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The Tale of Shikanoko #1
L'Enfant du Cerf
Laissé pour mort dans la montagne, le jeune Shikanoto trouve refuge chez un sorcier qui lui fabrique un masque aux immenses pouvoirs magiques. Il devient "l'Enfant du Cerf". Il parlera aux fantômes et aux esprits protecteurs, il apprendra des hommes et des femmes les plus puissant.e.s, il connaîtra le raffinement, l'amour et les sentiments les plus purs, mais aussi la bestialité, la cruauté et les machinations politiques...
326 pages, Paperback
First published June 16, 2016
About the author
Lian Hearn
60 books1,855 followersLian Hearn's beloved Tales of the Otori series, set in an imagined feudal Japan, has sold more than four million copies worldwide and has been translated into nearly forty languages. It is comprised of five volumes: ACROSS THE NIGHTINGALE FLOOR, GRASS FOR HIS PILLOW, BRILLIANCE OF THE MOON, THE HARSH CRY OF THE HERON and HEAVEN'S NET IS WIDE. The series was followed by two standalone novels, BLOSSOMS AND SHADOWS and THE STORYTELLER AND HIS THREE DAUGHTERS, also set in Japan.
Hearn's forthcoming series: The Tale of Shikanoko will be published by FSG in 4 volumes in 2016. Book 1 will be EMPEROR OF EIGHT ISLANDS out in late-April 2016, followed by book 2: AUTUMN PRINCESS, DRAGON CHILD (June), book 3: LORD OF THE DARKWOOD (August), and the final book (#4) THE TENGU'S GAME OF GO (late-Sept. 2016).
Lian has made many trips to Japan and has studied Japanese. She read Modern Languages at Oxford and worked as an editor and film critic in England before immigrating to Australia.
Hearn's forthcoming series: The Tale of Shikanoko will be published by FSG in 4 volumes in 2016. Book 1 will be EMPEROR OF EIGHT ISLANDS out in late-April 2016, followed by book 2: AUTUMN PRINCESS, DRAGON CHILD (June), book 3: LORD OF THE DARKWOOD (August), and the final book (#4) THE TENGU'S GAME OF GO (late-Sept. 2016).
Lian has made many trips to Japan and has studied Japanese. She read Modern Languages at Oxford and worked as an editor and film critic in England before immigrating to Australia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 475 reviews
July 28, 2026
„Императорът на осемте острова“ е много хубаво историческо фентъзи! Сюжетът е динамичен и се разгръща в средновековна японска атмосферата, в която се случват жестоки конфликти между кланове. Главен герой е Шиканоко, чиито опасни и вълнуващи премеждия проследяваме. Авторката сладкодумно е поднесла мрачна история и успешно вплела свръхестествени елементи, определено бих прочел още нейни книги.
May 2, 2016
Lian Hearn's become known for her Japanese-tinged fantasies. I'd previously read the first installation of her 'Tales of the Otori,' 'Across The Nightingale Floor,' and thought it was quite well-done, if a little bit more juvenile-feeling than I'd expected. Although the protagonist of 'Emperor of the Eight Islands' is also a young man (also an orphaned and adopted one, as well), the tale here is quite a bit darker. And of course, we're still in pseudo-Japan.
After his father's death, Shikanoko has been brought up by his uncle. However, the uncle is greedy for the lands and position that Shikanoko is heir to. He uses the old 'hunting accident' ploy to get his nephew out of the way of his ambitions, and leaves the boy for dead. Rescued by a reclusive sorcerer, Shikanoko is trained in the ways of an ambiguous dark nature magic.
Shikanoko wants to reclaim the heritage that his uncle stole from him. But his teacher may have his own agenda behind training the boy who's become "the deer's child." From warlords and bandits to the heights of Imperial politics, he'll be drawn into a welter of schemes...
The story very much has the feel of a classic saga - to the point where at times, it doesn't allow the reader to feel 'close' to the characters' emotions in the way the we expect from modern novels. It reminded me of what Jessica Amanda Salmonson did with her Tomoe Gozen / 'The Disfavored Hero' saga (although Salmonson went much further in that direction). (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) I do think fans of one would enjoy the other.
Readers should also be aware that this is the first book in a series, rather than a completed story arc.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Farrar, Straus and Giroux for the opportunity to read. As always, my opinions are solely my own.
After his father's death, Shikanoko has been brought up by his uncle. However, the uncle is greedy for the lands and position that Shikanoko is heir to. He uses the old 'hunting accident' ploy to get his nephew out of the way of his ambitions, and leaves the boy for dead. Rescued by a reclusive sorcerer, Shikanoko is trained in the ways of an ambiguous dark nature magic.
Shikanoko wants to reclaim the heritage that his uncle stole from him. But his teacher may have his own agenda behind training the boy who's become "the deer's child." From warlords and bandits to the heights of Imperial politics, he'll be drawn into a welter of schemes...
The story very much has the feel of a classic saga - to the point where at times, it doesn't allow the reader to feel 'close' to the characters' emotions in the way the we expect from modern novels. It reminded me of what Jessica Amanda Salmonson did with her Tomoe Gozen / 'The Disfavored Hero' saga (although Salmonson went much further in that direction). (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) I do think fans of one would enjoy the other.
Readers should also be aware that this is the first book in a series, rather than a completed story arc.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Farrar, Straus and Giroux for the opportunity to read. As always, my opinions are solely my own.
September 21, 2016
"Have I been here before?" Kazumaru said. Behind him the wolf howled.
"In this life or another."
And maybe he had. Who knew where the soul voyaged while the body slept? Perhaps it had the strange familiarity of dreams.
The setting is familiar : Lian Hearn has used a similar setting for her "Tales of the Otori" , a fantay epic based on Medieval Japan. The wait between the two series was worth it, because "Shikanoko" reads like the revised and improved version of the overtly romantic, slightly Y.A. former series. It has the added benefit a the publisher policy that I really support : all four books in the new epic will be issued within a few months of each other, putting into the hands of the reader the complete story without the often annoyingly long cooldown interval others think is appropriate, even when the sequles are already written.
I am not a huge fan of grimdark modern fantay, of books that are big on violence, harsh language and low in wonderment. I am instead in favour of stories based on different cultures, other than the over-used Arthurian and/or Tolkien mythos and of more subtle approaches to magic systems than combat spells. So you can say that Hearn knows how to push the right buttons in my case, somehow bringing together the dreamlike ghost stories collected by Lafcadio Hearn with the hard-edged warrior spirit and political betrayals of James Clavell. A synopsis of the first episode is not an easy one to write, given the complexity of the plot and the large cast of characters, all packed into a relatively compact space. Recently every new fantasy epic is measured against the current marketing leader, but in the "Shikanoko" case this attempt is not as far-fetched as you might think: we can call it a Japanese-themed "Game of Thrones" that manages to find a good balance between the warrior code and the delicacy of formal courting rituals, between history and fable. In the alternate Japan imagined by Hearn the animistic belief that animals, plants, objects (forest, horses, swords, bows) are sentient and need to be named, respected, placated cohabitates with the reality of clan warfare and shifting political alliances. Questions of identity, honor, duty, tradition, emancipation, jealousy, ambition, friendship and lust are the driving engines behind the actions of the lead characters.
... crossroads, riverboats, seashores, bridges, islands where all points where the worlds came together and touched, where miracles took place, where saints and restless ghosts dwelled, where adepts might be shown their next lives, or Paradise, or the different levels of Hell.
Speaking of which, we meet Kazumaru, the titular hero of the series, on the day he loses his father, the Lord of the Kazumarui domain, after an encounter with a mythical flying beast, the 'tengu'. The orphan young boy is then raised by his uncle as a warrior, but later gets cheated out of his inheritance and is forced to run in the wilderness after a failed assassination attempt. In the Darkwood, the boy receives a new name (Shika), training from a sorcerer/shaman, a magical deer mask and a sort of sexual education under the ministrations of a mysterious dark lady. Later developments will put Shikanoko, a master archer, in the service of a mountain bandit, then vasal a high lord of the Kakizuki clan named Kiyoyori, a runaway again followed by more apprenticeship under more of sorcerers, and finally a role in the bloody coup-d'etat that eliminates the rightful heir of the Empire of Eight Islands. The story is told in alternating points of view : mostly Kazumaru / Shikanoko, but also Lord Kiyoyori, his wife Lady Tama, the young girls Hina and Aki, and probably a few more. Despite the ramifications of a plot that ends in a full civil war between the powerful clans Miboshi and Kakizuki, the story was easy to follow and the naming conventions only rarely confusing. The cast list and the map at the beginning of the book proved useful here. In the afterword the author mentions several classic Japanese stories that served as inspiration, and I believe this material was put to good use here.
