Paperback, 305 pages
English language
Published Aug. 26, 2002 by Riverhead Books.
Already a sensation around the world, this first book of the Otori Trilogy is a brilliantly imagined, wholly seductive tale of war, passion, and intrigue, evoking the spirit of medieval Japan. It is the story of a boy who is suddenly plucked from his life in a remote and peaceful village to find himself a pawn in a political scheme filled with treacherous warlords, rivalry and the intensity of first love.
Already a sensation around the world, this first book of the Otori Trilogy is a brilliantly imagined, wholly seductive tale of war, passion, and intrigue, evoking the spirit of medieval Japan. It is the story of a boy who is suddenly plucked from his life in a remote and peaceful village to find himself a pawn in a political scheme filled with treacherous warlords, rivalry and the intensity of first love.
A perfectly crystallized setting that manages to convey intense feelings of grief and yearning without becoming mired or miserable. CN misogyny and sexual assault, though they are treated with such a feminist hand that the result is more energizing than defeating.
The first book in the Tales of the Otori offers solid entertainment. The setting is feudal Japanese-flavored. Our protagonist Takeo is 15 years old when his whole village is slaughtered by the villain of the novel, warlord Iida Sadamu who is seeking to eliminate The Hidden, the peace cult Takeo's family belonged to. As only survivor he is rescued by Lord Shigeru Otori, a popular lord of the Otori clan who have recently lost a war against Iida's clan Tohan. He adopts Takeo, and is delighted, when it turns out that Takeo has the mysterious skills of The Tribe, supernatural abilities that allow him to become an assassin. They plot revenge against Iida and the Tohan...
The book was a very fast read. Takeo is maybe a bit precocious for a 15 year old boy, but I usually enjoy books that include schools and training in some form.
If I …
The first book in the Tales of the Otori offers solid entertainment. The setting is feudal Japanese-flavored. Our protagonist Takeo is 15 years old when his whole village is slaughtered by the villain of the novel, warlord Iida Sadamu who is seeking to eliminate The Hidden, the peace cult Takeo's family belonged to. As only survivor he is rescued by Lord Shigeru Otori, a popular lord of the Otori clan who have recently lost a war against Iida's clan Tohan. He adopts Takeo, and is delighted, when it turns out that Takeo has the mysterious skills of The Tribe, supernatural abilities that allow him to become an assassin. They plot revenge against Iida and the Tohan...
The book was a very fast read. Takeo is maybe a bit precocious for a 15 year old boy, but I usually enjoy books that include schools and training in some form.
If I have complaints, it's that it's very black and white. Iida is a villain without much depth. You do not really get any insights about him. He's a cardboard villain. However, there's hope. The Tribe is very mysterious, and they seem to be very grey. I'm looking forward to see how that turns out. I also hope that we get to know Kaede a bit better, as the female protagonist of the series.
It was a very fast read for me, and despite the listed flaws I enjoyed it a lot.
A very enjoyable read indeed, the description was enchanting and the coming-of-age story brilliantly handled.
