Across the Nightingale Floor (Tales of the Otori - Book 1)

I found that I became an avid fantasy enthusiast after reading the Lord of the Rings Trilogy and The Hobbit. There was an endless search I went through for a book with a similar appeal Tolkien was able to generate through his style of writing. I never thought I would enjoy that kind of adventure again. But I did! I think everyone can agree that authors who take on such a project will have many difficulties building the proper atmosphere and characters a fantasy book/series should have. This is ofcourse what I beleive either makes or breaks the story. Lian Hearn has accomplished that and made this story into an exciting and fun fantasy where the characters lives become your own. I truly enjoyed this book and I am anxious to read the next two books Hearn plans on releasing. If you enjoy a great fantasy book that takes you off to places your eyes will never see, then buying this book will be the right choice.

Across the Nightingale Floor was one of the best books I've read in a long time. It's about a young boy who is adopted by a Lord of the Otori clan when his village is destroyed. He later finds that he is a member of an ancient tribe with extraordinary abilities.
This book wasn't very long, and didn't take me very much time at all to read. It was hard to put down, in fact. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone!

I just finished reading Nightingale and although I was not disappointed with the work as a whole I found there are some problems I feel that Hearn could have improved on.
Although the plot flows seamlessly, if somewhat predictably, towards its conclusion it does leave many things undeveloped; many of Hearn's characters start out interestingly enough, such as the female character Kaede, but then fall into stereotypical roles such as the helpless female and the typical arch-villain of the Tohan Lord who is "drunk on his own power". These characters at first seem to break the stereotypical, purely white vs. black mode, except for Tohan lord who of course never breaks it, but then Hearn steers the characters back into familiar roles that are at this point a little cliché.
Hearn does well enough exploring the traditional Kabuki-esque theme of tragic love, but I feel if he is going to go with the traditional Japanese samurai tale than he should have used feudal Japan as his world seems two-dimensional due to a lack of depth, or he should at least develop his world more.
Hearn's writing style however is excellent and by far the best thing about the work, and in fact Hearn uses words very well to illustrate the severity of a situation, but it is the lack of detail and character development that leaves the book standard instead of excellent.

I have not been able too put this book down since I got it. It is like putting Harry Potter, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon and Lord of the Rings in blender. What you end up with is a great book that has all the best aspects of each. I feel as though I am there running through the bamboo and sleeping on medieval beds and living in the old noisy houses of medieval Japan. Lian Hearn does a great job of pulling you into the story and making it all feel real. If you like any of the above mentioned books I am sure that you will love this series. I am looking foward to the next book "Grass for his Pillow" and the movie from Universal studios. There is a new kid on the block and his name is takeo!

This is the first book of three and it is a great book that will appeal to both guys and girls of all ages.
It is mainly told from the first person view through the eyes of a boy named Takeo. Takeo is an orphan and is rescued by Lord Otori Shigeru, who basically becomes his teacher in many ways.
Kaede is another character in this book. She is young and beautiful, but also has a horrible life. She is being held hostage and is set to marry Lord Otori simply to aide in the making of an allied force.
This book includes many different elements to heighten the plot. There is magic, heroes, villians and of course love. It opens up your imagination to an era of Japan that is fictional, but appealing enough to be real.

"A stunningly powerful story"...I certainly agree with this. I am not a great reader but when i was given the task to read Across the Nightingale Floor, i was engulfed in one of the best stories i have read in a long time. It has everything - suspense, excitement, secrets, magic and passion. Throughout the book, you can see the historical background and hard work Lian Hearn has put in to create the best possible effects.
Across the Nightingale Floor is based on myth between clans in Japan. One boy, Takeo who cannot be found out by his original clan, The Hidden gets adopted by Lord Otori who is one of The Tribe. There is lots of exploring and understanding having to be made by Takeo as he does not have his mother by his side any longer. He is taught to read, write and draw, but he has bigger talents to offer... As the story progresses Lian Hearn offers more development in the adventure.
Within the opening chapters you feel involved as it is written in the first person, from Takeo and occasionally Kaede. There are mixed emotions from the characters and the reader really does get a sense of how they feel, dream and live. A brilliant read! I cannot wait for the next books come out.