My favorite parts of the story are the ones that deal with the supernatural: a majestic deer that reminded me of Miyazaki and his "Princess Mononoke", ghosts and animal spirits, a dragon sleeping under a lake, several enchanted raptor birds, recalcitrant steeds, heritage swords and bows, an enchanted lute etc. The deer mask that plays an important role in the magical training of Shikanoko is probably inspired by the Kabuki theatrical conventions:
This dance unlocks the secrets of the forest and releases its blessings. It is a powerful link between the three worlds of animals, humans, and spirits. When you have mastered the dance you will gain knowledge through the mask. You will know all the events of the world, you will see the future in dreams, and all your wishes will be granted.
Empathy for the natural world and respect for the ghosts of your ancestors promise to be defining characteristics of the next books in the series. Some romantic complications and more supernatural beings are apparently also on the menu. I have already started on the second one, so I hope I will be able to bring confirmation soon.
July 20, 2019
Most disillusioned and disenchanted and disappointed I am, for the Slightly Wondrous Tales of the Otori this ain't not. Quite the bummer indeed this is.
August 17, 2016
This was an amazing tale, and I am excited to finish the remainder of this series. It is a feudal Japanese fantasy through and through, with wild Tengu, WereHawks, and Mountain Sorcerers with command of dark spirits. Each chapter is written from a specific characters viewpoint and it transitions between them very naturally in a very Song of Ice and Fire fashion.
After the first chapter I had assumed it would be a tale mainly for youngsters, and in some ways it is, but there are some very adult situations littered throughout that had me cringing and shocked. I was honestly a little skeptical of Lian Hearn based on some bad reviews that I have read, but the content is worth 5 stars in itself. The only reason I rate it lower is because the pacing was not what I have come to expect from an epic saga. Everything goes by in a kind of folk tale fashion, with what felt like a grand story being made slender and more easily attainable to ease the job of the reader, for that reason it did not have that strong of an effect on me emotionally and didn't pull me in as deeply as would a truly epic fantasy. This did make it more palatable in the initial stages of my journey, but It didn't leave me completely satisfied or mind blown, which is a shame considering how fantastic the quality of this overall story arc is.
Reviewed with honesty for NetGalley (Honestly)
After the first chapter I had assumed it would be a tale mainly for youngsters, and in some ways it is, but there are some very adult situations littered throughout that had me cringing and shocked. I was honestly a little skeptical of Lian Hearn based on some bad reviews that I have read, but the content is worth 5 stars in itself. The only reason I rate it lower is because the pacing was not what I have come to expect from an epic saga. Everything goes by in a kind of folk tale fashion, with what felt like a grand story being made slender and more easily attainable to ease the job of the reader, for that reason it did not have that strong of an effect on me emotionally and didn't pull me in as deeply as would a truly epic fantasy. This did make it more palatable in the initial stages of my journey, but It didn't leave me completely satisfied or mind blown, which is a shame considering how fantastic the quality of this overall story arc is.
Reviewed with honesty for NetGalley (Honestly)
May 23, 2016
Have you ever been absolutely loving a book, when suddenly the ending splashes a bucket of cold water on you? That was my experience with EMPEROR OF THE EIGHT ISLANDS.
EMPEROR OF THE EIGHT ISLANDS is the first book in The Tale of Shikanoko, the new series from Lian Hearn. There are four books, all to be published before July from Farrar, Straus and Giroux's (fairly new) digital imprint. I still intend to read the second book, AUTUMN PRINCESS, DRAGON CHILD, but it is going to have to work to earn back my goodwill. The ending of EMPEROR OF EIGHT ISLANDS soured me quite a bit on Shikanoko, the hero.
Shikanoko means the deer's child, and was not the name he was born with. He was once the heir to an estate, but his uncle arranged to have him killed. Instead, he was forcibly turned into a sorcerer, albeit one who doesn't know much about his powers. His life intersects with that of Kiyoyori, a young lord; Aki, a shrine maiden; and Yoshi, the rightful emperor. Their stories weave together to tell a bloody tale of betrayal, courage, and strange magic.
Hearn uses an episodic structure, which suits the nature of the story. EMPEROR OF THE EIGHT ISLANDS is an epic about legendary heroes, and each adventure leads into the next. It also has strong characterization. Even characters who could be flat-out villains, like the jealous Lady Tama, are understandable from their point of view. She's motivated by love for her children, even if it turns out poorly.
Don't expect a feel good read. EMPEROR OF THE EIGHT ISLANDS had me turning the pages, but it isn't the lightest of reading. Many bad things happen to good people, and even more bad things lurk on the horizon. At the same time, I have hope that good will triumph in the final novel of the series, THE TENGU'S GAME OF GO.
EMPEROR OF THE EIGHT ISLANDS is the first book in The Tale of Shikanoko, the new series from Lian Hearn. There are four books, all to be published before July from Farrar, Straus and Giroux's (fairly new) digital imprint. I still intend to read the second book, AUTUMN PRINCESS, DRAGON CHILD, but it is going to have to work to earn back my goodwill. The ending of EMPEROR OF EIGHT ISLANDS soured me quite a bit on Shikanoko, the hero.
Shikanoko means the deer's child, and was not the name he was born with. He was once the heir to an estate, but his uncle arranged to have him killed. Instead, he was forcibly turned into a sorcerer, albeit one who doesn't know much about his powers. His life intersects with that of Kiyoyori, a young lord; Aki, a shrine maiden; and Yoshi, the rightful emperor. Their stories weave together to tell a bloody tale of betrayal, courage, and strange magic.
Hearn uses an episodic structure, which suits the nature of the story. EMPEROR OF THE EIGHT ISLANDS is an epic about legendary heroes, and each adventure leads into the next. It also has strong characterization. Even characters who could be flat-out villains, like the jealous Lady Tama, are understandable from their point of view. She's motivated by love for her children, even if it turns out poorly.
Don't expect a feel good read. EMPEROR OF THE EIGHT ISLANDS had me turning the pages, but it isn't the lightest of reading. Many bad things happen to good people, and even more bad things lurk on the horizon. At the same time, I have hope that good will triumph in the final novel of the series, THE TENGU'S GAME OF GO.
February 6, 2017
Rating : Er... 1.5 stars ?
DNF'd 60%
Nope nopety nope nope.
Sorry, I can't.
I tell you guys, I LOVED The Otori Tales. I read the three books from the original trilogy in a weekend when the third book came out. It was SO good, and I think the first book may be the book i cried the most reading. Really.
And I was so happy to get my hands on this book ! But unfortunatly, it didn't go well.
1. Teens and YA ? Are you kidding me ? I maybe prudish or oldfashioned or whatever, you can't give this book to a kid. Seriously. I don't know in other countries, but here in France, it was sold as a book for teens, and it should not have been. This is violent, and very adult, and I admit that it disturbed me because I didn't expect this.
2. There are TOO MANY FUCKING CHARACTERS. And if it was not enough, THEY HAVE TO CHANGE NAME DURING THE FREAKIN BOOK.
Oh dammit. You have to check pretty much every sentences who is who. And because of that, I lost track very early and I didn't know what I was fucking reading.
3. Hello zero feels. No emotion, niet nada. Well, I would have a hard time liking rapists and idiots but still, I felt NOTHING for the characters.
4. But the cover's gorgeous so whatever.
5. And I actually didn't hate the book. The world building is amazing, and the story has lots of potential. But I guess it's just hard to keep up with a book you don't want to read because it's not what you expected. (and too many characters !!)
Yeah, I'm kind of disappointed. I heard the end of the book is pretty awesome and make us feel that the second book would be much better. But I didn't finish it, because what's the point of finishing a story you don't know what it was about ?
Just go read The Otori Tales, people. It's amazing.
DNF'd 60%
Nope nopety nope nope.
Sorry, I can't.
