Heaven's Net is Wide
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Review
aNobody should need to ask who the Otori are by now. Scions of an imaginary, quasi-Japanese feudal clan, theyave made a big splash.a
a"Washington Post" --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
a"Washington Post" --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
Review
Her feeling for the place and its past is apparent here, as in all the books. - The Washington Post
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
28 of 28 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Absolutely awesome start/end of the best series of books i've ever read. there is no higher praise.
Feudal japanese set tales of samurai, geisha, swords, blood, treachery, intrigue, and love. The complex, entertaining and beautiful history of the otori is finally finished with Heaven's Net is Wide - the last in the series and a prequel to the other books.
This book is in third person like the recent and equally awesome Harsh Cry of the Heron, and unlike the original trilogy told from Otori Takeo's perspective.
This is the story of Shigeru, Takeo's adoptive father/uncle and reveals the much wondered about events prior to the first book - the legendary battles and the real story of Shigeru's brother and tribe knowledge. all the character's that get little time in the trilogy are explored and personalised in this volume.
It is awesomely written, moody and evocative, tranquil, yet gruesome in equal measure. It serves as an awesome way into the series and can be read first (as Hearn must now intend) as the book leads on to within 6 pages of the start of Across the Nightingale Floor. Alternatively it can be read last - like i read it - revealing the legendary events the other books are based on. there are one or two instances where it's prequel nature is apparent - sentences like - (name) who would go on to become suchandsuch in the near future. these originally made me think a first time reader should start with the trilogy but upon research i found that these types of sentences appear throughout the series. i now think it is a great place to start as Hearn now intends and should be on your reading list soon.
incredible, atmospheric and complex.
involving and entertaining - a book to treasure -
there are so few this good. 10/10
Feudal japanese set tales of samurai, geisha, swords, blood, treachery, intrigue, and love. The complex, entertaining and beautiful history of the otori is finally finished with Heaven's Net is Wide - the last in the series and a prequel to the other books.
This book is in third person like the recent and equally awesome Harsh Cry of the Heron, and unlike the original trilogy told from Otori Takeo's perspective.
This is the story of Shigeru, Takeo's adoptive father/uncle and reveals the much wondered about events prior to the first book - the legendary battles and the real story of Shigeru's brother and tribe knowledge. all the character's that get little time in the trilogy are explored and personalised in this volume.
It is awesomely written, moody and evocative, tranquil, yet gruesome in equal measure. It serves as an awesome way into the series and can be read first (as Hearn must now intend) as the book leads on to within 6 pages of the start of Across the Nightingale Floor. Alternatively it can be read last - like i read it - revealing the legendary events the other books are based on. there are one or two instances where it's prequel nature is apparent - sentences like - (name) who would go on to become suchandsuch in the near future. these originally made me think a first time reader should start with the trilogy but upon research i found that these types of sentences appear throughout the series. i now think it is a great place to start as Hearn now intends and should be on your reading list soon.
incredible, atmospheric and complex.
involving and entertaining - a book to treasure -
there are so few this good. 10/10
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I felt this book was better written than the trilogy, the writing was more fluid and flowed. It gave me a deeper understanding of Otori Shigeru and his relationship with Naomi Muruyama. It also tidied the loose ends of the trilogy and gave more background about how the war began. It actually made me read the trilogy again, probably because I've read them years ago and couldn't remember much.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
"Heaven's Net is Wide" is the prequel of the "Tales of the Otori", written by the English-born Australian author Lian Hearn (pseudonym of Gillian Rubinstein). Having read the original trilogy and sequel a few years ago (3 or 4 years) this book is really nostalgic, linked to a period when my reading tastes were still appearing. That and if I'm not mistaken the "Tales of the Otori" were one the first fantasy sagas I encountered, being in fact one the set of books that marked me more.
The novel happens in the same fictional universe of the feudal Japan, a few years before "Across the Nightingale Floor". The plot is heavily politic, very much like the remaining books, but without the majority of the fantastic setting.