Quick review: I downloaded the Audible version of this book and listened to it while I got things done around the house. It was engaging enough to have me working all day long, and I enjoyed listening. The narrators bugged me at first but I got used to them. I recommend for the non-judgemental, just-want-to-have-fun readers not looking for a historical novel but appreciative of the reference.

take lord of the rings, and crouching tiger hidden draggon and you have "across the nightengale floor," by lian hearn. for those of you intrigued by japanese folklore..this is the book for you. it is the story of a boy, takeo and his journey in discovering who he truly is. plucked from his massacred village he is taken under wing by lord otori who fathers him and teaches him the skills necessary to survive in the battling country they live in. soon takeo learns there is more in his instinct than simple warrior fighting skills and learns what it takes to cross the nightengale floor. part 1 of 3..i can't wait for the next book "grass for his pillow" and the impending movie that is to come.

It took me four months to read this book because it never excited me. The world Hearn creates is alluring and beautiful, yet the plot seems amateur and void of any intriguing insight. Some of it was very poorly written and difficult to understand, despite it being a novel for young adults. The idea is great, but it gave me nothing to grab onto. Emotions are glossed over, the long awaited love scene is disappointing. It's not a bad book-the scenes conjured up are fun to imagine which is the book's strength, but the writing is mediocre, and the book really never takes off.

Across the Nightingale Floor was a good quick read. However, it was not amazing in any stretch of the imagination. The story had some good qualities to it and some poor.

I enjoyed the premise of the story: Orphaned boy destined to do great things blah blah... That is always a good start and has the opportunity for the readers to see some great character change and growth as our hero has to decide whether or not he will fulfill his destiny.
I also think Hearn captured the inner struggle and turmoil of our young hero as he is thrust into a different society of becoming part of the Otori clan(the warrior class during feudal Japan) and also being part of the tribe(the last of the 'magical' warriors/ninjas/assassins of Japan, hidden and outside the social system of the time).

With all this good story telling, I am left a bit hungry for more action in this book. There where some fights and some sneaking and stalking around, but I could have used some more.

Other than the lack of action, this book is definitely worth checking out from your public library, but maybe not worth a buy. Check it out, you may find the lack of action is entirely o.k. for your taste. Just be informed this book is not the 'end all super-total-awesomeness-of-the-super-rad-ubber-pwning' of assassin/feudal japan books out there. Just a good 'average' read.

Having lived in Japan for 3 years and teaching Japanese now in London, I was delighted to find this book in the school library short listed for the Carnegie Medal awarded for an outstanding book for children. I enjoyed the book immensely and although some of the characters may seem unapproachable to some, they are authentically Japanese and mysterious. It was very hard to put down! It is fantastic to be able to recommend such a well written book to my students who are interested in Japan and studying Japanese. It gives accurate insight into the way of the Samurai, honour, and essential Japanese culture that is otherwise inaccessible and seemingly strange.

In this review I'm not going to tell you what the book is about, because I want you to read it for yourself, and I think you will enjoy it more if you don't know what happens in the book.
What I am going to tell you is that it is the first book I have ever realy enjoyed. I found it extremely exciting.
The aspect of the book I particularly enjoyed were the relationships between the characters, as there was a great range of diversity between them. Between some was unmeasurable amounts of respect and trust. While between others there was mistrust and hatred.
However the relationship that I especially like was that of Kaede's and Takeo's as it is brimming with passion, lust and desire.
Ever since I finished this book (which was 2 days after starting it) I have never gone with out a book. It has really opened my eyes to all the excellent literature there is in the world today, just waiting to be discovered.

I like the Tales of the Otori books. They were a book club selection for my local club and I have since purchased the rest and read most of them. If you are a fan of adolescent fantasy books, you will probably enjoy these books. They are full of magic, but a different type of magic than in the Harry Potter stories, which I also love.

I would recommend this book for readers under 16 years of age.

Dialogue, plot, character development, etc. is at the equivalent of an American B movie. More than this, the author truly knows very little of Japanese culture and has her characters behaving and saying things which are completely western. The most notable example of this is when one character is told by another that because the obligation he made was done so under duress, he need not hold himself to it. Laughable actually for in Japan today, when one gives one's solemn word in a serious way - one must stick to it or be considered without honor. Back in the good old days, this was an even more serious matter.

Throughout the book, there are allusions to over taxation, repressive regimes, etc - all of which is handled and understood from a modern American perspective.