I tell you guys, I LOVED The Otori Tales. I read the three books from the original trilogy in a weekend when the third book came out. It was SO good, and I think the first book may be the book i cried the most reading. Really.
And I was so happy to get my hands on this book ! But unfortunatly, it didn't go well.
1. Teens and YA ? Are you kidding me ? I maybe prudish or oldfashioned or whatever, you can't give this book to a kid. Seriously. I don't know in other countries, but here in France, it was sold as a book for teens, and it should not have been. This is violent, and very adult, and I admit that it disturbed me because I didn't expect this.
2. There are TOO MANY FUCKING CHARACTERS. And if it was not enough, THEY HAVE TO CHANGE NAME DURING THE FREAKIN BOOK.
Oh dammit. You have to check pretty much every sentences who is who. And because of that, I lost track very early and I didn't know what I was fucking reading.
3. Hello zero feels. No emotion, niet nada. Well, I would have a hard time liking rapists and idiots but still, I felt NOTHING for the characters.
4. But the cover's gorgeous so whatever.
5. And I actually didn't hate the book. The world building is amazing, and the story has lots of potential. But I guess it's just hard to keep up with a book you don't want to read because it's not what you expected. (and too many characters !!)
Yeah, I'm kind of disappointed. I heard the end of the book is pretty awesome and make us feel that the second book would be much better. But I didn't finish it, because what's the point of finishing a story you don't know what it was about ?
Just go read The Otori Tales, people. It's amazing.
February 16, 2023
Лиан Хърн и псевдоним на Джилиън Рубинщайн. Австралийка, израстнала във Великобритания, посещавала редовно Япония и в резултат на това, запалила се по всичко свързано с японската митология.
Другата й серия - “Сага за клана Отори” е добила повече популярност и високи оценки. Доколко е хванала особеностите на тяхната култура не мога да кажа, защото аз самата съм невежа в тази област.
Положението тук. Свеж и лек стил, разказ като на приказка. Приказка с чар на невинно дете, в която с лекота се представяха жестоки и брутални сцени. Коренно различна от всички фентъзита, които съм чела.
Динамични събития на почти всяка страница. Не глава - страница! Свят - богат на магия, духове, богове и източен фолклор. Измислена история на феодална Япония с герои привидно студени и стабилни като айсберг, но кипящи вулкани отвътре. Няколко сюжетни линии в последствие вливащи се към една основна. Започва съответно и с няколко гледни точки, които във втората част на книгата са леко променени…
Всичко излишно, което изпълва големите тухли класическо фентъзи , тук е пропуснато. Отделно няма нищо общо и с класическо фентъзи.
Тези, които искат да излязат малко от комфортната зона на познатите четива в този жанр и да попаднат в свят, в който почти всичко е непредвидимо. Това е страхотен избор.
Все пак не бих препоръчала книгите (2)на всички. По чувствителните от вас може и да не им понесе.
Аз съм доволна от тази й книга и ще продължа и с втората. Определено бих се запознала и с другата поредица на писателката, а именно “Сага за клана Отори”. Ако някой има поглед над нея ще се радвам да сподели какво мисли.
Другата й серия - “Сага за клана Отори” е добила повече популярност и високи оценки. Доколко е хванала особеностите на тяхната култура не мога да кажа, защото аз самата съм невежа в тази област.
Положението тук. Свеж и лек стил, разказ като на приказка. Приказка с чар на невинно дете, в която с лекота се представяха жестоки и брутални сцени. Коренно различна от всички фентъзита, които съм чела.
Динамични събития на почти всяка страница. Не глава - страница! Свят - богат на магия, духове, богове и източен фолклор. Измислена история на феодална Япония с герои привидно студени и стабилни като айсберг, но кипящи вулкани отвътре. Няколко сюжетни линии в последствие вливащи се към една основна. Започва съответно и с няколко гледни точки, които във втората част на книгата са леко променени…
Всичко излишно, което изпълва големите тухли класическо фентъзи , тук е пропуснато. Отделно няма нищо общо и с класическо фентъзи.
Тези, които искат да излязат малко от комфортната зона на познатите четива в този жанр и да попаднат в свят, в който почти всичко е непредвидимо. Това е страхотен избор.
Все пак не бих препоръчала книгите (2)на всички. По чувствителните от вас може и да не им понесе.
Аз съм доволна от тази й книга и ще продължа и с втората. Определено бих се запознала и с другата поредица на писателката, а именно “Сага за клана Отори”. Ако някой има поглед над нея ще се радвам да сподели какво мисли.
September 30, 2016
This is the first of a new series of four books set in the same medieval, feudal Japanese-like world as Hearn's 'Tales of the Otori'. It tells of the the complex plotting to change the natural succession to the emperor's throne. It is a tale of warring factions, brother turned against brother, plots to murder children to steal their heritage and through it all is woven threads of magic and sorcery making it read like classic mythology.
The main character is Shikanoko who is thought to have been killed by his uncle but is rescued by a sorcerer and given power in the form of a connection to an ancient stag. He goes on to witness several events shaping this tale, setting in motion some that will continue on into the next book.
The tale is told in a fairly impersonal way, much like an ancient myth and I found it difficult to get a good sense of the characters and their personalities. Hopefully this will improve in the next book now that the scene has been set and the characters are known. There are a lot of charcters introduced early in the book and I had some trouble keeping track of who was who, where they lived and what allegiances they had and often got confused. Again this had improved towards the end of the book and I felt I was getting to grips with the main plot and characters and looking forward to reading the next installment.
The main character is Shikanoko who is thought to have been killed by his uncle but is rescued by a sorcerer and given power in the form of a connection to an ancient stag. He goes on to witness several events shaping this tale, setting in motion some that will continue on into the next book.
The tale is told in a fairly impersonal way, much like an ancient myth and I found it difficult to get a good sense of the characters and their personalities. Hopefully this will improve in the next book now that the scene has been set and the characters are known. There are a lot of charcters introduced early in the book and I had some trouble keeping track of who was who, where they lived and what allegiances they had and often got confused. Again this had improved towards the end of the book and I felt I was getting to grips with the main plot and characters and looking forward to reading the next installment.
June 23, 2016
This author has an ease to her writing that I found extremely comforting. The story flowed so well that I didn't even realize how far into the book I had gotten at points. I loved the setting, the characters and story held my interest, and by the end I really wanted to know how the whole thing resolves. Add a new series to the TBR, this one's a keeper!
January 1, 2018
Ich habe von Lian Hearn schon sehr lange etwas gehört, die Otori-Saga aber selbst nie gelesen. Als mir ihr neues Buch und somit der Beginn der Shikanoko-Saga vorgeschlagen wurde, hat mich das Buch jedoch sofort durch sein Setting angezogen. Es zeigt uns ein historisches Japan und beinhaltet darüber hinaus viel Platz für Legenden und Mythologien. Das klang für mich unglaublich anziehend, sodass mich zu diesem Zeitpunkt die Dicke des Buches mehr anzog, als dass sie mich abschreckte.
Direkt nach Beginn fiel es mir wirklich schwer, in das Buch einzusteigen. Man bekommt keine Einführung in die Welt und wird mehr oder weniger in sie hineingeworfen. Das ist nicht weiter schlimm, wenn man die Welt dann nach einigen Kapiteln verstehen würde. Leider entstand vielmehr eine Reizüberflutung bestehend aus vielen verschiedenen Orten, Namen, Familienzugehörigkeiten und Ambitionen, die man sich nicht besonders leicht verinnerlichen konnte. Das mehrere Seiten lange Personenregister half dabei auch leider nicht viel weiter.
Grund dafür ist aus meiner Sicht der Schreibstil der Autorin. Ich kann jedem nur raten, in ein Buch von Lian Hearn hereinzulesen, falls man mit dem Gedanken spielt, eines zu kaufen. Ihr Schreibstil ist für mich sehr gewöhnungsbedürftig und ich wurde nicht damit warm. Dazu kam, dass die gesamte Geschichte mehr in Form einer Sage oder Legende erzählt wurde. Man bekommt sehr viel Input, liest jedoch nur wenig explizite Handlung. Die Zeitsprünge sind teilweise sehr groß und nur selten deutlich. Darüber hinaus sprungt die Erzählung einem allwissenden Erzähler gleich zwischen verschiedenen Handlungssträngen und Personen hin und her.
