false 4 0 false false Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2008 Wed Nov 28 21:08:02 -0800 2007 Sat Jan 26 21:38:08 -0800 2008 Lian Hearn's "Tales of the Otori" series is amongst my favorite reads. A fictional tale set in feudal Japan, the books and the entire series has been a refreshing change from the tired old feudal fantasy genre.

Heaven's Net is Wide is the final book and also the first book in the series. It tells the back story of Otori Shigeru, it is a story about patience and redemption. Like all the books in the series, it seems predictable, but will pull unexpected twists. Small things, that seem insignificant, will loom large in later chapters. In the end, it was not the best book in the series, but it is still worthy to be included.

The issue with the book is that since it is the "First Tale of the Otori" but the last published, it is hard to determine whether someone should start the series with this book, or instead follow the series in the order the books were published.

In favor of starting with this book, the first several chapters of the book spend considerable time setting up the society that book inhabits. Across the Nightingale Floor, the first book that was published, does not do this. So it is nice to have an introduction and a slow, dip your toes in first, introduction to this world. Unfortunately, if you've read the other books in the series first, this slow introduction can seem tiring and tedious, and for the most part does not offer you any additional insight.

In favor of reading the books in publishing order, is the fact that knowing the ending of this story, actually makes it more intriguing. I'd prefer not to give anything away, but the book gives you the back story to major events in the next books, without just telling the story for its own sake. There is considerable depth to things that are just mild mentions in the other books. Knowing that something seemingly small will loom large two books down, makes the book far more interesting. I think if this book is read first, the interest may not hold. Additionally, the major events that follow this book may seem less interesting.

In the end, I would recommend reading the books in the order they were published. I know that after finishing this one, I want to start the whole series over again. I'm still terribly glad I found it!]]>