meganjjang's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
bananne's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I like this book a lot. At the beginning it is a bit slow but with the story progressing, the pace gets faster.
keandrews95's review against another edition
4.0
"I learned embroidery," Kaede said, "but you can't kill anyone with a needle.
"You can," Shizuka said offhandedly. "I'll show you one day."
This book has been sitting on my shelf for so long, and I finally picked it up. It has also been a long time since I've read a story set in Japan. Hearn's style is very descriptive and beautiful. She captured the Japanese vibes so wonderfully. I was also thankful for the clans and names of people in the front because I had a hard time in spots remembering who all the characters were. Kaede was my favorite out of the two POVs. The only thing I had trouble with was the switch from first-person to third-person POVs and I would have liked to have had Kaede's POV the first person. Still, this is a really wonderful book. 4.5
"You can," Shizuka said offhandedly. "I'll show you one day."
This book has been sitting on my shelf for so long, and I finally picked it up. It has also been a long time since I've read a story set in Japan. Hearn's style is very descriptive and beautiful. She captured the Japanese vibes so wonderfully. I was also thankful for the clans and names of people in the front because I had a hard time in spots remembering who all the characters were. Kaede was my favorite out of the two POVs. The only thing I had trouble with was the switch from first-person to third-person POVs and I would have liked to have had Kaede's POV the first person. Still, this is a really wonderful book. 4.5
cass_89's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
emilia__x's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Boring characters and uninteresting plot
I hated the ending
I hated the ending
la_mina's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
paulopaperbooksonly's review against another edition
2.0
I review together because this two books are the first part of a trilogy even if they were published in two separated books. I bought the six books that comprised this series. They seemed a good story, with good reviews and fairly low price (each book cost me around three pounds). After reading this two books I put the rest away but I will be reading them on the following months. That’s why I am making this review. To remember about the plot (with a little help from wikipedia or other reviews).
Mainly as I said there is a trilogy called Tales of the Otori devided in six parts with two plus books that make a prequel and a sequel. This series are set in a fictional world based on Feudal Japan. From their names and costumes we recognized the similarities between those two worlds. The main character and their city resemble the struggle that the Japanese converted to Christianism had to pass. The books follow the life of a young warrior called Otori Takeo (Tomasu) as he struggles to avenge his adoptive father and at the same time escape the legacy of his progenitors and at pursuing the love of his live (kaede). In the midst of all this there is a struggle between all the clan lords and warriors.
These two books cover a year and in that time a lot is happening at the same time. I think it’s not an hard book to follow (the plot) but a lot of things happens at the same time.
Tomasu is a member of The Hidden and as he returns home from exploring the mountains he finds the members of his family killed. As he tries to escape Sadamu (leader of Tohan, who have slaughteres his family) e meets a men called Lord Shigeru (Clan Otori) who protects him later adopt him. However due to his name (typical Hidden) he renames him Takeo. At this time he loses his voice and as a superhearing voice.
On the journey home at Shigeru they met Maruyama Naomi (a ruler of Sheishuu) who he befriends and tell her about the slaughter. At night with his ability to hear everything he discovers that Lord Shigeru and Lady Maruyama are in love. As they arrive at the home of Shigeru in Hagi meets Chiyo (old maid) and Ichiro (ex-instructor of Shigeru). As Shigeru wants Takeo to be his adopted son he must married Kaede. However, Takeo was under the threat of Shigeru’s uncle’s sons who tried to murder him at a practice.
Later Takeo meets Muto Kenji (The Fox, Master of Muto Clan) who reveals himself as Takeo’s true father and the most skilled assassin of Kikuta and of the greastest family of the Tribe.
As the season pass Kenji starts teaching his skills to Takeo.. One day a merchant recognizing him (Takeo had saved his live when we was still an Hidden) calls him with his true name. Taeko denies that it his is name and fleds. After some months Shigeru and Takeo and some other people went to Tsuwano where they meet Shigeru’s future wife, Kaede.