Sucht man eine Sage und interessiert sich für japanische Kriegerepose, mag Die Legende von Shikanoko sicher ansprechend sein. Ich wollte allerdings eine tiefgründige und spannende Fantasygeschichte, die uns in eine andere Kultur entführt und wurde hier enttäuscht. Die Masse an Stoff, die man pro Seite bekommt, war für einen Roman einfach zu viel und das ganze auf über 600 Seiten dargelegt zu bekommen, langweilte mich leider schnell und ich verlor das Interesse am Buch.
Fazit: Man sollte den Schreibstil von Lian Hearn mögen und sich bewusst sein, dass man weniger einen Roman sondern vielmehr eine Sagenerzählung bekommt, wenn man zu Die Legende von Shikanoko greift. Mit blieben in diesem Zuge die Figuren zu blass und die Welt zu oberflächlich, um gut und mit Spaß in die Geschichte eintauchen zu können. Schade, denn auf einen Roman mit japanischer Kultur und Geschichte habe ich mich sehr gefreut.
Direkt nach Beginn fiel es mir wirklich schwer, in das Buch einzusteigen. Man bekommt keine Einführung in die Welt und wird mehr oder weniger in sie hineingeworfen. Das ist nicht weiter schlimm, wenn man die Welt dann nach einigen Kapiteln verstehen würde. Leider entstand vielmehr eine Reizüberflutung bestehend aus vielen verschiedenen Orten, Namen, Familienzugehörigkeiten und Ambitionen, die man sich nicht besonders leicht verinnerlichen konnte. Das mehrere Seiten lange Personenregister half dabei auch leider nicht viel weiter.
Grund dafür ist aus meiner Sicht der Schreibstil der Autorin. Ich kann jedem nur raten, in ein Buch von Lian Hearn hereinzulesen, falls man mit dem Gedanken spielt, eines zu kaufen. Ihr Schreibstil ist für mich sehr gewöhnungsbedürftig und ich wurde nicht damit warm. Dazu kam, dass die gesamte Geschichte mehr in Form einer Sage oder Legende erzählt wurde. Man bekommt sehr viel Input, liest jedoch nur wenig explizite Handlung. Die Zeitsprünge sind teilweise sehr groß und nur selten deutlich. Darüber hinaus sprungt die Erzählung einem allwissenden Erzähler gleich zwischen verschiedenen Handlungssträngen und Personen hin und her.
Sucht man eine Sage und interessiert sich für japanische Kriegerepose, mag Die Legende von Shikanoko sicher ansprechend sein. Ich wollte allerdings eine tiefgründige und spannende Fantasygeschichte, die uns in eine andere Kultur entführt und wurde hier enttäuscht. Die Masse an Stoff, die man pro Seite bekommt, war für einen Roman einfach zu viel und das ganze auf über 600 Seiten dargelegt zu bekommen, langweilte mich leider schnell und ich verlor das Interesse am Buch.
Fazit: Man sollte den Schreibstil von Lian Hearn mögen und sich bewusst sein, dass man weniger einen Roman sondern vielmehr eine Sagenerzählung bekommt, wenn man zu Die Legende von Shikanoko greift. Mit blieben in diesem Zuge die Figuren zu blass und die Welt zu oberflächlich, um gut und mit Spaß in die Geschichte eintauchen zu können. Schade, denn auf einen Roman mit japanischer Kultur und Geschichte habe ich mich sehr gefreut.
February 1, 2016
I was able to read this novel as an ARC at my library.
This slim volume reads more like the first quarter of a larger work than like a standalone. Perhaps the author, or her editor, was concerned about publishing a monster of a book, but readers looking for strong resolution should avoid starting Emperor of the Eight Islands until the rest of the series comes out. Despite that, this work is still brimming with interesting characters, significant action, and establishes the background of a fantasy world that feels new, instead of relying on familiar patterns. By the end, the characters are maneuvered into interesting positions in their dynamic world, promising great reading to come.
The story may be a sort of medieval Japanese urban fantasy, but the style is mythic. Reading the exploits of Shikanoko and the other characters is more like reading a myth or fairytale than a novel. This means that while the world of the book is deftly drawn, it is done with swift strokes, and perhaps benefits readers who have read other works set in medieval Japan, allowing them to fill in many details on their own. It also means that while the action is fast, most of it is related matter-of-factly, and even things like the destruction of entire towns are unamplified by the author's language. To relate it to something else in the fantasy genre, I think that reading the whole series feel more akin to reading The Simarillion than reading The Hobbit.
This slim volume reads more like the first quarter of a larger work than like a standalone. Perhaps the author, or her editor, was concerned about publishing a monster of a book, but readers looking for strong resolution should avoid starting Emperor of the Eight Islands until the rest of the series comes out. Despite that, this work is still brimming with interesting characters, significant action, and establishes the background of a fantasy world that feels new, instead of relying on familiar patterns. By the end, the characters are maneuvered into interesting positions in their dynamic world, promising great reading to come.
The story may be a sort of medieval Japanese urban fantasy, but the style is mythic. Reading the exploits of Shikanoko and the other characters is more like reading a myth or fairytale than a novel. This means that while the world of the book is deftly drawn, it is done with swift strokes, and perhaps benefits readers who have read other works set in medieval Japan, allowing them to fill in many details on their own. It also means that while the action is fast, most of it is related matter-of-factly, and even things like the destruction of entire towns are unamplified by the author's language. To relate it to something else in the fantasy genre, I think that reading the whole series feel more akin to reading The Simarillion than reading The Hobbit.
September 14, 2023
Паузирана на 38% Западна интерпретация на източна култура: красива опаковка с нула съдържание и хранителна стойност. С други думи Йохансоновият Ghost in the Shell all over again. Ако си падаш по хаотичен екшън с много специални ефекти и милион и три персонажа, които няма да запомниш - be my guest. Ако обаче обичаш японската култура и всичко, което тя ражда със специфичната ѝ щипка философия - бягай в другата посока. Единственото, което ще направи за теб тази книга е да те приспи от скука. Както стана с мен последния месец. Може би по-нататък ще се напъна и ще я довърша. Сега за сега дори мисълта за нея ме напряга и отегчава.
November 3, 2017
Inkvotary
Shikanoko has survived the fall from a mountain cliff. But the price he has to pay for being alive is tremendous. His uncle wants his dead, a powerful man wants to control him and the woman he loves is out of his reach. Only the dark powers are willing to help him. But with them danger and death are always near. To gain back what is rightfully his, he must learn to control his new abilities and defeat his uncle.
Lian Hearn is no author of the loud tones. Her writing-style is decent, classy, melodious and soft. There is a hint of elegance and every word matters. There is some brutality to find in her stories, but even in the bloodiest scenes the style is simple and effective. The story is full of intrigues, eagerness for power, passion, hate and the thirst for revenge.
The Tale of Shikanoko is a novel that lets you dive in the ancient life and traditions of Japan where honor is everything and a man can´t afford to lose face. The broad variety of words and the diversified story is told over various lines of action that work very harmonic over the ongoing novel.
The mixture of tradition, mystic and ancient believes combined with beautiful created figures lets you see and feel the pain, hunger and despair some of them must endure. Destiny and faith are a huge part of everything going on in this very complex story.
Men are greedy for more power; the destiny of the country is at stake and only one man is able to fulfill the destiny of the real emperor. But will he succeed?
Lian Hearn has created characters who are strong and weak at the same time. Magic brings out the worst in a man, women are seen as a man´s belonging but not equal and ghosts are everywhere. But don´t expect very profound characters. Yes, they all have endured at some point some cruelty, have suffered a loss and are not living the life they actually wanted. Or what is rightfully theirs. But the author isn´t going too deep into that. She tells a bit about it, scratches a bit on the surface, just enough to keep you fascinated, but never too much to give you a hint how the story could unfold.
With this book the author starts her new The Tale of Shikanoko Saga and introduces you to the important main figures. It is no fast-paced read, that´s for sure. But if you are in for some ancient Asian traditions, life-style, believes and setting, then this might be the right choice for you.
Shikanoko has survived the fall from a mountain cliff. But the price he has to pay for being alive is tremendous. His uncle wants his dead, a powerful man wants to control him and the woman he loves is out of his reach. Only the dark powers are willing to help him. But with them danger and death are always near. To gain back what is rightfully his, he must learn to control his new abilities and defeat his uncle.
