lilyv's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
moemikay's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
mrpatperkins's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Our protagonist doesn’t really do much in this book except grieve, so the story relies on other characters to set up the inevitable conclusion. At least I can see where this is going, but there are still many pieces on the board and their fate remains to be seen.
popi's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
tasmanian_bibliophile's review against another edition
5.0
‘The girl could see nothing. Her lungs were bursting.’
This is the third instalment of Lian Hearn’s historical fantasy fiction ‘The Tale of Shikanoko’, set in a fantasy version of medieval Japan. This is a series where the books need to be read in order, for the story won’t make much sense otherwise.
The first two books have introduced the key players, explained their stories and why the land is unsettled. The rule of the false emperor Daigen has disturbed the harmony of the Eight Islands with. drought and famine. The true emperor, Yoshi, remains hidden among the acrobats of the Riverbank People. Shika remains in the Darkwood, unable to remove the magical deer mask created for him. Much of this novel focusses on Hina’s journey. Hina, daughter of Kiyoyori, has fled her home, and while her fate seems tied to Shika’s, her journey will be a slow one.
In the meantime, the five brothers of the Spider Tribe have grown into powerful, semi human adults. Will Shika regret not having killed them when he had the opportunity to do so?
Although the action in this novel seems slower than in the first two instalments, this novel serves to consolidate the story, and continues to explore the themes of love, fate, failure and redemption already in play.
Can Shika be released from his magical mask? Will Hina finds what she is seeking in the Darkwood? I was glad, when I finished this novel, that I had the fourth and final novel to hand. So many questions still to be resolved. So many obstacles to be overcome.
I love this series. I’ve already bought copies of the novels because I know this is a series I will reread, as I have the ‘Tales of the Otori’ series.
Note: My thanks to Farrar, Straus and Giroux and NetGalley for providing me with a free electronic copy of this novel for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
This is the third instalment of Lian Hearn’s historical fantasy fiction ‘The Tale of Shikanoko’, set in a fantasy version of medieval Japan. This is a series where the books need to be read in order, for the story won’t make much sense otherwise.
The first two books have introduced the key players, explained their stories and why the land is unsettled. The rule of the false emperor Daigen has disturbed the harmony of the Eight Islands with. drought and famine. The true emperor, Yoshi, remains hidden among the acrobats of the Riverbank People. Shika remains in the Darkwood, unable to remove the magical deer mask created for him. Much of this novel focusses on Hina’s journey. Hina, daughter of Kiyoyori, has fled her home, and while her fate seems tied to Shika’s, her journey will be a slow one.
In the meantime, the five brothers of the Spider Tribe have grown into powerful, semi human adults. Will Shika regret not having killed them when he had the opportunity to do so?
Although the action in this novel seems slower than in the first two instalments, this novel serves to consolidate the story, and continues to explore the themes of love, fate, failure and redemption already in play.
Can Shika be released from his magical mask? Will Hina finds what she is seeking in the Darkwood? I was glad, when I finished this novel, that I had the fourth and final novel to hand. So many questions still to be resolved. So many obstacles to be overcome.
I love this series. I’ve already bought copies of the novels because I know this is a series I will reread, as I have the ‘Tales of the Otori’ series.
Note: My thanks to Farrar, Straus and Giroux and NetGalley for providing me with a free electronic copy of this novel for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
tasmanian_bibliophile's review against another edition
5.0
‘The girl could see nothing. Her lungs were bursting.’
Thus opens the third book of Lian Hearn’s historical fantasy fiction ‘The Tale of Shikanoko’, set in a fantasy version of medieval Japan. This is a series where the books need to be read in order, for the story won’t make much sense otherwise.
The first two books have introduced the key players, explained their stories and why the land is unsettled. The rule of the false emperor Daigen has disturbed the harmony of the Eight Islands with. drought and famine. The true emperor, Yoshi, remains hidden among the acrobats of the Riverbank People. Shika remains in the Darkwood, unable to remove the magical deer mask created for him. Much of this novel focusses on Hina’s journey. Hina, daughter of Kiyoyori, has fled her home, and while her fate seems tied to Shika’s, her journey will be a slow one. In the meantime, the five brothers of the Spider Tribe have grown into powerful, semi human adults. Will Shika regret not having killed them when he had the opportunity to do so?
Although the action in the third book seems slower than in the first two books, this novel serves to consolidate the story, and continues to explore the themes of love, fate, failure and redemption already in play.
Can Shika be released from his magical mask? Will Hina finds what she is seeking in the Darkwood? I was glad, when I finished this novel, that I had the fourth and final novel to hand. So many questions still to be resolved. So many obstacles to be overcome.
And, I immediately read the fourth book in the series. I started to read it with mixed feelings. On one hand, I couldn’t wait to find out what would happen next. On the other hand, I really didn’t want the series to end.
‘Once, a long time ago, I made a vow,’ Shika said. ‘That I would find Yoshimori and restore him to the throne. But then the mask became fused to my face and I felt I was condemned to live out my life outside human society, like an animal in the forest.’
At the beginning of the series, the hidden emperor, Yoshi was a small child when he was forced to flee for his life with the Autumn Princess when his uncle Daigen was named emperor. Yoshi has grown now, but would prefer not to acknowledge his heritage. He lives with the Riverbank people, as an acrobat. Lord Aritomo, the power behind the false emperor Daigen, receives reports that Yoshi has been sighted for the first time in twelve years. Aritomo wants to capture and execute Yoshi, to disprove that he is the true emperor.
Shika has been living in the Darkwood for years. Unable to remove his magically empowered deer mask, he has exiled himself. Hina is searching for him: perhaps she can help him remove the mask? Will Shika’s return from exile make a difference: can he prevail over Aritomo, and can he convince Yoshi to take up his role as the true emperor?