If you're looking for James Clavell meets Tolkein - this is not it. Nor is this book a light, entertaining read unless you're very young and almost totally clueless about Japan, it's culture and history.

Many people have enjoyed the book however, so what that tells you - not quite sure. But it's really not something that I would put on the same shelf as Musashi or Shogun.

I was anxiously awaiting the release of this book for several months, being quite the enthusiast for feudal Japan. However, my expectations of an intense enmity between shrewd warlords soared far above the actual text. The story plods along at a decent pace, and the insight into Japanese culture and mythology (at least what little the author actually delved into) is fairly accurate, but the character development is plainly dull and the only reason I continued reading was to reach the epic climax of revenge, which itself didn't really live up to its own pretense.
If you're looking for some hardcore samurai action interspersed with bits of philisophy and battle hardened wisdom, I suggest picking up Cloud of Sparrows by Takashi Matsuoka.

most likely the best book in the series due to Lian Hearn's style of writing... an incredible amount of action occurs yet a 'completitive stillness' is achieved by the end. a good transformation in the character of Takeo from a country boy named Tomasu to a boy beckoned quickly to manhood by circumstances. well developed characters...Kaede, Takeo's lover, adds to the urgency of the story and isn't just a romantic article but a key component to the plot. interesting plot filled with action...sure to be devoured by fantasy lovers. leaves off for a sequel perfectly by keeping pace throughout and hinting at things to come. all in all, a definite read for those interested in a new type of fantasy.

If you do decide to read this book make sure to set aside enough time to finish it in one sitting. This book draws you in. However, it also seemed rushed to me, there was not as much characterization and plot detail as I would have liked. To put it simply I wish the story had been longer. Aside from that it is an enchanting story and a good read.

This is a very pleasent book to read, it brings you to a totally fictional world of fictional acient time. Although as the author clearly announced, all the characters, locations in this book are fictional, the plots are convincing and intriging. The language is flowy and exotic. I didn't want to put it down after the first page, and couldn't wait to get hold of the sequels after I finished this book.

If you want to give your brain a rest from your daily burdens, this book is a wonderful "vacation spa".

Despite all of the reviews, this book is not set in Japan...at least according to the author, who says that it is an imaginary country, in which some echoes of Japanese customs are found. Whatever! This is a wonderful first book in a trilogy, and if the second is half as good, I'll do cartwheels. Buy this and read it!!!!!

My review doesn't intend to be as thorough as many other reviews offered here--but I just wanted to add that the entire Otori series is simply fabulous. One of my favorite series of books of all time.

This was a different and entertaining read. it was also a "Light" read. the problems i had with this book was; the story really did not get interesting for me until i was half way through the book. Most trilogies or series of books that i have read have slow starts. This is compensated by the development of characters and the world in which the story takes place. IMHO, the character development was poor and there was virtually no development of world that this book takes place in. that is why i gave it 2 out of 5 stars. Otherwise, i would have given it 4 out of 5 stars. This is an entertaining book. my suggestion is to wait for the paperback or go to the library.

It exceeded my expectations. I love books set in a feudal Japanese context and this evokes the period wonderfully although it features an intriguing fantasy element. A wonderful find and I'm looking forward to the rest of the series.

I was walking by the bookstore the other day when this book's cover caught my eye. Being the lover of Japanese culture that I am I picked the book up, skimmed through a few pages and thought "What the heck; it's been a while since I read something.2
Basically I read it all in one day. the book was quite good; it kept me glued to it from begining to end and still wanting more afterwards. I then lent it to my girlfriend and she simply loved it. I'm looking forward to the next instalmenent. If you like stories about ninjas, samurais, fuedal battles and the likes, you'll love this book!

This book is great! I started it one night and it was so good I could not put it down until I was finished. If you want a book that leaved you yearning to read the rest in the series this is the one. With all the movies and books coming out lately this one gives a great mix of ancient times as well with the powerful ways of war. Even though it is set long ago, you can see how some of these concepts can be seen in today's world. I would recommend this book for anyone at least in middle school to adults.

Takeo's life has changed quite a bit. Less than a month ago, he had a different name, and he was a member of the Hidden, a secret clan in the mountains of Japan. Then Lord Iida Sadamu came and killed everyone - except for him. Takeo miraculously escaped and was rescued by Lord Shigeru, a member of the Otori clan. Now Takeo realizes there's something different about him. His hearing is as good as an animal's, and he can turn invisible.

