The vast scale of this enthralling story encompasses heroism, treachery, cowardice and love in a gripping combination. Set in Japan in a distant time, the actions and the cast are huge and memorable. At the heart of the story is Takeo who, during the course of it, grows from being just a young boy to becoming heir to the mighty Otori clan, ruled over by the mysterious Lord Otori Shigeru, the man who adopts him. But Takeo’s path is not a smooth one. He has magical powers himself and is therefore wanted by others than the great Shigeru. And he falls headlong into love…A dazzling introduction to a sequence of novels that includes passion and violence in a beautiful combination.
Perfect for Reluctant Readers as well as keen readers.
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Set in a mythical, feudal, Japanese land, a world both beautiful and cruel, the intense love story of two young people takes place against a background of warring clans, secret alliances, high honour and lightning swordplay.
Lian Hearn's stunningly powerful bestseller, Across the Nightingale Floor, is an epic story for readers young and old.
In his palace at Inuyama, Lord Iida Sadamu, warlord of the Tohan clan, surveys his famous nightingale floor. Its surface sings at the tread of every human foot, and no assassin can cross it. But sixteen-year-old Otori Takeo, his family murdered by Iida's warriors, has the magical skills of the Tribe - preternatural hearing, invisibility, a second self - that enable him to enter the lair of the Tohan. He has love in his heart and death at his fingertips . . .
The first novel in the epic Tales of the Otori series, Across the Nightingale Floor is followed by Grass For His Pillow and Brilliance of the Moon.
'Quite simply the best story of magic, love, sex, revenge and suspense to have come this way since Philip Pullman.' - Independent on Sunday
Lian Hearn studied modern languages at Oxford University and worked as a film critic and arts editor in London before settling in Australia. A lifelong interest in Japan led to the study of the Japanese language, many trips to Japan and culminated in the writing of the Tales of the Otori trilogy.
