The Harsh Cry of the Heron (Tales of the Otori, #4)

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The Harsh Cry of the Heron (Tales of the Otori #4)

3.88 of 5 stars 3.88 · rating details · 4,888 ratings · 242 reviews

Lord Otori Takeo beserta istrinya Kaede telah memerintah selama lebih dari enam belas tahun. Tiga Negara menjadi negeri yang kaya, damai dan sejahtera. Burung suci, houou, bersarang di Terayama dan hewan dalam dongeng, kirin, muncul di tepi pantai. Agaknya Nirwana tengah tersenyum pada mereka.
Namun keberhasilan mereka menarik perhatian Kaisar dan jenderalnya, Lord Saga Hi...more

Paperback, 744 pages

Published December 2006 by Penerbit Matahati (first published January 1st 2006)

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Jun 15, 2007 Elena rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Trying to keep an excellent series going beyond the natural end is always complicated. I was optimistic for this one, however, because Lian Hearn has quite a talent for epic storytelling, and the first three Otori books gripped me from about paragraph 2. In this 4th book Hearn brings some of the more historical threads served as a backdrop to the earlier books to the fore in a story that by its own logic really can't end the way the previous did. The era of feudal kingdoms is over. It is an inte...more Trying to keep an excellent series going beyond the natural end is always complicated. I was optimistic for this one, however, because Lian Hearn has quite a talent for epic storytelling, and the first three Otori books gripped me from about paragraph 2. In this 4th book Hearn brings some of the more historical threads served as a backdrop to the earlier books to the fore in a story that by its own logic really can't end the way the previous did. The era of feudal kingdoms is over. It is an interesting set up: Otori Takeo, although destined by prophecy to be a great ruler and unifier, also is destined to fall in the way of a Greek trajedy. He believes it, and so can only fight so hard against it. But it isn't just prophecy that determines his fall, and it isn't just Takeo's family that will bear the brunt of this change. Hearn writes the inevitable aftermath of the epic trilogy as the story of outside forces (Portuguese explorers) and the internal logics of nationmanking coming back to undo the very ruler who brought them in. So I like this book on a meta-level, but I was left mostly unsatisfied by the character development. Seeing Takeo as the older, wiser father was a fun change, as was seeing some of the youngest characters grow up. And yet there were so many of them that the book lost focus. It seems like Hearn couldn't decide between writing another trilogy with this new generation of characters or tying up loose ends with one book. Because of this, the reader gets many choices of characters and subplots with which to to identify only to watch them all die, or fade out, or do something stupid before they can really develop before our eyes. It is frustrating. I wanted to really root for someone and watch them survive valiantly despite all obstacles, and I kept getting the rug yanked out from under me. Now, there are books where this kind of disappointment is endemic, and those books are often really good. But I didn't start reading the Otori books for a lesson in pessimism or realpolitik, and greek tragedy has never really been my thing. So I understand what Hearn was trying to achieve, but I was frustrated by all the interesting people left along the way. Still, there undoubtably will be a book in the future about Takeo's daughter, and I will undoubtably read it. Hearn's focus on strong female characters has always been a selling point in this series for me and I'm willing to bet that the new book will be more focused and hence a whole lot better.(less)

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Mar 13, 2011 Haidn rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I've been reading this series for a good part of the year - really liked the authenticity of the settings - and was very keen to get into this book once I'd read the first 3, as I was getting into the plot

It was different to see Takeo as the father figure this time, but not bad because it worked quite well. The lack of map and extensive character glossary was slightly annoying, but I actually wrote my own character glossary afterwards.
But what really struck me first as strange was the change in...more I've been reading this series for a good part of the year - really liked the authenticity of the settings - and was very keen to get into this book once I'd read the first 3, as I was getting into the plot

It was different to see Takeo as the father figure this time, but not bad because it worked quite well. The lack of map and extensive character glossary was slightly annoying, but I actually wrote my own character glossary afterwards.
But what really struck me first as strange was the change in narration. For the first 3 books, the stories are narrated in 1st person ("I") by Takeo and Kaede mainly, and we get to know the way they think very well. The Harsh Cry of the Heron had a wider range of characters narrating, but it was in 3rd person ("he, she, takeo", and although it still gave a good description of their thoughts I preferred the original way of 1st person. However in a way the wider range of characters narrating in THCOTH made it effective, with different viewpoints from the good, bad, young and old. (Eg: Takeo, Maya, a bit from Shizuka, Shigeko, though I didn't notice much from Kaede.)

