A review by sminismoni
Across the Nightingale Floor by Lian Hearn

3.0

A largely plot driven book, that for all its claims of being set in a fantasy pseudo-Japan, achieved very little in terms of world building. References to clans, tea drinking and Japanese sounding names were about as much as we were given of the setting. The themes were those of identity, conflicting loyalties and revenge, but I never felt as though any of these were explored in any great depth; the inner conflicts of our main character were externalized via acts of defiance or violence. The love story was a cliched "love at first sight" scenario, although tolerable enough if you viewed it as a hedonistic, Romeo-Juliette style affair of teenage lust. That said, I did find myself often turning page after page, waiting to see what happened, and the novel certainly holds your interest. That's why I ultimately gave it 3 stars.