Brilliance of the Moon: Tales of the Otori, Book Three (Tales of the Otori, Book 3)

Brilliance of the Moon is the third book in the Tales of the Otori series by Lian Hearn. Don't miss the related series, The Tale of Shikanoko.A beautiful, haunting evocation of the medieval Japan of Lian Hearn's imagination, this thrilling follow-up to Grass for His Pillow and Across the Nightingale Floor delves deeper into the complex loyalties that bind its characters from birth. Filled with adventure and surprising twists of plot and fortune, this third book in the Tales of the Otori series travels beyond the Three Countries, to the outside influences that threaten to intrude upon this isolated realm.

In the final installment of the Tales of the Otori, the young Takeo meets his destiny, fulfilling the prophesy: "You were born into the Hidden, but your life . . . is no longer your own."

The stage is set: Takeo and his new bride Kaede are on the brink of starting a war to reclaim the lands that are her rightful claim by birth, with a thousand loyal warriors by their side. But much more is at stake, with Takeo sworn to avenge the death of his adoptive father. Kaede, a not-at-all helpless damsel, has also cast a first stone by renouncing the powerful Lord Fujiwara, who considers her his first wife.

An imaginary feudal Japan is vividly reconstructed in this magical tale filled with clan rivalries, supernatural powers, shadowy tribes, and true love.

Brilliance of the Moon © 2004 Lian Hearn. Recorded by arrangement with Riverhead Books, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

The New York Times - Gerald Jonas

The Brilliance of the Moon, by Lian Hearn, is a worthy conclusion to an inventive trilogy that the pseudonymous author calls ''Tales of the Otori''; all three volumes are set in an imaginary medieval Japan where some people, including the hero, Takeo, are capable of truly mind-bending powers.

SUMMARY: 在线阅读本书 A beautiful, haunting evocation of the medieval Japan of Lian Hearn's imagination, this thrilling follow-up to Grass for His Pillow and Across the Nightingale Floor delves deeper into the complex loyalties that bind its characters from birth. Filled with adventure and surprising twists of plot and fortune, this final volume travels beyond the Three Countries, to the outside influences that threaten to intrude upon this isolated realm. SUMMARY: 在线阅读本书 A beautiful, haunting evocation of the medieval Japan of Lian Hearn's imagination, this thrilling follow-up to Grass for His Pillow and Across the Nightingale Floor delves deeper into the complex loyalties that bind its characters from birth. Filled with adventure and surprising twists of plot and fortune, this final volume travels beyond the Three Countries, to the outside influences that threaten to intrude upon this isolated realm. Literary,Fiction,Historical,General,Historical fiction,Fantasy,Adventure fiction,Inheritance and succession,Married people,Revenge,Japan This is the final book in the original Otori clan trilogy (there is a prequel, which I love, and a sequel, which I don’t like). Lord Otori Takeo is denying his peaceful upbringing and fleeing his genetic inheritance of supernatural skills as an assassin – and he is fighting for his rights as the adopted son of the Otori clan. Between them, Takeo and the love of his life, Lady Shirakawa Kaede, can bring peace to the three countries. But the enemies arrayed against them include the corrupt Otori lords who stole their place twenty years earlier; the newly-risen lord who once saved Lady Shirakawa’s life; and the Tribe, who have bent all their supernatural skill on seeing Takeo killed for his defiance of their demands. It is a climactic end to the trilogy, and ultimately it is as painful and beautiful as all the rest. Do yourself a favour and read the prequel and the trilogy. They’re just brilliant. Set in an imagined medieval Japan, Book Three is a thrilling-and surprising-follow-up to the previous adventures of Takeo and Kaede. Taking us deeper into the complexities of the loyalties that bind the novel's characters at birth-the fates from which they cannot escape-Brilliance of the Moon goes beyond its transcendent storytelling in demonstrating how we are shaped by forces outside of our control and yet must forge our own destinies all the same. A thoroughly gripping read, Brilliance of the Moon is also the most powerful novel in the series-a beautiful, haunting evocation of a time and a place just beyond the reach of an outside world Brilliance of the Moon is the third book in the Tales of the Otori series by Lian Hearn. Don't miss the related series, The Tale of Shikanoko. A beautiful, haunting evocation of the medieval Japan of Lian Hearn's imagination, this thrilling follow-up to Grass for His Pillow and Across the Nightingale Floor delves deeper into the complex loyalties that bind its characters from birth. Filled with adventure and surprising twists of plot and fortune, this third book in the Tales of the Otori seriestravels beyond the Three Countries, to the outside influences that threaten to intrude upon this isolated realm. Takeo and Kaede combine their powers in order to do battleagainst Arai Daiichi, the warlord who controls most of the Three Countries