Also what I noticed, which many others did too was the change in Kaede's character. I didn't like it, she had developed into a strong lady standing up for females in the 1st 3 books, but then in this one she didn't seem as empathetic, motivated(?) and especially the strong desire to have a boy child and not loving her twin girls seemed contradictory.

HOWEVER, I'm not writing this review to say what I didn't like, if anything I'm trying to say what i didn't initially like but later realised was very cleverly crafted. I liked this book a lot.
For example, the death of Maya seemed terrible, and was a very sad moment but it was so relieving (and slightly exasperating) to finally see Kaede see Miki as an individual, and aspiring girl - just like she was, and finally love them both wholeheartedly. A sad plot twist but one that helped complete the storyline for Kaede.

It was gutwrenching to see Takeo kill himself, but I have to admit it was the only way which ended the storyline for him, fulfilling the prophecy that had been hanging over him for the entire series, and making Kaede see her mistake and not making Hisao the evil son. I guess a really gutwrenching plot twist that you really feel for means it's a good book.

In conclusion though, if I had wanted anything changed I would have really liked more of a follow up for Madaren - she seemed to be introduced to the story then dropped - and Shizuka. Although thinking about it, it was mentioned that Ishida left to find her, and that Shin the bodyguard was actually watching over her, so I guess that was Lian Hearn's way of letting us know she was fine.
And Shigeko's marriage to Sada was a little sad, but innevitably necessary to keep the story realistic, because the 3 Countries themselves couldn't have defended themselves against the entire 8 Islands. Like Shizuka, I wondered what happened to Hiroshi, but I guess the paragraph when Shigeko told him that Saga had proposed was quite deep, showing how they knew they would always have an invisible connection but realised they wouldnt physically be able to be together.

Good book, good book
PS: I was very upset when the giraffe died - but still: good book(less)

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Feb 28, 2010 Matt Barker rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

While it took me a little while longer to get into this one as the others in this series, it was still a great read and an excellent conclusion to the Tales of the Otori.

Publisher's Summary

An epic fantasy set in a mythical, medieval Japan, Lian Hearn's Tales of the Otori series has crossed genres, generations, and genders. Grand and complex in its themes, elegantly written, each book in the original trilogy has become a worldwide best seller. This surprise fourth installment (and real conclusion...more

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Feb 22, 2009 Ndahdien Ramadhan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Fuihh.....makin seru aja nih cerita Lord Otori Takeo dan keluarganya. Setelah lumayan jelek di Klan Otori II dan meningkat lagi di Klan Otori III tapi dengan ending yang kurang memuaskan, akhirnya di seri IV ini semuanya terbayar. (yah walopun cape' mata n cape' tangan coz bukunya tuebell). Dibuku ke-IV ini bercerita tentang pengkhianatan, kepercayaan, perkembangan anak-anak takeo, kisah cinta shigeko (cinta yg tidak bisa terucapkan) yang sangat menyentuh dan kematian-kematian yang tragis.

Anak-a...more Fuihh.....makin seru aja nih cerita Lord Otori Takeo dan keluarganya. Setelah lumayan jelek di Klan Otori II dan meningkat lagi di Klan Otori III tapi dengan ending yang kurang memuaskan, akhirnya di seri IV ini semuanya terbayar. (yah walopun cape' mata n cape' tangan coz bukunya tuebell). Dibuku ke-IV ini bercerita tentang pengkhianatan, kepercayaan, perkembangan anak-anak takeo, kisah cinta shigeko (cinta yg tidak bisa terucapkan) yang sangat menyentuh dan kematian-kematian yang tragis.