Lian Hearn is no author of the loud tones. Her writing-style is decent, classy, melodious and soft. There is a hint of elegance and every word matters. There is some brutality to find in her stories, but even in the bloodiest scenes the style is simple and effective. The story is full of intrigues, eagerness for power, passion, hate and the thirst for revenge.
The Tale of Shikanoko is a novel that lets you dive in the ancient life and traditions of Japan where honor is everything and a man can´t afford to lose face. The broad variety of words and the diversified story is told over various lines of action that work very harmonic over the ongoing novel.
The mixture of tradition, mystic and ancient believes combined with beautiful created figures lets you see and feel the pain, hunger and despair some of them must endure. Destiny and faith are a huge part of everything going on in this very complex story.
Men are greedy for more power; the destiny of the country is at stake and only one man is able to fulfill the destiny of the real emperor. But will he succeed?
Lian Hearn has created characters who are strong and weak at the same time. Magic brings out the worst in a man, women are seen as a man´s belonging but not equal and ghosts are everywhere. But don´t expect very profound characters. Yes, they all have endured at some point some cruelty, have suffered a loss and are not living the life they actually wanted. Or what is rightfully theirs. But the author isn´t going too deep into that. She tells a bit about it, scratches a bit on the surface, just enough to keep you fascinated, but never too much to give you a hint how the story could unfold.
With this book the author starts her new The Tale of Shikanoko Saga and introduces you to the important main figures. It is no fast-paced read, that´s for sure. But if you are in for some ancient Asian traditions, life-style, believes and setting, then this might be the right choice for you.
August 11, 2019
“I am what I am and what I have always been, a poor soul on a journey.”
Well, this one wasn't really my cup of tea. As a fan of Japanes culture and anime, I was extremely excited to read a book about Japanes culture etc.
However, at the beginning I was sooooooooooooo confused. Too many names, too many places, just everything too much. I needed a lot of time to understand and to get into the story.
After this, I started to enjoy the story, but I was confused till the end, trying to get my mind to remember all of the characters and their connections.
Nevertheless, I loved the Japanes theme. The names, the places, the myths - they were worth reading this book.
I have to read her other series, which was praised a lot some years ago. And yes, I'll read the second book coming out next year, because I need to know what Shikanoko is about to do!
3 stars
Well, this one wasn't really my cup of tea. As a fan of Japanes culture and anime, I was extremely excited to read a book about Japanes culture etc.
However, at the beginning I was sooooooooooooo confused. Too many names, too many places, just everything too much. I needed a lot of time to understand and to get into the story.
After this, I started to enjoy the story, but I was confused till the end, trying to get my mind to remember all of the characters and their connections.
Nevertheless, I loved the Japanes theme. The names, the places, the myths - they were worth reading this book.
I have to read her other series, which was praised a lot some years ago. And yes, I'll read the second book coming out next year, because I need to know what Shikanoko is about to do!
3 stars
Read
April 27, 2016Hearn, the author of the awesome Tales of the Otori series, is back with a new fantastic series set in medieval Japan. At the beginning of the tale is a young future lord, sent into hiding with a mountain wizard by his scheming uncle who wants the boy's land for himself. What follows is magical adventures on battlefields, and in forests and castles, involving both man and beasts. This story is a rich tapestry of magic, superstition, and ancient history, all wonderfully realized. And all four books in the series will be available over the next few months, so we won't have to wait long to find out how it ends!
Tune in to our weekly podcast dedicated to all things new books, All The Books: http://bookriot.com/category/all-the-...
Tune in to our weekly podcast dedicated to all things new books, All The Books: http://bookriot.com/category/all-the-...
October 3, 2021
3/5
Un livre de fantasy japonais qui gagne à être plus connu ! L'univers est fascinant : des sorciers, des faucons magiques, une course effrénée pour sauver l'Empereur, des batailles, rivalités et trahisons...
Cependant, je reconnais que c'est une lecture un poil exigeante car il y a beaucoup de personnages et on s'y perd vite, aussi certaines scènes sont atroces (TW violence sexuelle et physique). L'histoire va à la fois vite et lentement ; disons que l'action ne manque pas avec la progression d'un ou plusieurs personnages par chapitre mais c'est difficile de s'attacher à eux pour ces mêmes raisons.
En revanche, la classification jeunesse est totalement erronée. Ce livre n'est pas du tout à destination des enfants !
Un livre de fantasy japonais qui gagne à être plus connu ! L'univers est fascinant : des sorciers, des faucons magiques, une course effrénée pour sauver l'Empereur, des batailles, rivalités et trahisons...
Cependant, je reconnais que c'est une lecture un poil exigeante car il y a beaucoup de personnages et on s'y perd vite, aussi certaines scènes sont atroces (TW violence sexuelle et physique). L'histoire va à la fois vite et lentement ; disons que l'action ne manque pas avec la progression d'un ou plusieurs personnages par chapitre mais c'est difficile de s'attacher à eux pour ces mêmes raisons.
En revanche, la classification jeunesse est totalement erronée. Ce livre n'est pas du tout à destination des enfants !
April 13, 2022
My full review can be read on my blog 💖
TW: mentions of non-consensual sex & rape, torture, death
I was craving for a book set with mythical and cultural Japanese elements, and this one came at the perfect time ✨💖 It’s only the first book, but it has a potential to become a new favourite series of mine!
This book is told from six POVs, but for a book with a lot of characters, the story is rather easy to follow. A character list is provided to help if you suddenly forget a character (like I did), but if you have a good memory, I suggest skipping the list entirely to avoid spoilers.
I despise most of the adults in this one, but I adore the children. Shika, Aki, Hina, Yoshi and Kai all own my heart, and I only want the best for them 🥺💖 These children are forced to grow up quickly because of the adults’ selfish decisions; my heart breaks for them 💔 And the ending absolutely killed me.
Emperor of the Eight Islands is a tale filled with greed, lust, betrayal and extreme loyalty. Loyalty may sound good, but when you’re dying for the wrong person, someone else is bound to get hurt. It has enough elements of twists and horrors, and I truly had a great time reading this book!
“Your life is not your own. You will die to one life and rise to another, to become what you are meant to be.”
TW: mentions of non-consensual sex & rape, torture, death
I was craving for a book set with mythical and cultural Japanese elements, and this one came at the perfect time ✨💖 It’s only the first book, but it has a potential to become a new favourite series of mine!
This book is told from six POVs, but for a book with a lot of characters, the story is rather easy to follow. A character list is provided to help if you suddenly forget a character (like I did), but if you have a good memory, I suggest skipping the list entirely to avoid spoilers.
I despise most of the adults in this one, but I adore the children. Shika, Aki, Hina, Yoshi and Kai all own my heart, and I only want the best for them 🥺💖 These children are forced to grow up quickly because of the adults’ selfish decisions; my heart breaks for them 💔 And the ending absolutely killed me.
Emperor of the Eight Islands is a tale filled with greed, lust, betrayal and extreme loyalty. Loyalty may sound good, but when you’re dying for the wrong person, someone else is bound to get hurt. It has enough elements of twists and horrors, and I truly had a great time reading this book!
May 25, 2020
3.5 stars
My baby brother lent me this book, and thank you quarantine for making me finally get around to reading it. 😆
I did enjoy the story, the spirits and sorcery and all of the other little bits were very interesting. I liked the characters, the development of all of them and the journeys everyone went on. Now, I'd like to continue the series but who knows when I'll be around my little brother again to get the next books. The authors writing style seems a little choppy but I think it's an intentional choice for the book. Which to me, feels like it fits the story well.
My baby brother lent me this book, and thank you quarantine for making me finally get around to reading it. 😆
I did enjoy the story, the spirits and sorcery and all of the other little bits were very interesting. I liked the characters, the development of all of them and the journeys everyone went on. Now, I'd like to continue the series but who knows when I'll be around my little brother again to get the next books. The authors writing style seems a little choppy but I think it's an intentional choice for the book. Which to me, feels like it fits the story well.