There they find that Kaede is a hostage to Noguchi since she was seven living in the maid’s rooms. In the trip to Tswwano a guard tries to rape her and she stabbes him. Kaede is protected by Lady Maruyama (the one Shigeru loves) and they are accompained by Shizuka (niece of Kenji). When they meet Takeo and Kaede find that they have a connection.
As they return home to Hagi they stop at a shrine to visit Shigeru’s brother grave and for Shigeru to discuss war plans with the Abott.. Shigeru then plans for Takeo to murder Iida but the Tribe not wanting to risk Takeo and appreciating the stability that Iida gives abducts him so his training can be finish. The treachery then plays itself out… Shigeru is crucified on the castle wall and Maruyama and her daughter are drown as they try to escape. Takeo makes deal with the Tribe that allows him to bring Shigeru’s body and in return they join them. As he do it a dying Shigeru asks Takeo to bury him in Terayama. During the invasion of the castle at Inuyama Takeo discovers Kaede with the corpse of Iida whom she killed when he tried to rape her. After carrying Shigeru’s wishes Takeo honors his promise to the tribe and departs with them leaving Kaede in the care of Shizuka.
This is the review of the two books… there are terms that are confusing and I will put here what they mean…
Tribe – It’s a secret organization that nurture the powers that the world used to have. Meaning is a combination of Magicians and Assassins / Spies.
Hidden – Is a religion (or group of people that prays a religion) similar to our Christianism.
This two books are good but they have some problems. The cliched story and the proximity of Japanese culture but not calling it Japanese… Not all things are bad and the writing style was simple but at the same time makes you wonder about it… What is a nightingale floor? That sort of imagery enrich the story. At the same time as the book is entitle Nightingale Floor and the training all focus on that but in the end was anti-climax since he crossed it easily. The conversations are not that good and the all love between the two charactersa was very poor.
In the end it was a interesting reading about (quasilike)Japan with well-crafted story but poor executed. I really hope the following books are better…
Mainly as I said there is a trilogy called Tales of the Otori devided in six parts with two plus books that make a prequel and a sequel. This series are set in a fictional world based on Feudal Japan. From their names and costumes we recognized the similarities between those two worlds. The main character and their city resemble the struggle that the Japanese converted to Christianism had to pass. The books follow the life of a young warrior called Otori Takeo (Tomasu) as he struggles to avenge his adoptive father and at the same time escape the legacy of his progenitors and at pursuing the love of his live (kaede). In the midst of all this there is a struggle between all the clan lords and warriors.
These two books cover a year and in that time a lot is happening at the same time. I think it’s not an hard book to follow (the plot) but a lot of things happens at the same time.
Tomasu is a member of The Hidden and as he returns home from exploring the mountains he finds the members of his family killed. As he tries to escape Sadamu (leader of Tohan, who have slaughteres his family) e meets a men called Lord Shigeru (Clan Otori) who protects him later adopt him. However due to his name (typical Hidden) he renames him Takeo. At this time he loses his voice and as a superhearing voice.
On the journey home at Shigeru they met Maruyama Naomi (a ruler of Sheishuu) who he befriends and tell her about the slaughter. At night with his ability to hear everything he discovers that Lord Shigeru and Lady Maruyama are in love. As they arrive at the home of Shigeru in Hagi meets Chiyo (old maid) and Ichiro (ex-instructor of Shigeru). As Shigeru wants Takeo to be his adopted son he must married Kaede. However, Takeo was under the threat of Shigeru’s uncle’s sons who tried to murder him at a practice.
Later Takeo meets Muto Kenji (The Fox, Master of Muto Clan) who reveals himself as Takeo’s true father and the most skilled assassin of Kikuta and of the greastest family of the Tribe.
As the season pass Kenji starts teaching his skills to Takeo.. One day a merchant recognizing him (Takeo had saved his live when we was still an Hidden) calls him with his true name. Taeko denies that it his is name and fleds. After some months Shigeru and Takeo and some other people went to Tsuwano where they meet Shigeru’s future wife, Kaede.
There they find that Kaede is a hostage to Noguchi since she was seven living in the maid’s rooms. In the trip to Tswwano a guard tries to rape her and she stabbes him. Kaede is protected by Lady Maruyama (the one Shigeru loves) and they are accompained by Shizuka (niece of Kenji). When they meet Takeo and Kaede find that they have a connection.
