Emperor of the Eight Islands: Books 1 and 2 in The Tale of Shikanoko series

Description

Like George R. R. Martin, Lian Hearn has captivated millions of readers worldwide with her masterpiece of imagination, TALES OF THE OTORI. Now, against a dazzling canvas of wild forest, elegant court and savage battlefield, she brilliantly brings to life the world that existed 300 years earlier. Hearn weaves an intricate tapestry - seething with intrigue, adventure and love - of two rival clans struggling over who will be crowned Emperor of the Eight Islands, in a medieval Japanese country inhabited by warriors, assassins, ghosts and guardian spirits. And as the laws of destiny play out their inexorable drama, so the battle for the Lotus Throne begins. Coming soon LORD OF THE DARKWOOD: Books 3 and 4 in THE TALE OF SHIKANOKO. Praise for EMPEROR OF THE EIGHT ISLANDS: 'huge imaginative vitality' SYDNEY MORNING HERALD 'a fitting follow-up to the Otori series' THE AGE 'colourful and fascinating characters' COURIER MAIL 'a must-read' AUREALIS 'stands alone for fine storytelling' WEST AUSTRALIAN 'sure to recruit a fresh legion of fans' THE SATURDAY PAPER Don't miss any of the novels in the OTORI saga ACROSS THE NIGHTINGALE FLOOR GRASS FOR HIS PILLOW BRILLIANCE OF THE MOON THE HARSH CRY OF THE HERON HEAVEN'S NET IS WIDE

Lian Hearn's beloved Tales of the Otori series, set in an imagined feudal Japan, has sold more than four million copies worldwide and has been translated into nearly forty languages. It is comprised of five volumes: ACROSS THE NIGHTINGALE FLOOR, GRASS FOR HIS PILLOW, BRILLIANCE OF THE MOON, THE HARSH CRY OF THE HERON and HEAVEN'S NET IS WIDE. The series was followed by two standalone novels, BLOSSOMS AND SHADOWS and THE STORYTELLER AND HIS THREE DAUGHTERS, also set in Japan. EMPEROR OF THE EIGHT ISLANDS is Books 1 and 2 in The Tale of Shikanoko and is followed by LORD OF THE DARKWOOD (Books 3 and 4). Lian has made many trips to Japan and has studied Japanese. She read Modern Languages at Oxford and worked as an editor and film critic in England before emigrating to Australia. For the latest news from Lian, visit lianhearn.com, follow Lian on Twitter @LianHearn, or join the readers who have become Lian's friend on Facebook.

brutally thrilling historical fantasy - Herald Sun fine storytelling - West Australian huge imaginative vitality - Sydney Morning Herald a fitting follow-up to the Otori series - The Age a must-read - Aurealis [Hearn's] new epic seems sure to recruit a fresh legion of fans - The Saturday Paper colourful and fascinating characters - warriors, ghosts, sorcerers and supernatural beings - are everywhere in this epic - Courier-Mail the reader fully and unquestioningly inhabits the teeming, bloodthirsty but fascinating medieval world Hearn has created - Adelaide Advertiser