Raised among the Hidden, a religious sect that teaches peace and forgiveness, Tomasu knows nothing of violence.
But when soldiers of the Tohan clan destroy his village, killing everyone, he learns to desire something forbidden to his people: revenge.
By Sarah Lyon,
Staff Writer
Raised among the Hidden, a religious sect that teaches peace and forgiveness, Tomasu knows nothing of violence.
But when soldiers of the Tohan clan destroy his village, killing everyone, he learns to desire something forbidden to his people: revenge.
Also seeking vengeance against the Tohan is Otori Shigeru, who finds young Tomasu fleeing the massacre and takes him into the protection of the Otori clan, naming him Takeo. Despite all he learns as Shigeru’s adopted son, Takeo knows the name Otori is only a mask, not something he can become.
Soon, the talents that slowly emerged in the wake of the disaster reveal him to be something entirely unexpected. From a father he never knew, Takeo carries the blood of the Tribe, a network of families whose extraordinary supernatural gifts make them master assassins.
When Iida, the lord of the Tohan, arranges an alliance marriage between Shigeru and Kaede, the daughter of one of the Tohan retainers, both Shigeru and Takeo see the perfect opportunity for their revenge.
However, in order to reach Iida, Takeo will have to cross his famed nightingale floor, which sings at every step.
In Across the Nightingale Floor, author Lian Hearn creates a fantasy with all the resonance of a historical fiction.
Set in a world reminiscent of feudal Japan, the novel uses a minimal amount of magic, weaving a realistic landscape and giving the characters a strong sense of humanity. Hearn’s language is formal, adding to the illusion that this is an ancient story, translated from its original language for modern readers. She paints the novel as an artist might; each event is astonishingly vivid.
Two things detract from the movement of the story and prevent a total immersion in Hearn’s world.
First, the sheer number of foreign names might be confusing. Many contain similar elements, like Shigeru, Shizuka, and Shirakawa.
Also, all of the characters are introduced surname first, in the Japanese fashion: Tohan Iida, Otori Takeo.
The second possible problem arises in point of view. Half the novel is narrated in first person from Takeo’s perspective; the other half is in third person from Kaede�s. Every time the point of view shifts, the reader is tossed out of the novel. However, the author’s skill is such that it doesn’ttake too long to find the way back in.
Those points aside, Across the Nightingale Floor is perhaps the best novel I�ve read all year. It’s as riveting as a thriller, with the characters� pasts driving them forward, leading up to only one possible conclusion, despite their attempts in other directions.
There are elements of romance struggling to break through strict societal boundaries.
This is a wonderful, multi-faceted novel and, best of all, it’s only the beginning, the first book in Hearn’s Tales of the Otori trilogy.
To view all articles by this writer Click here.