As they return home to Hagi they stop at a shrine to visit Shigeru’s brother grave and for Shigeru to discuss war plans with the Abott.. Shigeru then plans for Takeo to murder Iida but the Tribe not wanting to risk Takeo and appreciating the stability that Iida gives abducts him so his training can be finish. The treachery then plays itself out… Shigeru is crucified on the castle wall and Maruyama and her daughter are drown as they try to escape. Takeo makes deal with the Tribe that allows him to bring Shigeru’s body and in return they join them. As he do it a dying Shigeru asks Takeo to bury him in Terayama. During the invasion of the castle at Inuyama Takeo discovers Kaede with the corpse of Iida whom she killed when he tried to rape her. After carrying Shigeru’s wishes Takeo honors his promise to the tribe and departs with them leaving Kaede in the care of Shizuka.
This is the review of the two books… there are terms that are confusing and I will put here what they mean…
Tribe – It’s a secret organization that nurture the powers that the world used to have. Meaning is a combination of Magicians and Assassins / Spies.
Hidden – Is a religion (or group of people that prays a religion) similar to our Christianism.
This two books are good but they have some problems. The cliched story and the proximity of Japanese culture but not calling it Japanese… Not all things are bad and the writing style was simple but at the same time makes you wonder about it… What is a nightingale floor? That sort of imagery enrich the story. At the same time as the book is entitle Nightingale Floor and the training all focus on that but in the end was anti-climax since he crossed it easily. The conversations are not that good and the all love between the two charactersa was very poor.
In the end it was a interesting reading about (quasilike)Japan with well-crafted story but poor executed. I really hope the following books are better…
aramsamsam's review against another edition
4.0
Tomasu wächst als "Verborgener" in der Provinz auf, bis Iida vom Tohan Clan sein Dorf attackiert und alle, die Tomasu kannte, für ihren Glauben ermordet werden. Als einziger Überlebender flüchtet Tomasu, verfolgt von den Tohan. Otori Shigeru, ein reisender Adliger, rettet ihn und nimmt den Jungen unter dem Namen Takeo unter seine Fittiche. Doch so gelangt Takeo mitten in den Kampf zwischen den Clans.
Das Mädchen Kaede lebt jahrelang als Geisel am Hof der Noguchi auf. Durch unglückliche Ereignisse hat sie bald den Ruf, den Männern, die sie begehren, den Tod zu bringen. Sie soll keinen anderen als Shigeru heiraten, um das Bündnis zwischen Otori und Tohan und damit den Frieden zu besiegeln.
Das Buch, das ich für ein privates Fantasy-Projekt las, war eine angenehme Überraschung. Es handelt sich auch weniger um einen Fantasy-Roman als um einen mit Magie gewürzten historischen Roman für Jugendliche. Es entwickeln sich spannende politische Intrigen und Verwicklungen zwischen den unterschiedlichen Figuren, sodass es nie langweilig wird. Von japanischer Geschichte habe ich keinen Schimmer und ich glaube auch, es handelt sich hierbei eher um ein alternatives Japan. Allerdings gibt es schöne Details (wie Nachtigallenböden), die Namen sind realistische japanische Namen und die dargestellte Gesellschaft wäre so, wie ich das feudale Japan erwarten würde.
Von der Struktur her handelt es sich um eine klassische Heldenreise mit wenigen Überraschungen, inklusive der Ausbildung in Kultur- und Kampftechniken und dem Entdecken außergewöhnlicher Talente. Für mich war die Lektüre sozusagen ein Gemütlichkeitsfaktor: eine Prise Vertrautes. Was ich dagegen wirklich weniger schön fand, war ein mieser Fall von Instalove. Natürlich muss sich Takeo in das einzige Mädchen in seinem Alter verlieben, und sie sich in ihn. Und dass, obwohl sie sich gar nicht richtig kennen. Das ist total unnötig und nervig.
