Rating: 
Summary: This Book Get me Started
Review: In this review I'm not going to tell you what the book is about, because I want you to read it for yourself, and I think you will enjoy it more if you don't know what happens in the book.
What I am going to tell you is that it is the first book I have ever realy enjoyed. I found it extremely exciting.
The aspect of the book I particularly enjoyed were the relationships between the characters, as there was a great range of diversity between them. Between some was unmeasurable amounts of respect and trust. While between others there was mistrust and hatred.
However the relationship that I especially like was that of Kaede's and Takeo's as it is brimming with passion, lust and desire.
Ever since I finished this book (which was 2 days after starting it) I have never gone with out a book. It has really opened my eyes to all the excellent literature there is in the world today, just waiting to be discovered.
Rating: 
Summary: Fast Light Read about a Fictional Japan
Review: I guess I can not complain about a book I read for 3 straight days. I had a hard time putting this book down. That being said, the book is o.k. not great. It is not on the level of a Shogun, still the best Samurai book, and also it is just slightly below the works of Laura Roh like Shinju and Black Lotus.It is a neat little book, not great, not terrible and hard to put down. As to the fiction of it, I do not fully believe the author's intro. First of all, how can you trust someone that will not put their real name on the book. Why the fake name? First of all, the Hidden people in this book clearly represents the Christians. The Persecution of the Hidden in the books is very similar to what happened to Christians early in the Tokugawa Shogunate. And with that said, who does the bad lord represent in this book? Could it be Tokugawa? And the hero, who is a member of the "Hidden" has a name so close to Hideyoshi. Hideyoshi, who also rose from nothing, Hideyoshi, who in his last days may have become a Christian? Like I said, there is a little more here than the author claims. Take this book from the library or buy in paperback. Do not rush out and buy it.
Rating: 
Summary: Across the Nightingale Floor: Tales of the Otori
Review: Having visited Japan recently, and having walked across the real Nightingale floors I found this book hard to put down. The author has come out of no where with a great piece of work. A must for anyone who is looking for a different sort of novel.Cant wait for the sequal.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing, lush, absorbing.
Review: Across The Nightingale Floor is a young-adult crossover novel with some fantasy, but the supernatural is used with a VERY deft & sparing hand. A young man (Takeo) whose entire village is wiped out by feudal warlord finds out that there is more to his parentage, and his talents, than he could have guessed. The writing is lush, the story set in feudal Japan, and the characters are both charming & believable. Best of all, it doesn't fall into the common trap of "historical non-Western people behaving just like 21st century Western characters." Takeo has a strong sense of honor and obligation that makes you admire him even when he's making hasty or frighteningly selfless decisions. There is a very strong sense of both place and time, and beauty in the middle of horror and violence. The action doesn't stop in this book; it will completely draw you in. As I said, I'm in love. This is not a story for very young children, as it contains many scenes of violent death, descriptions of torture, and also a couple of very tastefully done sex scenes. Nothing is superfluous or sensationalistic, but the reader is not shielded from the realities of feudal life and war. Although this book is the first in a series, it ends satisfyingly enough. I believe that with the quality of both writing and storytelling, this book & its sequels will become young-adult favorites, like The Earthsea books or His Dark Materials.