February 7, 2017
Lian Hearn est l'auteure de la saga du Clan des Otori. Que je n'ai jamais lu mais qui est pourtant dans ma bibliothèque, prêtée par une copine, honte à moi. Mais c'est à sa nouvelle série que nous allons nous intéresser, Shikanoko. Les 4 tomes de la saga doivent paraître dans l'année aux éditions Gallimard, pour une fois pas trop d'attente prévue. Cette fois, l'auteure se prête au jeu de la fantasy avec une mythologie japonaise des plus poétique. Alors, quid de ce premier tome ?
Shikanoko, après avoir été laissé pour mort par son beau-père, est élevé par le sorcier de la montagne. Celui ci va le former et il deviendra l'enfant du Cerf grâce à son masque magique. S'en suit alors des complots, des guerres, des machinations, l'amour, les pertes, etc. C'était assez chouette.
Les pour :
- L'ambiance : on est clairement plongé dans un Japon médiéval construit avec soin. La carte en début du livre et les descriptions au long de la lecture immergent complètement dans l'histoire. La mythologie de l'univers crée est intéressante. Je lis peu de roman asiatique et j'ai beaucoup aimé me replonger dans cette culture (bien que ça soit un roman fantasy, on retrouve les codes japonisants du genre : l'honneur, la fierté, la mort, le sexe).
- L'écriture : c'est très poétique mais pas pompeux. De belles images se dessinent et pourtant l'auteure arrive à insuffler du suspens et de l'aventure. Ils se passent beaucoup de choses, on a toujours envie de savoir ce qui va leur arriver, comment la situation va évoluer, etc. C'est habilement mené. Même si en vrai, l'auteure est australienne, son style est japonais. Je ne saurais pas bien décrire cette façon d'écrire mais c'est sec sans pour autant enlever la beauté de la langue.
- L'objet-livre : comment ça c'est futile ? Je le trouve vraiment beau. En mettant les 4 livres l'un à côté de l'autre (une fois qu'ils seront sortis et qu'on les aura achetés), on obtient la Vague d'Hokusai sur le dos.
Le moins :
- Beaucoup, beaucoup trop de personnages. Heureusement qu'il y a une liste au début du livre pour s'y référer. Je me suis arrêtée tellement de fois dans ma lecture pour savoir qui était qui. Ils ont des noms, des surnoms, ils évoluent et changent de noms... Bref, j'étais paumée. Je l'ai lu en 2 jours et le lendemain ça été très difficile de me replonger, je ne retiens pas du tout les noms japonais. Il a fallu tout remettre en ordre dans ma tête.
J'ai envie de dire, tentez le coup.
Shikanoko, après avoir été laissé pour mort par son beau-père, est élevé par le sorcier de la montagne. Celui ci va le former et il deviendra l'enfant du Cerf grâce à son masque magique. S'en suit alors des complots, des guerres, des machinations, l'amour, les pertes, etc. C'était assez chouette.
Les pour :
- L'ambiance : on est clairement plongé dans un Japon médiéval construit avec soin. La carte en début du livre et les descriptions au long de la lecture immergent complètement dans l'histoire. La mythologie de l'univers crée est intéressante. Je lis peu de roman asiatique et j'ai beaucoup aimé me replonger dans cette culture (bien que ça soit un roman fantasy, on retrouve les codes japonisants du genre : l'honneur, la fierté, la mort, le sexe).
- L'écriture : c'est très poétique mais pas pompeux. De belles images se dessinent et pourtant l'auteure arrive à insuffler du suspens et de l'aventure. Ils se passent beaucoup de choses, on a toujours envie de savoir ce qui va leur arriver, comment la situation va évoluer, etc. C'est habilement mené. Même si en vrai, l'auteure est australienne, son style est japonais. Je ne saurais pas bien décrire cette façon d'écrire mais c'est sec sans pour autant enlever la beauté de la langue.
- L'objet-livre : comment ça c'est futile ? Je le trouve vraiment beau. En mettant les 4 livres l'un à côté de l'autre (une fois qu'ils seront sortis et qu'on les aura achetés), on obtient la Vague d'Hokusai sur le dos.
Le moins :
- Beaucoup, beaucoup trop de personnages. Heureusement qu'il y a une liste au début du livre pour s'y référer. Je me suis arrêtée tellement de fois dans ma lecture pour savoir qui était qui. Ils ont des noms, des surnoms, ils évoluent et changent de noms... Bref, j'étais paumée. Je l'ai lu en 2 jours et le lendemain ça été très difficile de me replonger, je ne retiens pas du tout les noms japonais. Il a fallu tout remettre en ordre dans ma tête.
J'ai envie de dire, tentez le coup.
February 7, 2017
2/5stars
SIIIIIIGH, I was legit so freaking pumped for this book. Someone recommended it to me on twitter and I immediately looked it up, did some research and it sounded AWESOME - a fantasy novel with Japanese and Korean influence? hell freaking YAH. Sign me up! I immediately ordered it on amazon and the second it arrived in the mail I sat down and started reading. Needless to say, I was a bit disappointed which especially sucks because these books are GORGEOUS and the author has so many books out! I was hoping I'd have myself a new awesome series to read and an author to binge through.
The premise is cool, the characters are interesting and especially the very beginning is very enticing and it hooked me immediately (we are literally following a boy who is "the child of the deer" who no one can tell me isn't Luhan because deer). The entirety of my non-enjoyment of this novel was in the writing style. The writing style is painfully basic. Sentences with a handful of words, no real description and an overall choppy, juvenile feel to it. It sort of reminded me of Cassandra Rose Clark's writing - extremely simplistic and basic without any fluff or flowery-ness to it, but I adored CRC's Assassin's Curse Duology (though I wasn't psyched about her Wizard's Promise series...) but it didn't have any of the magic. I felt extremely detached from the characters and even the exciting points were monotonous and boring because, although I'm not one for "pretty" writing like most are, I do enjoy SOME description. This might be good as an audiobook though because it seemed like a legend or fairy tale that would be told around a campfire or something.
Overall, I doubt I'll be continuing which is a real shame, but I can't stand this writing style at all.
SIIIIIIGH, I was legit so freaking pumped for this book. Someone recommended it to me on twitter and I immediately looked it up, did some research and it sounded AWESOME - a fantasy novel with Japanese and Korean influence? hell freaking YAH. Sign me up! I immediately ordered it on amazon and the second it arrived in the mail I sat down and started reading. Needless to say, I was a bit disappointed which especially sucks because these books are GORGEOUS and the author has so many books out! I was hoping I'd have myself a new awesome series to read and an author to binge through.
The premise is cool, the characters are interesting and especially the very beginning is very enticing and it hooked me immediately (we are literally following a boy who is "the child of the deer" who no one can tell me isn't Luhan because deer). The entirety of my non-enjoyment of this novel was in the writing style. The writing style is painfully basic. Sentences with a handful of words, no real description and an overall choppy, juvenile feel to it. It sort of reminded me of Cassandra Rose Clark's writing - extremely simplistic and basic without any fluff or flowery-ness to it, but I adored CRC's Assassin's Curse Duology (though I wasn't psyched about her Wizard's Promise series...) but it didn't have any of the magic. I felt extremely detached from the characters and even the exciting points were monotonous and boring because, although I'm not one for "pretty" writing like most are, I do enjoy SOME description. This might be good as an audiobook though because it seemed like a legend or fairy tale that would be told around a campfire or something.
Overall, I doubt I'll be continuing which is a real shame, but I can't stand this writing style at all.
March 7, 2017
This one was a disappointing read.
While the setting is certainly interesting, the writing falls flat, and is often confusing. I found myself skimming through many of the pages, because I just became distracted and couldn't care about what was happening. The characters are very undeveloped or simply boring, and there are lots of them.
I was lured by the very beautiful cover of this book, falling into a very old trap, and I should have known better.
While the setting is certainly interesting, the writing falls flat, and is often confusing. I found myself skimming through many of the pages, because I just became distracted and couldn't care about what was happening. The characters are very undeveloped or simply boring, and there are lots of them.
I was lured by the very beautiful cover of this book, falling into a very old trap, and I should have known better.
February 2, 2026
First impressions: this is a tricky one. The difficulty isn't in the structure-- it's a quick and easy read that I knocked out in barely a day. Instead, I struggled with the writing style. It finally clicked better for me near the end, but the style of epic fantasy covering many years and characters in a small space meant that there's not much time to explore individual characterization points or moments beyond key events that are stiff with expository dialogue. It feels almost like an unpoetic translation of an epic saga. In general I think there's just enough character motivation to set these people apart, but there are several particularly crucial character moments and decisions where someone's thoughts are a mystery to one character but never even hinted at when we finally enter the other's person's POV. To me, it makes for a jagged and inconsistent reading experience.
