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In the final installment of the Tales of the Otori, the young Takeo meets his destiny, fulfilling the prophesy: "You were born into the Hidden, but your life ... is no longer your own." The stage is set: Takeo and his new bride Kaede are on the brink of starting a war to reclaim the lands that are her rightful claim by birth, with a thousand loyal warriors by their side. But much more is at stake, with Takeo sworn to avenge the death of his adoptive father. Kaede, a not-at-all helpless damsel, has also cast a first stone by renouncing the powerful Lord Fujiwara, who considers her his first wife. An imaginary feudal Japan is vividly reconstructed in this magical tale filled with clan rivalries, supernatural powers, shadowy tribes, and true love.… (more)
User reviews
On the whole, the plot is pretty solid; there are still some good twists, and the characterization, particularly of the two leads but also of the main supporting cast, is sharp, with some nice touches. Even particular passages take on a style that depends on the circumstances of the character, not an easy feat. The only problem I really had with it is that the battle scenes, which are some of the most pivotal parts of the book, aren't really well served by Hearn's style; she's better at one-on-one fight description than a battle between armies, and I think that she knows that, which is why some of the battle descriptions are quite short. Still, if you just count the power of what happens in the battles as the main part, it's fine.
Bottom line, this trilogy worked quite well, and stayed pretty tight from end to end. I'm looking forward to reading the last one (and then the prequel about Takeo's adoptive father, whose influence in the books are great, once it's in paperback, but not until then), but it can wait a bit. I need a break with something else.
Although it's been a while since I read the earlier two books this one moves, uncomfortably to my mind, into demesne level politics and away from people and magic, at least in quite big parts. The politics was
Still, a nice easy read, and it wraps the story up neatly and with a nice happy ending, with just twists of sadness. I know there's a later book too, but I'm just not sure I care enough now to go and read it, which is a shame because I remember being enraptured by the first book.
But Hearn is good at weaving a good yarn, and about a hundred pages in I was hooked again. As was the case with the last book, Kaede’s fighting for freedom and power within her restricted world is perhaps the strongest storyline. But Takeo gets interesting new paths to try and balance – including the imminent collapse of the warrior clan organisation of society – and I especially like his difficult and shameful friendship with the outcast Jo-an. Doing the right thing in Otori’s world is never easy, and it’s a brave move from Hearn having a heroic character forced to such cruelty at times. Also, here the Tribe get to be an interesting element in the storyline again. They work best lurking in the shadows, it seems.
It’s interesting how the world of these books seems to shrink the more the action moves up to an epic scale. In a book where the characters travel here and there, it becomes obvious that the events in the books are almost local. The Three Countries are just parts of a bigger kingdom. I think these books actually benefit form that. I enjoyed this, and look forward to reading more. Will take a break for some months now, though, I think.
It's so hard to sum up a series like this because it's so much more and I don't want to spoil any of it. It's a tale of betrayal, battles, love, suffering, coming of age experiences, death, honor, and more. Only a couple of years are covered in the three books, yet it feels like so much more time passes as Takeo matures, finds his place in his world, and accepts his destiny while accepting the consequences, good and bad, that are part of it.
If you haven't read this series, give it a try. The fantasy element is minimal. It's more an alternate history with a touch of magic, told in a clear, straightfoward manner that aims right for the heart.
Despite the previous two books alternating frequently between Kaede and Takeo, this one gives Kaede only two chapters. We don't get anything from her perspective until 150 pages in. And when we do, it's because she's bemoaning the absence of Takeo. The formerly powerful, fiery girl who was taking her life into her own hands is reduced to something small, lonely, petty and jealous. Her character has completely changed, and not at all for the better. A woman whose main concerns were formerly for the well-being of her people, her sisters and her domain becomes obsessed with nothing more than being a "good wife," which she defines as being able to bear children.
Just overall I felt that the series had an interesting story idea, but the execution was ultimately inadequate. The story was smothered in romance and then hacked off rudely at the end with an unsatisfying conclusion.
Also, it should tell you something that death I grieved about most, rather than just being angry and confused at the writing, was that of Raku. I was far more excited to meet his foals at the end than I was concerned with the sappy reunion of Takeo and Kaede.
And can we talk about that earthquake? Okay no, I don't want to talk about it. I understand that deus ex machina is a legitimate literary device but that doesn't mean I can't regard this use of it as lazy. Oh, what's that? An entire army bothering you? Here let me swallow them up in a single paragraph. There, all better.