath of vengeance he made, his adopted birthright of wealth, land and power and his love for Kaede. If he does not devote himself entirely to the brutal ways of the Tribe, they will kill him. Whichever path he chooses, it will lead to hardship and sacrifice in the bitter winter of the high mountains, and test him to the limits of his being. Kaede, heiress to vast lands, is now the valuable pawn of ruthless warlords. She must use her intelligence, beauty and cunning to assert her place in a world of all-powerful men who must never suspect the dangerous secret she hides. The second volume in the Tales of the Otori trilogy a journey of revenge and treachery, honour and loyalty, beauty and passion, which does for medieval Japan what Game of Thrones does for medieval Europe. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability. Seller Inventory # 9781509837816
Book Description Soft Cover. Condition: new. Seller Inventory # 9781509837816
Book Description paperback. Condition: New. Language: ENG. Seller Inventory # 9781509837816
Book Description Paperback. Condition: Brand New. 352 pages. In Stock. Seller Inventory # __1509837817
Book Description Paperback. Condition: New. BRAND NEW ** SUPER FAST SHIPPING FROM UK WAREHOUSE ** 30 DAY MONEY BACK GUARANTEE. Seller Inventory # 9781509837816-GDR
Book Description Condition: New. Series: Tales of the Otori. Num Pages: 320 pages. BIC Classification: FM; FV. Category: (G) General (US: Trade). Dimension: 170 x 197 x 22. Weight in Grams: 230. 2017. paperback. . . . . Seller Inventory # 9781509837816
Book Description Condition: New. In. Seller Inventory # ria9781509837816_new
Book Description Condition: New. Series: Tales of the Otori. Num Pages: 320 pages. BIC Classification: FM; FV. Category: (G) General (US: Trade). Dimension: 170 x 197 x 22. Weight in Grams: 230. 2017. paperback. . . . . Books ship from the US and Ireland. Seller Inventory # 9781509837816
Book Description Paperback / softback. Condition: New. New copy - Usually dispatched within 4 working days. The second volume in the Tales of the Otori trilogy - a journey of revenge and treachery, honour and loyalty, beauty and passion, which does for medieval Japan what Game of Thrones does for medieval Europe. Seller Inventory # B9781509837816