Anak-anak Takeo udah gedhe dan semuanya cewek; shigeko yang berjiwa pemimpin, Maya+Miki (anak kembar) yang kehadiranya tidak disukai masyarakat dan kaede karena mitos kutukan anak kembar (huh!! Nyebelin banget nih kaede di buku ke-IV ini). Tapi keahlian Maya+Miki tinggi banget, karena itu mereka lebih sering tinggal brsama tribe buat berlatih. Sementara itu kemampuan takeo telah menurun drastis akibat cacat ditangannya, ditambah dengan banyaknya orang kepercayaan Takeo yang tewas dan kisah mengejutkan tentang adik Takeo yang ternyata masih hidup; Intrik pengkhianatan dari anak Shizuka & Arai (Zenko) yang menikah dengan Hanna (ade’ kaede) yang seru abiz, dan kekhawatiran kaisar dengan reputasi Takeo yang terus meningkat membuat posisi Takeo sebagai pemimpin 3 negara terancam.

Kehidupan di Tiga Negara udah makmur dan terbebas dari perang selama 16 tauh berkat kerja keras otory-kaede dan tunduknya tribe. Tapi kelompok Kikuta pimpinan Akio masih terus menyimpan dendam namun sedikit kecewa dengan hisao, anak takeo hasil hubungan dengan yuki (KLan Otori I) yang ga' nunjukin kekuatan kikuta yang dahsyat. Tapi akio berhasil menjalin kerjasama dengan zenko yang telah berkomplot dengan kelp. kuroda + pihak asing + lord kono (anak fujiwara yg hombreng itu lho).

Taku (adik zenko) dibunuh kelp. kikuta atas perintah zenko, tekad Takeo untuk menghindari perang dengan kaisar ternyata gagal, Maya disekap Akio yang justru membantu Hisao untuk menggunakan kekuatannya menjadi pemimpin dunia arwah dan mendengarkan pesan Yuki, Shizuka diancam untuk ikut Zenko/bunuh diri, Miki melarikan diri dari Shizuka untuk mencari Maya, Hana yang diliputi dendam karena cintanya ditolak Takeo bersiap membuka rahasia takeo akan anaknya kepada Kaede dan segudang rencana licik lainnya menemui Kaede yang baru melahirkan anak laki-laki.

Yup, perang emang tidak bisa dihindari. Kehadiran Takeo di kekaisaran yang semula diterima dengan baik akhirnya juga berakhir perang karena kaisar tersinggung dengan ikutnya jerapah (lambang restu surgawi terhadap pemimpin) kembali ikut Takeo. Teknik pertempurannya bagus, di sini Shizuka menjadi pahlawan karena berhasil memanah mata sang jenderal. Tapi kemenangan ini tidak ada artinya karena Kaede dengan sangat mengejutkan berhasil dipengaruhi Hana dan meninggalkan Tiga Negara. Akhirnya untuk menggalang kekuatan melawan Zenko, Shizuka bersedia menjadi istri sang Jenderal dan Takeo meletakkan kepemimpinannya dan kembali ke biara. Sementara itu, Maya dan Miki dengan bantuan arwah Yuki berhasil melarikan diri dan pergi ke biara.

Di biara inilah Takeo menemui ajalnya, bukan seperti ramalan yang selalu menghantui Takeo, tapi...hmmm baca ndiri ajalah, ntar malah ga seru kalo diceritain semuanya:D(less)

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Jan 23, 2013 Colleen Stone rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book is both brilliantly written and immensely frustrating. This is one of those books, especially if you have read the preceding trilogy, that will grip you like all properly crafted books will. The book draws you back into the feudal Japan inspired world of the Otori and crafts a thrilling tragedy. Minor spoilers below.

