Brilliance of the Moon
Tales of the Otori, No. 3

By Lian Hearn

      Lian Hearn’s Tales of the Otori trilogy (Across The Nightingale Floor and Grass For His Pillow are also reviewed on this site) have garnered much praise for the author and shown readers a new facet of the fantasy genre. In this last part, Takeo and Kaede are at last married, but there is much opposition to the match, and they are going to have to fight if they want to stay together - and hang on to their respective dominions. There are many enemies behind them, both rival Otori claimants, fierce warlords, Tribe families and, in Kaede’s case, a disgruntled suitor. Takeo has a prophecy to guide him, but many of its predictions are dire indeed. Also, he is going to find out that he will need to be as ruthless as his enemies if he wants to succeed - but how will this sit with his Hidden heritage?

     You don’t even have to like fantasy to enjoy these books, as they have much in common with oriental historical fiction. Fans of writers like Laura Joh Rowland and Robert Van Gulik will find much to praise here, as will anybody tired of the standard Tolkeinesque fantasy. None of these books are very long, but they are packed with action, powerful characters, and solid storytelling power. This series is also one of the “crossover” (surely a new genre) novels of the J K Rowling/Philip Pullman/Jonathan Stroud mold, which are ostensibly for older children, but which adults greedily devour. As well as a lush Japanesque backdrop, there is a strong rites-of-passage story in here, as the two teenage protagonists have to find out who they are, and what roles they want to play in life. Takeo in particular has many different paths laid out for him, and several conflicting teachers who would force him to do their bidding. Kaede must choose between a traditional female role and a stronger one, which her dependents need her to take on and which she prefers. Whatever Hearn is going to do for an encore will be interesting indeed - I can’t wait - but in the meantime, this book is a treat.