I also just didn't enjoy myself very much. The setting is inspired by feudal Japan, which of course had very different social norms than the modern world, but there's still a lot of sexual violence and murder of civilians (including children) that's difficult to swallow. It's doesn't feel graphic or exploitative, but there's a grinding misery to the story that I found it hard to get past. Even without protracted descriptions, sexual violence (from magical coercion to a woman being forced between husbands against her will to outright rape) is a constant background threat at best and a series of violent events at worst.
This was particulary rough in the last few chapters. Spoilers:
There are a few great threads here-- in particular, I liked the POV chapters from Tama, a woman who is furious at the two brothers who have both been her husbands and is now determined to claim her estate in her own right. I'm just interested enough to try to find a series summary to see how a few things play out, but not enough to read the text in full.
In short: I'm sure this experiment is a great fit for some readers, but it wasn't for me. I had been meaning to get around to this book for years, so it's nice to cross it off my list (and to sell my copy next time I have the chance). In the spirit of trying to expand my rating scale out of the "three stars or four" rut, this one is two stars-- I'm not rounding up for a book that's technically doing some things well if I disliked the reading experience.
I also just didn't enjoy myself very much. The setting is inspired by feudal Japan, which of course had very different social norms than the modern world, but there's still a lot of sexual violence and murder of civilians (including children) that's difficult to swallow. It's doesn't feel graphic or exploitative, but there's a grinding misery to the story that I found it hard to get past. Even without protracted descriptions, sexual violence (from magical coercion to a woman being forced between husbands against her will to outright rape) is a constant background threat at best and a series of violent events at worst.
This was particulary rough in the last few chapters. Spoilers:
There are a few great threads here-- in particular, I liked the POV chapters from Tama, a woman who is furious at the two brothers who have both been her husbands and is now determined to claim her estate in her own right. I'm just interested enough to try to find a series summary to see how a few things play out, but not enough to read the text in full.
In short: I'm sure this experiment is a great fit for some readers, but it wasn't for me. I had been meaning to get around to this book for years, so it's nice to cross it off my list (and to sell my copy next time I have the chance). In the spirit of trying to expand my rating scale out of the "three stars or four" rut, this one is two stars-- I'm not rounding up for a book that's technically doing some things well if I disliked the reading experience.
March 18, 2018
It has been a long time since I enjoyed reading from the fantasy genre! This book have everything I love - Asian background, fantasy and Asian mythologies, a little bit of love and enough adventure to keep me wanting for more! Can’t wait to dive into book 2,3 and 4!
July 16, 2018
3.5⭐️
A fantasy set in feudal medieval Japan so my love is already set in stone for this series but can’t seem to connect with the characters.
A fantasy set in feudal medieval Japan so my love is already set in stone for this series but can’t seem to connect with the characters.
August 24, 2017
300 Jahre vor „Der Clan der Otori“ spielt Lian Hearns neue Fantasy-Saga im feudalen Japan; sie wurde von mittelalterlichen japanischen Kriegsepen inspiriert. Der junge Shikanoko (vorher Kazumaru genannt) muss gegen seinen Onkel um seinen Platz kämpfen und erhält von einem Magier gegen seinen Willen die Kräfte eines Hirsches. Shikanokos Aufgabe wird das Töten von fünf Angehorigen des Spinnenvolkes sein, die die Hexerin Tora aus Eiern ausgebrütet hat. Außer Tora treten weitere starke Frauenfiguren auf. Die junge Aki(hime) ist dem Kronprinzen Yoshimoro besonders verbunden, weil ihre Mutter seine Amme war. Tama, die Gattin des Fürsten Kuromori von Kyoyori, muss um ihren Besitz kämpfen, der ihrem Ehemann geraubt wurde. Demnach hatte sie selbst vor dem Raub vermutlich keine Verfügung über ihr Vermögen.
Fazit
Anders als beim „Clan der Otori“ fand ich es nicht einfach, in die Handlung einzutauchen. Die Seiten des Namensverzeichnisses am Anfang wurden zu den meiststrapazierten im Roman. Die Figuren tragen bis zu drei verschiedene Namen und die Anordnung des Namensverzeichnisses nach Clans und Völkern war nicht immer hilfreich. Als Wehrhabichte und Spinnenwesen auftauchten, hat mich nach der Hälfte der fast 600 Seiten das mittelalterliche Setting doch gepackt. Hearns Figuren blieben für mich leider flach, weil ihre Eigenschaften ihnen verbal zugeschrieben, aber weniger in der Interaktion mit gleichgestellten oder höhergestellten Figuren gezeigt wurden.
Lian Hearn schickt außer ihrem jungen männlichen Helden interessante Frauenfiguren in ihr Fantasy-Epos, die bisher leider erst sehr konventionell denken und handeln. Frauen im Schneeland sollen blass und zart sein wie Lilien, jedenfalls die herrschenden Fürsten hätten sie gern so. Hearns Figuren sind jedoch gebildet, in den Kampfkünsten geschult und können sich mit Waffen zur Wehr setzen. Im Verhältnis zu Männern gilt jedoch noch immer, dass Männer Sex haben und Frauen ihn gewähren. Fantasy dürfte auch in der Beziehung zwischen Männern und Frauen gern experimentierfreudiger sein, gerade, wenn sie sich an jugendliche Leser ab 14 richtet.
Bisher sind auf Englisch vier Bände erschienen, es könnte sich also lohnen, erst abzuwarten und kurz aufeinanderfolgend alle Bände zu lesen.
Bisher sind auf Englisch vier Bände erschienen, es könnte sich also lohnen, erst abzuwarten und kurz aufeinanderfolgend alle Bände zu lesen.
1. Die Legende von Shikanoko
2. Autumn Princess, Dragon Child
3. Lord of the Darkwood
4. The Tengu's Game of Go
Fazit
Anders als beim „Clan der Otori“ fand ich es nicht einfach, in die Handlung einzutauchen. Die Seiten des Namensverzeichnisses am Anfang wurden zu den meiststrapazierten im Roman. Die Figuren tragen bis zu drei verschiedene Namen und die Anordnung des Namensverzeichnisses nach Clans und Völkern war nicht immer hilfreich. Als Wehrhabichte und Spinnenwesen auftauchten, hat mich nach der Hälfte der fast 600 Seiten das mittelalterliche Setting doch gepackt. Hearns Figuren blieben für mich leider flach, weil ihre Eigenschaften ihnen verbal zugeschrieben, aber weniger in der Interaktion mit gleichgestellten oder höhergestellten Figuren gezeigt wurden.
Lian Hearn schickt außer ihrem jungen männlichen Helden interessante Frauenfiguren in ihr Fantasy-Epos, die bisher leider erst sehr konventionell denken und handeln. Frauen im Schneeland sollen blass und zart sein wie Lilien, jedenfalls die herrschenden Fürsten hätten sie gern so. Hearns Figuren sind jedoch gebildet, in den Kampfkünsten geschult und können sich mit Waffen zur Wehr setzen. Im Verhältnis zu Männern gilt jedoch noch immer, dass Männer Sex haben und Frauen ihn gewähren. Fantasy dürfte auch in der Beziehung zwischen Männern und Frauen gern experimentierfreudiger sein, gerade, wenn sie sich an jugendliche Leser ab 14 richtet.
Bisher sind auf Englisch vier Bände erschienen, es könnte sich also lohnen, erst abzuwarten und kurz aufeinanderfolgend alle Bände zu lesen.
Bisher sind auf Englisch vier Bände erschienen, es könnte sich also lohnen, erst abzuwarten und kurz aufeinanderfolgend alle Bände zu lesen.
1. Die Legende von Shikanoko
2. Autumn Princess, Dragon Child
3. Lord of the Darkwood
4. The Tengu's Game of Go
April 12, 2016
Medieval Japan seems a fitting setting for a tale of fantasy and intrigue. In my mind it is a place and era that have taken on phantasmagorical proportions, ripe with dragons, levitating monks and rulers who seemingly lived for thousands of years.