The battle between good and evil continues. Supernatural abilities are part of the mix in determining who will prevail. Has Shika learned enough, can he use what he has learned? Can there be a ‘happily ever after’ ending?
I loved this series, and will be rereading it again soon. I know that, in my rush to find out how it would all end, I’ve rushed over passages. And, even though I found the ending (mostly) satisfactory, I wanted more. Some of these characters have their own life outside the pages of the series.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Note: I was fortunate enough to obtain electronic review copies of these books from Farrar, Straus and Giroux via NetGalley. I bought my own copy of the Hachette paperback containing Books 3 and 4. This review is of the Hachette paperback.
Thus opens the third book of Lian Hearn’s historical fantasy fiction ‘The Tale of Shikanoko’, set in a fantasy version of medieval Japan. This is a series where the books need to be read in order, for the story won’t make much sense otherwise.
The first two books have introduced the key players, explained their stories and why the land is unsettled. The rule of the false emperor Daigen has disturbed the harmony of the Eight Islands with. drought and famine. The true emperor, Yoshi, remains hidden among the acrobats of the Riverbank People. Shika remains in the Darkwood, unable to remove the magical deer mask created for him. Much of this novel focusses on Hina’s journey. Hina, daughter of Kiyoyori, has fled her home, and while her fate seems tied to Shika’s, her journey will be a slow one. In the meantime, the five brothers of the Spider Tribe have grown into powerful, semi human adults. Will Shika regret not having killed them when he had the opportunity to do so?
Although the action in the third book seems slower than in the first two books, this novel serves to consolidate the story, and continues to explore the themes of love, fate, failure and redemption already in play.
Can Shika be released from his magical mask? Will Hina finds what she is seeking in the Darkwood? I was glad, when I finished this novel, that I had the fourth and final novel to hand. So many questions still to be resolved. So many obstacles to be overcome.
And, I immediately read the fourth book in the series. I started to read it with mixed feelings. On one hand, I couldn’t wait to find out what would happen next. On the other hand, I really didn’t want the series to end.
‘Once, a long time ago, I made a vow,’ Shika said. ‘That I would find Yoshimori and restore him to the throne. But then the mask became fused to my face and I felt I was condemned to live out my life outside human society, like an animal in the forest.’
At the beginning of the series, the hidden emperor, Yoshi was a small child when he was forced to flee for his life with the Autumn Princess when his uncle Daigen was named emperor. Yoshi has grown now, but would prefer not to acknowledge his heritage. He lives with the Riverbank people, as an acrobat. Lord Aritomo, the power behind the false emperor Daigen, receives reports that Yoshi has been sighted for the first time in twelve years. Aritomo wants to capture and execute Yoshi, to disprove that he is the true emperor.
Shika has been living in the Darkwood for years. Unable to remove his magically empowered deer mask, he has exiled himself. Hina is searching for him: perhaps she can help him remove the mask? Will Shika’s return from exile make a difference: can he prevail over Aritomo, and can he convince Yoshi to take up his role as the true emperor?
The battle between good and evil continues. Supernatural abilities are part of the mix in determining who will prevail. Has Shika learned enough, can he use what he has learned? Can there be a ‘happily ever after’ ending?
I loved this series, and will be rereading it again soon. I know that, in my rush to find out how it would all end, I’ve rushed over passages. And, even though I found the ending (mostly) satisfactory, I wanted more. Some of these characters have their own life outside the pages of the series.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Note: I was fortunate enough to obtain electronic review copies of these books from Farrar, Straus and Giroux via NetGalley. I bought my own copy of the Hachette paperback containing Books 3 and 4. This review is of the Hachette paperback.
buuboobaby's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 - 3.75 stars
This series is somewhat addicting, even given the questionable portrayal of the female characters. Their complete lack of agency is maddening. The writing style is a bit dry, which made me feel like I was being kept at arms length from the characters and the on page action. These are all quick reads, so I will be finishing the series, but I feel that by breaking the series down into four separate books, the publisher did themselves a disservice. Every time I start a new installment of the series, I am frustrated because I can't remember everything that happened in previous books. If possible, I would suggest reading these all in a row, which wasn't possible for me, as I read them shortly after release date. I would probably have enjoyed these more if I just waited to read them all at once.
This series is somewhat addicting, even given the questionable portrayal of the female characters. Their complete lack of agency is maddening. The writing style is a bit dry, which made me feel like I was being kept at arms length from the characters and the on page action. These are all quick reads, so I will be finishing the series, but I feel that by breaking the series down into four separate books, the publisher did themselves a disservice. Every time I start a new installment of the series, I am frustrated because I can't remember everything that happened in previous books. If possible, I would suggest reading these all in a row, which wasn't possible for me, as I read them shortly after release date. I would probably have enjoyed these more if I just waited to read them all at once.
chrispy294's review against another edition
3.0
While still good, Lord of the Darkwood really felt like a middle book here. Unlike its predecessor, all the set up and development didn’t really have any payoff in this entry, but it still put a lot in place for the final book in the series. I really like how it pushed forward so far in time that we get to see a lot of the children characters grow up and establish themselves as major players in the overall narrative. It’s just too bad we didn’t get to see them or the major players from previous entries do much.
I’m really excited to see how this all ends, and I think this book is very important in developing the various story threads so they can all converge for the grand finale. However, as its own book, it falls short of the previous entries.
I’m really excited to see how this all ends, and I think this book is very important in developing the various story threads so they can all converge for the grand finale. However, as its own book, it falls short of the previous entries.
bookworm5732's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
miramanga's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed all the different stages and characters in this epic
Perfect balance of heartache, adventure, betrayal, romance, magic, meditation and melodrama.
Perfect balance of heartache, adventure, betrayal, romance, magic, meditation and melodrama.