While I personally find tragedies born from miscommunication trying (the desire to smack some of the characters with a rolled up newspaper for being thick was overwhelming)...more

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Jan 18, 2013 Alain Allemeersch rated it 3 of 5 stars

For starters i want to make it clear that there will be some spoilers here and that i did not read the earlier books in the series. This did not prevent me to get into the book. I figured out the relationships and part of the earlier events early on.
The book is well written however in my opinion struggles with 2 problems. First one is that the first 2/3 of the book is a really slow build-up. There is just not enough happening and i found myself tempted to give up on the book halfway through. I d...more

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Jun 09, 2011 Mystique rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: peeps interested in Japan, or traditional cultural myths of Japan, fuedal Japan

Wow...
What a way to finish the tale of the Otori, 16 years after the 'happy ever after', Lian Hearn truly did capture the essence of Japanese tales in all it's tragic beauty coupled with the usual innter turmoils of emotions in relation to their roles and duties in their daily lives.
To be honest, the ending left me curious to see 'what happened next', thus I have some affinity to the characters throughout the tales.

Best of all, I suppose, the author protrayed the beauty and tragedy that is human...more

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Dec 06, 2009 Rianna Robertson rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Oct 05, 2009 Fiona Van rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is the fourth of a quartet of novels. It was designed originally as a trilogy - Across the Nightingale Floor, Grass for his Pillow and Brilliance of the Moon, all of which I read some years ago. The final story takes us to the death of the two main characters and the continuance of the Otori Clan, under the leadership of Takeo’s daughter Shigeko. The stories are part myth and mysticism and part ancient Japanese history. The hero Takeo is the illegitimate son of a warlord, brought up by his...more

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Jul 05, 2009 Amy Hannon rated it 4 of 5 stars

I have not read the novels of which this is fourth in the series of the Tales of the Otori, a medieval Japanes clan. The Harsh Cry of the Heron carried its past with it in explanatory glimpses into previous events in the larger epic, but it stood well enough on its own. Once I started I couldn't put the book down -- despite the difficulty of keeping track of the foreign names and multiple family connections. It was the magic that kept me fascinated: varied psychic gifts of different characters -...more

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Jan 08, 2010 Veronica Widya rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction

Buku ini adalah cerita terakhir dari klan Otori, tentang berakhirnya hidup takeo juga.
Well,, buku ini bisa gw bilang baguss banged!! tapi gw ga kasih bintang 5, karna ini ga happy ending. sedih banged deh. Seddih banged prasan gw setelah baca buku ini. sangat hasrat dengan perasaan yang kuat di dalamnya.Gila , ceritanya sih tragisss bangedd... >.<
Yuki paling kasihan, mencintai Takeo tapi ga bisa memiliki, dan terus dipaksa bunuh diri. Dia sih baikk, tapi dia dendam sama Kaede, walo sebener...more Buku ini adalah cerita terakhir dari klan Otori, tentang berakhirnya hidup takeo juga.
Well,, buku ini bisa gw bilang baguss banged!! tapi gw ga kasih bintang 5, karna ini ga happy ending. sedih banged deh. Seddih banged prasan gw setelah baca buku ini. sangat hasrat dengan perasaan yang kuat di dalamnya.Gila , ceritanya sih tragisss bangedd... >.<
Yuki paling kasihan, mencintai Takeo tapi ga bisa memiliki, dan terus dipaksa bunuh diri. Dia sih baikk, tapi dia dendam sama Kaede, walo sebenernya itu juuga bukan salah kaed kalo Takeo suka sama dia.
Dan akhirnya Maya membunuh adik bayinya sendiri dengan tatapan kikuta, gara2 Yuki juga sihh.. uda kaya gitu, Shigeko terpaksa nikah sama Lord Saga yang kejam itu. Dan Maya meninggal karna nyelametin akeo.. payahh dehh.. keluargana jadi ancurr..
huuhh...
Cerita yang mengandung banyak intrik, strategi politik, dan bagaimana pendapat orang di jepang tentang anak kembar.
tetapi seperti biasa, gw suka banget sama tribe! kekuatannya keren2 :D
Di sini gw juga rada keki ama Kaede, masa benci anak kembarnya (maya dan miki) gara2 mereka kembar perempuan, dan menurut mitos , anak kembar itu pembawa sial. iih.. gw kesel banget deh, gitu2 kan mereka anaknya juga. masa pake dibeda2in segala.
Untung Shigeko(putri sulung) tetep sayang sm mereka.
Dan, walau yang takeo sayangi cuma Kaede, tetep aja dia pernah tidur sama Yuki, dan itu nyebelin bgt.
yah.. dia tetep setia sih, tapi tetep aja. gw emg ga suka co poligami sih.
emg seharusnya, co itu mencitai hanya satu cw dalam hidupnya, the one and only for the rest of his life.
Dan, adanya dalam keluarga itu ga semuanya setia, ada yang musuh dalam selimut kaya Hana dan Zenko, mereka termasuk keluarga juga, Untung takeo udah tau sih kalo mereka jahat.
Dan dendam dimana2, kaya Keluarga Kikuta , terutama Akio.
Di sini banyak konflik juga. gw ga suka dengan adanya dendam. Maafkanlah orang yang memperlakukanmu dengan tidak baik. Berbuat baik tidak ada salahnya kogg. seenganya Takeo bisa masuk surga, karen dia punya kasih dalam hatinya. :)(less)

