The Harsh Cry of the Heron: The Last Tale of the Otori (Tales of the Otori, Book 4) by Lian Hearn

Buy The Harsh Cry of the Heron: The Last Tale of the Otori (Tales of the Otori, Book 4) here. To find out more information or to view another item in this category, click next Science Fiction. To go back to where you were looking, use the "you are here" links below. Thank you for shopping at audiobookoncd.com!

The Harsh Cry of the Heron: The Last Tale of the Otori (Tales of the Otori, Book 4) from Science Fiction

The Harsh Cry of the Heron: The Last Tale of the Otori (Tales of the Otori, Book 4)
Available from Amazon
Price: $30.99
Updated on 12-28-2008.

Features

Audio CD: 1110 pages

Publisher: Highbridge Audio; Unabridged edition (September 7, 2006)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 159887067X

ISBN-13: 978-1598870671

Product Dimensions: 5.9 x 5.1 x 1.5 inches

Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces ()

From Publishers Weekly
Australian writer Gillian Rubinstein, writing as Hearn, concludes her bestselling Otori fantasy epic (Across the Nightingale Floor, etc.) with another magical tale of life and death in feudal Japan. Thanks to his enlightened leadership, 15 years of peace and prosperity have passed since Otori Takeo united the Three Countries, but his enemies continue to plot their revenge—including the Tribe, a ninja-like group of assassins, and the duplicitous Lord Zenko, one of Takeo's retainers. Perhaps the greatest threat, however, is the prophecy of a holy woman that Takeo will die only at his son's hand; his only son, an unacknowledged bastard, is being raised by his sworn enemy Kikuta Akio, the head of a Tribe family. With his beautiful (and legitimate) daughter and heir Shigeko by his side, Takeo must navigate these treacherous shoals to save his lands and his legacy from destruction. Hearn seamlessly fuses fact and fantasy to create a sprawling, bewitching realm of magic. There's enough background in this fourth installment that a new reader will have no problem following along, and fans will be heartened to know that this "Last Tale" will be followed in 2007 by a prequel. (Sept.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist
The Otori saga concludes in this gripping novel, set in the years after the previous book in the series, Brilliance of the Moon (2004). Otori Takeo has brought peace to the Three Countries and rules them with a benevolent but firm hand; however, his old enemies still bear him malice and continue to plot against him. Lord Arai joins forces with Takeo's bitter brother-in-law, Zenko, hoping to bring down Takeo, while the emperor of the region has dispatched a deadly warlord to attack Takeo, who knows there is only one person who can kill him: a prophecy has decreed that only his son can end his life. While Takeo and his wife, Kaede, only have daughters, Takeo does have a child that Kaede doesn't know about, 16-year-old Hisao, who has been raised by Lord Arai to hate Takeo. To ensure his daughter Shigeko's reign, Takeo decides to try to make peace with the emperor and even offers Shigeko's hand in marriage to the warlord Saga. The Otori saga gets better with each book, and this is the most absorbing entry in the series, complete with intrigue, magic, romance, and action. A perfect final chapter to the story that began in Across the Nightingale Floor (2002). Kristine Huntley
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Reader Reviews
Incredible writing and compelling character development picks up years in the future of the Otori clan. But what is worse than a generally bad novel is an excellent one that ends poorly. The conclusion is unexpected and not in rhythm with the book. Chapter upon chapter of moving the plot along with the development of the characters is abruptly brought to an end over the course of 2-3 chapters. What makes it even more unsatisfying is the third person description of the fates of characters that we have come to know and love in their own words. You can almost hear Ms. Hearn's phone ring and the publisher letting her know that the novel has met it's publishing deadline and she has to conclude what has taken her so long to write. Reflecting on previous comments. Yes it may be appropriate for the harsh code of the Japanese warrior but it tries too hard to be Shakesperian or profound literature. I just wanted an enjoyable read that was consistent with the first three books.

The Harsh Cry of the Heron: The Last Tale of the Otori (Tales of the Otori, Book 4)
List Price: $46.95
Available from Amazon
Price: $30.99
Updated on 12-28-2008.