Rating:
Summary: Looking forward to book two
Review: Let me start out with the few negative comments I have. First, I don't appreciate the "foreshadowing". If a character is about to die, why not let that unfold with your story. Don't let the cat out of the bag, pages in advance. There's no reason for it. Obviously the author knows that the character is going to die. He's the one writing the book. Let the reader find out as the story develops. What is actually accomplished by telling us in advance that so and so is about to die? It is depressing, and it ruins the dramatic power of the event. If it has to happen, just let it happen. Whatever reason the author has, I reject it. It simply doesn't work to improve the story. And it hurts the "reality" of the experience because it reminds me that the author obviously knows so and so has had it, because the author is spinning a story for me, so it makes the author too visible. Another little complaint I have is that the big climax, which was good, was also too expected, too set up. The big surprise was no surprise. I knew all along what was going to happen to the bad guy, and by who. It was just so obvious. It was "telegraphed" as they say in boxing. I think with a somewhat different approach, the surprise ending could have really been a surprise, an "oh my god!" moment. I have a little trouble with Takeo's acts of magic. How exactly does one go about splitting himself in two? And if one can do that, how can he not know he has magical powers as he's growing up? I don't buy it. Clark Kent knew. Was the magic really necessary? Heightened senses, super hearing, probably would have been enough, along with ninja-like talents. The magic events in the book leave you going "huh?". I'm supposed to believe this? They distance us from the characters. To identify with a character you have to find his actions possible for you, if you were in his shoes with his genetics and training. Okay, enough with the quibbles. This is a good story and could make a great movie. I really look forward to the movie, wouldn't miss it. One element of a good adventure story is a good villain. This story has one. Perhaps not as good as Sauron, but then again, how many books have a villain as impressive as the one in Lord of the Rings. This villain, an evil shogun, is a very good example of "might makes right", with no consideration for ethics. You want to whack him yourself. As in the movie version of Lord of the Rings, and to a lesser extent the book version, we are presented with martially heroic female characters in this book. It seems like a trend. Well, why not? Movies and novels are so unrealistic to begin with, and they make their male heroes so damn tough, which is pure fiction as well, so why not give us impossibly tough females too? There aren't a lot of movies or books that really focus on the relevant issues in our lives. The majority of them are escapes from reality like this book. Cowboy shoot-em-ups without the horses.
Rating: 
Summary: Entertaining Read
Review: This was a different and entertaining read. it was also a "Light" read. the problems i had with this book was; the story really did not get interesting for me until i was half way through the book. Most trilogies or series of books that i have read have slow starts. This is compensated by the development of characters and the world in which the story takes place. IMHO, the character development was poor and there was virtually no development of world that this book takes place in. that is why i gave it 2 out of 5 stars. Otherwise, i would have given it 4 out of 5 stars. This is an entertaining book. my suggestion is to wait for the paperback or go to the library.
Rating:
Summary: Tales of the Otori Are Wonderful
Review: I read Across the Nightingale Floor and fell in love with all the characters. I found myself an involved reader. I took part in the action and suspense with the characters. Fell in love and was worried to death for the hero. Being the first in a trilogy I am truely hooked and cannot wait for the second book.
I haven't read a series in a long time and I am anxiously waiting.
Rating:
Summary: Can't Wait For The Sequel!!
Review: This is an amazing book! The language is simple but lyrical, the story is captivating, and the pace is riveting. I could hardly put it down and I hated to finish it. I don't know if you can say more about a book than that. I have bought it for a friend for Christmas and I am recommending it to everyone I know. It is a rare book that does that to me. It starts with beautiful language and develops characters that you come to really care about. Read this book and then go "sell" it to your friends!
Rating:
Summary: Borrowed from fact, fiction
Review: This is a fantasy book, but it not fantasy from the authors imagination, rather it is heavily borrowed Japanese feudal times with a dose of magical powers thrown in for good measure. As well as the feudal structure which is more or less borrowed wholesale from pre seventeenth century Japan, there are 2 other groups at work within society, the Hidden, a group which allegorically represent the Christians of Japan during the seventeenth century; and the Tribe. The Tribe are the only true work of Ms Hearns fiction and are the ones in possession of the magic powers. The themes are those familliar to anyone who has read James Clavells Shogun series - loyalty, treachery, love. They are given the 21st century treatment with a feminist twist. I did enjoy the book, but it certainly isn't one I would rave on about to friends.
Rating:
Summary: Careful--habit-forming
Review: This wonderful book will make you very unhappy until the remaining volumes in the trilogy are published -- it's that good, the characters are that real, the insight into feudal Japan is that perceptive. Action-packed, yet affecting.
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