Emperor of the Eight Islands

Name: Emperor of the Eight Islands
Brand: HighBridge Audio
Availability: InStock
Author: Lian Hearn
ISBN: 9781681681535

Author: Lian Hearn

Series: Tale of the Shikanoko #1

Narrator: Neil Shah

Unabridged: 6 hr 26 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Highbridge Audio

Published: 04/26/2016

Categories: Fiction, Fantasy

Synopsis

In the opening pages of the action-packed Book One of Lian Hearn's epic Tale of Shikanoko a future lord is dispossessed of his birthright by a scheming uncle, a mountain sorcerer imbues a mask with the spirit of a great stag for a lost young man, a stubborn father forces his son to give up his wife to his older brother, and a powerful priest meddles in the succession to the Lotus Throne, the child who is the rightful heir to the emperor barely escaping the capital in the arms of his sister. And that is just the beginning.
As destiny weaves its rich tapestry, a compelling drama plays out against a background of wild forests, elegant castles, hidden temples, and savage battlefields. This is the medieval Japan of Lian Hearn's imagination, where animal spirits clash with warriors and children navigate a landscape as serene as it is deadly.

About Lian Hearn

Lian Hearn is the pseudonym of a writer-born in England, educated at Oxford, currently living in Australia-who has a lifelong interest in Japan, has lived there, and studies Japanese. She is the author of the bestselling series Tales of the Otori.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Althea on May 02, 2016

Lian Hearn's become known for her Japanese-tinged fantasies. I'd previously read the first installation of her 'Tales of the Otori,' 'Across The Nightingale Floor,' and thought it was quite well-done, if a little bit more juvenile-feeling than I'd expected. Although the protagonist of 'Emperor of th......more

Goodreads review by Benjamin on August 17, 2016

This was an amazing tale, and I am excited to finish the remainder of this series. It is a feudal Japanese fantasy through and through, with wild Tengu, WereHawks, and Mountain Sorcerers with command of dark spirits. Each chapter is written from a specific characters viewpoint and it transitions bet......more

Goodreads review by Liviania on May 22, 2016

Have you ever been absolutely loving a book, when suddenly the ending splashes a bucket of cold water on you? That was my experience with EMPEROR OF THE EIGHT ISLANDS. EMPEROR OF THE EIGHT ISLANDS is the first book in The Tale of Shikanoko, the new series from Lian Hearn. There are four books, all to......more

Goodreads review by Seth on February 01, 2016

I was able to read this novel as an ARC at my library. This slim volume reads more like the first quarter of a larger work than like a standalone. Perhaps the author, or her editor, was concerned about publishing a monster of a book, but readers looking for strong resolution should avoid starting Emp......more