The Harsh Cry Of The Heron by Lian Hearn(Pre-Owned)

Product Description

Now released with stunning new cover artwork, THE HARSH CRY OF THE HERON is Book 4 in the five-part Tales of the Otori series.

'The best story of magic, love, sex, revenge and suspense to have come this way since Philip Pullman.' INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY

Lord Otori Takeo and his consort Kaede have ruled for over sixteen years. The Three Countries are rich, peaceful and prosperous. The sacred birds, the Houou, nest at Terayama and a fabled creature, the Kirin, has appeared on their shores. Heaven seems to smile on them.

Yet their very success has drawn them to the attention of the distant Emperor and his general, the warlord Saga Hideki, who covet the wealth of the Three Countries, especially Takeo's heir, his eldest daughter Shigeko, now of marriageable age. At the same time, the renegade Tribe family, the Kikuta, seek revenge on Takeo for the murder of their leader. Everything Takeo and Kaede have achieved is threatened.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

The Otori saga concludes in this gripping novel, set in the years after the previous book in the series, Brilliance of the Moon (2004). Otori Takeo has brought peace to the Three Countries and rules them with a benevolent but firm hand; however, his old enemies still bear him malice and continue to plot against him. Lord Arai joins forces with Takeo's bitter brother-in-law, Zenko, hoping to bring down Takeo, while the emperor of the region has dispatched a deadly warlord to attack Takeo, who knows there is only one person who can kill him: a prophecy has decreed that only his son can end his life. While Takeo and his wife, Kaede, only have daughters, Takeo does have a child that Kaede doesn't know about, 16-year-old Hisao, who has been raised by Lord Arai to hate Takeo. To ensure his daughter Shigeko's reign, Takeo decides to try to make peace with the emperor and even offers Shigeko's hand in marriage to the warlord Saga. The Otori saga gets better with each book, and this is the most absorbing entry in the series, complete with intrigue, magic, romance, and action. A perfect final chapter to the story that began in Across the Nightingale Floor (2002). Kristine Huntley
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"One of the most thrilling new series of our time." -- The Times (London)

"Part Shogun, part Lord of the Rings and entirely enchanting." -- Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

"Seizes you from start to finish." -- The Washington Post --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

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. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.