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May 24, 2010 Trisno rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: punya-kawan

Setelah perjuangan berat yang dilalui oleh Takeo dan Kaedee, mereka akhirnya menjadi sebuah keluarga yang bahagia selam 16 tahun, hidup dalam kedamaian dan rakyat yang makmur.

Memiliki seorang putri yang mewarisi kecantikan Kaedee dan juga 2 putri kembar yang sangat berpengaruh dalam buku kali ini.

Arai Zenko yang mejadi suami Hana (adik Kaedee), anak dari Sizuka, kakak Taku, akhirnya menghianti Takeo ketika dia sedang pergi menghadap kaisar penguasa 8 pulau. Penghiatannya ditandai dengan pembunu...more Setelah perjuangan berat yang dilalui oleh Takeo dan Kaedee, mereka akhirnya menjadi sebuah keluarga yang bahagia selam 16 tahun, hidup dalam kedamaian dan rakyat yang makmur.

Memiliki seorang putri yang mewarisi kecantikan Kaedee dan juga 2 putri kembar yang sangat berpengaruh dalam buku kali ini.

Arai Zenko yang mejadi suami Hana (adik Kaedee), anak dari Sizuka, kakak Taku, akhirnya menghianti Takeo ketika dia sedang pergi menghadap kaisar penguasa 8 pulau. Penghiatannya ditandai dengan pembunuhan adiknya sendiri, Taku. Kemudian Hana, membocorkan rahasia Takeo mengenai anak yang didapatnya dari Yuki (cucu Kenji Muto).

Maya, salah satu anak kembar Takeo tanpa sadar telah membunuh adiknya yang masih bayi dengan menggunakan tatapan kikuta-nya yang mematikan. Dan kematian adiknya tersebut membuat duka yang sangat dalam bagi Kaedee ditambah lagi informasi dari Hana mengenai hubungan gelap Takeo dulunya dengan Yuki.

Akhirnya, Maya pergi meninggalkan kota bersama dengan roh Yuki(mati dibunuh oleh Kikuta setelah melahirkan anak Takeo, Hisao) dan juga meninggalkan kembarannya Miki. Kaedee membakar istana mereka sebagai pelampiasan rasa marahnya kepada Takeo dan pergi bekerjasama dengan Arai Zenko untuk melawan suaminya Takeo.

Takeo mendengar kabar kematian putranya dan kondisi istrinya setelah mereka berhasil bertempur melawan pasukan kekaisaran (pertempuran yang tak terduga).

Suatu hari Takeo berhasil bertemu dengan Kaedee secara diam-diam, tapi Kaedee sudah marah dan memintanya bunuh diri. Dengan rasa malu yang besar akhirnya Takeo pergi kembali ke Terayama, biara tempat dia dulu pernah mengasingkan diri. Dia diam disana dan menyerahkan tahta Tiga Negara kepada putri tertuanya Shigeko.

