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Summary: Enchanting!
Review: I found this book VERY fun to read! I was drawn into it within the first couple of pages and I found it extremely difficult to put down. I thought that the author created some enchanting scenes with his words describing the various settings. I also enjoyed how, just when he's let you in on the undercurrent of what's going on, you next find out that it was not the actual underlying scheme of what was happening. I thought that was very interesting. With summer here, it would be a good paperback to have for a day of reading and relaxing so that you can have it done in one day and not have to put it down!
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Summary: Realistic fantasy?
Review: I'm not sure if there is such a category - but this is the most believable "fantasy" book I've ever read. While waiting patiently for the next Harry Potter installment a friend suggested that I read Across the Nightingale Floor.Without giving anything away, the hero here has "special abilities" - could someone in real life actually possess these abilities? Probably not. But the way that Hearn describes the abilities and their use is so subtle that they actually seem realistic (compared to Harry Potter casting spells, for example). I was totally drawn in to this story because it is so believable (besides having a compelling and fast-paced story). Once I got past "hearing the Japanese names correctly" in my head, the book went even faster (I thought "Hermione Granger" was a bit tricky at first, too). The book does include a cool map showing the different regions in the story and who controls them - definitely helpful, but not really necessary to understanding the story. I've already placed my order here for Book 2 (Grass for His Pillow) coming out in August - I can't wait to see what happens next!
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Summary: Across the Nightingale Floor Makes for a Great All Nighter!
Review: This book is great! I started it one night and it was so good I could not put it down until I was finished. If you want a book that leaved you yearning to read the rest in the series this is the one. With all the movies and books coming out lately this one gives a great mix of ancient times as well with the powerful ways of war. Even though it is set long ago, you can see how some of these concepts can be seen in today's world. I would recommend this book for anyone at least in middle school to adults.
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Summary: Better Than "Lord of the Rings"!
Review: This book rocks! I don't typically read books like this -- a friend gave it to me -- and I couldn't put it down. Lian's exquisite storytelling and compelling characters really jumped off of the page. It's the story of young Takeo, who witnesses the slaughter of his family. He, too, is about to fall victim, when he is saved by the mysterious Lord Otori, who takes him in and teaches him his true calling. I can't wait until the movie; a "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" for all ages is currently in the works.
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Summary: 1st in the series TALES OF THE OTORI
Review: ACROSS THE NIGHTINGALE FLOOR by Lian Hearn Enter a fantasy world of ancient Samurai's, Shogun Lords and magical warriors in Lian Hearn's ACROSS THE NIGHTINGALE, the first in the series of books titled THE TALES OF THE OTORI. The main character is young Tomasu, who is taken under the wing of Lord Shigeru Otori, one of the most powerful men in this fictional world of Feudal Japan. When Tomasu's village is pillaged and his family and other villagers are left for dead, Lord Otori saves young Tomasu's life and takes him away to his home in Hagi. He is given a new name, Takeo, and a new identity, and Lord Otori decides to adopt him, despite the fact that Takeo was raised by the Hidden, a group of people who worship a new god and have been persecuted for doing so. Lord Otori and Takeo develop a bond, and Takeo pledges his loyalty to Otori for saving his life. However, life does not get any easier under the protection of Lord Otori, for those who killed the people in Takeo's village are on the lookout for the young man, who had killed Lord Iida Sadamu's men while trying to protect himself. Lord Iida wants revenge. Takeo becomes mute after being witness to the massacre, and while his ability to speak is temporarily taken away from him, he notices that his hearing becomes very acute. He can hear the faintest of sounds that probably only a dog can hear. In fact, he is teased by one of Otori's friends, indicating his ears are as good as a dog's. Takeo is embarrassed by these accusations, but learns later that his unusual talents will come in handy. Lord Otori introduces Takeo to Kenji, who discovers Takeo's talents and learns right away that Takeo is not just a product of the Hidden People, but is in fact one of the Tribe, a group of warriors that have almost magical powers. The excellent hearing is just one of the traits that they carry, and Kenji helps Takeo learn other skills that are inherited by his father's people. Kenji is in fact training Takeo to become a warrior. This upsets Takeo, as he has learned while being part of the Hidden that killing is wrong, and nothing good will come of it. In the mean time, Lord Otori is betrothed to a young girl named Kaede. Her father's enemies many years ago had taken her hostage. In order to bring peace to several countries, she is commanded to marry Otori. What she does not know is that Otori is secretly in love with someone else, Lady Maruyama, who is the most powerful woman in Japan. Lady Maruyama's feelings for Lord Otori are mutual. However, due to political reasons, it is Lady Maruyama's duty to bring her cousin Lady Kaede to Lord Otori to be married. As one can already see, ACROSS THE NIGHTINGALE FLOOR takes on epic proportions, as Lord Otori and his entourage make the journey to Lord Iida's land where the wedding will take place. They encounter adventures along the way, and Takeo hones his skills of the master warriors of the Tribe, despite his abhorrence for killing. His main focus is his loyalty to Lord Otori, a loyalty that will be put to the test before their journey is completed. A story that compares to the likes of CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON and LORD OF THE RINGS, ACROSS THE NIGHTINGALE FLOOR is a book that will be enjoyed by young adults as well as older readers who enjoy historical based fiction with a touch of fantasy.
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Summary: awesome book!!
Review: This book was such a wonderful read, I could not put it down. A very magical story about a boy, reminisant of harry potter. You'll follow him through all sorts of trials, and be left wanting more. Great book for anyone into magical stories, fantasy, or even just japenese culture.
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Summary: Great!
Review: I loved this book! At first, I found it a bit hard to get into and I thought it might be weighed down with description, but it became captivating later on. I often forgot it wasn't really ancient Japan, the author's descriptions felt so real. I loved the intrigue and delicate balance of politics going on behind the scenes. I also liked the fact that it was a tasteful ending to the first book, not a complete cliffhanger. I can't wait for the conclusions to the trilogy!
Rating:
Summary: I liked it!
Review: If you do decide to read this book make sure to set aside enough time to finish it in one sitting. This book draws you in. However, it also seemed rushed to me, there was not as much characterization and plot detail as I would have liked. To put it simply I wish the story had been longer. Aside from that it is an enchanting story and a good read.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing!
Review: This book was captivating. I was completely lost in the mountains of Japan, loving every moment reading. I recommend this to anyone who wants to be enveloped in a story. I loved it!
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Summary: A great fantasy for any reading fan!!
Review: If you like books about feudal Japan, this book is for you. It's a fascinating story that follows a young man as he grows up in the clans of Japan. This book has everything you need for a great experience, action, adventure, love, and betrayal. I picked this book up on a whim and read four pages in and was hooked. It grabs a hold of you and you can't put it down. Not only are the characters great, with all kinds of individual plots, they all contribute to they main plot of the book. The young boy, Takeo, is taken under the protection of Lord Otori, a leader of one of the clans in Japan. Takeo joins Lord Otori after a rival clan kills his parents. From the second Takeo runs into Lord Otori in the woods the action doesn't stop. With all the twists and individual plots the end of this book leaves you wanting more. This book is also a surprisingly easy read, most of the books that I've read that are set in this time are usually hard to follow, but this book is well written and even with all the Japanese terms its easy to follow and a great read. I highly recommend this book, not only to fans of fantasy, but also to anyone who wants to read a good book. This is one of the best books I've ever read and I am anxiously waiting for the rest of the trilogy.
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