Across the Nightingale Floor

Tales of the Otori, Book One

By: Lian Hearn

Narrated by: Kevin Gray, Aiko Nakasone

Length: 8 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's summary

A tour-de-force novel set in ancient Japan filled with passion, fantasy, and feuding warlords. The first volume in the highly anticipated Tales of the Otori trilogy.

Sixteen-year-old Takeo's village has been massacred by an evil warlord, and he is about to be slain by the men who murdered his parents and neighbors. At the last moment, his life is saved by a nobleman, who claims the boy as his kin and begins his education.

But nothing is as it seems. Takeo discovers that he has rare powers that are useful to those around him. As he grows into manhood, he must decide where his loyalties lie: with his noble master and adoptive father; with the Hidden, a secret, spiritual sect whose beliefs are forbidden; or with the Tribe, the assassins and spies who consider him one of their own.

A story of treachery, political intrigue, and the intensity of first love, set in a world ruled by formal ritual and codes of honor, Across the Nighingale Floor crosses genres, generations, and genders to captivate fans of all ages.

Don't miss the rest of the Tales of the Otori series.

©2002 Lian Hearn (P)2003 HighBridge Company

Critic reviews

"The novel fills a unique niche that is at once period piece and fantasy novel." (Amazon.com)

The correct mix for men and women alike

My wife and I both enjoyed this book so much that we immediately downloaded the rest of the trilogy. This is the first Audible that we've both enjoyed enough to rate it level 5. Amazing!!!

one of my favorites

loved it. have listened to it 3 times. 20 words. 20 words. 20 words 29 words. 29 words.

Good book but a bit short for your credit

I enjoyed this book great performance and the story is good too. The only draw back is the length of the book for the credit it's too bad they couldn't have done a two fer on the first couple books. The whole series is enjoyable and luckily the last couple of books are a bit longer.

Like a good samurai flick.

A rousing tale that is not as predictable as the first few minutes may lead you to expect. Pretty well read and always exciting.

I've been waiting for a story like this

This book swept me up from the start. It is exactly what I hoped it would be. The characters are rich and the story telling kept me on edge. I looked forward to my commute to hear what was going to happen next.

Strong and beautiful traditional story

Knowing the traditions of the culture and the honor and respect, this story is ageless, and could be listen to over and over again, but subtleties

Excellent

I’ve read all of these and so wonderful to listen to it. It creates a world that I get lost in on my morning walks

Thank goodness it’s in Audible format now

Great book. The story was told well.

Only gripe I have was having to turn it up all the way to hear everything.

Solid 4 Stars

I found the narration by Kevin Gray and Aiko Nakasone to be interesting. Mr. Gray did not have to many distinctions between voices, but dialogue is not this book's strong point. Ms. Nakasone did a good job of keeping her female side of the story delicate and yet compelling and strong. The only reason I do not give them 5 stars is that they read well worn character roles in well worn voices. That said, it is like comfort food, easy to listen, and enjoyably predictable.

The story itself is the same enjoyable predictability. There is a certain poetry to the prose, (here the narrators should receive credit along with the author). For those expecting lavish detail and colorful descriptive world building, look elsewhere. But the story and the pace do a good job mimicking the pace of koans and what other few original works from this period I have read . The characters stay in line with gentle stereotypes that, while they do not challenge, do not fail to entertain. This is not a fantasy book per se, though there is a bit of magic, it is more a piece of historical fiction with sprinkled with a little magic to help the heroes win.

I hate reviews with spoilers or that read like an 8th grade book report, so I won't summarize the plot. But I will say that the plight of "the hidden," was in fact a historical fact in 17th Century Japan and it works in the context of this story quite well. I particularly enjoyed the fact that it was used subtly as a plot device to add flavor rather than as some sort of coded message. If you want understand what I mean listen to/ read the book.

The only reason I don't give it 5 stars is that it wasn't over the top amazing, but it was worth the money and the 8 hours it took to finish it.

Well written and inteiguing

I enjoyed the author’s deft conjuring of voice and description. I will read more of their work.