Di Terayamalah akhirnya dia mati dengan menggunakan senjata anaknya sendiri Hasio, yang akhirnya menjawab semua ramalam yang sudah digariskan bertahun-tahun silam. Putrinya Maya, meninggal juga dalam insiden tersebut.

Makoto, seorang pendeta yang ada di biara tersebut menulis semua kejadian yang terjadi dan memberikannya kepada Kaedee ketika perang sudah usai. Kaedee merasa bersalah atas kematian suami dan putrinya. Tetap dia tetap bertahan karena dia memiliki 2 putri lag dan 1 putra dari Yuki.

Zenko dan istrinya Hana, akhirnya diminta untuk bunuh diri karena sudah melawan Otori dan Tiga Negara kembali dalam keadaan aman. Shigeko menikah dengan Jendral kekaisaran dan mereka memimpin Tiga Negara dan Delapan Pulau.

Mayat Takeo dan putrinya Maya, dikuburkan di dekat makan Shigeru, ayah angkat dari Takeo.

(less)

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Aug 02, 2012 Ifigenia is currently reading it

It seriously disappointed me. I came to love its characters and admired Lian Hearn's writting throughout all of her books, so I was seriously disappointed by the rushness with which she handled the ending of the book. I did not like the fact that the ending had to be this tragic, but if that was what the author desired at least it should be more meaningfull. None of the characters got what they deserved, it wasn't justice it was simply mean! And the narration, although throughout the book amazin...more

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May 17, 2012 Isaura rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: leidos-2012

Cuando una historia se basa en una profecía es difícil sorprenderse del final.. sin embargo este libro me dejó un sabor "raro" de boca.. fue un final triste como solo las buenas leyendas lo pueden tener..

Una historia de amor legendaria, con subidas y bajadas y solo la pérdida de la confianza lo puede destruir.. Mi personaje favorito: Shizuka, no importa que pasaba ella supo mantener su sonrisa hasta que el dolor la destruyó y aún así logro convertirse en parte de los personajes legendarios..

El q...more

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Oct 12, 2012 Andrea Barton rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I really enjoyed this the last book in the Tales of the Otori a fiction series set in feudal Japan and written by an Australian author.
There is an underdog hero, strong women leaders, horseback sword battles, families with special powers, religious and spiritual themes, class system (farmers, outcasts, merchants, warriors), love, intrigue and family treachery.
At 700 odd pages it was such a big book I reckon I gained some muscle mass lugging it round with me the last week. Ended up pulling an a...more

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Apr 22, 2012 Gloria Esquerra rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: asian-fiction

The final installment of the Tales of the Otori. Fifteen years of peace and prosperity under the rule of Lord Otori Takeo and his wife, Kaede, is threatened by a network of assassins, the resurgence of old rivalries, and the arrival of foreigners bearing new weapons and religion. Takeo and Kaede have three daughters now. The beautiful and skilled Shigeko, the eldest and heir to Maruyama, and the twins Maya and Miki who have inherited from their father the Kikuta gifts. But always in Takeo's thou...more

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Dec 07, 2010 Fadilah rated it 2 of 5 stars

pertama kali baca, pasti langsung tahu siapa yang akan mati dalam buku ini. Sejujurnya, saya lebih suka kisah si kembar Maya dan Miki, juga Shigeko. Buku keempat ini, kalau saya lihat, seakan buku Breaking Dawn dari Stephanie Meyer. Cerita yang sudah tamat di buku ketiga malah dilanjutkan lagi. Apalagi buku terakhir dari kisah Klan Otori ini merupakan yang paling tebal. Cukup lama saya membacanya, tidak seperti biasa. Seakan kisah ini kehilangan gaya magnetisme-nya.

Harus diakui sebenarnya saya t...more

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Aug 25, 2010 Shana is currently reading it · review of another edition

I know I'm only on page 40, but I really don't understand the other reviews that say they felt the book got off to a slow start. So far, it has the same pace and descriptive passages that the entire rest of the series has.

