Emperor of the Eight Islands
An epic four-volume adventure in mythical, medieval Japan: a world of warriors and assassins, demons and spirits
In the opening pages of the action-packed Book One of Lian Hearn's epic Tale of Shikanoko series - all of which will be published in 2016 - 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.
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Lian Hearn
Lian Hearn's real name is Gillian Rubinstein (born 1942 in England). Rubinstein 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 Tales of the Otori series.
The Tale of Shikanoko
The Tale of Shikanoko consists of four books. The current recommended reading order for the series is provided below.