Kaedes Geschichte fand ich ebenfalls spannend; sie gibt eine prima Heldin ab. Leider steht ihre Reise immer ein wenig der Takeos nach, der die eindeutige Hauptfigur ist. Trotz einiger Mängel hatte ich viel Spaß beim Lesen. Sie halten mich natürlich nicht davon ab, die Reihe fortzusetzen. Ich bin gespannt, wie es weitergeht!
Das Mädchen Kaede lebt jahrelang als Geisel am Hof der Noguchi auf. Durch unglückliche Ereignisse hat sie bald den Ruf, den Männern, die sie begehren, den Tod zu bringen. Sie soll keinen anderen als Shigeru heiraten, um das Bündnis zwischen Otori und Tohan und damit den Frieden zu besiegeln.
Das Buch, das ich für ein privates Fantasy-Projekt las, war eine angenehme Überraschung. Es handelt sich auch weniger um einen Fantasy-Roman als um einen mit Magie gewürzten historischen Roman für Jugendliche. Es entwickeln sich spannende politische Intrigen und Verwicklungen zwischen den unterschiedlichen Figuren, sodass es nie langweilig wird. Von japanischer Geschichte habe ich keinen Schimmer und ich glaube auch, es handelt sich hierbei eher um ein alternatives Japan. Allerdings gibt es schöne Details (wie Nachtigallenböden), die Namen sind realistische japanische Namen und die dargestellte Gesellschaft wäre so, wie ich das feudale Japan erwarten würde.
Von der Struktur her handelt es sich um eine klassische Heldenreise mit wenigen Überraschungen, inklusive der Ausbildung in Kultur- und Kampftechniken und dem Entdecken außergewöhnlicher Talente. Für mich war die Lektüre sozusagen ein Gemütlichkeitsfaktor: eine Prise Vertrautes. Was ich dagegen wirklich weniger schön fand, war ein mieser Fall von Instalove. Natürlich muss sich Takeo in das einzige Mädchen in seinem Alter verlieben, und sie sich in ihn. Und dass, obwohl sie sich gar nicht richtig kennen. Das ist total unnötig und nervig.
Kaedes Geschichte fand ich ebenfalls spannend; sie gibt eine prima Heldin ab. Leider steht ihre Reise immer ein wenig der Takeos nach, der die eindeutige Hauptfigur ist. Trotz einiger Mängel hatte ich viel Spaß beim Lesen. Sie halten mich natürlich nicht davon ab, die Reihe fortzusetzen. Ich bin gespannt, wie es weitergeht!
verkisto's review against another edition
4.0
The first three books in the Tales of the Otori series were published in two parts. The Sword of the Warrior is the first part of the first book, Across the Nightingale Floor, and it serves as an introduction to everything. It establishes the setting (an alternate feudal Japan) and its main characters (Takeo and Kaede), as well as the political plot this story is to follow. It's tempting to call this "Game of Thrones in Japan", but it's not quite that epic.
Hearn has a lyrical style that flows over the reader like a stream washing over rocks. Her narrative is understated in that it portrays more than you would expect, and the story is rather calm, especially considering that there's the threat of assassination and other violence in Hearn's world. She also creates her characters well, putting the focus on them instead of all the things happening around them. Those things are important -- they server as the plot -- but the story is really about Takeo and Kaede's coming of age amid all the machinations of the world.
It's hard to rate these books individually, since it will take two parts to get the full story. So far, though, it's a compelling read that tricks you into thinking not much is happening. Fans of quiet fantasy should like them, even though the story feels more like a historical one than a fantasy.
Hearn has a lyrical style that flows over the reader like a stream washing over rocks. Her narrative is understated in that it portrays more than you would expect, and the story is rather calm, especially considering that there's the threat of assassination and other violence in Hearn's world. She also creates her characters well, putting the focus on them instead of all the things happening around them. Those things are important -- they server as the plot -- but the story is really about Takeo and Kaede's coming of age amid all the machinations of the world.
It's hard to rate these books individually, since it will take two parts to get the full story. So far, though, it's a compelling read that tricks you into thinking not much is happening. Fans of quiet fantasy should like them, even though the story feels more like a historical one than a fantasy.
doseogwan's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0