I did find, throughout books 1-3, that there were descriptive passages where my brain just turned off and I wound up skimming until the story picked back up. I also have a minor quibble with how the title for the last book "the harsh cry of the heron" appears in one of the las...more

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Nov 04, 2011 Sorcha rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011

As I picked up this book to read, I was certain that I had not only read but enjoyed an earlier book in this series. Now having read it, I'm not so certain.[return][return]Based in a fictionalised far east - either Japan or China - this tells of Takeo and his attempt to keep control of his domain. Any supernatural undercurrent, which I vaguely remember being much more in the forefront in any previous book - is underplayed to virtual non-existence. For a book of over 600 pages, not a lot actually...more

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Mar 31, 2012 Rick rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Hearn’s The Harsh Cry of the Heron: The Last Tale of the Otori is an extension of an original trilogy – Tales of the Otori. I loved the originality in the first three books and felt they told the story in wonderful detail...one should read those first. This extension, coming three years after the trilogy, capitalizes on the success of the franchise and, as such, feels a bit contrived. It spends many pages filling the reader in on what went on in the trilogy. That said, it still was an entertaini...more

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Aug 06, 2011 Grayson Queen rated it 4 of 5 stars

From beginning, formation and end this book and the series are everything you'd expect in a Japanese story (that's kind of a hint if you read or watch Japanese stuff).
From an American mind set so much of this seems like lunacy. I read through this book hating so many of the characters. I cringed at there actions scowled at their selfishness, cursing then for narrow minded ideas. And while it got me riled up and love that at got me involved.
I did feel that the book was too long, 200 pages longer...more

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Feb 21, 2012 Diane rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction

I have loved the rest of this series, but because of the repeated prophecy of the death of the protagonist, I have dreaded the end of this book, and completely put it down for about ten days, in the middle. Lord Otori Takeo is a likeable character, with serious flaws more than compensated by his strength of character: he has a strong sense of justice and has established the rule of law, a vision of peace which he has accomplished and maintained for fifteen years, and cares about the fate of all...more

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Mar 03, 2012 Nancy rated it 1 of 5 stars

So disappointing! I tore into this book after devouring the original trilogy, but finished the story feeling that my enjoyment of these characters was now compromised. While the story was compelling, I felt the behavior and decisions of some of the main characters were inconsistent with their personas in the first books, thus creating pivotal scenarios that left me questioning the strength of their personas so beautifully developed in the previous books.

As much as I wanted to know the conclusio...more

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Oct 12, 2011 Kristin rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I loved the first three books of the Tales of the Otori series, but I don't think I can ever reread this one. It wasn't that it was poorly written, because it still maintained the lovely style of prose that the other three had. But, because of the 'prophecy' that was given at the start of the series, Hearn was forced to break the characters out of their predefined personalities. To have the prophecy come true, certain characters had to act out of character. When they've been defined in a certain...more

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Sep 11, 2011 Becca rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-makes-me-feel-young, id-let-my-besty-read-this

This is what I was afraid of. I loved and was extremely satisfied with the trilogy, particularly its bitter-sweet ending. It just felt right. I should have stopped there. Then there was this book, which was much more bitter than sweet in so many ways. Yet with all the bitterness in this book, it was incredibly well done and I don't regret reading it.

Sixteen years has come and gone since the end of the last book. All the characters I came to know in the trilogy are old, still viable in a lot of w...more This is what I was afraid of. I loved and was extremely satisfied with the trilogy, particularly its bitter-sweet ending. It just felt right. I should have stopped there. Then there was this book, which was much more bitter than sweet in so many ways. Yet with all the bitterness in this book, it was incredibly well done and I don't regret reading it.

Sixteen years has come and gone since the end of the last book. All the characters I came to know in the trilogy are old, still viable in a lot of ways, but have lost their immortality of youth. It seems all of them are struggling to find peace with their coming deaths. This whole novel was a struggle, one I couldn't look away from and I didn't find any of the endings happy, though many were peaceful. And honestly, though I left this book with a somewhat bad taste in my mouth, I must say Hearn's storytelling was once again riveting and colorful. I can't not like the overall book, though the disappointments were many.