Takeo has been adopted into the Otori clan. With his allegiance, he is drawn into a plan from which he cannot escape. Lord Shigeru seeks revenge for the murder of his brother, for whom Takeo is named. His martial arts teacher, Muto Kenji, is teaching him the secret arts of an assassin. All is leading up to one event that they cannot escape - to try to kill Iida Sadamu.

They head to the town where the plot will take place, and then they meet Lady Shirakawa, pledged to marry Lord Shigeru. She is rumored to have caused the death of 2 men already. Takeo knows this lady will change his life once more, but how it will occur is still unknown.

I truly enjoyed this first book in the Tales of the Otori. The story pulled me in and wouldn't let me go until I finished it in a relatively short time. I immediately started the second in the series and have just pre-ordered the third. It was enjoyable, engrossing and I thought the pacing of the story to be nearly perfect.

Good points:

-writing was engaging

-interesting how one main character was written in first-person and the other in third

Bad points:

-love at first sight was so unbelievable and abrupt that it is distracting and makes the book lose any credibility that it might have had

-the reason it is so unbelievable is because the characterization is so flat.

-inconsistencies in character (especially in the Lady Maruyama's case). It is almost as if the author wrote things just so convenient things would happen for the main characters.

Overall:

-the book was good as a light read, but since I can already predict what will happen and I don't really care about the characters, this is as far as I will go in the series.

The enticing intrigue of a boy who has a nice simple life, but is ultimately unfulfilling to him. Little does he know how much his life will change and how much his fate and the fate of many others will be intertwined.

I wonder if the author hasn't been mostly "inspired" by the "Cloud of Sparrows"/"Autumn Bridge". Most of the names in these three books are borrowed from there. I admit that reading the trilogy after "Cloud of Sparrows" was like going to the movies after reading the book the movie is based on - it is not completely disappointing, but the three-dimensional images in your head are put onto the two-dimensional screen. And these aren't your images either.

Save yourself the money and buy "Cloud of Sparrows" - feudal Japan portrayed with love and sincerity.

From the first page its fast moving, Lian Hearn has done a great job! Its set in Japan, very absorbing and quite educational. Really, the only annoying thing about this book is now much the word: "TEA" is mentioned. Its like, "Would you like some more tea?" "Take the tea...or else..." "How come this tea is blue?" "How dare you make cold tea!" "I'm sorry, i don't drink tea,* *surprised gasp.*

Anyways, its about this boy called Takeo, (actually, he was born Tomasu, tee-hee, sorry, Tomasu reminds me of tomato's...) and his village was massacred. He was brought up with a beleif that no one should kill or harm a living being, but boy, does he disobey...

Carrying on, he gets rescued by Lord Shigeru who adopts him, and he becomes a worrior and they like killing. Takeo has these extrodanry powers, hearing and invisibility and he gets this from his father's blood, the "Tribe."

Meanwhile, on the other side of the country, we are intoduced to Skirakawa Keade, a stubborn, pretty, intelligent girl.

Loads of events happen in the gap between where Takeo and Keade meet, so i won't spoil the story for you. The main outline is the whole revenge plot, Lord Shigeru is planning to use Takeo (who we find out his father was an assasin) in an assasination attempt to avenge his brother, the person he is planning to murder is Lord Iida. And the romance, its all about forbidden love between Takeo and Keade, quite sweet but wrong in a way, because Keade is promised to Lord Shigeru and how can she fall in love with the SON of the man she is going to marry. Scary.

Lian Hearn has a good understanding of the set time and place, even though the "Three Countries" are made up.

I think that this is the only book out of the trilogy that its title has somthing to do with the book, the nightinggale floor is a floor that sings like birds when you step on it and Takeo master's it, meaning he knows where to step to make it shut up. The floor's important because Lord Iida's floor is the same, and the only way to get to him to kill him is to cross the nightinggale floor un-detected. It is a book to be read again and again, I've read it a million time's and i havn't got bored yet. You'll love these books, they are Brilliant.

Oh, and by the way, does anyone know how to pronounce Takeo?!

Thank you for your time, these book's will blow you away!