"Heaven's Net is Wide" starts when Lord Shigeru is twelve years old, before training that made him what he became in the following books. Without revealing much of the plot, it involves Shigeru's training (contains beautiful scenes and occupies a good part of the book), a war between clans and few glimpses into the Tribe and the Hidden.
If I was not clear enough, I would like to state that the prequel is very different from the rest of the saga. The style is different, just the facts that the Tribe doesn't intervene much and most of story is told through Shigeru's eyes, gives a more much palpable and real touch.
In my opinion, "Heaven's Net is Wide" falls short of the standard set by the other four books. Besides the emotional part being much dimmer, the fantasy-ness is abandoned in favour to a far more mundane plot. In no way I'm saying that the book is bad, just regular.
If you decide to read the book, you'll have read a good prequel to "Tales...", however you can as well read the saga without ever touching "Heaven's Net is Wide".
Till next time,
M.I.T.H. (ManInsideTheHelm)
The novel happens in the same fictional universe of the feudal Japan, a few years before "Across the Nightingale Floor". The plot is heavily politic, very much like the remaining books, but without the majority of the fantastic setting.
"Heaven's Net is Wide" starts when Lord Shigeru is twelve years old, before training that made him what he became in the following books. Without revealing much of the plot, it involves Shigeru's training (contains beautiful scenes and occupies a good part of the book), a war between clans and few glimpses into the Tribe and the Hidden.
If I was not clear enough, I would like to state that the prequel is very different from the rest of the saga. The style is different, just the facts that the Tribe doesn't intervene much and most of story is told through Shigeru's eyes, gives a more much palpable and real touch.
In my opinion, "Heaven's Net is Wide" falls short of the standard set by the other four books. Besides the emotional part being much dimmer, the fantasy-ness is abandoned in favour to a far more mundane plot. In no way I'm saying that the book is bad, just regular.
If you decide to read the book, you'll have read a good prequel to "Tales...", however you can as well read the saga without ever touching "Heaven's Net is Wide".
Till next time,
M.I.T.H. (ManInsideTheHelm)
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Addictive
I read this book first, after finding it on honeymoon in a free book exchange in my hotel! What a gem. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Alex
`Be careful who you trust.'
Heaven's Net is Wide is a prequel to the Tales of the Otori trilogy. I read the books of the trilogy as they were published, and have now reread them, together with The Harsh Cry... Read more
Published 12 months ago by J. Cameron-Smith
Another good read from Lian Hearn
Another great read from this fabulous storyteller. Start at the beginning of the series if you haven't already read them.
Published 19 months ago by Steve in Norwich
Worth reading
This final book, being a prequel to the original trilogy, is well worth reading. The book details Shigeru's life up to the point he meets Tomasu. Read more
Published on 17 Feb 2010 by K. Devlin
Fantastic prequel to fantastic series!
I read the three original "Tales of the Otori" along with my daughter who was then around 16ys. We both loved the exciting, magical, brilliantly described,detailed world of these... Read more
Published on 25 Feb 2009 by J. Monnington
hmmmmmmm
it was an ok book.
but not my favorite.
the best were the three books which form the "tales of the otori" series.
the harsh cry of the heron is also better
but not my favorite.
the best were the three books which form the "tales of the otori" series.
the harsh cry of the heron is also better
Published on 15 Aug 2008 by Iorek
Mixed feelings
This is a strangely disappointing book.. For those who have been following the fortunes of the Otori clan it will be a must buy. Yet at the same time it is curiously unsatisfying. Read more
Published on 12 Jan 2008 by R. J. Bulow
Packed with blood, gore and intrigue
This prequel is packed with blood, gore and intrigue. She delves into the history of the Otari. We are better able to understand Hearn's world and its subtleties through her... Read more
Published on 5 Nov 2007 by Kate Divine
The beginning
I really loved this book, and i thought the way the book continues into the start of the original trilogy clever and satisfying. Read more
Published on 18 Oct 2007 by Rubbah
This book should be read first
I had eagerly awaited this book and was a little disappointed with it, but I have to stress it is still a good read. Read more
Published on 26 Sep 2007 by Colin D. Barnard
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