Emperor of the Eight Islands, Book One: The Tale of Shikanoko is the first of four installments by Lian Hern to be released this year from FSG Originals.
I have to admit, I was a bit apprehensive when I opened the book and immediately encountered a five page list of characters, plus a map full of place names. In history classes, my mind would revolt and shut down when confronted with rote memorization of names and dates- I was hungry for the heart of things, the story.
I shouldn’t have worried, flipping furtively past those pages, I soon found enough story to fill the allotted four books, and likely many more. The book is overflowing with the countless adventures and machinations of warriors, demon concubines, orphans who fall from grace, rise to power and fall again, sorcerers tucked away on remote wooded mountains, deer boys forged from magic, sex and pain.
The writing itself is both sparing and intricately gorgeous. The entire book has the feeling of sumi-e, a form of ancient Japanese brush painting. I visualized the tale unfolding in stark black and white, with sudden bold bursts of color. A chaotic cloud of black smoke rising from a burning village at dawn, the delicate white of snowflakes, plum blossoms, freshly snapped stag bones at the bottom of a ravine. A fiery shower of autumn leaves from inky black branches, cinnabar lips and spidery black lashes, blood droplets glistening wetly on an unsheathed sword. Each word a necessity and each image building upon those before it.
What emerges is an intricately woven tale, each life of utmost importance yet also fleeting. Beyond the delightful fantasy world being spun, there is a deeper layer of truth. The author illuminates the unceasing way in which lives effect one other, seemingly disparate and unconnected events stretching out through time and space. Pluck one thread and the results ripple through the entire fabric of the universe.
Emperor of the Eight Islands, Book One: The Tale of Shikanoko is the first of four installments by Lian Hern to be released this year from FSG Originals.
I have to admit, I was a bit apprehensive when I opened the book and immediately encountered a five page list of characters, plus a map full of place names. In history classes, my mind would revolt and shut down when confronted with rote memorization of names and dates- I was hungry for the heart of things, the story.
I shouldn’t have worried, flipping furtively past those pages, I soon found enough story to fill the allotted four books, and likely many more. The book is overflowing with the countless adventures and machinations of warriors, demon concubines, orphans who fall from grace, rise to power and fall again, sorcerers tucked away on remote wooded mountains, deer boys forged from magic, sex and pain.
The writing itself is both sparing and intricately gorgeous. The entire book has the feeling of sumi-e, a form of ancient Japanese brush painting. I visualized the tale unfolding in stark black and white, with sudden bold bursts of color. A chaotic cloud of black smoke rising from a burning village at dawn, the delicate white of snowflakes, plum blossoms, freshly snapped stag bones at the bottom of a ravine. A fiery shower of autumn leaves from inky black branches, cinnabar lips and spidery black lashes, blood droplets glistening wetly on an unsheathed sword. Each word a necessity and each image building upon those before it.
What emerges is an intricately woven tale, each life of utmost importance yet also fleeting. Beyond the delightful fantasy world being spun, there is a deeper layer of truth. The author illuminates the unceasing way in which lives effect one other, seemingly disparate and unconnected events stretching out through time and space. Pluck one thread and the results ripple through the entire fabric of the universe.
February 11, 2020
C'est encore une immersion hallucinante que nous propose Lian Hean à travers cette série (en quatre tomes) qui s'inspire des grandes épopées guerrières du Japon médiéval. Comme souvent avec les romans japonais, les noms des personnages me freinent un peu pour me sentir à l'aise et naviguer à l'aveugle. J'ai besoin de temps pour m'acclimater et mémoriser la distribution.
Nous suivons donc le jeune Kazumaru, orphelin de père, condamné par son oncle, abandonné en pleine montagne où il rencontre un sorcier et reçoit un masque de cerf au pouvoir remarquable. Désormais Shikanoko (son nom adulte) voyage en compagnie d'un vieux sage et d'une belle enchanteresse qui fera tourner les sens du seigneur Kiyoyori. Lorsque son fils, le jeune Tsumaru, est enlevé, l'homme n'a plus trop le choix que de se rendre chez le prince abbé pour prêter allégeance. Une conspiration contre l'empereur gronde, mais Kiyoyori reste fidèle à ses valeurs.
Humm... en fait, c'est pratiquement mission impossible de présenter cet ouvrage car l'intrigue est nouée de mille nœuds qui cadenassent le plan de façon remarquable. Plus on progresse dans la lecture, plus les liens nous apparaissent et nous ébranlent.
Car c'est une sempiternelle histoire de pouvoir, de vengeance, d'amour et de jalousie. Une histoire avec des accents fantastiques car les bois sont hantés par des esprits, les personnages sont possédés et la magie circule dans l'air. C'est assez sombre aussi car les ambitions - et les passions - sont dévorantes. Je ne vous raconte pas la fin, mais j'étais sous le choc !
Impossible de ne pas ouvrir La Princesse de l'Autumne dans la foulée.
Nous suivons donc le jeune Kazumaru, orphelin de père, condamné par son oncle, abandonné en pleine montagne où il rencontre un sorcier et reçoit un masque de cerf au pouvoir remarquable. Désormais Shikanoko (son nom adulte) voyage en compagnie d'un vieux sage et d'une belle enchanteresse qui fera tourner les sens du seigneur Kiyoyori. Lorsque son fils, le jeune Tsumaru, est enlevé, l'homme n'a plus trop le choix que de se rendre chez le prince abbé pour prêter allégeance. Une conspiration contre l'empereur gronde, mais Kiyoyori reste fidèle à ses valeurs.
Humm... en fait, c'est pratiquement mission impossible de présenter cet ouvrage car l'intrigue est nouée de mille nœuds qui cadenassent le plan de façon remarquable. Plus on progresse dans la lecture, plus les liens nous apparaissent et nous ébranlent.
Car c'est une sempiternelle histoire de pouvoir, de vengeance, d'amour et de jalousie. Une histoire avec des accents fantastiques car les bois sont hantés par des esprits, les personnages sont possédés et la magie circule dans l'air. C'est assez sombre aussi car les ambitions - et les passions - sont dévorantes. Je ne vous raconte pas la fin, mais j'étais sous le choc !
Impossible de ne pas ouvrir La Princesse de l'Autumne dans la foulée.
July 29, 2016
Lian Hearn writes excellent, Japanese-inspired fantasy. My wife and I fell in love with her books with her first series, Tales of the Otori, and have been hooked ever since. So much of classical fantasy draws on European traditions, to the point where it's easy to forget that it's not the only cultural tradition out there. That's one of the many reasons why this book is such a breath of fresh air.
There's a lot going on in this, the first of four books (all of which should be out by the end of 2016, so at least we won't have to wait), a great deal of political intrigue. A group is trying to seize the throne, and our heroes are caught in the middle. There's quite a bit of switching--or at least seeming to switch--sides as well. Being the first of four books, its main function is to scatter everybody and heap trouble on them. Give them plenty of obstacles and emotional turmoil to deal with over the next three volumes. Being fantasy, of course magic is a thing, and Hearn has invested a great deal of time and effort into making it believable. The account of Shikanoko's mask being made is amazing.
The characters are believable, the settings gorgeous, and the plot twisty. This has all the makings of an epic series.
There's a lot going on in this, the first of four books (all of which should be out by the end of 2016, so at least we won't have to wait), a great deal of political intrigue. A group is trying to seize the throne, and our heroes are caught in the middle. There's quite a bit of switching--or at least seeming to switch--sides as well. Being the first of four books, its main function is to scatter everybody and heap trouble on them. Give them plenty of obstacles and emotional turmoil to deal with over the next three volumes. Being fantasy, of course magic is a thing, and Hearn has invested a great deal of time and effort into making it believable. The account of Shikanoko's mask being made is amazing.
The characters are believable, the settings gorgeous, and the plot twisty. This has all the makings of an epic series.
November 28, 2017
I loved this! The setting of a mythical, medieval Japan was amazing. The plot was engaging and unlike anything I've read recently. The characters are all intriguing, as well as being well written. This book definitely pulls no punches - bad things happen to some good people and good people do some questionable things. The ending was just... I am still recovering. Well that's being a bit dramatic but the ending definitely messed me up a bit. Excellent storytelling - I will be trying out Lian Hearn's other books and I will be eagerly waiting for the next books in this tale. I highly recommend this, especially if you like fantasy with elements of Japanese folklore.
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