I'm not sure what that other reviewer is talking about, but to each his own. This book is well-written, gripping, moving, intriguing and full of life and mystery. I love the whole series. My boyfriend and I read it aloud, for which it is particularly suited.

This book was very intriguing. I am a big fan of Feudal Japan, with all of the traditions. I thought this book was well thought out and well written. It was good enough for me to buy the rest of the series!

This book series has a little something for everyone. The series features Ninjas, conspiracies, honor, revenge, secret love, epic battles, murder, attempted rape, Character Growth, interweaving characters stories, Pirates, Samurai and lots of betrayal. It was a great read/ listen. I hope this one becomes a movie or HBO live action.

I bought this book as a present for a friend's young daughter, and she raved about it so much I thought I'd read it too. The adventures of Tomasu were so captivating that I was transported in a way that I haven't been since I was little, and reading C.S. Lewis and Tolkien. Anyone (kid or grown-up) who is willing to let their imagination run wild will devour Lian Hearn's books!

Seriously, you need to buy two copies; one to read and one to keep very, very safe because this book is the start of something big. Lian Hearn has crafted a story so artfully woven it will leave you breathless. She blends the epic scope of Tolkien, the coming of age of Harry Potter, and the heartstopping adventure of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Oh, and just for good measure there's a touch of romance. This is one of the most remarkable books I've read in a long time and to think, theres still two more coming....

Across the Nightingale Floor is a fantastic read. Take any preconceptions you have about sword & sorcery books, or samurai-style adventures, and throw them away. This is a literate, historically based novel that appeals to readers of all ages. My wife and daughter both read it and loved it as much as I did.
Here's hoping that the author will get the second book in the series out soon -we can't wait.

If you read the glowing review by Booklist in the beginning of the book it declares that this first in the trilogy, "Across the Nightingale Floor" is set in ancient Japan. It is not. It is a make-believe world, which the author freely acknowledges.I think perhaps Booklist ought to actually read the books prior to writing review.The book is a fantasy. it's characters seem to take on super-human attributes, characters that for some reason, share some of the same names and very similiar names from Matsouka's, "Cloud of Sparrows". Although I liked it, I never felt it had the intrigue or oriental flavor of "Cloud of Sparrows".

I bought this book as a present for a friend's young daughter, and she raved about it so much I thought I'd read it too. The adventures of Tomasu were so captivating that I was transported in a way that I haven't been since I was little, and reading C.S. Lewis and Tolkien. Anyone (kid or grown-up) who is willing to let their imagination run wild will devour Lian Hearn's books!

Seriously, you need to buy two copies; one to read and one to keep very, very safe because this book is the start of something big. Lian Hearn has crafted a story so artfully woven it will leave you breathless. She blends the epic scope of Tolkien, the coming of age of Harry Potter, and the heartstopping adventure of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Oh, and just for good measure there's a touch of romance. This is one of the most remarkable books I've read in a long time and to think, theres still two more coming....

Across the Nightingale Floor is a fantastic read. Take any preconceptions you have about sword & sorcery books, or samurai-style adventures, and throw them away. This is a literate, historically based novel that appeals to readers of all ages. My wife and daughter both read it and loved it as much as I did.
Here's hoping that the author will get the second book in the series out soon -we can't wait.

If you read the glowing review by Booklist in the beginning of the book it declares that this first in the trilogy, "Across the Nightingale Floor" is set in ancient Japan. It is not. It is a make-believe world, which the author freely acknowledges.I think perhaps Booklist ought to actually read the books prior to writing review.The book is a fantasy. it's characters seem to take on super-human attributes, characters that for some reason, share some of the same names and very similiar names from Matsouka's, "Cloud of Sparrows". Although I liked it, I never felt it had the intrigue or oriental flavor of "Cloud of Sparrows".