Kaede, who I had come to adore in the first three books, bitterly disappointed me in this book. I saw none of the strong woman she should have been. Takeo was still shrewd and strong to a point, but he let his infirmities and compassion weaken him in ways I did not expect of him. Kaede and Takeo's daughters were fabulous additions to the story, but because the story didn't really focus on them, I found their character development stunted. I had to accept their actions, particularly of the twins, at face value rather than really seeing how who they were directed what they did. It was a sad let-down after coming to know Takeo and Kaede so intimately.

I would have loved more exploration into the tribe skills brought to light in this book. The ghostmaster, possession, and whatever skill Miki possessed that was so powerful but not named or explained make for tantalizing hints that could be stories in and of themselves. I feel there will be more to come even though Hearn named this book as the last tale of the Otori. She can't leave these characters in their sad state. Their tales have not been fully told.(less)

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Jul 23, 2011 Ruth rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

c2006. I don't think that I agree with the blurb that this comes to a "satisfying conclusion". Not at all! The only conclusion is that all the really great characters die with the exception of one! I suppose that is one way to end a series whilst leaving the door open for the next generation to take over. Still, the ending didn't sit well because it was all too simple in a way. Style of writing was still good - suiting the setting but the plotting was weak and I found it hard to believe this Tak...more

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Apr 08, 2011 Lady Stardust rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: jeunesse_ya, fantasy_fantastique, historique

Bon, j'ai eu ENORMEMENT de mal à la commencer et à entrer dedans : trop de personnages, on arrive plus trop à situer les parentés, les persos nouveaux, les anciens, etc.
Mais vers le milieu de bouquin, quand tout se met en place et qu'on commence à deviner les rouages des intrigues, ça devient tellement fascinant *_*

D'autre part, les théories sociales qui y sont développées in fine sont très intéressantes : on se dit qu'il faudrait mettre ce bouquin dans toutes les mains des hommes à la tête des...more

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Aug 24, 2012 Donna rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is the final book in the saga. I didn't want it to end. And speaking of endings, I hated it. I hated that the whole book seems to lead to this big battle, and then falters. Yes there is a big battle, but it's the battles away from the big battle that needed more attention. I hate that Kaede was portrayed as a selfless woman. That Yuki's ghost was jealous and vengeful. And I hated how the book ended. The prophecy is spoked of all thru the book. And at the end, it really didn't come true for...more

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Apr 04, 2012 Walter Underwood rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I'll try do do this without spoilers, though the major flaws in this book are storytelling and plot.

There were ominous overtones early on, so I decided I was OK if everything just fell apart, after all, that is how the Heiki Monogatari ends. I'm not saying it ends that way, but I was prepared.

I was not prepared for it to be boring and confusing. People head out to various places for various reasons and if you don't already know where Hagi and Hofu are in relation to each other, too bad, because...more

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Mar 04, 2012 Jack rated it 2 of 5 stars Recommends it for: No one at all (unless you're really masochistic)

Shelves: epic-fail, historical-fiction, i-wish-i-could-give-it-half-stars, read-the-review-not-the-book, disappointment, wasted-potential, quite-bad

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. He should've ended it after the second book. That way I wouldn't have to endure the torture the next two books brought me. Luckily, I'm not compelled to finish the series anymore, because the last one is a prequel.

Anyway, onto the rant.

If Brilliance of the Moon was terrible compared to Across the Nightingale Floor, then this book was terrible compared to Brilliance of the Moon. It was that bad.

For one thing, it's set 16 years into the future, so the magic of the characters is gone. They're comp...more

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About Lian Hearn

A pen name of Gillian Rubinstein

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Across the Nightingale Floor (Tales of the Otori, #1)

Grass for His Pillow (Tales of the Otori, #2)

Brilliance of the Moon (Tales of the Otori, #3)

Heaven's Net is Wide (Tales of the Otori, #0)

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