I was extremely excited when I heard of this book: I've been a great fan of the Japanese culture, and a book which was not exactly set in Japan, but in a "fantasy-Japan" held a lot of promise.
Unfortunately, the book fell far too short of my expectations.
The writing is simple and light, and that is perhaps the best part of the book, as it allows a simple and rather quick reading, making it rather fun to read in the bus or train. However, the story is EXTREMELY predictable -- the part which each character will play is far too easily guessed, and the plot never bears any surprises. The characters are introduced into the story too quickly (the word 'forced' springs to mind), and many of them have little if any psychological depth -- especially the evil guy, who, in this book, is nothing more than a typical evil guy -- so it's very hard to form any empathic bonds with them. Even the protagonist's pain for the losses he suffers falls short, and leaves the reader indifferent.
The auther obviously tried to create her own ideal Japan (a less mysogenistic and more Christian place) and this effort shows up pleasantly in the map and the clan mons (or crests, if you will) that show up in the first pages of the book. But this quickly gets very confusing, as the readers are force-fed with the geographical, social and political environment in too little space - which obviously results in massive confusion and quite some headaches to the reader. The auther seems to have forgotten that worlds like Tolkien's occupied at least a dozen books just to present that kind of information.
By all means read it, but don't expect an epic or something to read more than once.

This story is a very tight arc, told in the style of Japanese painting: each brushstroke of a sentence has a purpose, and there are no superfluous details.

It is Japanesque, rather than Japanese. Inspired by the culture, rather than being a dramatization of Samurai history. I enjoyed it greatly, as well as the two that follow!

This is not really my type of book, so I thought, but I was engrossed! Something like Harry Potter meets Knights of the Round Table, with a bit of Miyazaki's Howls Moving Castle thrown in. I recommend for teens and adults of all ages. I am a librarian and have purchased copies for others & recommended this title to many, go ahead, try it!

I really like this and am looking forward to reading more books in the series. I liked the characters, the story, and the setting, which all blended together to create a believable world. I cared about the characters and wanted to know what happened next.

I've really enjoyed reading this book and love how it resembles the LOTR trilogy. I highly reccomend the book to fans of LOTR and for anyone that enjoys reading fantasy. It also reminds me a bit of Narnia.
In addition, it is very fast paced which makes it an easy read. I can't wait to read the rest of the series!

yeah, it may have been written by a woman (someone seems to have a problem with that), but this book is great! There is also, of course, lots of action. The character development throughout the book is wonderful. You really feel like you know these people. Pick it up. No matter what, you will be entertained.

This book was great and it gets much better in book 2. You will not be disappointed in this book. Lian Hearn has a beautiful way of writing. Also recommended: David Gemmell-Hero In the Shadows and Waylander

This book was awesome. I was biting my nails waiting for the second one to come out. I can't wait to read it now that it is out. I have to buy it off of the store because the stores never seem to have it. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

I enjoyed this book, its characters and its setting. I enjoyed the main characters journey through different moral codes and his struggle to satisfy his conscience. I was attached to th characterts and found myself stopping to tell my wife what was going on every time something happened. Its good enough for me to tell my friends to read it.

I read Across the Nightingale Floor and fell in love with all the characters. I found myself an involved reader. I took part in the action and suspense with the characters. Fell in love and was worried to death for the hero. Being the first in a trilogy I am truely hooked and cannot wait for the second book.
I haven't read a series in a long time and I am anxiously waiting.

I loved this book which is set in ancient Japan. It combines the elements of fantasy, magic, martial arts and the Japanese culture to create a wholly engrossing read that is impossible to put down. Do yourself a favor and buy the second book too because you'll find yourself enjoying Lian Hearn's world too much to want to leave it behind.

I love the 3 books of the tales of the otori. I felt really bad when I finished the last book. My sisters and my aunt also read it and they all loved it. If she writes another book, which I hope she does, I'd definitely buy it.

I didn't think the writing of this novel was anything extraordinary. It had a kind of wishy washy undertone that reminded me of cheesy romance novels. The story was great though. It kept me ingaged and I wanted to know what was going to happen next.

This book was an enjoyable read. The story was interesting, was filled with Japanese cultural idiosyncracies and mythical personalities. Hearn did a decent job telling the story and provided a nice distinction between chapters. I recommend the book.

This book was excellent. The way the story flowed was incredible. I liked the authinticity of the style of the story. The sence of honor, duty, and courage was unbelievably strong. I couldn't put the book down.

this book is the best book i have read in years. i couldnt put it down and was reading it well in 2 the early hours of the morning. amazing storyline and fantasticly well written. you will regret not reading this book.a must.

Along with much of this book that confused me, I still had to wonder even at the end if the main character Takeo was bi-sexual. It's not a sticking point for me - but if he is bi-sexual, say so and make it clear. I like to know what is going on in the story - not be left at the end thinking, "Hunh?"

There is a great deal that goes horribly wrong at the end of this book which feels terribly forced. Not much happens until the last chapter and a half and then (SPOILER ALERT)

An important main character is killed with only a brief mention following it and then Takeo rescues his mentor and adopted Father only to BEHEAD him. Supposedly out of some kind of bizarre code or something but it is bloody, gruesome and horrific.

It doesn't end there as there is another attempted rape, a killing with a needle in the eye and a knife in the heart and yet another beheading. These heads are also carried around from location to location over the next several days. It is beyond horrible.

The author kills off his/her (it's a pseudonym, but others have said it is a she, who knows?) potentially best two characters without a second thought and then there is not much left after that.

Also I had no idea the "Hidden" were supposed to represent Christians - since when do Christians NOT believe in killing, war and bloodshed and Buddhists do? That is the inference in this book.

This book is confusing in its effort to NOT be Japanese but some kind of feudal fantasy Japan-land.

Only after finishing the book did I read that it was intended for Young Adults - yowza! Too much beheading and ambiguous sexuality for tweens! If I had read this at thirteen, I would have had nightmares. Actually, I read this in my thirties and I am having nightmares. I will not be continuing with the series.

I can't recommend this book to anyone. I certainly do not understand all the rave reviews here.

Warning: Some potential spoilers below.

Plodding plot: At least one third of the book seemed to be taken up with characters moving from one part of the country to another without much action or plot development. The rest of the book builds up to an event that doesn't take place. Indeed, when the main character finally crosses the much ballyhooed nightingale floor of the title, you really don't care, because you already know he's not going to be able to do what he's waited the whole book to do.

Dull characters: Paper thin and what development there is of them is blown out of the water by some major inconsistencies. One of the supporting female characters, whom the author initially portrays as steadfast, patient, imminently sensible and controlled, then does something so incredibly rash and stupid that it gets herself, and two children killed. The hero can apparently, with no previous indication he'd be remotely interested in doing so, sleep with another man (who met him only briefly previous to this encounter), only a few days after sleeping with, for the first time ever, the woman he risked his life to save and who is billed to become the love of his life. And the heroine of the story starts out strong, but then spends the rest of the book literally wasting away to nothing, fearing a pending marriage. Then, in spite of being deathly afraid of men and especially male lust, somehow kills her potential rapist, and then gladly gives up her virginity to her would-be rescuer, while soaked in the rapists blood, no less; not long after that she somehow manages to find the physical strength to sword fight out of danger by the hero's side.

The writing itself is okay, but not certainly not as smooth or lyrical as some critics have suggested. Most of the time it seems forced, and some strange turns of phrase jump out at you because they're jarring and even repeated a few times in the space of few pages - something the editors should have caught.

The book is set in a fictional land made to seem like feudal Japan. I can't help thinking, after reading it, that it is written this way because the author didn't want to bother with things like accurate historical detail. The book and the idea had a great deal of potential but came across as a quasi-Japanese remake of Hamlet, or a literary version of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon without the benefit of good martial arts choreography. It is aimed at young adults, but teens and other readers would do better reading Shogun by James Clavell.

I've held a deep interest in Japanese culture and history for a long time, and knowing this several of my friends reccommended Lian Hearn's Tales of Otori to me. I was looking forward to reading it after hearing much glowing praise, but I have to say that after reading the first installment, I was deeply disappointed, and have no intention of reading the rest.

The only positive aspect I found in Hearn's writing was an attention to detail in terms of basic scenery. At any time the author can paint a picture of where the characters are, which flowers are in bloom, which smells are strongest. Past this any talent for description is lacking. Without revealing any plot spoilers, by the end of the book entire events, battles, and character descriptions are glossed over or left unsaid entirely.

The characters of this first book of "Tales of Otori" are thin and one dimensional at best. Takeo's personality changes between chapters under the pretense of "inner conflict," but his essentials are always in question. At one point he enjoys his writing exercises and their likeness to artistry, but in the next chapter is bitter because of them. Women who are at first described to be intelligent, brave, and stubborn, by the end forsake all these traits and are treated as mere plot points. Lord Otori is a typical hero, and Iida a typical villain, with no interesting or distinguisable traits to make them stand out. The plot of the book is similiarly simple, predictable at best and tiresome in places. Though something can be said for the polotics of the clans, they are nowhere near as intricate or interesting as Japan's real history. I've enjoyed myself more reading encyclopedia articles.

Most notably, however, is how the author manages to make the world of Otori out to be "Japanese" without it being Japanese at all. Though the lanscape is described with the hills and valleys typical of Japan, with castle towns and the appropriate vegetation, everything else in the story is described in Western names and terms. Samurai, katana, and ninja, though clearly meant to be such, are only ever described as warriors, swords, and spies. And though these aspects of Japanese culture and others are employed, sometimes even with skill, the meaning behind these aspects never makes a strong impression, as if the author harbors an interest in Japanese culture, but not a *respect* for it.

It is the "Christian" characters in the story that hold the moral highground. They are depicted as being the most intelligent, the most moral, unlike the "brutish" and "animal like" warrior leaders. They are described as considering the sexes equal and keeping alliances where all others break them.

The Sengoku Era, like any ancient society, had it's moral problems. We look back on these old times and can talk about how they could have been better. But inserting the "Hidden" into this story, promoting them as a separate culture within this false Japan, and implying their superiority over it, was forced and unnecessary. This book is less about exploring ancient Japanese culture as much as pointing out its flaws.

Because of its juvenille writing style, flat characters, and lack of rich cultural value, I cannot reccommend this book to anyone.

"He grabbed her by the right hand and pulled her close to him pushing one leg between hers, forcing her thighs apart. She felt the hard bulge of his sex against her..." (Across the Nightingale Floor, pg. 40, Hardback)
Someone tell me a woman didn't write that!?
I have nothing against female authors J.K. Rowling is one of my favorites, but having read some Mercedes Lackey and some other female authors I had made a conscience decision to NOT read anymore Sci/Fi Fantasy written by women. The blurb about the author is totally gender neutral it's too gender neutral to be...it's fishy.
I feel like i was tricked, I went in expecting a book about assasins and got a romantic drama centered around pre-arranged marriages. WITH LITTLE TO NO ACTION (i am on ch. 11 and unless the last two chapters can make up for the first 11...doubt it) and most of the descriptive language used to describe the female and her feelings, not a problem if the assasin was the female but she wasn't.
I feel like this woman, in my opinion, thought if she could just get people to pick up the book they would like it. Maybe I am being prejudice but how many of these soft action-less books do i have to go through before i can justly say "it's women writers?"
Call me a barbarian but I know what I like.
If you are looking for a good story with lots of action, look somewhere else.
Oh yeah, through 11 chapters 8 people have died (not including the protagonists village which was destroyed leaving him as the only survivor, but since that is the standard method for introducing these type of characters his village doesnt count) 4 killed by assisted suicide, 1 who was surprised by a guy behind a tree, and 2 beaten to death for standing in the street (seriously).

Having an interest in anime/manga prompted me to get this book. It doesn't do the japanese justice however. Dont get me wrong, the story is interesting enough but I'm afraid the main chara ruins it.
I read this long ago but I still recall coming to the conclusion that I wasted my time reading about someone whom I couldn't come to even remotely like.
The end makes it clear that the common theme of good vs bad in most stories is butchered...seeing how our main chara is sexually perverted. The author tries to explain he simply has manly desires. Right. In the end, he finally gets to meet the girl he desires. Then he has sex with her. Hurray, I read the whole book so I could get to this. PLEASE, dont read this. I just wish this would have been exposed earlier on, so I didn't gag when I got near the end. -_-; We need a warning label on this...

I read the book in Spanish so I know what the story is and I'm acquainted with Lian Hearn's writing style. However, in this particular edition I have to say that fro the price, the cover and back are awful. They look worn out and needless to say, the illustrations are kinda blurry, it looks like it was fake copy of an original book. I'm very disappointed and it is my recommendation no to get this book. I'm somewhat sorry because I love Tales of the Otori but the quality offered in this product is very poor.

THIS IS NOT A SERIES ABOUT ASSASSINS.
This is a bogus love story thats boring and sadly predictable.
The 1st book is just tolerable enough to make one think that better stuff is to come.
Its not coming.
The sequels get progressively worse.
You want an Assassin story check out B. Weeks or D. Morrell